THE LEAGUE^©

Tiger By O’Hair   For those who gave the remote a workout on Sunday, or who thanked God for picture-in-picture, or maybe just prefer the pure competition of golf over college basketball, Eldrick “Tiger” Woods didn’t disappoint. Whoever set the start times for the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational were no doubt wiping their brow though, as the sun held off its set just long enough to see Woods roll in yet another put to win at Bay Hill. Another putt to win regardless of the venue. Starting Sunday five shots back, Tiger played just well enough to put himself in a position to win. And while Sean O’Hair didn’t stink up the joint, he did open a few doors, the last and most damaging of which came at the 16^th hole, where he drove in the fairway while Woods had to pitch out to the fairway in his second shot. O’Hair’s second found the water, and his ensuing bogey and Woods’ par sealed the fate. Yes, Woods hit a much better iron shot than O’Hair at eighteen, and it will be said that that’s where the tournament was won and lost, but it was already over by then. Whether it was viewed during TV timeouts in the North Carolina/Oklahoma game or by those intently watching the finish in Arnie’s tournament, we all knew it was coming. If anybody forgot why Tiger is REALLY great, that putt was a reminder.

There are a couple dozen or so players on tour who have a game and talent more or less equal to Tiger’s. Like everybody else, Woods hits errant drives, less than stellar irons shots, and three putts. But not when it matters. That’s all the analysis that’s needed. As for O’Hair, he will win PGA events. Lots of them, probably. But while watching Tiger chase him down Sunday, I immediately thought of his final round in the ’07 Players Championship, when in the final group with Phil Mickelson. Mickelson also overtook O’Hair that day, though the lead going in was only one shot. O’Hair was -9 going in and shot 76, four over par. Mickelson, -8 going in and shot 69. But the common thread is something that O’Hair needs to address. He’s a slow player by nature, even slower when the pressure is on. That not only hurts his game, but makes like Tiger and Phil salivate, if only subconsciously. O’Hair needs to step it up a little. As in picking up the pace. Not an easy fix to be sure, but while watching him in each of those two situations I felt like Rodney Dangerfield’s character in Caddyshack, Al Czervic, wanting to blurt out, “Let’s go, while we’re young!”

Griffin Earns Ultimate Sixth Man Award   Prior to this year, only five players in history have tallied 110 points and 60 rebounds over a four game stretch in the NCAA tournament; Artis Gilmore, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Elvin Hayes, and Wilt Chamberlain. Blake Griffin of Oklahoma makes six, having just accomplished the feat. Now this is a feat that has some teeth to it, unlike the usual story that tells us that so-and-so was the first to earn this or that amount, or that so-and-so is the youngest to this or that milestone. We’ve all been numbed somewhat by those revelations, but they are soon forgotten. Blake Griffin’s accomplishment may be as well, but only because it most likely won’t be brought up again for a long time. He’s in select company. I’ll let the reader come up with his or her own list of those who are missing, but former Houston Oiler’s coach Bum Phillips’s quote about Earl Campbell would apply to Griffin as well; “Earl Campbell may not be in a class by himself, but whatever class he’s in, it doesn’t take long to call roll.” My apologies to Sooner fans for using a Longhorn as an example.

Looking at the list of players who had accomplished the feat prior to Griffin reveals one obvious shortcoming in today’s sporting world. Where have the great nicknames gone? Other than Gilmore, who I’m sure had a decent nickname somewhere along the line, we have the immediately recognizable “The Big O”, “Mr. Clutch”, “The Big E”, and “The Big Dipper” to fill out the starting five. Heck, West is even called “The Logo” occasionally, and Chamberlain “Wilt The Stilt”. So even though I thought these days were long over, I’ll take it upon myself to be the Nickname General, as I was on nearly every baseball team I played on growing up. From here on out, Blake Griffin is to be referred to as “Paint”. 

Lawson Has Bad Toe, Good Heels    It’s become apparent that North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson at 80% is better than most point guards at full strength. And even at 80% he’s good enough right now to start on about half of the teams in the NBA. Nothing against Stephen Curry, but I’ll take Lawson in a heartbeat. Curry is the ultimate tweener, with pro scouts trying to figure out if he’s going to be a point or shooting guard. The answer is, well, The Answer. (I’m really getting into this nickname theme). Unless Curry stays in school at least one more year, he’ll be a dash of Steve Nash and a heaping helping of Allen Iverson combined, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing. While he is no doubt electrifying at times, he currently doesn’t have the well-rounded game to fall back on. Lawson on the other hand has proven that he knows how to run a team, dictate the offense, and score when he needs to or gets the hot hand. He’s just as satisfied with 10 assists as he is with 20 points – the ultimate point guard mentality.  

Devils Or Angels     I may have saved the best Elite 8 story for last. Lost in all of the March Madness of the men’s tournament, and what little recognition the women’s tournament gets going to undefeated Connecticut, the Arizona State Sun Devils are one game away from a trip to the Final Four. Considering they lost leading scorer Dymond (pronounced ‘Diamond’) Simon to a torn knee ligament on the eve of the Pac 10 tournament, their run is as improbable as it gets.

However, Head Coach Charli Turner-Thorne has built the program in the best way possible. Depth, versatility, accountability, and more are trademarks of Thorne’s philosophy, which has gradually put the Sun Devils at the doorstep of the elite programs in women’s college basketball. Even Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair said before their loss to ASU that Thorn’s program exuded class. With their win over the Aggies (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/ncaatourney09/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=4026018), the Devilish ladies face everybody’s number one, the afore-mentioned Huskies of UConn. Not to worry. Win or lose, Thorne will have her girls prepared for the outcome, regardless of what it is. Which won’t make it surprising if they take the next step. Game time is Tuesday at 7:00 eastern. Something tells me it’ll be one that’s not to be missed.

Thanks for taking the time to read.

Credits: Graham Hayes, ESPN for link to ASU women’s BB

Charli Turner-Thorne picture – Associated Press/www.daylife.com

Tiger Woods picture – Associated Press/Yahoo Sports

Posted by Ricko on Monday, March 30th, 2009 at 10:22 pm.