We talked earlier this week about the need for sports and our starvation for entertainment.
Yes, it's a distraction. It also, as we discussed, would help us reclaim a sense of normalcy.
Well, the sporting world is trying to figure out ways to fill that void. (And keep some paychecks flowing.)
NASCAR has found surprising success with iRacing, virtual races with familiar NASCAR names driving simulated cars against each other on TV. And if you're thinking this is merely a video game, think again. These are $40,000-plus computer set-ups.
How well received has the iRacing been? Well, more than 1.3 million watched last Sunday's virtual race at virtual Texas Speedway. That ranks third in most-watched sports since the coronavirus halted everything. The other two are "Elway to Marino" which is a 30-for-30 documentary that re-aired on ABC with 1.42 million viewers, and a March 22 encore of the U.S. Figure Skating Championship on NBC that had 1.4 million. Yes, seriously. That's how sports-starved we truly are.
Well, now comes some reports that a golf showdown - you know, actual competition in which we do not know the outcome - is set between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. And those reports grew even more juicy this week with CNBC reporting that Tiger would partner with Peyton Manning and Phil would team with Tom Brady.
Yes, a lot of the reports aired Wednesday, which also happened to be April Fools' Day. But this can't be a hoax. No way. Our sports fandom is simply too fragile to be teased this way.
Let your imagination run. Concerns about contracting or spreading the dreaded coronavirus should be limited after all. Golf courses are wide open spaces, and few people are needed to pull off a match like that.
The numbers could be historic, considering the most-watched golf event since the figures have been kept was Tiger's historic first Masters win in 1997, which drew a 14.1 rating and 20.3 million viewers.
It would figure that the first choice for every golfer to play a match would be Augusta National, the site of the Masters. But that would be too easy and too many fans would camp out for a glimpse of the greats or ways onto the grounds.
My thought is: Let's bring that foursome to Ooltewah and play a little top-20 national course called The Honors.
That's right, and there's a connection. Manning is a well-known member at the late Jack Lupton's tribute to the game. Tiger played there in the U.S. Amateur and the NCAA tournament in the 1990s, and Mickelson also competed in the U.S. Amateur there.
Secluded. Tight and glorious grounds. Cottages on the premises.
And knowing Honors head pro Henrik Simonsen, the crew and the club would do anything to help all of us have something else to think about than our next family walk or look forward to other than the next sports cancellation.
It would be a perfect fit. Dare I say, it would be an Honor.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or follow him on Twitter at @jgreesontfp.
Jay Greeson