He’s So Good He’s Not Bad for the Game

Tony Kornheiser of the Washington Post, writing on Tiger Woods:

“What’s the ‘opposing view’ on Tiger, that he’s a flash in the pan? That his dominance is bad for golf because it becomes predictable and boring?

“Oh, please. Was Henry Ford bad for cars? Was Babe Ruth bad for baseball?

“Tiger is great for golf. Look at the TV ratings. Tiger is the one guy in sports who makes the needle jump. Dick Ebersol would kill to get Tiger in the booth in the XFL.”

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More on Tiger: Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic, writing before the final round of the Masters, had this commentary:

” . . . Tiger’s world is changing. His intimidating presence no longer has the field hiding under the table. The days of domination may have come to an end.”

It’s unlikely that David Duval and Phil Mickelson would agree with you, Dan.

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Still more on Tiger: Bernie Lincicome in the Rocky Mountain News:

“The green coat still fit, of course. They only give you one, even if you’re Tiger Woods. And if Woods gets the full dozen he is expected to win, he could outfit three barbershop quartets or an entire football bowl committee, about the only place outside the Masters clubhouse anyone wears such garish laundry.”

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Trivia time: Who holds the NBA record for field-goal percentage in a season?

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The real hunt: Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura reportedly angered many hunters with this comment:

“Until you have hunted man, you haven’t hunted yet. Because you need to hunt something that can shoot back at you to really classify yourself as a hunter.”

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Wonderpark: Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Terry Mulholland, after seeing his team’s new home, PNC Park, for the first time:

“When you walk in here, it just floors you. It’s unbelievable. It’s stunning. I can’t even tell you how great it’s going to be to call this wonderful ballpark our home.”

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Calorie clan: The Cleveland Cavaliers activated Robert “Tractor” Traylor last week, after the 300-plus pound forward had been put on the injured list for “overall conditioning.”

“We’re a very big family,” said Jessie Carter, his grandmother. “Robert has an aunt who’s 300 pounds. I’m 6-3, 300 pounds. My doctor tells me to lose weight, but I can’t. People in our family just look at food and they gain weight.”

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This Bud’s for you: From comedy writer Earl Hochman: “After defeating a pacer in an exhibition race, America’s favorite racehorse, Zippy Chippy, 0 for 89 against thoroughbreds, is being groomed for his next effort--a match race against a Budweiser Clydesdale.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1966, Jack Nicklaus won his third Masters title and became the first to win in consecutive years as he shot a 70 in an 18-hole playoff to beat Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer.

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Trivia answer: Wilt Chamberlain, 72.7% in 1972-73.

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And finally: Paola Boivin in the Arizona Republic: “A woman carrying a large stick and a boy with a bucket interrupted [Arizona State] football practice last week.

“Turns out they were from a reptile exterminating service and were called when an ominous-looking snake was distracting a defensive drill. The snake was never found.

“It did, however, leave his card for any player seeking representation.”