TIGER

Well if you haven't heard already, he's back.  He's been back for two days.  Tiger Woods came out and went birdie-eagle in his first two holes of match play at the WGC at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Marana, Arizona.  On a side note, those of us at The University of Arizona used to refer to the people from Marana as T-Loc's, short for Tucson locals.  They take on a personality one wouldn't believe.  Back to Woods.  He opened up his round against the 64th ranked player in the world, the Australian Brendan Jones.  What a daunting task to play against the guy who is the most talked about golfer in the entire world, and this is his comeback after miraculously winning the 2008 U.S. Open on a disintegrated left knee.  The gallery perhaps had a few more people in it than normal.  

Woods looked good.  I've made it a point to watch every tournament this year (thanks to the glorious Golf Channel), and I was eager to see the media-hyped return of Eldrick.  The critics are right.  His knee does look stronger than at his peak before the injury.  I think this could strengthen him more than hinder him,  allowing him to pulverize drives 380-yards, and hitting 180-yard sand wedges.  As expected his short game could use more work, but that's what happens when you haven't played for over 6 months.  From my recliner, he was turning and connecting with ease.  He did have quite a few missed fairways and greens, but this was a great opportunity to release him back to the wild of competitive golf.  As we know, he lost in his second round to Tim Clark, but I say hey, that's the beauty about the game of golf.  Even the #1 player in the world is beatable if you get hot.  And Clark certainly did, birdieing holes 11, 12, and 13 to take him 3 up with 5 to play.  Woods simply couldn't answer that birdie run and lost on the 16th when Clark birdied to win 4 & 2.  

So where does Tiger go after this?  I say you better get his green jacket sized up because I believe he will make a run at the Master's.  Don't count out the other majors either, to possibly win the grand slam of golf all in one year.  It's a daunting task I know, but Tiger is up to it, and I know it will happen sooner or later.  Why not this year?  He's worked hard, now has two children at home, and feels better than ever.  Once the flat stick starts to drain putts from unthinkable spots on the green, players better be on their guard.  His 2009 schedule is still up in the air, but you already know he's punched his card to play at Augusta come April.  I can't wait and neither can you. 

Tainted Game?

For those of you who are unaware of the recent events surrounding New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez, let me shed a little light on it for you.  It has recently been found that Rodriguez tested positive for banned substances in 2003 while with the Texas Rangers.  At the time, it was not something that would get you a suspension or removal from the game of baseball.  At the time, according to Rodriguez, it was a "loosey-goosey" era.  I want to get into it a little bit on how the information surrounding Rodriguez has now tainted the view of baseball players for many fans, especially yours truly.

The thing that most people fail to realize is that doing steroids in baseball in the early 2000s was as much apart of the game as the pitcher throwing the ball to the catcher.  I don't doubt that over 90% of the players at the time were using some form of steroid to 'enhance' their play on the field.  The question remains however, are they still using now?  Are there forms of steroids available now that are undetectable?  Given the recent events surrounding Rodriguez, Pettitte, Clemens and Bonds, I wouldn't doubt it.  

Back to Rodriguez.  Here is a player who made the jump into the major leagues at the age of 18.  RARELY does that happen in the game of baseball unless you have serious talent.  That is something that I will not take away from Rodriguez, the guy can play baseball.  He played in the Mariner's system and then was given the most lucrative offer in the history of Major League Baseball to play for the Texas Rangers for $256 million for 10 years.  Of course Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees, who in 2007 gave him a deal for $275 million for 10 years.  It's an understatement that this guy is making some money.  However, being under the steroids radar has helped him achieve that, but now that it's all out there, you wonder how much he really was using.  He says that it was only from 2001-2003.  Do you believe him?  It's tough to say.

My point about the use of steroids by all these players, is that it gives you a horrible view about what it takes to be a professional athlete.  These guys are talented, you have to give them that, but in this game that isn't enough.  Where you have to play 182 games, you could become injured and lose your roster spot for good.  The pressure is high.  But not high enough to do something like that.  I've been against it from the beginning and want to see Bonds and Clemens go down for it.  A-Rod will escape it all by coming clean.  I commend him for that.  It's a shame that all of it is coming out now, giving us a surreal look at the post as though it has been tainted.    

There's one player that has avoided all of this.  A player who would have had the opportunity to beat the Babe's record if he wasn't injured.  My favorite player: Ken Griffey Jr.     The guy is a shoe-in for the hall, and has never been linked to using steroids.  I hope that it never comes out that he has.  I believe baseball is heading in the right direction, but it's hard not to just sit back and think while sitting at the ballpark, "Is that guy using steroids?" You may never know.