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Greetings,
from Big D I'm in the process of returning from Texas, after spending a big weekend with my wife and our buds from Dallas. I love living in the Carolinas, but the folks in Texas are great people....I love it down there. So, thanks again to the Texas gang in Big D and the Pony Creek Ranch, for making us feel right at home....Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse; great Tex-Mex and those tasty margaritas at the Rosewood Mansion are hard to beat. While down in Dallas, it was a joy to read the Dallas Morning News' sports section.....that's what a local rag is supposed to produce on a daily basis. It's outstanding, and I wished we had the same professional outfit in the Queen City. It was funny to see the local scribes breaking down the Cowboys' latest star in the making, Dez Bryant. As soon as I returned to Charlotte, I noticed my wife getting caught up with the local paper and the sports headline showcasing Armanti Edwards, the Panthers' latest WR project. Both teams have huge expectations with both players and the fascination surrounding both rookies will only intensify, as we get closer to the start of the 2010 season. That was some kind of ending, at Quail Hollow. The tournament has produced an impressive collection of winners in its short history. Now, you can add 20-year-old Rory McIlroy to the list. If you haven't heard of the great young talent from Ireland, then you haven't been paying attention. The win at Quail will be first of many for the the next great talent on Tour. Both McIlroy and Tiger Woods won their first professional title at the age of 20. Of course, McIlroy turns 21 on Tuesday, and what better way to celebrate the big "2-1" than by cashing the $1.1 million dollar winner's check and perhaps a sip of your favorite "adult beverage"? While I was leaving Charlotte last Friday, apparently I was soon being joined by Tiger Woods, who happened to hack it all over the course and miss the cut. It was only the 6th missed cut in 241 pro events for Tiger. Think about that stat, for a second. Tiger's 79 on cut day was U-G-L-Y. He looked like a guy with other things on his mind.....like a potential divorce proceeding. Given all the build-up of security and even one of Tiger's famous gal-pals performing at the local strip club, his appearance and performance in the Queen City was a flop. Shoot, even one his famous skanks spent more time in Charlotte than Eldrick. I noticed that Phil Mickelson was critical of the golf course, more specifically the 12th and 18th greens. Lefty complained about the design as he pocketed a cool 700K for his runner-up finish. Sorry, Phil. But, just remember: you can always call the Whiner Line 24/7, next time you visit us in Charlotte. It was good to see Kyle Busch back in Victory Lane. The sport needs him to win and push the envelope. It feels like forever since he's won, and in his eyes, it's true. Busch's win snapped a winless streak of 22 races, dating back to last season. Wow; 22 races without a win...and they call that a slump? Ask Jeff Gordon about that one. Gordon has been so close to winning, it's ridiculous. Somehow, he has found a way to come in second nearly every other race, but the good thing was this time, he didn't have to worry about his teammate knocking him out of the way. Apparently, Jimmie Johnson had nothing to do with "24's" demise, this past weekend. The win for Busch sets him up well in the point standings, and it's also a perfect way to celebrate his birthday.....since he turned 25 on Sunday. I'm starting to sense a trend: first Kyle, then Rory. For the record: Dale, Jr. had a miserable night in Richmond, and has now dropped out of the Top 12....what's it going to take, for this guy to win a race? There's still no word about the decision surrounding Larry Brown. The Bobcats' coach has to decide between staying on with the team or going home to Philly, to join his family and the 76'ers. When I was in Dallas, the locals were complaining about the Mavs' inability to close the deal after a disappointing series against in-state rival San Antonio. Also at stake was the future of All-World Dirk Nowitzki, who can opt out of a deal that could pay him 21 Million next season. Are people crazy? Nobody opts out of a 21 million dollar deal. But the point is that whether you're the upstart Bobcats or the seasoned Mavs, once you get kicked to the curb, you gotta start planning for next season. Everybody that isn't playing has problems and issues. The Bobcats need to keep Brown....it is priority one for the franchise. Without his steady leadership, Michael Jordan & Co. will be put in a tough spot to find anybody that can come close to the credibility and coaching that Brown has provided the franchise in a short period of time. Finally, for all of you gamblers out there that were looking for a winner in last week's Kentucky Derby.....you're welcome. I told you Super Saver was the pick. For the record, you can chalk that one up to pure luck. |
Packman
on Sports Commentary
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