Woods shamed himself but not game of golf
March 31, 2010
The azaleas will be in bloom as usual, because there are people who makesure of it at Augusta National. As a bonus this year, Jack and Arnie willreunite on the first tee.
Golf will be played as usual, and by early evening next Sunday, someone willbe wearing a green jacket.
The Masters will survive the sideshow born of the sordid tales of TigerWoods, and that’s only fitting.
Because while Woods has shamed himself plenty, he has done nothing to shamethe game of golf.
Remember that when the circus begins at Augusta National on Monday, andWoods steps into the cross hairs of the once tepid golf media. Remember it, too,when he steps onto the first tee on Thursday to hit a drive that will formallyannounce his return to golf.
Yes, he flaunted society’s rules of engagement with his bevy of mistresses.He did a terrible thing to his wife and, because of that, a lot of people willnever again regard him the same way.
But as the golf season begins anew in the year’s first major, life alsobegins anew for Woods. He’ll be back on familiar ground, with a familiar goalreplacing some new ones he may have learned in therapy.
And, after four long months spent judging Woods for what he did away fromthe golf course, maybe it’s time to start judging him again for what he does onit.
The game deserves it. So, in a way, does Woods, whose remarkable run overthe last 14 years changed the very way the game is played.
I’ve been among those who have taken Woods to task—and quite regularly—for the way he has handled this whole mess. I find it irritating that he stilltries to control the message and portrays himself as a noble figure who somehowwent astray around the same time he stopped meditating.
The details of some of his escapades—if true—are even more disturbing. Idon’t know how anyone can look at the infamous Woods glare now without eitherlaughing or feeling queasy.
But this isn’t about morality, or his startling lack of it. We’ve had plentyof time to digest and debate what Woods did and why.
This is about golf. And, really, that’s how it should be as the game returnsto one of its most revered places with a story line the late Bobby Jones couldnever have imagined when he built it.
Expect some commotion, at least outside the gates. The paparazzi will be intown, and so will every kook attempting to latch onto the moment for his or her15 minutes of fame.
Expect a golf tournament inside, and, hopefully, nothing else.
That’s what happened in 2003 when Martha Burk crusaded to enroll a woman atAugusta National. And that’s what golf desperately needs now.
I’m among the minority that doesn’t think Woods will do well in his firsttournament since going into hiding and then into therapy. I think thecombination of nerves and rust will not only prevent him from adding anothergreen jacket to his collection, but may send him home before the weekend.
Still, he’s got every right to try, no matter what anyone thinks about hispersonal life.
Yes, he could have been a better golf citizen by stopping occasionally tosign autographs or say hi to a spectator. And, long ago, he should have toneddown his penchant for using expletives whenever something went awry on thecourse.
Woods himself seemed to acknowledge that when he vowed in his first publicappearance since his accident to respect the game more.
But he never kicked his ball out from behind a tree when no one was looking,never coughed in his opponent’s backswing. As far as we know he’s never put downa 4 when he really made a 5.
Though some might argue that his transgressions did, indeed, hurt golf, whatthey really did was hurt Woods. The game survived without its greatest playerbecause the game has always been about more than just one person.
Someday Woods will be replaced by the next phenom, just as Jones and Palmerand Nicklaus were before him. When that day comes, it will be time to take stockof his career and measure him against the greats of the past.
Those measurements, though, should be based solely on what he did on thegolf course. There’s no grading curve where Woods loses greatness points becausehe couldn’t stop chasing women.
So go ahead and applaud Woods for the golfer he is. Or go ahead and turnaway in disgust.
But remember this:
There’s Tiger Woods the golfer and Tiger Woods the person.
One still has some redeeming qualities.
Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press.
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Texas 2B Kinsler expects to open on DL
March 31, 2010
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP)—Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler(notes) is expecting toopen the season on the disabled list because of a high ankle sprain.
The Rangers on Sunday acquired Andres Blanco(notes) from the Chicago Cubs partiallyas insurance in case Kinsler was unable to open the season.
Kinsler says there is no timetable for his return.
He hit .253 with 31 homers and 86 RBIs in 144 games for Texas last season.
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Tiger takes spotlight off other contenders
March 31, 2010
Few players have risen to No. 2 in the world with less fanfare than SteveStricker.
When he won the Northern Trust Open so convincingly in February, it was hisfourth U.S. PGA Tour victory in his last 15 starts, the highest rate of winningthis side of Tiger Woods. It was enough for Stricker to be considered among thebest players who haven’t won a major, and with his pure putting stroke, heshould be a contender at the Masters.
Not that anyone will notice in the days leading up to the year’s firstmajor.
“I’m sure we’ll get a ton of Tiger questions, and rightly so,” Strickersaid. “It’s been a huge story.”
The biggest story in golf—at least inside the ropes—in the month leadingto Augusta National has been Ernie Els. He ended two years without a victory bywinning his second World Golf Championship title, then made it two in a row witha victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. That made Els the first player in2010 with multiple U.S. PGA Tour victories, and a big favorite at the Masters.
Now, he’s expecting a quiet week.
“People are not going to be talking about who’s in form until probablyThursday morning when we start the event,” Els said. “It’s going to be allabout Tiger and him coming back and everything. So I think we will all besideshows until Thursday morning. And I think we’re fine with that. Everybody isfine with that.”
Stricker and Els are among the half-dozen players who can be consideredfavorites at the Masters. Any other year, they would be getting more attentionthan usual on the road to Augusta.
This year has been a little different.
Rarely has a tournament gone by without top players—just about any player,for that matter—getting asked about Woods.
“For a guy not being around, he sure has drawn a lot of attention,”Stricker said.
Few other players have stood out. Seven of the top 15 players in the worldranking have won this year, with Els the only multiple winner on the sport’stoughest circuit. Geoff Ogilvy opened his season with another victory atKapalua. Ian Poulter captured his first victory in America. Camilo Villegasthreatened in two tournaments before winning the Honda Classic. Jim Furyk wonfor the first time in 2 1/2 years.
All of them could be expected to do well at the Masters.
Being overshadowed by Woods might work to their advantage. They already feelpressure to perform without having to be constantly asked about the state oftheir game and whether this could be the year they break through at Augusta.
Mike Weir knows what that’s like from experience.
He had won the Bob Hope Classic and Riviera early in the 2003 season, alongwith a tie for third at Pebble Beach. The Canadian was as hot as anyone headedto the Florida swing in March, the month when the focus turns to the Masters.Indeed, media activity was busier than usual that year, but not because of Weiror how he played.
That was the year of Martha Burk’s campaign to have Augusta National changeits all-male membership. While the issue wasn’t nearly as salacious or shockingas Woods’ infidelity, it dominated the conversation. Weir quietly went to theMasters, and emerged with a green jacket.
“Going in 2003, I don’t think anybody was playing any better,” Weirrecalled. “I was hardly asked a question before the tournament started. Sothere’s some truth to that. When there’s a singular focus like this year, you’regoing in under the radar.”
Once the questions get beyond Woods’ stunning fall, his public apology andhis decision to return to the Masters, they shift toward how Woods will fare atthe Masters after not competing in five months.
Els, Stricker, Furyk, Poulter, Ogilvy, Villegas and Martin Kaymer of Germanyalready have shown what they can do.
Now it’s a question of anyone noticing before the Masters gets under way.
“It’s a good thing, especially for me,” Stricker said. “I don’t care tobe looked at as a favorite or a top player. I would rather do my own stuff, myown business, and slide under the radar.”
That might not last once thetournament begins on Thursday, heads into the weekend and onto the back nine onSunday. The course has not gone through any significant changes, and Mastersofficials showed last year they are interested in bringing some noise back bysetting up the course for birdies and eagles.
There is no shortage of players capable of taking advantage, even if alleyes are on one guy.
“I think it could be one hell of a year,” Els said before winning theArnold Palmer Inivitational. “There’s a really good group of players playingwell, and I think that bodes very well for the first major and the rest of theyear. It’s not going to be a walkover for anybody.”
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Shaq’s mom pens book about her struggles
March 31, 2010
CLEVELAND (AP)—Shaquille O’Neal’s(notes) mom has written a tell-all book—aboutherself.
Inspired and motivated by her superstar son, Lucille O’Neal is promoting,“Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go: From Mental Welfare to Mental Wealth,” abook that chronicles her life as an unwed teen mother, struggles with alcoholand her determination to get a college degree in her 40s.
On Wednesday, she signed copies of the book at Quicken Loans Arena beforeher son’s team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, hosted the Milwaukee Bucks. ShaquilleO’Neal is currently sidelined with a thumb injury but is expected to return forthe NBA playoffs.
His mom said the book has been “in me for years.” A mother of four andgrandmother of 14, she decided to write it to help motivate others who may seeher now and not realize the difficulties she has overcome.
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Nyquist, Baker, Geoffrion are Hobey finalists
March 31, 2010
ORONO, Maine (AP)—Maine’s Gustav Nyquist and New Hampshire’s Bobby Baker areamong the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which recognizes thenation’s top college hockey player.
The third finalist is Blake Geoffrion of Wisconsin. The winner will beannounced April 9 at the Frozen Four in Detroit.
Nyquist was the nation’s leading scorer this season with 19 goals and 41assists for 61 points.
Butler was the nation’s top goal scorer with 27. Geoffrion was No. 2 ingoals scored with 27.
Greinke roughed up in spring finale
March 31, 2010
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP)—Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke(notes) was touched up for fiveearned runs, six hits and three walks in his final spring start by the San DiegoPadres, who played to a 8-8 tie with the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.
Jon Garland(notes), San Diego’s opening day starter, allowed two runs and four hitsin five innings.
Chase Headley(notes) homered in the second inning off Greinke and also had an RBIdouble to finish the spring with 23 runs batted in.
Scott Hairston(notes) also homered off Greinke, who worked 5 1-3 innings.
Greinke threw 54 strikes in 94 pitches and ended spring training with a 3-0record and a 4.29 earned run average.
He went 16-8 with a big league best 2.16 ERA last season for the last-placeRoyals.
The Padres are 15-2-2 in their last 19 games this spring after starting witha 2-8 record.
“We’re a good team,” Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez(notes) said. “Everygame we got out there, we’re going to go out there with the mentality that wecan win this. Not because we want to believe that but it’s because we can.
“The way we’ve finished this spring, we’ve lost one or two times in thelast week. And everybody’s leaving their starters in for seven innings. It’s notlike we’ve been winning at the end.”
Will Venable(notes) hit an opposite-field three-run homer for San Diego.
NOTES: The Padres left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc(notes) to Triple-A Portland andawarded the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation to Clayton Richard(notes) and MatLatos(notes). Manager Bud Black also said the team is likely to place left-handedreliever Joe Thatcher(notes) on the disabled list to start the season. Thatcher, whohas a sore shoulder, played catch on Wednesday but it’s unclear when he willthrow in the bullpen.
Bonds to appear at Giants’ park April 11
March 31, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Barry Bonds(notes) is scheduled to return to AT&T Park in Aprilwhen the San Francisco Giants honor the 10th anniversary of their 2000 NL Westchampionship team.
The Giants announced Wednesday that Bonds is one of several playersscheduled to take part in a pregame ceremony on April 11.
Bonds has made only a handful of public appearances in San Francisco sincethe Giants decided not to bring him back following the 2007 season.
The ceremony is among the events to commemorate the 10th anniversary of thedowntown waterfront ballpark. Bonds has provided many of the signature moments,including setting the season home record of 73 in 2001 and breaking Hank Aaron’scareer record of 755 in 2007.
Bonds finished with 762 homers.
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VCU wraps up best-of-3 CBI championship
March 31, 2010
ST. LOUIS (AP)—Brandon Rozzell scored a career-high 27 points and Jamie Skeenhit a pair of crucial baskets in the final two minutes, helping VCU beat SaintLouis for the second time in three nights, wrapping up the best-of-three CBIchampionship with a 71-65 victory on Wednesday night.
Skeen added 16 points for the Rams (27-9), who compensated for an off-gameby leading scorer Larry Sanders, in foul trouble much of the game and held tothree points and four rebounds. Sanders had 20 points and 12 rebounds in a 68-56victory Monday in Richmond, Va.
Willie Reed had 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks for Saint Louis(23-13). Freshman Corey Remekun added career-bests with 13 points and sevenrebounds for the Billikens, who finished 18-4 at home.
Saint Louis was just 2 for 18 from 3-point range.
VCU outscored Saint Louis 9-2 to pull away from a 61-all tie with 3:04remaining, with Remekun finally scoring for the Billikens with seven secondsleft. Rozzell’s previous best was 20 points against College of Charleston onMarch 22.
Saint Louis had appeared to seize control with 7:18 to go in the half on afive-point play—Sanders’ second foul plus a technical that put the Billikensahead 23-20. Saint Louis led 33-24 at the break.
Phils’ Halladay hit hard early by Jays
March 31, 2010
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP)—Roy Halladay(notes) was hit hard early then bounced back withfour straight strikeouts against his former team, but the Philadelphia Philliesfell 5-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Halladay, who spent his first 12 big league seasons with the Blue Jaysbefore joining the Phillies in December, allowed four runs and five hits in thefirst inning. He then struck four straight and retired the final seven battershe faced.
Halladay’s final spring start was cut short at three innings to keep his armfresh for the Phillies when they open the season in Washington on Monday.
“I’m extremely anxious,” the 32-year-old Halladay said of his upcomingPhillies debut. “I think the hard part of later on in spring is that you startanticipating what’s to come and you get a little stale. I’m looking forward to(starting the season). I feel prepared.”
On the same field where former Phillies pitcher Brett Myers(notes) exchangedhandshakes and laughs with his old coaches and teammates six days earlier,Halladay was all business at Bright House Field with the Blue Jays in town.Instead of chatting with his old Toronto teammates in between at-bats orinnings, he tried to get them out.
“I respect everyone over there,” Halladay said. “(But) you realize thatthere’s a time for that in the offseason. I wanted to keep my focus on that andpitch and focus on that as much as I could.”
The Blue Jays greeted their former, longtime ace with a flurry of hits.After Jose Bautista(notes) led off with a double to center, All-Star second basemanAaron Hill(notes) drilled the first pitch he saw from Halladay into the left fieldbleachers for a two-run home run.
Adam Lind(notes) and Edwin Encarnacion(notes) followed with doubles later in the inningand Alex Gonzalez added an RBI single as the Blue Jays jumped to a 4-0 leadagainst Halladay.
“I just wasn’t aggressive,” Halladay said. “I just guided the pitches anddidn’t make an adjustment until later on.”
Halladay struck out Jose Molina(notes) to end the first inning and then struck outeach of the three hitters who came to the plate in the second. He finished hiseffort with a 1-2-3 third inning.
Halladay allowed four runs on five hits while striking out five and walkingnone.
“I don’t think he leaned on it,” Philadelphia pitching coach Rich Dubeesaid of Halladay’s rough start against his former team. “There is a littlesomething there: ex-teammates, the end of spring training, you’re less apt tomaybe stand somebody up or move somebody.
“I think he was feeling his way through it and then all of a sudden he saidenough is enough and the last two innings he turned it up a little bit,” Dubeesaid.
Both of the Phillies’ runs came on solo drives off Toronto starter BrettCecil(notes). Placido Polanco(notes) hit a one-out homer in the third inning and Ben Francisco(notes)hit his team-high fourth of the spring to lead off the fifth.
NOTES: Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz(notes) was out of the lineup after gettinghit in the left arm with a pitch in a minor league game Tuesday. Manuel expectsRuiz to play in today’s spring finale. … Philadelphia reliever Ryan Madson(notes)took over for Halladay to begin the fourth inning and struck out two in ascoreless frame. Madson will serve as the Phillies closer with Brad Lidge(notes)sidelined until mid-to-late April. … Toronto manager Cito Gaston named JasonFrasor(notes) the Blue Jays closer prior to the game.
Wade asks for sole custody of his 2 sons
March 31, 2010
MIAMI (AP)—Dwyane Wade(notes) has asked a court to grant him sole custody of histwo young sons, adding to an already venomous and drawn-out divorce proceedingbetween the Miami Heat guard and his estranged wife.
In addition, Wade has asked that his wife be ordered to undergo apsychological examination.
Documents obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press show Wade alleges hiswife Siohvaughn cannot “be considered a fit and proper person” to raise theirchildren. In more than 300 pages of filings, the All-Star says his wifeexhibited threatening behavior, had extramarital affairs, uses abusive parentingmethods and is unwilling to let the 2006 NBA finals MVP see his children.
The couple has two boys, ages 8 and 2.
“For more than two years, I have tried to make peace with Siohvaughnconcerning our divorce and custody of our kids,” Wade said in a statementreleased to The AP. “I no longer believe that’s possible. Siohvaughn hasconsistently attempted to interrupt or prevent me from having visitation timewith our boys.”
Siohvaughn Wade’s behavior “has made it evident that she is unstable,dishonest, unbalanced, unwilling to accept responsibility for her actions, notof good character, and therefore, unfit to be a custodial parent,” according tothe petition.
Siohvaughn Wade’s attorneys did not immediately respond to a request forcomment.
The papers are scheduled to be introduced in court on Friday.
Dwyane Wade said the custody fight and desire to be around his sons couldkeep him from participating with the U.S. men’s national team in this summer’sworld championships.
“Perhaps there’ll be a scenario that would allow him to participate,” saidWade’s agent, Henry Thomas. “But this is something very important to him and itcould prevent him from being able to participate. … We don’t know how longthis particular matter is going to go on. We simply don’t know.”
The couple separated in August 2007. An often-nasty divorce battle hasfollowed, with a trial now scheduled to begin June 7.
Wade is already suing his wife for defamation after she alleged last yearthat he gave her a sexually transmitted disease, a claim that was eventuallywithdrawn.
“They put us in a position and they put Dwyane in a position that he has noalternative,” said attorney James Pritikin. “If he really wants to make surethat his children grow up in a healthy environment, he’s got to be the custodialparent for these children. He’s the only one that can give them emotionalstability and place their safety and health above all else.”
Dwyane Wade is involved with a number of legal fights outside of the divorceand custody battle.
Earlier this week, a federal judge dismissed a $90 million lawsuit claimingthat Wade violated antitrust laws in a failed restaurant venture. Wade stillfaces a breach of contract lawsuit stemming from the restaurant venture, plus issuing a former business partner for defamation.
It has not seemed to adversely affect his play.
Wade won last season’s NBA scoring title, and ranks among league leadersthis season in points, assists and steals.
“Dwyane has always been able to do a great job of compartmentalizing hislife,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “The basketball court has been hissanctuary, where he’s able to concentrate and focus on just the game. Everything else in his life, amazingly, doesn’t get in the way or clutter his mind orhis focus.”
High school sweethearts whose romance continued to college at Marquette andultimately to marriage, Dwyane and Siohvaughn Wade have not gotten along inyears.
In January 2009, Siohvaughn Wade claimed, among other things, that herhusband abandoned his children, that they were frightened to be around him, thathe was “guilty of extreme and repeated mental cruelty” toward his wife.
Dwyane Wade has denied each charge.
“I’m sorry to say that many of the things she has done during our marriageand throughout this divorce have convinced me that it is not in our children’sbest interest that she have custody,” Wade said in his statement to The AP.“As a result, I have decided to fight for custody of our children.”
The documents obtained by The AP include police reports from when SiohvaughnWade called authorities to the couple’s home in a Miami suburb on Christmas Eve2008 as Dwyane Wade arrived there to see his children.
They also include claims made by Andrea Williams, a former friend of thecouple, that Siohvaughn Wade paid for trips to Las Vegas and other places,bought a man she was romantically involved with as far back as 2004 a car and amotorcycle, threatened to find a gun and shoot her husband, and voluntarilyentered an Illinois hospital to deal with anger-related issues.
“I feel our children’s health and safety are at stake,” Dwyane Wade said.“Our two children are my top priority.”
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