The 2012 British Open: 1999 all over again

A true golf fan will always remember the 1999 British Open for how Jean van de Velde had a huge lead heading into the final round, leading Justin Leonard and Craig Parry by five strokes. He only needed a double-bogey at the 18th and final hole to wrap up an upset win at Carnoustie, until everything unraveled:



As a result, it forced a three-way playoff between Leonard and local competitor Paul Lawrie.  The four-hole playoff was won by Lawrie, who won it by three strokes over van de Velde and Leonard, capping off one of the biggest collapses in one of golf's majors.

Turn the clock ahead to today, and Adam Scott at St. Anne's.  Coming into the final round, Scott led the British Open by four strokes over Graeme McDowell and Brandt Snedeker.  2002 British Open champion Ernie Els was six strokes behind Scott.  As the final round unfolded, Scott was 11-under par after 68 holes, and then just like in 1999 with van de Velde, everything began to fall apart during the final four holes.

Els on the other hand, was having a great day as he was making a huge run to the lead, trying to capture his second Open championship.  At the end, Els went 2-under on the final round, while Scott went 5-over, which included four straight bogeys to end the round and complete the comeback for Els, as he captured his second career Open championship.

The events of today for the young Aussie should serve as a reminder that you can't always keep your foot on the gas pedal or put the car on cruise control while you're holding a big lead.  This is merely a learning experience for him, and if he enters the PGA Championship, hopefully the lessons learned from today will carry over once he tees off in Kiewah Island, South Carolina next month.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Don't throw Tim Thomas under the bus because of a decision

On Monday, the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins paid a visit to the White House--and an opportunity to meet with President Barack Obama. Everyone on the team--players, coaches, and team executives--took advantage of the opportunity to be honored by the leader of the free world. Everyone...except the man who backstopped the Bruins to their first championship in 39 years.

Goaltender Tim Thomas was the most noticeable absence, and he made his reason as to why he didn't join his teammates radically clear: he's not happy about the direction of America, and stated his reason for not attending on his official Facebook page. His decision to pass on a visit to the White House has given him both praise and criticism, regardless of what side of the political spectrum his fans (and to an extent, sports fans and non-sports fans in general) sit on. Those that have praised his decision have thanked him for being a true Patriot, while those who think the opposite have said that he shouldn't be talking about politics at all.

If people have a problem with an important part of a championship-winning team not visiting the White House with his teammates, then they simply shouldn't say anything at all. Thomas made this decision as an individual, as he stated in that Facebook post. This decision shouldn't affect his play on the ice, but in all seriousness, people shouldn't be ragging on the guy over not meeting with the President.

As an individual myself, my respect for Thomas went through the roof for staying true to what he believed in. You may have won the Stanley Cup away from my beloved Vancouver Canucks, but bravo, Mr. Thomas. Bravo. Like everyone in America, you're entitled to your opinion(s) and entitled to stick with it/them.

Photo Credit: AP

Time for the Mariners to get out of their offensive rut...and soon

If there's a few things out there that you can consider positive if you're a Mariners fan like myself, there's two of them: pitching and a far better record at the All-Star break than last year. It shouldn't be considered a bad thing even if you're 7.5 games out of first place in your division. But there's one thing that's remained the same: the offense is still in a major rut.

While they have one of the top pitching staffs in all of baseball, which includes defending Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez and rookie sensation Michael Pineda in the starting rotation, the Mariners are last in the majors in runs scored, batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. It's one thing to have a great pitching staff, but if you're going to contend for the postseason regularly, you have to have both elements in fine working order.

One would think that the free-agent signing of catcher Miguel Olivo would add a spark to the offense. It's certainly helped in the homerun department, but with a .223 batting average entering the second half of the season, it's time for the veteran to pick up the slack at the plate and increase a relatively pedestrian batting average.

Designated hitter Jack Cust has been nothing more than a disappointment. Brought in over the offseason as a big left-handed bat, his numbers have been just that--a disappointment. Three home runs, 23 RBIs, and a dismal .211 batting average. And now Cust isn't in the lineup as much now.

And then there's Ichiro. It's been 10 years since he won both American League MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, and he's been very un-Ichiro-like this season. While he's still fast as ever at 37 years old, his production at the plate could mean it might be the first time in his MLB career that he won't end the season batting .300 or better, unless he can put together a strong second half.

But there are a couple of bright spots offensively. One of them is second baseman Dustin Ackley, called up from Triple-A Tacoma in June. The former North Carolina Tar Heels standout has made a big splash in the Mariners lineup, and certainly has what it takes to positively contribute to their offense. The other bright spot I speak of is Dutch-born outfielder Greg Halman. While he only played sparingly last season and put up less than spectacular numbers, he's shown considerable improvement since coming back to the show. If both Ackley and Halman continue to improve and show their potential the rest of the season, they could both be dangerous in the Mariners' lineup next season and in future years.

But still, the lack of a big bat not named Justin Smoak is part of the Mariners' problem offensively. And that's why general manager Jack Zduriencik needs to pull the trigger on a deal to bring in a bat that can lift up a flat offense without having to sacrifice any top-tier prospects working their way through the minor league system. One player I could think of the Mariners trading for is outfielder Hunter Pence from the lowly Houston Astros. While he does possess some strong offensive upside, I imagine the Astros will be asking for a lot in return as they're bound to enter a rebuilding mode much like the one the Mariners are in right now. And a deal with Houston would not include Jack Wilson or Chone Figgins, whom have both proved to be expensive flops in Seattle.

At least the positive thing about starting the second half of the season is hoping that your team can make a run for a playoff spot if you're within reasonable striking distance. I firmly believe that's where the Mariners are, and if their offense can be as smooth as their pitching staff, they'll have a shot at making their first postseason since their 116-win season in 2001. But it's going to take another bat to get there, and the right deal to get the job done.

Photo credit: AP

What a British Open win would mean for Rory McIlroy

Remember when some fella named Tiger Woods exploded onto the golf scene? Safe to say Rory McIlroy is beginning to make a similar splash coming off a dominant U.S. Open win last month. And with the next major coming this weekend at Royal St. George's Golf Club in Kent, England, this is a great opportunity for McIlroy to establish himself as the next big superstar on the PGA Tour.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland has had himself a pretty good haul in 2011. He almost left Augusta National with their famed green jacket at The Masters, but a dismal final round dashed any chance of that (he shot an 80, 8-over-par), and he ended up tied for 15th in the final rundown, ten strokes behind eventual Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa. Then came the U.S. Open at Congressional just outside of Washington, DC. His final 72-hole score was 268, a tournament record, as he finished eight strokes ahead of runner-up Jason Day of Australia (who also finished tied for second at The Masters).

Come Thursday morning across the pond, McIlroy will be entering the British Open as an obvious favorite. He's coming off a three-week break from his U.S. Open triumph, and should he win the tournament at Royal St. George's, it wouldn't just be his second-straight major victory, but it may also be a very popular victory in his home country given Northern Ireland's geographic proximity to England. And with Tiger Woods not on the entry list for the tournament, I say McIlroy's chances of winning his second straight major look very good, despite some other big names on the list like Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and countless others looking to make history of their own as a champion of the British Open.

Image courtesy: Getty Images

Winnipeg can breathe easy now

Back in 1996, I was merely a casual follower of the NHL. Sure, I had watched some games here and there. But I generally didn't watch very many games until a few years later. That same year, the Winnipeg Jets sadly flew out of the provincial capital of Manitoba to the dry desert of Phoenix, Arizona, and the team was renamed the Phoenix Coyotes.

Turn the clock ahead to 2011. The Coyotes are now in control by the National Hockey League, and there was a strong possibility that True North Sports & Entertainment, an ownership group based out of Winnipeg, was interested in bringing the franchise back to where it belongs. But instead, Chicago-based businessman Matthew Hulsizer expressed interest in buying the team, and the city of Glendale (where the Coyotes play their home games) pitched in $25 million to keep the team there through at least the 2011-12 season. And now the Coyotes are looking for new ownership--again--as Hulsizer pulled himself out of the running to buy the team.

But it doesn't matter for Winnipeg now. Once Glendale was able to get their ducks in a row in keeping the Coyotes in town, TNS&E shifted their focus to Atlanta, as the Thrashers' ownership group was fixing to sell off the team to the highest bidder. The Thrashers had historically been abysmal, only making one playoff appearance in their franchise history, and their fan support was next to nothing in recent years, which may have been one of those factors into why Atlanta Spirit wanted to unload the team.

On May 19, an article from the Toronto Globe & Mail reported that Atlanta Spirit and True North had come to a purchase agreement which opened the door for relocation of the team to Winnipeg. Despite the reports being premature, Jets fans flocked by the thousands to Portage and Main, a popular gathering area in downtown Winnipeg, to celebrate the return of their team on that night. Five days later, True North and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman were in Winnipeg to announce the transaction had officially been completed. The relocation of the Thrashers to Winnipeg was approved by the NHL's Board of Governors on June 21.

Ever since the lockout wiped out the 2004-05 NHL season, I have pulled for Winnipeg to get a team again because of how much fans in the city pushed for having another team and hoping it would work out the second time around. What helped the city of Winnipeg this time is they had a new building, the MTS Centre, which replaced the outdated Winnipeg Arena (which was the original home of the Jets) that has since been demolished.

Exhale, Manitoba. The Jets are flying again. And I firmly believe they will be in Winnipeg to stay this time.

Image credit: CBC.ca

Talladega's Penchant for First-Time Winners

It's one of two weekends I look forward to during the NASCAR racing season: a race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. It's one of my favorite tracks on the NASCAR circuit, and nothing gets my blood pumping more than the high speeds and high excitement that is high-banked, 2.66-mile oval. The track doesn't just have a penchant for spectacular crashes, but it's also had a penchant for allowing first-time winners.

1969: Richard Brickhouse
1973: Dick Brooks
1978: Lennie Pond
1981: Ron Bouchard
1986: Bobby Hillin, Jr.
1987: Davey Allison
1988: Phil Parsons (spring) and Ken Schrader (summer)
2006: Brian Vickers
2009: Brad Keselowski

And on the subject of first-time winners, Trevor Bayne won't be one of them because he won the Daytona 500 to open the season. But there are plenty of other drivers that can potentially get their first Sprint Cup win at Talladega this coming weekend.

David Ragan: Got his first Nationwide Series victory in 2009 in an exciting photo-finish, beating Ryan Newman to the finish line. Newman and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. made contact on the final lap coming into the tri-oval, allowing Ragan (with a push from Joey Logano) to sneak by Newman for the win. This year, Ragan led the Daytona 500 at the 500th mile, but was penalized on the next to last restart for illegally changing lanes, which in effected handed the 500 to Trevor Bayne, who had been drafting with Ragan for much of the race. One week after coming off his first career pole at Texas, Ragan is very close to his first Cup series win, and it just might come on Sunday.

Regan Smith: Technically, his name shouldn't even be on this list. But it is because of this controversial finish in 2008:

And you can thank NASCAR's yellow-line rule for making this possible. In 2001, NASCAR implemented this rule in response to Dale Earnhardt's fatal accident at the Daytona 500, which means a driver that moves below the yellow line cannot advance their position while below the line. Unless the driver gives that position back, he/she would be penalized by NASCAR and usually serve a drive-thru penalty. Since then, Smith has been strong on superspeedways, but didn't record a top 10 finish until this year's Daytona 500, where he was in contention late in the race until getting caught up in a late-race crash and recovering from it as his Furniture Row Chevy sustained only minor damage in the crash. And like David Ragan, Smith's first Cup series win can't be that far away, and it could come this weekend.

Marcos Ambrose: While he's better known as a road-racer, Ambrose isn't too shabby at Talladega. He recorded a 4th-place finish in the spring 2009 race, which included that infamous tangle between Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski as they battled for the win. Don't let his lifetime average finish at Talladega of 27.2 fool you: anyone's lifetime average finish at Daytona or Talladega can improve with just one strong finish, regardless if it's a trip to victory lane or a top five. He's in his first season driving for Richard Petty Motorsports, running virtually the same equipment that Ragan drives for Roush-Fenway Racing, as RPM is a satellite operation of RFR.

Paul Menard: He's off to the best start of his Sprint Cup career. While he's been moderately successful on the Sprint Cup circuit, he continues to get better year after year, and after joining Richard Childress Racing in the offseason, is bound for his best season yet. But like Ambrose, his average finish lifetime at Talladega is 24.9, but he recorded a career-best 2nd place finish in the aforementioned fall 2008 race. With RCR's historically-strong record on superspeedways, Menard has a great chance, and could give RCR their third-straight Talladega win (Kevin Harvick is the defending spring race winner, and Clint Bowyer won the race last October).

A.J. Allmendinger: Teammate of Marcos Ambrose, former CART/Champ Car driver A.J. Allmendinger has finally gotten the hang of driving heavy stock cars after a rough introduction to them in 2007. Often called 'Dinger for short, he continues to improve much like Menard has. He has driven for "The King," Richard Petty, since 2009 when Petty Enterprises was under the partial ownership of the oft-financially troubled George Gillet. The last time Allmendinger was at Talladega, he went for this wild ride as the race leaders were battling for the win:


Photo Credits: Getty Images

10 Years Later, The Void Is Still There (But The Safety Is Better)

February 18, 2001.

That day was supposed to be the dawning of a new era for NASCAR. For one, it was the start of a new TV contract that the sport signed with FOX, TNT, and NBC. Second, it was the start of the 2001 season with the sport's biggest race in the Daytona 500. And third, it was to be the second race of a superspeedway aerodynamics package that actually debuted the following October at Daytona's sister track at Talladega with fantastic results.

But instead, it turned out to be one of the darkest day's in the sport's history. I sure haven't forgotten about the events of that day, and I don't think I ever will. It was supposed to be the greatest day in Michael Waltrip's life, as he recorded his first NASCAR Winston Cup victory in his 463rd career start with his brother, 1989 Daytona 500 champion Darrell Waltrip, calling him to victory in the FOX booth. Waltrip drove the #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, a car owned by Dale Earnhardt.

Instead, NASCAR and millions of its fans were mourning the death of the sport's biggest face and namesake. On the final lap of the race, coming out of the fourth and final turn, Earnhardt was running in third place, watching two of the cars he owned run first (Waltrip) and second (Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet) respectively and was wrecked trying to protect third place from Sterling Marlin, Rusty Wallace, and Ken Schrader. Earnhardt made contact with Marlin's Dodge Intrepid, and his car shot up the 31-degree banking and slammed head-on into the wall, taking Schrader with him.

At first, the crash didn't appear to be that bad. But when Schrader climbed out of his car, he walked to the driver's side of Earnhardt's wrecked car, and frantically gestured for the paramedics to get to Earhnardt, indicating that he was badly injured. While Waltrip was celebrating his victory, Earnhardt was getting cut out of his car and was getting transported by ambulance to the hospital. Attempts to resuscitate Earnhardt were unsuccessful, as he was pronounced dead at 3:16 pm MST. At a press conference about two hours later inside the Daytona International Speedway's media center, NASCAR president Mike Helton stepped in front of a throng of reporters and made the grim announcement:

"This is undoubtedly one of the toughest announcements I've personally ever had to make. But...after the accident in Turn 4 at the end of the Daytona 500...we've lost Dale Earnhardt."
-NASCAR president Mike Helton

Earlier in the race, a spectacular crash involving Tony Stewart caused the race to be red-flagged for a brief period of time to clean up the track from other cars that were involved in the crash, which also eliminated another Dale Earnhardt-owned entry driven by Steve Park (#1 Pennzoil Chevrolet). During that red flag period, Earnhardt was communicating on the radio with his longtime owner Richard Childress.
In the following clip near the end, Childress describes what he and Earnhardt were discussing, and it had something to do with safety.


In the days following the tragedy, tributes from all over the country and the world started pouring in. Earnhardt's memorial service was broadcast on all local news stations in the Charlotte, North Carolina area (because most of the NASCAR teams are based around Charlotte). One of my friends was living in Charlotte at the time of the tragedy and he told me that it was like a sitting President of the United States had died (as in almost eerily reminiscent to the entire nation mourning the loss of President John F. Kennedy in 1963).

But the racing had to go on because Earnhardt would have wanted the racing to continue. And almost everybody associated with Earnhardt paid tribute to their fallen friend in their own way by winning at least once in 2001. The following week at Rockingham, North Carolina, Steve Park paid tribute to his late boss with this exciting finish against defending series champion Bobby Labonte:



Three races later, Earnhardt's successor, Kevin Harvick, was engaged in a fierce battle for the win with Jeff Gordon at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was a race where Earnhardt would have entered as the defending champion:



And then the series returned to Daytona for the Pepsi 400. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was returning to the site of perhaps the darkest day of his life, and it was safe to say that his father might have been riding shotgun with him on that July night.


Finally, on the six-year anniversary of Earnhardt's fatal accident, it was Harvick coming out of nowhere on the last lap to battle with race leader Mark Martin. And as mayhem ensued behind them, Harvick and Martin duked it out for the win.


In terms of how the cars changed, the 2007 season was the year NASCAR debuted its new "Car Of Tomorrow" platform and phased it into use over the course of that season. The car was mostly built with one thing in mind: safety in the wake of Earnhardt's death. Before the car was rolled out, NASCAR mandated that all drivers wear a head-and-neck restraint system, with the HANS device being the most popular of them. The cockpit of the car is now bigger as well, as the car is two inches taller and four inches wider than the old car. The driver's seat was also shifted more to the center of the car to reduce the risk of injuries if that side of the car was struck at high speed. The tracks have changed in regards to safety as well. Every track on the Sprint Cup circuit has SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) barriers installed at every track

Perhaps the greatest test of NASCAR's safety innovations coming full circle happened during a qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway in 2008, where rookie Michael McDowell tested out everything.

Photo credit: autoevoltion.com