Never A Doubt

Watching Tiger Woods in person is an experience every true sports fan should have.

"The quality of golf you're going to see today is absolutely staggering," said David Feherty who has been covering the PGA Tour for CBS Sports for since 1997 yet he says he's still doesn't believe some of the things he witnesses when covering Tiger Woods.

Once again this week, I was assigned to assist CBS announcer David Feherty as he walked with today's final pairing of Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods. It was fitting that these two were leading the World Golf Championship at Firestone Country Club because you could argue that over the last year these two have been the most dominant in the world. Harrington won the British Open and the PGA Championship in 2008 while Woods has won four tournaments in 2009.

At the beginning of the round today Harrington was -10 which was three shots ahead of his playing partner Woods. Even though Padraig was used to the pressure of a final round lead, he was playing with Woods on a course that he had won six times before.

Many times Tiger hurts himself with his driver but on the front nine he hit every fairway except for one. He got off to a hot start as he eagled the par 5 second and birdied No.4 and No.5 to pull ahead of Harrington at -11. Usually, when Tiger challenges an opposing player in the final round they submit pretty quickly but not Harrington. Even when Tiger birdied No.9 to take a two shot lead, Padraig never lost his focus.

Both players matched each other on the next three holes but then then Tiger began to lose command of his driver. As I watched his drive off the the 13th tee sail over my head, I could tell it was heading right which means big trouble.

Luckily, it got a fortunate bounce back in the fairway but ultimately put him too far away from the green to challenge the tucked away pin. Harrington put his second shot in the middle of the green while Tiger flew his shot over his target. Padraig parred and Tiger bogeyed.

On 14th tee, Tiger once again sprayed his drive out of the fairway while Padraig put his drive a fairway bunker. Tiger's second shot forced him to have a near impossible third just to the right of the green. Once again Padraig pars and Tiger bogeys. Before the previous two holes Woods hadn't had a bogey in 22 holes. So to bogey in this situation was very un-Tiger-like.

As they approached the Par 5 16th hole, Harrington was clinging to a one shot lead. Both teed off but yet again neither found the fairway. This historical hole that measures 667 yards downhill with a small pond guarding the green was a hole that Tiger had to birdie to out duel Padraig.

I stood with Feherty in the middle of the fairway a few yards from where Tiger was about to attempt his all important third shot. He had 181 yards to flag. I got the signal from my fellow spotter that Tiger had an 8 iron and I relayed that to Feherty so that he could use that on the air. His third shot was near perfect as he landed it just over the pond and spun it back within a foot for birdie.

Meanwhile, Harrington had a very tough lie for his third in the fairway rough. In short, he put it over the green which the wrong place to miss. He bladed his fourth into the water and had to walk back in the fairway to his his sixth. All the while Tiger is calmly standing by waiting to tap in his birdie put from inside the grip. Padraig would triple-bogey and Tiger would birdie the crucial 16th. Game over. Ten minutes before that Tiger was down a shot and now he was ahead by three.

As both players parred the 17th hole I walked with Tiger and Feherty off the green onto the 18th tee box. By this time, the entire gallery of thousands had gathered to watch Tiger finish off Padraig to win his seventh World Golf Championship.

Two perfect drives. As we stood in the middle of the fairway with the last group Tiger pulled out a 9 iron and put his approach four feet from the cup. I stayed back in the fairway to watch for the second week in a row Tiger tipping his cap to the cheering gallery that surrounded the 18th green. Harrington tapped in his par and Tiger finished off his round with his fifth birdie of the day. I made my way down the rope-line to where the players exit just as Tiger tipped his cap to the crowd one more time and walked past me to sign his scorecard to capture his 70th win of his career.

A Fitting Farewell

For the last 50 years, the Buick Open has been a staple on the PGA Tour. Held in Grand Blanc, Michigan

the Buick Open is considered one of the favorites by the players because of the rowdy atmosphere that surrounds Warwick Hills Country Club.

Sadly, the people here in Michigan have gotten the worst of our economic recession which has forced the PGA Tour to announce that this will be the final year of the Buick Open.

Nevertheless, the game's greatest player, Tiger Woods, decided to enter the field in search of his third Buick Open title. Without Tiger the field this week would have been a below average one, but with him everything changes.

Coming into today, Tiger was in the lead by one shot which usually means certain victory for him. In 36 tournaments in which he has the lead going into the final round, he's 35-1 in his career. So it wasn't a stretch to say Tiger would win his 69th career tournament today against a much weaker field.

Today, I was assigned to assist CBS announcer David Feherty on the course which is different than my usual duties of spotting a group. Basically, my job was to shadow Feherty around the course with a portable tv monitor so that he could announce from anywhere while watching the broadcast.

Walking with Feherty reminded me of how popular he is on the PGA Tour because of his unique comedic analysis of the golf he watches. At any given moment he'll stop to entertain the gallery by signing autographs or simply by making a smart comment of which is usually hilarious.

On this day, we were assigned the last group of Michael Letzig and Tiger Woods. We caught up to the group just as we went on the air at 3 p.m. and immediately made our way into the fairway to watch Tiger. If you've never been out to watch Tiger you need to realize that when he's in the lead on the course, every fan out there wants to follow him. So for me to get the chance to walk with David Feherty down the middle of the fairway and bypass the thousands of golf fans outside of the ropes was incredible.

When the group would finish a hole we walked through a rope-line of people screaming and reaching for Tiger- so I occasionally high-fived several of them on my way sit in front of the tee box to watch the drives. After the drives I would follow Feherty down the fairway as he would chat with Tiger or Letzig. Several times it would be just myself, Feherty and the players walking down the middle of the fairway... which was unbelievable in itself.

At the turn Tiger had the lead by a two strokes but it felt like he was ahead by ten. His driving was erratic today but he always made up for it with his short game. Meanwhile, Letzig was faltering slowly but surely.

The interesting thing that about walking with Feherty was listening to the gallery chant his name just as much as Tiger's. Every hole some random guy would blurt out something like "Ferehty, you're the man!" To which he replied"I'm actually a woman, thank you."Those kind of quick comments made the day a blast.

As we approached the 16th green, Tiger had an eagle left to seal the tournament, but Feherty decided to walk up to the next hole. As I watched Tiger make his birdie on the green to go -20, Feherty and I walked down to arguably the rowdiest hole on the PGA Tour. He wanted to get up in the stands to interview the raucous crowd that awaited. Thousands of screaming fans gathered to watch the final group play the Par 3 17th.

As the two some approached the tee, the stands were literally shaking due to the fans throwing themselves around and chanting "let's go Tiger"or "save the Buick!" It felt like a college football crowd.

Both players would hit the green and walk up to the loudest ovation I've ever heard on a golf course. As Tiger tapped in for his par, he tossed his ball into the stands and tipped his cap to the deafening mob of fans.

A lot of people bash Tiger for being an athlete that is too serious during his round but this week he definitely showed the fans that he appreciated their support.

As we walked down the 18th fairway the crowd broke the rope-line to follow him to the green. He tipped his cap as they applauded him and cheered as if to say "Thanks for coming Tiger!"

I was standing about 10 feet from the hole when he walked up and tapped in his par to secure the 69th PGA Tour victory of his career. After raising his hands in exaltation, he threw his ball 50 yards behind him into 18 fairway where a riot ensued as the ball landed in the crowd.

Not a bad way to bid farewell to the Buick...

Cowboys Fans: Stop Fooling Yourselves

I've been a fan of America's Team all my life. Especially growing up in Texas where football is king everything stops on Sundays when the Cowboys kick off. The Cowboys' dynasty of the 90's not only produced three Super Bowls but it created a fan base that has been blindly living off those victorious years ever since. Not to mention, the DFW media continues to bank on Tony Romo as the savior of this franchise when he leads them back to the promise land. Well, different than many Cowboys die-hards these days, I'm not living in the past anymore.

The New York Yankees, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Cowboys. What do these four teams have in common?

They are the handful of sports franchises in America that continue to be hyped and profitable no matter the outcome on their season.

The Yankees haven't won a World Series since 2000, Notre Dame went 15 years without a bowl victory, the Lakers until recently hadn't won a title since 2002 and the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since 1996.

Yet all four of these teams every season are hyped to win by the media and their merchandise sells more than any other franchise in sports.

Much of this has to do with their enormous fan bases. It makes sense if you think about it. More fans=more demand. The higher demand results in heightened exposure by the media which in turn produces better ratings and more sales.

The problem with the media's infatuation with these caliber teams is that they don't always win. In fact, in the past seven seasons there has only been one title(2009 Lakers) out of these four teams combined. For the Cowboys, this constant attention over the last 20 years has been both a blessing and a curse. But for the last 10 years it has mainly been a curse.

Training camp starts this week and so will the intense media buzz surrounding the Cowboys from now until January. Every time I've turned on the radio this past week, someone here in DFW is breaking down the Cowboys' chances or examining what impact Demarcus Ware will have or if Wade Phillips is going to be fired regardless of the outcome after the season. It's actually very exhausting to listen to. Come find me when when the first meaningful snap happens in September.

It doesn't help that two former Cowboys players, Michael Irvin and Nate Newton have their own radio show. The hype and attention that they direct toward the Cowboys on a daily basis illustrates how much our fans and the media live in the past.

Well, here's the reality Cowboys fans-you can talk about winning with this team all you want this season but it ain't gonna happen. If you'd open your eyes you'd see that your Dallas Cowboys haven't won anything since I was in the 6th grade and this year isn't going to be any different.

So now that I've so boldly blasted the Cowboys, I'll offer up five reasons why this is NOT the year to bet on them to be successful.

5) The Secondary

Last season, the Boys' secondary ranked among the worst in the NFC because of their susceptibility to the deep ball. With the departure of SS Roy Williams and Defensive Coordinator Brian Stewart, the Cowboys' secondary will be tested early and often. Ken Hamlin will have to be the leader of this secondary which is kind of scary. Basically, it could be a field day for a strong offense such as the Giants or Eagles.

4) Wade Phillips

The Cowboys head coach is moving himself to defensive coordinator this season which will leave less time for him to oversee other parts of the team. I've never agreed that Wade is the fit for this team because he lets Jerry Jones run the entire organization. Not to mention that his laid back attitude has at times frustrated players and fans alike who want to win. Whether the Cowboys go 19-0 and win the Super Bowl this year or lose every game on the schedule, Phillips is more than likely going to be let go because his contract is up at the end of the season. Lame duck coaches aren't passionate leaders; which is exactly what this team needs this year.

3) The New Texas Stadium

Jerry Jones' billion dollar project is certainly going to generate a lot of attention this year, but one thing it doesn't guarantee is Cowboys victories. Take or leave this argument but the pressure that will be put on the team this season to succeed on the field will be too much at times. Not only will this season have expectations at home but with the Super Bowl being held here next year success will be nothing short of a Cowboys' victory in the big game.

2) The Rest of the NFC EAST

Bottom-line, the Eagles, Redskins and Giants all added key players to their teams this offseason that undoubtedly make them stronger than they were last season. The Cowboys did nothing. The Giants signed former Cowboy Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard. The Eagles who ended the Cowboys season last year with a 44-6 win in Philly added several key players including rookie wideout Jeremy Maclin. The Redskins may have improved the most by signing free-agent DT Albert Hanynesworth and drafting University of Texas standout Brain Orakpo. Although the Cowboys did sign back-up QB Jon Kitna and ILB Keith Brooking, neither will make a lasting impact this season. Not to mention we had no first-round pick because we traded it for WR Roy Williams last year. Even without these offseason moves by the other NFC East teams, it's still the toughest division in the NFL.

1) The Offense

Last year the Cowboys' high octane offense started off the season as the best in the NFL as they averaged 32 points a game to go 3-0. The rest of the way they would average just over 20 points a game which ranked them 13th in overall scoring at the end of the season. How does a team that had seven returning pro bowlers from the year before tank like that? This season could be even worse.

Even though the Cowboys have three stellar running backs in Tashard Choice, Felix Jones and Marion Barber, their passing game is very suspicious.

The loss of Terrell Owens will hurt the Cowboys tremendously this season. You can't tell me that Roy Williams is going to be the No.1 receiver of this team when he's never led his team in receiving in the past. And how many times can Romo throw to Jason Witten when he's double covered on third downs? We couldn't live with T.O. and now we won't be able to live without him on offense.

Finally, I 'd like to say I'm not a Tony Romo believer. I think he is the most overrated QB in the NFL and always will be. He lives and dies off busted plays which is never good. He may win you a few games here and there with that lucky stuff but when it comes down to winning the big game those plays don't work. In the offseason, he seems more interested in a chance to qualify for the U.S. Open than working with his receivers.He's not a leader in the least bit. He may try and lead by example but at the end of the day he just doesn't have that passion that a starting quarterback needs to have. I believe that if Romo doesn't perform well this year, it may be his last as the Cowboys' quarterback. As he goes, so do the Cowboys.

My 2009 Cowboys Prediction: 7-9

So Close,Yet So Far Away

Tom Watson is 59 years old. He is the winner of eight major championships, including five British Open titles and today he almost made it six. Watson was trying to become the oldest major championship winner in the history of the PGA Tour beating Jack Nicklaus by more than 13 years. He led at some point in every round over the last four days at historic Turnberry in Scotland but it wasn't enough.

Coming down to the 72nd hole on Sunday he led fellow American Stewart Cink by one stroke. He hit a perfect tee shot down the middle of the fairway but then chose to hit an 8-iron into the green. The ball headed right toward the flag stick but it proved to be one more club than he needed resulting in a 3rd shot just over the green.

At this point every golf fan was getting nervous because he needed a good up and down to win instead of an easy two-putt. How could you root against Tom Watson in this situation? You just can't. He would go on to put his third shot eight feet from the hole leaving an uncomfortable putt to win. His nerves must have gotten the best of him because he never gave the putt a chance to go in the hole.

Watson would go on to make bogey to force a 4-hole playoff with Stewart Cink. Even with four holes to play you could tell that Watson was shaken and the magic had left him.

Thirty minutes before he had a chance to win his sixth British Open by one stroke instead as Cink sunk his final putt Watson lost by five strokes in the playoff. What a shame...

15 Down,15 to Go

Over the last three summers I've traveled over 15,000 miles and been to more than 20 states for my job at CBS Sports. Traveling that much can take its toll especially if I have driven from tournament to tournament every week. But one great thing about driving across the U.S. in the summer is the chance to stop and take in a Major League Baseball game.

Over my 23 years, I've been to 15 ballparks stretching from coast to coast and before I die I would love take in a game from each of the remaining 15 parks in America. So, out of those 15 ballparks I've decided to rank them in order from best to worst based on several categories: stadium, atmosphere and accessibility.

Just a Place to Watch Baseball

15) RFK Stadium

The reason that RFK is last on my list is because it was a baseball field in a football stadium. There were two sections: lower deck and upper deck. We bought tickets at the gate for $20 which was a complete rip off for the product inside. There was no chance to catch a home-run during batting practice because the entire outfield at it shortest point was 330 down the lines but the stands were 100 feet above the field. We got to see a good game between the Nationals and the Cubs, but overall it wasn't much.

14) Shea Stadium

I liked Shea for its history and rowdy fans but that was about it. We went to see the Rangers play the Mets last summer which was a lot of fun because it's always nice to cheer you home team on in another park.The stadium itself is in downtown Queens which is not the most fan friendly place in the world especially if you're an opposing fan. Our tickets were a little pricey but we had excellent seats in the club level behind home plate. We got there for batting practice and found out that we weren't allowed in the outfield sections without a ticket; leaving us with little chance of grabbing a ball. The stadium was pretty "cookie-cutter", meaning there were not a lot of imaginative perks on the field or throughout the park.

13)Angels Stadium of Anaheim

We visited this park in the summer of 2006 and to be honest I was really disappointed. As you walk up to the stadium there are several gigantic structures of players or a batting helmet,etc but that was the most entertaining part of the park. The batting practice accessibility was nothing special and the view from behind home plate is pretty average. The outfield is split between stands in left, huge rocks in left center, a green concert structure in center for the batters eye and a 30 foot digital scoreboard in right. We sat in the upper deck behind home plate and were kind of bored by the atmosphere.

12) Progressive Field( Jacob's Field)

I had always heard how cool the "The Jake" was because it was the first ballpark built with the modern technology of the 90's,etc. The overall experience was a lot of fun but Progressive Field itself was overrated. The view from behind home-plate was a little like that of the Angels park. A digital scoreboard wall was in left with a another giant scoreboard behind the left field stands. From center to right it was basically just an eight foot high wall to the foul pole. The best part of the view is downtown Cleveland set directly behind the stadium. The game we went to lasted 13 innings against the Tigers. The best part of the night was the general rowdiness of the crowd. Overall this was a good experience but the stadium wasn't as good as advertised.

11) Tiger Stadium

I don't remember much about going to Tiger Stadium except that it was my first Major league game I'd ever seen in person. We went to see the Tigers vs. Rangers in 1993 during Nolan Ryan's last season in the big leagues. It wasn't much to look at but it had so much history inside of it that I have to put it ahead of some of the newer parks. Cecil Fielder hit a bomb to help the Tigers beat the Rangers that day but the new experience of a big league game was enough to keep me and my brother happy.

The 21st Century Park

10) Minute Maid Park

I've been to watch the Astros several times since this stadium was built and every time I've really enjoyed it. The stadium is one of the most up to date there is with the retractable roof and the unique hill in dead centerfield 421 feet from home plate. The view from behind home-plate is a one that really catches your eye with the short porch in left field and other creative outlets around the field itself. This a great batting practice park because the short fences around the field. The only knock on this experience is that every time I've gone it seems like the crowd is asleep which kind of kills the atmosphere. Overall this is a great park to visit because it offers an environment for the whole family.

9) Comerica Park

I've been here twice since it's been built and both times I've walked away happy. The first thing you notice when you walk up to the park is an enormous statue of a tiger. As you walk around the park you will notice that there are several large statues of players such as Ty Cobb and Al Kaline which makes you aware of the Tigers' rich history. During batting practice the players are very accessible and the if you bring your glove you have a great chance to catch a ball.

8) Camden Yards

I visited Camden a couple of weeks ago for the first time and it was everything I expected. It had beautiful scenery, an old timey feel to it and the fans were very knowledgeable of the game. We went to see the Orioles play the Red Sox and had great seats a few rows behind home plate. The only negative was the rain delay that forced us to leave in the 5th inning with the O's down 9-1. As we got back to our hotel, we watched the end of the game but we were sick because the O's came back and won 11-10. There's not much wrong with Camden Yards.

7) PNC Park

The home of the Pittsburgh Pirates was surprisingly very impressive all around. Like Comerica, PNC has several statues around the park of old players such as Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente. We walked up and got $8 tickets against the Yankees which is unheard of anywhere else. The ballpark itself is beautiful. The view from home plate is dominated by the skyline of downtown Pittsburgh.

Historical Parks

6) Dodger Stadium

This was a great experience as were the visits to the rest of the stadiums on this list because of the history of the park. The stadium itself is nothing to brag about, but the L.A. atmosphere makes this a great baseball experience. We got to see the Dodgers play the Giants back in 2006 as Barry Bonds was chasing Hank Aaron's home-run record. We sat in the left field bleachers and watched Bonds hit his 720th homer. We also watched an inspiring fireworks show at the end of the game.

5) Yankee Stadium

I know the thousands of you that will read this may think I'm ranking Yankee Stadium too low because I don't like them. Well, you're right(sort of). There's not another team in sports that I hate more than the New York Yankees but to be fair I just wasn't that impressed with the park. I visited the stadium in 2001 during a series with the Indians who then had Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez. We watched Roger Clemens pitch a gem which was really cool to see. The stadium itself was in the Bronx which is not a neighborhood you want to be caught in at night. The history of the park was the best part because you could just feel the ghosts of Ruth, Mantle, Gehrig and so many others that had played here. Overall, it wasn't much to look at but it was nice to be a part of a history.

4)Pac Bell Park- Home of the Giants

This is my favorite recently built park for so many reasons. My family and I traveled to SF in 2004 which was cool because Barry Bonds was the best player in baseball. Pac Bell is 50 feet the Pacific Ocean which makes the home-runs hit to right field accessible to people boating in McCovey's Cove. The view from behind the plate is breath-taking because of the array of colors that are covering the structures and the view of the bay from the field. The thing that is so cool about this park is that there are so many things to do besides just sit and watch baseball. There's a small theme park and a view from right field that looks out into the bay. Not to mention 30 or so lucky fans can find a spot to watch the game through a gate from the outside of the park at field level for free. We saw the 2004 Red Sox play the Giants that day which was really cool. This is definitely a must if you're a baseball fan.

3) Wrigley Field

The home of the Cubs has the best sports atmosphere in the country. Many times at stadiums across America you will see random fans that are wearing other teams' jerseys or gear just because they're at a baseball game... not here. Everyone is wearing Cubs stuff. The experience outside the stadium is crazy because all the way around the park people are selling Cubs' merchandise, selling tickets, chasing after batting practice homers or making their way in and out of the numerous bars they have around Wrigley. When we entered for the first time it felt as though we had walked into the 1940's. Another great thing about Wrigley is that most of the fans are very knowledgeable about the game which makes it that much more fun. We saw the Cubbies win 6-2 against the Marlins and listened to Greg Maddux sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th Inning stretch. As far as baseball atmosphere goes it just doesn't get any better...

2) Fenway Park

Ever since I was about 11 years old my family has been traveling down to Florida every year to go watch the Red Sox spring training in Fort Meyers, FL. So I've always enjoyed rooting for the the Red Sox(except when they're playing the Rangers) even before the had their magical 2004 World Series run. We visited Fenway in the same week as we went to Yankee Stadium which was cool because we got a lot of baseball history in a short time span. Fenway is like Wrigley Field in that there is so rich in baseball history that you can't help but take in this one-of -kind ballpark. If you can get there early for batting practice there are several extremely accessible spots to catch a ball or even get an autograph. Down the right field line next to the foul pole the wall is a mere four feet high which makes it prime territory for ball interaction. The stadium itself is the oldest in the majors which makes it look like you're in the 1960's.

The view from behind home plate is one that any baseball fan would never forget. Fenway has so many nooks and crannies from "Pesky's Pole" down the right field line to the gap in right center that is 420 feet from home or the famous "Green Monster" in left field that stands 37 feet high. We saw the Indians play the Red Sox that night as we sat in deep right a few row up from the bullpen. The best thing about the experience was to be a part of the surrounding fans' passion for their team. One minute the Red Sox would take the lead and you would think they were World Series bound but the next inning they would commit an error followed immediately by a string of "boos' from their faithful. This passion is what makes going to a game in Boston an absolute must if you're a sports fan.

The Best of the Best

1) The Ballpark in Arlington

Yes, I know most of you will disagree with this but I don't care. How could I not rank the stadium that I've seen over 300 games in over the last 14 years at the top of the list? The Ballpark is not just a place to watch baseball; it's an enjoyable experience for everyone no matter who you're rooting for. When you walk into the park you are immediately welcomed by the Rangers' staff with a smile and a "Welcome to The Ballpark." Showing up a couple hours early for batting practice can be very beneficial. The best place to catch a ball is in dead centerfield standing next to the 100 feet of green grass that serves as a prime place for homers. My brother and I have caught over 400 batting practice baseballs over the years on that hill which is pretty cool. Just behind centerfield is a huge playground for kids that makes for a great break during the game for kids.

The view from behind home-plate is reminiscent of old Tiger stadium in right field with a huge home-run porch. In left field there was originally a manual scoreboard that is now a huge digital scoreboard. Not to mention that my family's season tickets in right centerfield just above the 407 sign are the best seats in the house. We're five feet from the bullpen catcher and on the first row of the our section a few feet from the wall which makes it possible to catch a homer and have a conversation with the players from our seats. The atmosphere of The Ballpark embodies our great state of Texas. Filled with museums, low prices and the most entertaining baseball in the big leagues, The Ballpark in Arlington is the best value in the majors.

Just Another Day at Work

Today Tiger Woods won his 68th career victory on the PGA Tour at Congressional Country Club. Seeing that he is the host of the tournament and is playing very well this year, it seemed a forgone conclusion that he would win. I caught a few glimpses of Tiger this week including his final putt on the 18th hole. The whole week Tiger was neck and neck with reigning champion, Anthony Kim, but it never really felt like Kim was in the driver's seat.

From a spotter's perspective, when Tiger is playing it makes the tournament ten times more exciting. It was said that on Friday there were 46,000 fans at Congressional and 40,000 of them were following Tiger. The rest of the course felt like a graveyard. Despite that, golf is just better with Tiger present.

As my friend Cliff and I finished our post production jobs, we grabbed a cart and raced down to the 18th green to watch Tiger and Kim finish. Woods was only leading by one stroke as he teed it up on the final hole but it didn't feel like anyone was worried. Tiger hit a perfect tee shot right down the middle of the fairway and then took an 8 iron to the middle of the green. Cliff and I walked underneath the 18th tower a few yards from the green to watch Tiger try and win his own tournament for the first time. He two putted and captured his 68th win on tour. It was meant to be to this week.

I Wish I Could Say I Cared

Soccer is said to be the most popular sport in the world. Forgive me if I disagree. This may sound sort of narcissistic, but the sporting world revolves around the United States and our stars. The most popular sports icons of our time such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Babe Ruth were all generated from the American media. Now, there are European super stars like Pele and David Beckham, but their popularity has a limit- just like the sport they play. 

Today, the U.S. soccer team lost a heartbreaker to Brazil in the FIFA Confederations Final 3-2. I guess this was a huge loss considering five days before some people wanted to give the U.S. team a ticker-tape parade after upsetting Spain in the semis. The U.S. was a huge underdog in both games. 

At the half, Brazil trailed 2-0 but came roaring back by scoring three consecutive goals in the second half to win the title. But my question is... what title did they win?

 I know it's called the Confederation Cup but what is it? Is it an international league that is played annually like the NFL or NBA? Or is it a qualifying series of games for the  World Cup next year? I couldn't tell you and frankly I don't think the average sports fan could either. Soccer will never be what football or baseball is in this country because there are too many unknowns. 

G-Lover Wins the Open

The U.S. Open is my favorite tournament to watch for several reasons. It has drama unlike any other and separates the men from the boys when it really counts. Lucas Glover was just a regular joe on the PGA Tour until Monday afternoon when he fought off Tiger and company to win The Open at Bethpage Black. He used his care-free demeanor to win his second career tournament and change his life forever.

To be honest, I wasn't too excited when Lucas won because I thought he was just some grouch who happened to get lucky. The latter may be true, but the former is as far as can be from reality. I became a huge Glover fan after watching him on "The Late Show with David Letterman" last evening because he basically just made fun of himself.

Here's the list:

10.I'd like to thank Tiger Woods for letting someone else win

9.I started playing golf in March.

8.I forgot my wedge yesterday, so I used a rake.

7.Honestly, I'm just glad to be out of the rain.

6.I had Phil Mickelson in the office pool.

5.Ladies, my last name isn't "Glover" -- it's "G. Lover"

4.I drive for show, I putt for dough.

3.Does anybody have a phone number for that Jon & Kate lady?

2.If there's anything more exciting than watching golf, it's ten lame jokes read by a guy who plays golf.

1.Even I have never heard of me.

Simply classic. I'm not sure which one I enjoyed more: watching Glover win The Open or watching him on Letterman. Probably the latter.