THE Open
Well, that was fun. A lot of fun.
We awoke obscenely early and watched a ton of golf. There's something unnerving and intoxicating to have it be pitch black outside and flush green conditions at Carnoustie for THE Open.
We spoke earlier this week that Car-Nasty is the toughest course in rotation and how the R&A may rival the USGA and how OUR Open was played over par. Well, the flush conditions and the pure greens made for scoreable conditions in which good shots were rewarded. And that's something we could not consistently say about Shinnecock. (Add the aesthetically pleasing start of the bunkers, cooked fairways, the burn and the flush emerald greens, and well THE Open 2, OUR Open 0.)
We also spoke earlier this week about the length of today's players and how it will become more and more of a talking point. Those cooked fairways had announcers talking about stimpmeter readings for tee-shots and the stiff breeze early had guys like Justin Rose driving the green on a 390-yard par 4. Say what? Dustin Johnson hit driver on the 385-yard opening hole and
All-in-all, considering the great start and the almost 50 or so players we have in the contest, this was a great way to start a Thursday. Heck, if we did not have a lot to get to today, we likely would have cracked a CoCola or three. (Side question: Is it still morning drinking and frowned upon if it's completely dark outside? Discuss.)
That said, Mike Tirico, welcoming in the 8 a.m. crowd on the Golf Channel said it was a joy to be back to the birth place of golf (No issue), with a championship field (true) to the greatest championship of them all.
Say what? Hey Mike, we love your skill set as an announcer. You have passed Al Michaels as the best all-around working behind a microphone.
But sir, do not confuse network loyalty - NBC, Tirico's current home, has THE Open - with common sense.
Tis only one Masters Mr. T, and we pity the fool who does not recognize the simple truths
FILE - In this March 13, 2015, file photo, Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey speaks before an NCAA college basketball game in Nashville, Tenn. North Carolina has responded Thursday, May 25, 2017, to the third set of charges it received from the NCAA in the long-running academic fraud case. In an argument that mirrors its response last August to its second Notice of Allegations, North Carolina is challenging the NCAA's jurisdiction to pursue charges for issues the school says "are academic in nature" and "lie beyond the reach of the bylaws belatedly invoked" by the NCAA. Sankey, who heads the NCAA infractions panel handling the case, has said his panel will hear the case in August with "anticipated" dates of Aug. 16 and 17. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) SEC media days
We say this on a regular basis on Press Row, but friends, our area has a true sports media resource in TFP SEC ace David Paschall when it comes to the best conference in college football.
Dude is completely in his element, and this week on radio row was simply no different.
Guests from all over the league. Officials from commissioner Greg Sankey on down. Interesting folks from all over the league, including new SEC Network dude D.J. Shockley. (That was a fun one considering Paschall covered D.J. at UGA and in one of my previous newspaper stops, I covered D.J. at North Clayton High. Good times.)
Here's the link to ESPNChattanooga.com that has all the interviews - we had seven on Wednesday alone friends - from our time down there.
That said, we are completely happy not to be driving down there and back again today. Because of some personal things this week, we had to high-tail it and hoof it, and man the traffic coming back north, well, let's say it was not a vacation destination.
Anyhoo, there was a ton in today's TFP from the Ace Davids (Paschall of course, and TFP UT ace Dancin' David Cobb), so feel free to look around and browse. Today, the preseason votes are due, and they will be released Friday. (Normally they are released on Thursday, but, well, maybe Atlanta traffic slowed the process this year.)
For full disclosure, here's my ballot on how we believe the teams will finish:
West: Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, LSU, Ole Miss and Arkansas. (And yes, that likely will make life uncomfortable for Easy Ed Orgeron come December.)
East: Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Vandy, Kentucky.
SEC champ: Duh.
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason leaves the field after the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)Nashville sports day
Lots happening Wednesday for Nash-Vegas in terms of the sports realm.
Derek Mason, the Vandy head football coach strolled through radio row and pulled up a chair on Press Row. Hey, who knows how long he'll be there, but he is such a good dude, we are pulling for him to do work.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred mentioned Nashville among four potential expansion cities. (Side note: If they do go to 16 teams, who else would be up for limited interleague play? We think we would.)
Then came news that Jurrell Casey, quite possibly the Titans best overall player, announced that he will gladly pay the fine and he is prepared to protest during the national anthem this fall.
Here we go again.
In truth, this should not surprise any of us, and the only thing that would be surprising moving forward would be if Casey is the only one protesting.
Couple of things about this.
First, this is on the league for not coming up with a hard-and-fast solution that included the players' association. Seriously, this was an issue for the entire league and all the money-makers - players, owners, TV partners, et al. - involved. And the fact that they could not get anything remotely resembling a solution is embarrassing for league leadership to be honest.
How far away from a solution is this really? Well, Casey just held up a fist last year, and considering a lot of players feel like they were not consulted on something they believe should be collectively bargained, there is a real chance that the NFL's stand-or-stay-in-the-locker-room plan may increase the number of folks protesting.
And if your 'solution' actually increases the problem, well, there's that.
This also washes away the talking point that the players are not maximizing the emotional charge of doing this during the anthem and the flag presentation. There were a slew of players who offered that the protests were not about the flag or the troops. And before that would wash.
Now, using this stage and knowingly using the time, passion and situation of the anthem means they can no longer pretend the anthem is no longer part of this.
This and that
- Speaking of THE Open, and there will be plenty of discussion of today's events, Baylor School grad and all-around good dude Luke List played very early this morning and shot 1 under.
- Speaking of THE Open and announcing, Faldo was working with Tirico on the Golf Channel coverage. We are in a strange place of announcing decisions and connections. Faldo is the main analyst for CBS. Did someone forget to wake Johnny Miller or was he still grumpy about his scones? Maybe it's not unlike A-Rod, who is full time with Fox but also does ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. (Side question: Is the phrase "not unlike" a bit over the top? In retrospect, we can see that line of thinking to be honest. Still if we're talking about THE Open or THE Ohio State, we can use phrases like "not unlike" and others akin to it, right? #pinkieextended.)
- Normally we stay away from the local issues that may find their way into the B section of the TFP. That said, we wanted to tip the visor to Meghan Magnum for a quick-hitting "What to expect" story on this afternoon's school board meeting. Well done.
- OK, know that we did not watch a single moment, and according to this online report, well, we did not miss much from the ESPYs, especially Danica Patrick's opening monologue, which apparently actually made her NASCAR career seem successful.
- Hmmmmm, the Falcons reportedly have told Julio Jones he will not get a contract adjustment. Potential trouble in Flowery Branch.
Today's questions
True or false (on a Thursday), my SEC predictions are money.
True or false (on a Thursday), there will be more protests - be them on the field or in the locker room - than last year.
True or false (on a Thursday), this will be Danica Patrick's last go as ESPY host.
Answer some, leave some - that is if the comments are working.
As for a Rushmore, well, today is July 19 and on this day, well, there is nothing of note.
So, let's do a Rushmore of British Open moments. Go.