From the "7-Up Stinks Studios," here we go...
Keegan Bradley celebrates on the 18th green after winning a three-hole playoff against Jason Dufner at the PGA Championship golf tournament Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011, at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Major fun at the final major
It may not be regarded with the same esteem as the rest of its major championship brethren, but the PGA Championship was fun. The tournament was dramatic and tense and competitive - and that as much as anything makes major championship golf fun.
Did it matter that the leader board could have been at the Children's Hospital Classic at Black Creek? Not really. The course looked great. The last four holes were world-class hard. And there was a battle-tested winner and a disappointed runner-up (hard to call anyone a loser who cashes a $800,000-plus paycheck for playing four rounds of golf).
The tournament served as yet another reminder that the title of "major" golf tournament is more powerful for the players than the fans. Wow, the drama and the pressure of Sunday was fun to watch - whether it was Jason Dufner vs. Keegan Bradley or Jason of Aragon vs. General Bradley.
As for our contest, props to AUbacker for having Dufner, as for the rest of his/her picks, well, Ronnie Brown and Bo Jackson did not fare as well. So it goes.
As for the results of the "Final Major that's not really a major major contest" let's congratulate newcomer BlueOval for a great submission. We've got some ticket options available, so shoot us an e-mail BlueOval and we'll discuss your options.
BlueOval - Scott (7), Mickelson (19), D Johnson (MC), Stricker (12) and Donald (8) - 46
ThatIDoKnow - Rory (64), Adam Scott (7), Bubba Watson, (26) Westwood (8), Watney (12) - 53
BIspy4 - Ricky Barnes (56), Luke Donald (8), Rory McIlroy (64) Adam Scott (7), Steve Stricker (12) -83
EC - Ricky Fowler (51), Lee Westwood (8), Luke Donald (8), Dill Pickelson (19) and Tigger Woods (100) - 86
Mrs. 5-at-10 - Adam Scott (7), Nick Watney (12), Westwood (8), Day (MC), Rory (64) - 91
SportTalk's Dr. B (he's a doctor after all): Rory (64), Adam Scott (7), Westwood (8), Dustin Johnson (MC), Watney (12) - 91
SportTalk's Quake: Adam Scott (7), Rory (64), Stricker(12),Dustin Johnson (MC), Westwood (8) -91
Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee's pads stick out of his jersey after being tackled during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game against Oklahoma Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 in College Station, Texas. Oklahoma beat Texas A&M 66-28. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Thanks for asking, but no thanks
TFP ace columnist Mark Wiedmer shares his view here about the startling and unsuccessful song and dance that Texas A&M tried in an effort to get into the SEC.
Since the middle of last week and from perches as high as the Texas governor's mansion, Texas A&M has lofted rumors and desires that the Aggies were headed to the SEC. In other news the 5-at-10 floated options that we were headed to the New York Times and possibly even ESPN, but alas we were not extended invites. So it goes.
Hey, Texas A&M, remember that time in middle school when you wanted to be invited to the cool kids' party and you decided to tell everyone that you were thinking about going to the party, even though you had not been asked? Well, it did not work then and it did not work Sunday.
If/when expansion does happen, the SEC will have its pick of schools, including Texas A&M and anyone else this side of the Colorado River. Why be the first to make a move when the SEC is dealing from such a position of strength?
Hey, Texas A&M, at least you have a spot in the Big 12, that really is the Big 10, that is really the Medium 8 - plus Oklahoma and Texas, each of which are headed somewhere sooner rather than later. Enjoy, and remember, the cool kids are really cooler than you and happy about being cooler than you.
Atlanta Braves' Dan Uggla, right, is hugged by teammate Freddie Freeman in the dugout as his 33-game hitting streak comes to an end after going 0-for-3 in the 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011, at Turner Field in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Dave Tulis)Thanks, Dan - it was fun
Dan Uggla's hitting streak ended Sunday at a club-record 33 games. Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney made a diving catch on a fly ball in shallow right to rob Uggla of a hit in Chicago's come-from-behind 6-5 win.
It was a fun ride that saw Uggla's batting average go from .173 to .231 as of this morning. He had 15 homers and 32 RBIs during the stretch, and the Braves were 20-15 (Uggla sat out one game) in that stretch despite extended injury absences for Chipper Jones and Brian McCann.
As for Sunday's game, the Braves' bullpen - Scott Linebrink allowed three hits and two runs on 10 pitches and Eric O'Flaherty allowed a two-run homer - let the Cubs escape. So it goes.
That said, the tired pitching staff - Tommy Hanson was sent to the 15-day DL with shoulder tendinitis - is a cause for concern for the Braves, who now lead the NL wildcard race by four games over San Francisco, which visits Atlanta tonight.
Of course, if someone could put together a 30-plus-game hitting streak, that would be great. Any suggestions?
This Jan. 1, 2010, file photo shows former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, left, and then MVP Terrelle Pryor celebrating after winning the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Oregon in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill,File)This and That
- Wow, Terrelle Pryor is in jeopardy of being ineligible for the NFL. Hey, the NCAA rules can insnare anyone - but the NFL? Has anyone ever been ineligible for the NFL before and how would you express that kind of frustration in a tattoo?
- NASCAR race was pushed back to today. That suits us fine since there was too much going on anyway.
- Yes, it's NFL preseason games that mean even less this year because of the labor issues that put an extra level of rust on most of the teams and players. That said, the crop of rookie QBs looked pretty good in the opening weekend of the exhibition schedule.
- Chris Lytle went out on top - winning the last MMA fight of his career this weekend. Sure, it's not like Ted Williams hitting a homer in his last big-league at-bat, but that's still pretty cool.
Staff photo by Alex Washburn/Chattanooga Times Free Press - August 12, 2011. Quarterback for Cleveland High School Chad Voytik warms up before the City Jamboree held at Finley Stadium on Friday in Chattanooga. Cleveland tied with Boyd-Buchanan High School 0-0.Today's question
The sports staff at the TFP just put the wraps on our high school football preview magazine, and most of us spent the weekend re-introducing ourselves to our wives and kids.
It's an 80-page beast and it's pretty strong all the way around. This week we will complete the college football preview magazine. So we have football on the brain - which is how it should be.
That said, if you could have one player off any other football team, who is it. If your team is a college program, then tell us and the player from another school you want. If you're an NFL fan, same rules.
Who you got? Or rather, who you want?