That’s Some Rally: Lakers 89, Spurs 85
NBA May 22nd. 2008, 9:40am
Was this a case of the young, vibrant Lakers rallying behind an energized crowd, or the elderly Spurs just tiring in the second half, 48 hours after closing out the Hornets on the road? Or, we could all just blame the early 6 p.m. tipoff, which was necessary to appease the large segment of East Coast viewers.
Trailing by 20 in the third quarter, Kobe took over, scoring 25 of his 27 points in the second half as the Lakers refused to relinquish home court advantage. The painfully obvious question: Why were the Spurs so adamant not to double-team Kobe Bryant?
He’s the second-best player in the league, he can take anyone off the dribble and he’s got a deadly jumper, yet the Spurs elected to defend him with just one player. There was no scheming – no instant double teams, no trapping, no collapsing of the defense when he cleaved into the lane. Mostly, it was Bruce Bowen who drew the assignment; occasionally, Manu Ginobili gave it a whirl. When Kobe had a mere two points after a passive first half, you know Bowen went into the locker room, his ego swelling like a self-inflating raft, and maintained that he could defend Kobe.
So when Kobe spearheaded a 14-0 run in the third quarter, why were the Spurs so stubborn? Derek Fisher was struggling, and so was Lamar Odom, so why not force those guys to make a shot? Want to know why the Celtics ultimately were successful in sending LeBron James home early for the summer? He was constantly suffocated by defenders, and forced to settle for long jumpers or heavily contested shots in the clogged lane. Bowen’s a top-notch defender, but the thought that he could contain Kobe for an entire game is patently absurd.
Despite the second half collapse, the Spurs had a chance to win late, but Ginobili’s three – a good look – misfired. Any Hornets fans who were watching surely were asking: How do the Spurs shoot 12-for-28 from three in game seven, and go to LA and only make 5-for-20 from downtown?
114 Responses to “That’s Some Rally: Lakers 89, Spurs 85”
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May 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 AM
lol @ second best player in the league. Nice jab.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:44 AM
Where was Kurt Thomas?
And, sorry, TBL:
just does not cut it anymore. I’ve been a Kobe hater since he came into the league, and I still don’t like him, but what he did last night for a stretch from the late third to the middle of the fourth, where he basically either took a shot or created points inside, and rallied a dead-in-the-water team from 20 down by keying on Manu, gives him an edge over the guy I think you’ll say is first, who isn’t playing anymore.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:46 AM
TBL, you can be the best player in the league if you don’t have a jumper?
That mentality is the reason USA basketball has sucked lately…until Kobe came aboard.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:49 AM
TBL didnt even do the game thread last night because he hates Kobe so much.
Kobe is the best player in the game TBL. Down 20 to the Spurs, the reigning Champs and he brings his Lakers back for the win.
your boy Lebron could not do a thing like that against the Spurs. And since you always want to use last year with everything, Lebron could not beat the Spurs. Not even once
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Kobe played a great seconh-half. First half he was nice just wasnt aggressive at all imo. Great come from behind victory though against a tough team.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:51 AM
Also:
seems a little misleading at best. Kobe’s 29 (prime), Fisher’s 33 (end of prime), Gasol’s 27 (should be entering his prime), Odom’s 28 (prime), Walton’s 28, and Radmanovic is 27.
Vujacic, Turiaf, and the injured Bynum are the young regulars, but I wouldn’t say they’re exactly the whole of the Lakers. This isn’t a “young, vibrant” team; it’s a core of players in or close to their primes who play, at their best, disciplined defense and precision offense.
That’s like calling Phil Jackson’s Bulls young and vibrant; they aren’t. The Hornets are, certainly, the Sixers, maybe, the Hawks, maybe, the Magic, maybe. But this Lakers team? Uh-uh.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Uggg, is it going to be one of those days again. My only comment would be that it would be nice to see what LeBron could do when not triple covered.
Thats two games in a row the Spurs have blown a 20 point lead, NO just couldn’t seal the deal. Fisher wasn’t struggling, he was absolutely awful and I don’t know why Phil kept him in when he wasn’t getting it done on either end of the court.
Pau got owned by Timmy. I know someone will say, wait he had 19 points. All of those points were wide open layups set up by others, Timmy was working his soft ass up and down the court all night.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 AM
@clown – by charging into the lane like a bull on the loose every play
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 AM
6′9″ 260 lb. freaks of nature should never have to “settle” for anything. Another reason Kobe > LeBron.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Everything that needed to be refuted because of TBL’s LeLove of LeBron has already been said, thank you commenters.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:56 AM
@Reggie – I think ESPN said that Fisher was the only guy on the Lakers that was 30 or older. That’s a pretty young team to me. They also said Parker is the only Spur that’s under 30
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:58 AM
What is up with the poorly lit seating at the Staple Center? Are they trying to recreate the old Wilt and Bill shots when the crowd looked completely absent? Are the fans all playing 7-Up? What the hell is up with that?
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:58 AM
The Spurs didn’t double Kobe until late in the fourth quarter a couple of times. Lakers did the same thing with Duncan. Kobe just had a better fourth quarter.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 AM
@ Maggs when the Lakers play they dim the lights in crowd for a more hollywood feel. When the clippers play the arena is lit up like a christmas tree. Michelle Tefoya and Tirco talked about during one of the Laker regular season games.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 AM
@Magglio:
That lighting is intentional, makes the game so much better. It’s a cleaner look.
Too many arenas are lit up like christmas trees.
MSG used to do it but it’s brighter now than it used to be.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 AM
@jb49ers
I never knew that. It makes it look dated if anything. In any event the Clippers should really just leave that town if the arena they play their home games in is actively trying to make the other team seem “cooler” Clippers to Seattle.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 AM
That’s not a bad idea the sonics move to okc and change their name the clippers move to seattle and become the sonics. Way to go Maggs you just saved basketball in the pacific northwest.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Love the “OH MY GOD HE FOULED ME RIGHT THERE!” look on Duncan’s face. We’ve seen that about 398539405349853 times in his career.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 AM
@Ruck: I won’t deny that it’s a younger team, but I hesitate to call it a young team.
For comparison, the 1990-91 Bulls had a 28-year-old Jordan, Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen at 25, John Paxson at 30, Bill Cartwright at 32, and B.J. Armstrong at 23. Bit younger, no?
Also, none of them had titles; Kobe and Fish both have three. Playoff experience, especially past the first and second round, helps immensely here.
@Magglio: Lighting at San An is even worse.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 AM
i agree with sportshernia. I like the look of the Staples Center with the dim lights. Amway Arena is lit up in Orlando.
You would think it would take away the sight of the “sign holders” and thunder stick beaters behind the hoop
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 AM
ok, so the 2nd best dig was unnecessary
not a kobe hater at all – big fan of his work. used to love him more during the Shaq days .. guess this wound is just taking some time to heal. The Spurs are idiots for not doubling him.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 AM
David Stern mandated a Lakers v. Celtics final back when Boston got KG and the Ghost of Ray Allen.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 AM
TBL starting more Kobe vs LeBron drama!
Gregg Doyel of CBS sportsline came on Czabe today and said the Lakers supporting cast is majorly overrated, and proceeded to say that Pau Gasol sucks… and that Kobe gets him half his points every night.
Also note that had LeBron done what Kobe did last night that this would be the 5th post about it since last night’s game.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I can’t see this series not going 7 by the way.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 AM
the reason Kobe is better than Lebron? because Lebron to my knowledge has only taken over the game when he had to once (against the pistons in the playoffs last year). Kobe can do it any time anywhere. And i HATE Kobe and LOVE Lebron.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 AM
TBL the first step is admitting you have a problem.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 AM
How sick is this Lakers team going to be with a healthy Bynum next year? Meep.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 AM
@cursed: I think I saw Gasol play defense for the first time ever last night. It was moving.
And you know what? I think if Kobe is removed from this team and replaced with, uh, Luol Deng, a decent but no better 2, as Simmons likes to test, the Lakers struggle mightily to make the playoffs.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 AM
/threadjack
Simmons has got to read this blog based on his recent “Ramblings” comlumn on Page 2. It kind of flows with the posts over the last week. He also has a nice Fuck Pargo blurb, sorry CRM.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Well I can firmly guarnantee that if my Cavaliers had Kobe last series, they’d still be playing. (I realize LeBron played about as bad as he played, so that’s not exactly controversial).
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Cursed, Kobe gets Pau more that half his points, but you have to give that soft euro credit for finishing. He can’t create his own shot and plays virtually no defense but he is athletic and can finish when given wide open looks. As a #2 guy that’s not bad.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Never been a big Kobe fan. Dude’s faking worse than the plaintiff in that LBJ Vitamin Water commercial. One of the best players of all time for sure, but I can do without his “I’m gonna copy MJ” routine. And I am sure I missed the discussion on this, but I would have voted for CP3 for MVP….
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 AM
What a joke. Who has a good supporting cast if the Lakers blows? Gasol sucks? Don’t all big men get points thanks to passes? I usually like Doyel, but that’s nuts
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 AM
The Lakers do need to double Duncan, Pau was getting destroyed last night, but he can at least provide something on the offensive end, when Turiaf is in there, you get no offense and no defense.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 AM
@Deion
I agree with you on the “copy MJ routine” but, I mean, look at his coach… he kind of HAS to.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Maggs – what’s your e-mail
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Yeah I don’t agree with it TBL, but I love putting other opinions out there.
I think Kobe makes their supporting cast look a ton better than it is. It’s above average, and is really all dependent on if they’re hitting threes. How about Vlad Rad making his first 5 shots, one of which was a running bank jumper.. where the hell did that come from?
I’m shocked the Lakers won that game with Dfish and Odom combining for 4-21.. Manu’s suckiness offset some of that, and Finley looked like Ray Allen out there.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 AM
@CRM
I just sent you one, subject Magglio Merkin is me.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Sorry TBL, but Kobe is the best player in the NBA right now. Until Bron Bron gets a consistant jumper he will be behind Kobe. I know Kobe has a douchey quality to him but that shouldn’t blind you from his impressive skill set. LeBron looked lost last year against the Spurs (albeit on an average team) while Kobe took the game over.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Since when is copying MJ bad? Wouldn’t that be the NBA guy you’d probably want to copy? I can’t imagine MJ playing much better than Kobe has in these playoffs so far… by the way.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:31 AM
@Deion: I would’ve voted CP3 for MVP, too, because it’s a regular season award, and I think what Paul did then was better than what Kobe did; the revitalization of the Lakers had more to do with Bynum getting better (and those who credit Kobe with that have to admit he’s 1/2 with that tack, having destroyed all hope of Kwame Brown having a career) and them getting Gasol for a song.
The Hornets had and, perhaps, have no business being the #2 seed in a conference as loaded as the West with their current roster. Paul made it so.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:31 AM
@cursed
As MJ said in an article on tWWL a couple months ago. HE never copied anyone, neither did Magic or Bird. MJ said people don’t really like that whole routine of “who is going to be the next MJ?” He said to just be your own player and make your own legacy. Based on MJ’s track record and global brand, I am going to believe he knows what he is talking about when he says what people like and dislike.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Duncan’s going to kill Pau all series: Duncan’s dominance over Pau responsible for 8 of Pau’s 0-12 playoff record in Memphis…
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 AM
i hope Joey Crawford is calling Game 2. Give the Lakers another win
what is the deal with Crawford and the Spurs? he had his finger in Pops chest during the Semi’s against NO and was yelling at him
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Gasol doesn’t suck but he isnt a dominant presence either. He does what he is asked to do very well though. He catches the ball when it is thrown his way he can score a and is a good passer.
Ronny played good defense on Duncan last nite. He blocked a couple of his shots and doesn’t let Timmy push him around.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:33 AM
A Gregg Doyel reference — classic!
Shaq never had a jumper, and he was the best player in his prime.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Hey Mags, is that supposed to be a negative quality to copy yourself after MJ? I’m not getting your logic.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Nick P, I thought of you when it came to Doyel.. didn’t you go on his radio program or something?
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 AM
is crawford the guy duncan had issues with last year? I thought that guy retired
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 AM
I think the Lakers have a better chance when they contain Manu and Parker and let Duncan get his than vice versa. Also, GOTG, you don’t think the Global Icon is a little douchey too?
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:38 AM
kobe = mvp, best player, psychosomaticaddictinsane
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 AM
can we please stop talking about LeBron? he isn’t playing anymore.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 AM
no i think he just started beef with Greg Pop last week too.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:40 AM
@blazers- he is still working the games. He doesnt like the Spurs or Timmy at all for some reason
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 AM
I don’t understand why everyone credits CP3 for making his teammates better, and forgets about what Kobe did this season. He got his teammates involved almost, if not just as much. Who got Bynum and Pau the ball? That overrated bench of shooters? Who kicks it out to them?
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 AM
I cant imagine why. TD is a whiney ass baby, but I guess when you’re that good you are allowed to be
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Kobe can’t make his supporting cast play better. They are who they are. Same for any player.
If he gets a guy an open shot, he’s still going to make it X% of the time regardless of who throws him the ball.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:44 AM
@cursed: I would never fault anyone for mimicking MJ’s work ethic, making his teammates better, performance on the court, etc. But it’s the way Kobe parrots the way MJ spoke during his playing days and his mannerisms that really gets to me. If you watch Kobe at a press conference it’s almost like he’s sitting there thinking ‘what would MJ say’. I suppose a lot of players do this, but like GodsofGridiron said, there’s just something douchey about it when Kobe does it. It seems so fake and forced. And I guess the thing about throwing Shaq under the bus re: sexual assualt, etc. really rubbed me the wrong way too.
@Maggs: Good point. Although PJax wasn’t always his coach…
@Rockabye: My thoughts exacly on Paul. Re: the revitalization of the Lake Show and Kobe’s career, not to make two conspiracy comments in one thread, but we all have to realize how fucking awesome this is for the NBA. The Gasol trade was fishy…all I am saying is that we’re not gonna see Spurs-Pistons this year. Take it to the bank.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:44 AM
I actually agree with Nick P.. making your teammates beter is a played out thing. Same for LeBron. I think there’s maybe some credence to it, but not as much as what’s hammered home.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 AM
who wants to talk golf?
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Nash, Kobe, Paul, Lebron it doesn’t matter who passes you the ball for the open shot if you cant shoot it doesn’t matter.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 AM
@Spencer – Do you think Tiger is worried about Alonzo Mourning?
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Here’s the thing with Kobe. He didn’t grow up poor, he didn’t grow up on the streets, in fact he spent the majority of his childhood overseas. He has zero “street cred” and doesn’t really hang out with his teammates. I’m guessing it’s always been tough with him to fit in. So now he’s in the NBA and trying to act like “one of the boys.”.. so of course it comes off contrived and fake.
As for how he talks during his press conferences, I think he comes off pretty smart. He’s not going to be controversial and he doesn’t use double negatives!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 AM
I dont think Tiger is worried because “his better is better than Zo’s better”
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 AM
no. unless Zo queifs all over Tigers’ grips, and it’d have to be an especially juicy pussy fart, and Tiger doesn’t have a towel.
Zo is an asshole…i dont care about his disease, overcoming an illness is no excuse to be a douche. and he’s taken his douchiness to a level seen by few.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 AM
@cursed
Deion pretty much summed up what I was thinking. It is fine to try to play your game like MJ, of course, but don’t try to BE the man. Kobe actually tries to look, talk, act like MJ, which is just strange. Be your own man, blaze your own trail. That is what MJ said in that peice on page 2 a while back.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 AM
I would say placement of the pass and frequency of passes affects how you play. Getting teammates in rhythm, building confidence, knowing each teammates skill set and utilizing it. I think that stuff matters, but probably not as much as they make it seem like it does on TV.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 AM
@cursed he hangs with his teammates alot more this year.
Also, he doesn’t say “you know what I’m saying”
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 AM
@Maggs: I really think the more telling reference is the “fat kid from Stand By Me” line. I mean…seriously, how would that be in your conscious while writing a (also, and unsurprisingly, VERY bloggy) column in the last few days if you hadn’t been reading TBL?
We all know TBL’s working on that interview, right?
@Those who say the “making your teammates better is played out”: Look, if Pau Gasol’s on a team like, oh, I don’t know, Memphis, where shooters don’t stretch the defense as much as Kobe/that cast does, he suffers as a result. Basketball players don’t exist in a vacuum on the court; what each one does is affected by what the other nine are doing.
So if Chris Paul is slicing and dicing, the defense having to collapse on him and him kicking to West, or Peja, or alleying to Tyson Chandler, he’s given them a better opportunity, a more open or, in Chandler’s case, an easier shot. Same with Kobe, same with LeBron.
And this is important because there are players who DON’T make their teammates better; Bad Kobe, the one that throws the team on his back and never develops the rest of the offense in a night, is one of them, though he’s been MIA this season, and gunners like Agent Zero and Starbury take bad shots without running sets, which is bad for both teammates in that possession and further on as the defense keys on them.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Is it just me or do Mia Hamm and Nomar came across as Grade A douchebags in their G2 commercial?
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 AM
@Spencer: If I had asked you which would be more surprising this year in January, Tiger winning just one major this year or Tiger winning all four, which would you have said?
Also, is this Sergio’s year to win a major? (I say yes, at the PGA.)
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 AM
@cbh
yes they do, but I thought DWade did too
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 AM
I think the point of the “G2 Life” is that you’re drinking liquid douche.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:59 AM
@The Ruck: Evidence suggests that teammates don’t impact player performance.
here
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Everyone comes across as douchebags in those G2 commercials. I’m waiting for a G2/Vodka/Schnapps drink to become the next big “I have no balls and can’t stand the taste of liquor” drink (glaring at the people who order red bull drinks at a bar).
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:04 AM
@cursed: He does come off smart and I appreciate that about him. And you make some good points about the reasons why he acts the way he does both as it relates to the way he talks and why he emulates MJ. But just because I understand the cause doesn’t mean I have to accept the effect. The guy’s a massive douchenozzle. Maggs echos my thoughts. For example, why go with the single left ear earring?!?
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:04 AM
G2 and Gatorade AM suck
Vitamin Water is the way to go. XXX is the best
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 AM
If you’re talking about individual stats, sure. If you’re talking about efficiency and actually winning, then I disagree. I don’t think that theory applies, unless you’re some selfish gunner looking to pad your stats.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 AM
The Wages of Wins is a great site… their breakdowns and insight are phenomenal.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 AM
@Nick P: It doesn’t seem like THAT article proves the point about teammates not helping; it only proves that the more you shoot, the better (very, very infinitesimally) you get over an NBA game.
But if it’s out there, it’s probably on that site.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 AM
@ Irish: Formula 50 and Dragonfruit… I could live off of those between my Dickel and Cokes.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 AM
formula 50 is the purple? yeah that is good. no fan of the dragonfruit, tastes like a mixed drink
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 AM
i never was quite in on that Tiger Grand Slam thing, but i got him down for 2 (British and PGA).
Sergio is going to win by 3 strokes this year at Torrey Pines.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Have you seen this? Duncan drinks bad gatorade: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5trBOsRIJFc
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I prefer water. You know, the clear stuff. All that vitamin/energy/electrolyte/magic drink stuff is garbage. It’s just unecessary calories and sugar. *flex*
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Also, anyone care to enlighten me on the Tiger/Zo talk? What happened?
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:12 AM
@ Sean – but dude, it’s got electrolytes! electrolytes!
/Idiocracy
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:13 AM
stupid Gatorade G2 commercial. Zo says Tiger better watch out.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Gatorade…did anyone ever realize taht the only reason you perform better was because of the sugar?
OH MY GOD…SIMPLE CARBS BOOST YOUR ENERGY QUICKLY?!?!? naw, can’t be that, it has to be the SCIENCE and ELECTROLYTES!!!
it’s no different than orange juice.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 AM
@Irish: Isn’t that the “Sex and the City” flavor?
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 AM
TBL prefers Muscle Milk. I don’t know how he hasn’t hit them up for an ad already.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Oh. Haven’t seen it, but Zo is usually my boy, barring any unforeseen douchiness in this G2 commercial.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 AM
spence: Yep. People are sheep.
Eat some chocolate and get on the treadmill. You’ll have more energy.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Muscle Milk is fantastic. shit tastes great.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Mucle Milk is amazing.. (although too many calories).. Myoplex Mass comes a close second.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 AM
I hope these two statements are related.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Sean…yea, they’re related, i realize that looked awful.
cursed…too many calories post workout is never a bad thing. and, i dont have the Nutritional Facts in front of me, but im pretty sure it only has 360 calories, which is hardly a lot for your normal sized dude.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 AM
@ruck: I’m not sure if that’s the article I want or not, but I think it is. I can’t access the site at work, so I just googled for an address.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Yeah I just looked it up.. thought it was twice that. I think I thought it was per scoop.. it’s not. I’m going to go drink 4 right now.. Oh wait, I can’t afford it anymore.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 AM
See Nick P, even your fine banking establishment realizes Wages of Wins is evil rhetoric!! So much so that it’s protected by your firewall! Smart people over there.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 AM
@Spencer: I have El Tigre down for Torrey Pines (three low rounds after a two-over first round) and maybe for the British (where is it, Royal Birkdale or something?). Not the PGA, though: I think 2 is plenty.
2010, though: Watch out. Augusta, Pebble, St. Andrews, Whistling Straits. I think three of those four set up beautifully…
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 AM
MucleMuscle milk is pretty cheap on Amazon. Tax free and free shipping, ftw!!1May 22nd, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Rockabye…yea, it’s hard not to take Tiger at Torrey, but Sergio’s 80% fairways and 4th overall in total distance sold me. NOBODY on tour strikes the ball like that, and TPC Sawgrass is no joke. and since it’s 7500+ yards, distance and fairways are going to be crucial. plus the greens at Torrey are NOT US Open greens (i think even hosting it there is a huge mistake…that course isn’t special at all).
2010 will be Tiger’s year…it’ll be awesome. Plus Whistling Straits might be the coolest course in the country nobody really knows about.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Spence: how extensive are the statistics on golf? Is there enough out there that people feel comfortable betting on it? Do people bet on golf?
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:34 AM
In the Summer, Whisling Straits is as scenic as Pebble Beach, and I’m not making that up.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Hef…sick people gamble on golf. the stats are pretty extensive, some are quite telling, some are worthless…quite similar to baseball.
cursed…youre damn right. WS is the US’ version of a Scottish style links course, and it couldnt be in a better place.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Spence, you ever make it down to the Memorial? A guy I worked with in Columbus was the cousin (or something like that) of a tour player and he used to get us free passes every year. I’m not a golf guy but the course was fantastic and the setting was great, it was a ton of fun. I was there the “Year of the Cicadas”, it was pretty cool.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 AM
The PGA guys love the Memorial for some reason.. I think it lacks character to be honest. But when you ask the PGA guys, it ranks as high as any course they get to each year (also helps that it’s Jack’s events, and golfers feel compelled to attend). Pretty fair course as well.. they could trick that up and make it as tough as the Masters, from what I hear.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 AM
coop…that’s awesome.
na, i havent made it down there yet, but want to either this year or next. Muirfield is one of the premeir courses in the country…Augusta North.
ive been to the Bridgestone in Akron twice, and it’s fantastic.
seeing Tiger and Vijay and all those guys in person is just unbelievable.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:43 AM
cursed…you nailed it. it’s Jack’s tourney.
hell, the Byron Nelson classic was a must stop tour event as recently as two years ago, then Byron passed and now almost nobody shows up.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:45 AM
It is weird that the Memorial is practically a major, as far as I know its really the only non-major tourny that every big time player attends every year. I guess it has to be Jack, when he rolls down the 18th every stands and cheers, pretty cool. Is he even playing it any more?
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Lefty’s gonna win the next 3 majors. Tiger’s a jerk…
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:53 PM
share your drugs please.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Got me thinkin’… Haven’t tried mesculin in a while…