Grand Slammed
Posted April 13, 2008, 8:19 PM ET

Earlier this year, Tiger Woods posted on his website that winning the Grand Slam in 2008 was "easily within reach." Maybe next year, Tiger.

The Masters has a new champion, and it was a surprise winner for the second year in a row. Trevor Immelman won his first major championship by besting Woods and Augusta National for a three-shot victory. The South African joins fellow countryman Gary Player as a proud owner of a green jacket.

This year's Masters had the same boring pattern as the NCAA's March Madness. The basketball tourney was really lacking in drama until the championship game, and the Masters delivered virtually nothing but a windblown final round.

Immelman seems like a very likable guy and his battle against cancer to win in Augusta is certainly inspirational. But he was the first golfer to win the Masters after holding a share of the lead after every round since Seve Ballesteros did it in 1980. He became the first player since Ben Crenshaw in 1984 to win after holding a share of the lead after the first round.

The added length to Augusta National has all but eliminated the final day of thunder of roars with eagles and birdies. While I still enjoy watching the tournament, the changes to the course have greatly affected the drama on the last nine holes on Sunday around Amen Corner.

As for Tiger, he did post a rather subdued even par 72 on the final day, but not once did you get the feeling that something magical was going to happen among the sea of azaleas. For the second year in a row, Tiger finished as the runner-up at the Masters, but in both instances you never got the sense that he had a chance to win.

I know there will be some lunatics that will continue to howl that Tiger still hasn't won a major title in which he trailed heading to the final round of play....and that's complete nonsense. The man has won 13 major titles...what else do you need to know?

This argument is ridiculous. It reminds of the moronic conversations I have from time-to-time on the radio show when people claim that Roy Williams has never won a national title "with his own players". Please, give it a rest.

Speaking of Roy Williams, can anybody explain to me what he was thinking about while wearing the KU Jayhawk sticker during the Kansas-Memphis national championship game? I know this story was beaten up to death on our show last week, but it's amazing how many people are still talking about it. It was a dumb move, but eventually the Tar Heel World will return to normal...I'm figuring sometime around mid-October.

By the way, I thought he TV coverage on ESPN during the Masters Par 3 Tournament was excellent. The event is unique and cool, and the coverage captured the moment. For my money's worth, Scott Van Pelt is one of the most underrated talking heads on the worldwide leader. The move to leave Chris Berman in Bristol was a no-brainer...major props to ESPN and the suits in Augusta for that decision.

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I know the Yankees and Red Sox have just hooked up for their first three-game series of the season....and you know what? I'm already tired of Peter Gammons' breakdown and the over-hype of these two "superpowers". I'm sure this is a big deal in the Northeast, but I could give a damn which one of these teams emerges until we get closer to the playoffs.

How about the goofy story surrounding the new Yankee Stadium which is still under construction? Evidently, some minimum-wage Boston fan pouring concrete in the new stadium decided to place a Red Sox t-shirt in the concrete in the visitors' locker room. It was reported in the New York Post, and a new curse had been placed on the Yankees sparkling new stadium.

That is until the "new boss", Hank Steinbrenner, decided that enough was enough. The Yanks' front office had the concrete busted up and the t-shirt removed. Who believes in curses? The Yankees do.

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Finally, it was announced that Bryant Gumble will be replaced as the lead announcer on the NFL Network. I don't receive the cable network, but I have watched exactly one telecast involving Gumble and his partner Cris Collinsworth. The game was last December when the Cowboys were in town to beat the Carolina Panthers.

After listening to the broadcast, I'm glad I don't pay extra for the NFL Network. It was non-descript and I didn't even bother watching the whole game. After watching the egomaniac known as Rich Eisen in person at the Super Bowl this past year in Phoenix, I can assure you that I don't have any plans of requesting, promoting or paying for the NFL Network.