A Standing O: Schwartzel, Landis & Anthony etc.

Alex O is back with some thoughts on a little bit of everything from the Masters to the Knickerbockers with a little baseball in between. Some great notes in there from Alex who I have to apologize for posting this a day late (which is why some of the dates look funny). But it doesn't mean this Standing O is any less awesome. Enjoy!

The Canadian Press

---------------
You gotta love the Masters! I think it is even greater when a relatively unknown player wins it coming from behind. Charl (pronounced Sharl--- I never would have guessed that) Schwartzel, a 26 year old from South Africa won the Masters 50 years after Gary Player (also from South Africa) became the first International player to win the tournament. He was also the first player to win while making 4 birdies in the last 4 holes. It is always awesome to see someone win rather than the others lose. Schwartzel qualified for the Masters by being top 50 in the year end 2010 world rankings. He has been a pro on the European tour for 7 years and in 2011 has his PGA Tour Card. Pretty cool little story below from the AP:

Schwartzel had played in only one previous Masters — he tied for 30th a year ago — but he got a very helpful tutorial from a guy who's won more green jackets than anyone.

After finagling a lunch with six-time winner Jack Nicklaus at a charity function, he deftly broke the ice with one of their shared interests beyond the golf course.
"I've never met Jack. I was really excited," Schwartzel recalled. "I knew he sort of liked hunting a little bit. That's the way I got the conversation going, just by talking about hunting."

Of course, the talk soon turned to Augusta National.

And, boy, did the Golden Bear open up.

"I'm thinking it's going to be just a vaguely quick little thing, and he actually took the time to take me through all 18 holes," Schwartzel said. "The way he used to think around Augusta. The way he used to play it, which flags he used to attack."

Read more>>

Three Thoughts: Rangers, Phil, Jets and I'm Back From Vegas

Sorry for the lack of updates on the blog, but I was on a mini-vacation to Las Vegas. Fear not, because I'm back with three sports-related thoughts for you:

1. The ending to the Rangers' season was about as brutal as it gets. 82nd game and the shootout. Tough way to be sent home. The Rangers' problem all season was scoring and in that final game, the issue came to a head. I watched this game from Lagasse's Stadium/Sports Book in the Palazzo. It was one of the nicest places to watch a game--though it will always be soured a bit by what I saw there (and the rude hostess who refused to turn on the game). I don't think the Rangers were going to go anyplace in the playoffs. But the chance to beat the Devils (AGAIN) in the playoffs was one that I was looking forward to. Let's hope this off-season leads to some retooling of the team and the end to the Wade Redden and Michael Rozsival eras on Broadway. Maybe even the Sather era too...(hopefully)
2. Las Vegas loved Phil. Watching the Masters from Vegas was interesting because of the betting interest vs. the rooting interest. I'm not sure which way most of these people were leaning, but they all seemed to love Lefty. Tiger got cheers as did the rest of the pack--but no one got the roars form the crowd quite like Mickelson. People may have had rooting/betting interest in Lee Westwood, Anthony Kim or Fred Couples, but no one seems to have won golf fan's hearts and wallets combined quite like Phil Mickelson. Especially now with Tiger's public demotion.
3. The Jets are pretty large favorites. As soon as the Santonio Holmes trade came across the ESPN screen, the Mandalay Bay sports book jumped the Jets odds to win the Super Bowl to 6-1. The only team better than the Jets were the Colts at 5-1. The Jets were very close last year and the odds makers seem to be taking the flurry of off-season moves as the push they need to get over the top. They should be a better team, but the 2nd best team in the NFL? Or the second-most-likely team to win the Super Bowl? I'm not sure yet.

I am now back, refreshed and ready to blog. I'll throw up something on the Yankees today and hopefully last night's LOST as well a bit later. I miss the bright lights of Vegas but it's time to get back to blogging...and rooting for my baseball bets--the Brewers to win the NL Central, the Braves and Rockies to make the NLCS...with the Rockies hopefully winning and losing to the Yankees in the World Series. Picture above is taken from my Blackberry (sorry, a little blurry) from the Mix Lounge in THEhotel at Mandalay Bay.

Watson's Fall Felt Like Hamilton's 2008 Home Run Derby

I meant to post this earlier, but Tom Watson's run at Turnberry this weekend reminded me a lot of Josh Hamilton's run at the 2008 Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium.

Josh Hamilton came to the All Start Game as one of the more improbable candidates and entered the Home Run Derby with his high school coach and a real outside chance of winning. But he kept on hitting home run after home run and wooed over the crowd. He had the lead, he had the crowd, he looked like the surefire winner. But Josh Hamilton couldn't close it out. He lost the Derby, in the end, to Justin Mourneau. We were disappointed at the time that he didn't win it--it made us feel like we had lost something--but we will always remember that run he had in the Home Run Derby.

I think we'll feel the same way in the end with Tom Watson. I think a lot of people felt his loss. I think that a lot of people were rooting from him and his compelling story. I think that it, in the end, wasn't the "Golf Story of the Century" but it was something we'll be talking about for years. About how a 59-year-old man came within one hole of the British Open, how it was on the blade of his putter, and how it slipped away.

I think, in the end, it tells you how painful sports can be. A ball gets through Bill Buckner's legs, the Cubs come within a couple of outs of the World Series until Steve Bartman showed up, the Bills will never get over "wide right" and the Patriots lost a perfect season on "The Helmet Catch", one of United States basketball's most famous moments was when the USSR beat them and vice versa for United States hockey versus the USSR.

But knowing that feeling is what makes winning so much greater.

-Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star describes the emotions of Watson and his fans
-Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star was not sure a Watson win would have been good for golf's credibility
-RealClearSports says that his near-miss shows us that anyone can win in golf
-The New York Post says no apologies are necessary from Stewart Cink for winning the tourney
-FanHouse has some more information on the heartbreak
-Deadspin find the silver lining in Watson losing: old people feel entitled (or something like that)

Not Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

When Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford was charged with fraud in February, Vijay Singh was "astonished".

Well, CNBC's Darren Rovell points out, that despite Stanford being indicted on Thursday, golfer Vijay Singh walked out on to the ninth green this morning at the US Open to finish his first round dressed in Stanford attire.

When first reading this I sarcastically said that I was sure that this had nothing to do with the estimated $8 million Singh was to be paid.

But wait..."even though the company defaulted long ago on its agreement with Singh, the golfer from Fiji is surprisingly still wearing the company's logos today."

So let me get this straight: Vijay Singh was astonished to find out his sponsor had been charged with fraud, they defaulted on his agreement, they were just indicted on federal charges...and yet Vijay Singh decided it was a good idea to wear their attire at the US Open?

Odd indeed.

Even the New York Mets remembered to cancel Bernie Madoff bobblehead day.

Some Day Of Sports

Today was one of those Sundays where sports ruled.

The New York Metropolitans started out the day. And Johan Santana was dominant for the Mets against the Marlins. But despite 13 Ks and no earned runs from Brohan, he still was hung with the loss as the Mets lost to the Fish (their arch nemesis the past few years).

Next was the Yankees. A cold, rainy day in Kansas City started out fine. Joba allowed only one earned run over 6 innings and handed a 4-3 lead to the bullpen. Bruney got 3 outs and then Marte got 2 more. And then, inexplicably, Girardi decided it was important to go mix-and-match. He brought in Veras who walked the first batter on 5 pitches. Girardi then goes back out to bring in Phil Coke who not only blows the save, but loses the game as well. Soria dominated for the save. I know it's early in the season, but a loss like this stings for the Yanks. Torre overused and abused certain guys in the bullpen (see Scott Proctor's Arm). Girardi micro-manages games (a la Buck Showalter) and the loss has to be hung on him. Other goats include Phil Coke (BS and L), Cody Ransom (.050 BA) and Melky (who had 2 GIDPs).

Next was to the Masters where, despite huge days from Lefty and Tiger, they left some strokes out on the course and it ended up hurting them in the end. There's still a few different guys in it, but Angel Cabrera looks like he's more interested in finishing and getting to the buffet than winning this tournament. Kenny Perry or Chad Campbell seem to be the two frontrunners right now.

Also on TV, the Rangers are playing a meaningless game in Philly...at least for the Broadway Blueshirts. The Broad Street Bullies have home ice advantage to play for. Even so, the Rangers seem to be matching the Flyers as the score is 2-2. Dubinsky has 2 goals. Despite a tremendous start to the season and a lot of promise, Dubi's two goals today only gives him 13 for the season.

There is one baseball game still on that I'm keeping my eye on: Angels vs. Red Sox. The game started off with Bobby Abreu pissing off Josh Beckett who in turn pissed off the entire Halo bench. This led to a Torii Hunter ejection. "Shockingly" no Sox player was ejected. 4-3 Angels in the 7th there.

One last thing. I got a call today from Jay, a contributer on this blog, who wanted to revive the Joba debate after what happened today. I hate rehashing the same argument I give everyone (would you want a great pitcher to pitch 60 innings or 200?), so I pointed out that the Yankees would haven't been in the position to win today had it not been for a really good start from Joba. Look at what happened to the Yankees the first two games of the season when they got really crappy starting pitching? They hardly had a chance to win. But Joba gave them a good chance to win the game today. If it wasn't for Girardi, I think it probably would have been a W. But I'm sure this blown save will bring out the naysayers...

Sunday Links: Bestchester Edition

Home in the Bestchester with some great Sunday links:

-First, a great NBA doubleheader on ABC. I usually shy away from watching regular season NBA but today was a real treat

-Joel Sherman agrees with me on the Jeter situation

-The Terrible Towlie

-Anna Rawson is really hot and doesn't seem to like lesbians in women's golf...and women's golf does not seem to like Anna Rawson. Catfight!

-So Brad Pitt is playing Billy Beane in Moneyball. So a book I've never particularly cared for about a way to build a team which hasn't produced any pennants (never mind World Series wins) is going to be starring Brad Pitt and directed by Steven Soderbergh...and it's about baseball. So I have a real tough time figuring out if I'm going to want to pay to see this movie. Solution: illegal download. Thank you, interwebs.

-Hip Hop saved Lupe Fiasco's life and Starbucks saved this guy's life. Now Tom Hanks will play him in a movie. Seriously

-Scary times in the inferno going on Down Under

-Peter Gammons wrote his first article in a few weeks and seems to back up my idea of Brett Gardner in CF with the first part of the article...

-I found out on his Twitter that Rainn Wilson is a Baha'i and he posted this article about an apology they received from Iranian professionals.

-This kid will have what Michael Phelps is having. Wow. (H/T to Sarah and Jay)

-Speaking of Mr. Phelps, he has a backer: Ashton Kutcher...and he won't be hanging out with Jared anytime soon

-Another person agrees with me, the New York Rangers need Sean Avery and vice versa (original report from Larry Brooks)

-More A-rod piling on from Howard Bryant of ESPN, Rob Neyer of ESPN, and Sam Borden of LoHud (on defining this generation)

-A sad story about a 90-year-old Madoff victim that had to return to work

-What news anchors do during commercial breaks...amazing

-For Ari: how consultants are like prostitutes

-Some LOST spoilers/analysis from our buddy, Doc Jensen

-So maybe Santonio Holmes didn't get both feet down...

-Remember that November election when John McCain left the campaign for the stimulus vote? Well John McCain is having a senior moment because he's back there again and Troopergate redux.

-Speaking of elections, the Israelis are voting soon: on Netanyahu's big lead and the rise of Avigdor Lieberman

-Fred Hof is joining the Mitchell Commission and is not a fan of Hezbollah (H/T Politico)...could be good news for Israel.

-The Battle for Your Social Status

-The growth of green jobs

-I'm really not sure what's so bad about this article except that maybe England has weird Greek life...

-Remember Adam Morrison? He got a little emotional during March Madness and now has been traded to the Lakers for VladRad. Think Charlotte would like to have done that again? They missed out on Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, Rajon Rondo, etc. for a guy who looked like he should have been in 70s porn.

-The New Yorker tries to figure out the next Supreme Court Justice

-An article about life insurance (my industry) facing impending accounting and regulatory changes

-The Washingon Post declares the worst draft pick in baseball history...which is saying a lot

-And, lastly, HR and the art of clichés management (H/T Wendy)