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Interesting pieces from Sal Johnson and Bob Harig

Sal Johnson teamed up with Robinson Holloway to write a fictional piece about Tiger Woods which claims to draw on “It’s Wonderful Life,” but really mixes in quite a bit of the ghosts from “A Christmas Story” as well:):) I have mixed feelings about the piece, but got a huge laugh out of this bit:

“Eldrick’s ears are assaulted by the riotous cheering and applause from the grandstands that line the 18th green of the Old Course, and he blinks rapidly as his eyes adjust to the blinding sunlight. “Who is that coming up, Rossi? I can’t tell.”

“It’s Sergio. You are about to witness a great moment in golf history. Sergio Garcia is about to become the fifth man to win the career grand slam, the first since Nicklaus did it in ’66. After he won the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah at age 19, everyone thought that he would be the next Nicklaus, or at least the next Seve, but it wasn’t until he got married and settled down a few years ago that he has started playing to his potential.”

Eldrick grimaces as he watches Garcia putt out for the historic win and bow to the rapturous gallery. “Wow, the crowds here really love the little punk, don’t they? Look at his smug little grin. Wait, who’s that? ELIN??!!? He’s married to Elin? Noooooooooooo!”

Again, the problem is that we keep perpetuating the myth that the so-called Tiger Effect is greater than it actually is. Golf is down for three reasons: 1) the economy is flagging, 2) the golf and real estate economies hit a downward cycle at the same time and 3) Tiger being out loses some casual fans and their casual dollars.

The other problem is the Tour hitched their star to Woods and the record chase with the same simoniacal attitude of the baseball owners. You can’t make anyone bigger than any game; it just doesn’t work.

On that note, Bob Harig has a great article about the continuing cone of silence about Woods from the players and Tour. From the article, which focuses mostly on Woods confident Mark O’Meara’s comments:

I’m disappointed,” O’Meara said at Spyglass Hill, where he shot 77 in the opening round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, a tournament he has won five times. “I’m disappointed for my friend. I was shocked like the rest of us were shocked. I don’t think anybody would agree with what happened.”

Woods has not been heard from since announcing his leave on his Web site while acknowledging marital infidelity. Since that time, the rumor mill has churned with numerous tabloid reports.

During that two-month period, no one in Woods’ management team has confirmed or denied any of the reports. And when he will return to competitive golf remains a mystery.

“I guess he has all these advisers,” O’Meara said earlier this week during a conference call to promote the Champions Tour’s Toshiba Classic. “I’m not his adviser. I would have handled it differently, myself, personally. But that’s who I am. Whether he’s handled it right or wrong, only time can decide that. Tiger is being Tiger.”

That’s exactly the problem – Tigers being Tigers, they don’t change their stripes, and they especially don;t change their stripes surrounded by people who protect, pamper, obey, and worship.

Ask yourself one question: if Jim Furyk or Sergio Garcia did what Tiger did, when would they be allowed to return to play golf? How much “Privacy” or “Solitude” would they be given by their employers?

Then ask yourself the same question with Doug Barron or Scott McCarren as the subject. Welcome to the PGA Tour star system: cash up front, please.