The US Open finish was spectacular. That playoff made anyone who questioned the 18 hole playoff system for the US Open shut up. Granted you are not going to get the goofy journeyman pro like Rocco Mediate in the playoff everytime but it was great television. Perfect timing too, weekday daytime. I am sure with all the storylines surrounding Tiger's knee, if he was going to win, and Rocco's comeback that NBC did not really throw a curveball to its soap opera viewers. Every hole was like a soap opera. Tiger grimaces in pain, Rocco goes three down to Woods, Rocco charges back, will Tiger pull it out? Great television. Great golf. Great US Open. Period. Unfortunately Woods will not be seen for the rest of the year as the PGA TOUR ratings will not plummet once again.
Speaking of Mediate, how could you root against this guy? He had this attitude of an "aww shucks, I don't know how I got here" country boy from South Florida, he smiled every hole I think and his round goes up and down and never stayed steady. I compared him to watching the New York Jets on Monday. As mentioned in previous entries, the Jets just can't let you have a definitive ending. Neither could Rocco. The Jets will be down 20 at halftime, charge back to come within a touchdown or even take the lead, only to blow it real late. Rocco was 3 down to Tiger, and came back to take the lead by one, lost the lead when Tiger sent the playoff into 'overtime', and then lost on the first possession of OT. My heart was in my stomach rooting for this guy. Its not that I dislike Tiger, I just couldn't root against Rocco. Granted also, at The Barclays I had to give him his umbrella during the final round last year that he left in his locker which would have made golfers I came in direct contact with at the tournament 2 for 2 at the majors this year (drove Trevor Immelman back after the Pro-Am). If that happened I was putting my money on Steve Stricker, Paddy Harrington, Jim Furyk, and Zach Johnson at the remaining majors.
Anyway, Rocco brought out the heart of the average golf fan. He was David going up against Goliath. My emotions were on a rollercoaster watching this guy and I couldn't help but not root for him. When he didn't sink that putt on 18 it was like the point in the Jet game my dad looks over and says...Tommy, nothing good can come out of this game anymore, lets go home. You knew it was over. He had fought valiantly, but it was time to just throw in the towel. Great Open though. It had everyone talking, offices stopping work to watch, just the USGA should pat themselves on the back for a job well done.
I would like to congratulate Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and the rest of the Boston Celtics for winning the NBA Championship. Well done! I just want to make a quick comment that even though KG provided an excellent sound bite with "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE", I felt Michelle Tafoya was a little too aggressive in her post-game interview. She wanted to keep KG there as long as she could, kept saying Kevin one more question, Kevin one more question. The man just won his first NBA Championship, Michelle. How about you let him celebrate it and stop trying to force the sound bite out of him when he almost incomprehensible with tears of joy. Other than that, decent coverage of my Celtics championship.
Its been a good week, lets hope the Yanks can keep on rolling.
Till the next time,
The Conzz
