Tiger's play resembles off course journey

Tiger Woods finished 1-over-par at the Bridgestone Invitational is his first PGA appearance in three months. His recently fired caddie Steve Williams carried tournament winner Adam Scott's bag. Scott finished four strokes ahead of Luke Donald and Rickie Fowler at 17-under-par.

Despite being part of 14 major championships with Woods, Williams told the media this was one of the best weeks of his life.

"It's the most satisfying weeks of my life, there's no two ways about it," Williams said.

Tiger Woods continued his struggles on the course, finishing tied for 37th. He returned after a three-month recovery to help heal his left knee and Achilles heel.

Tiger's play on the course resembles his personal life off the course. His career and private life is a parallel line to his golf play. And he said as much after his round Sunday.

"I had it in spurts this week.Today was a good example of that. I hit it well starting out, then completely lost it there, then tried to piece it back together at the end."

Tiger was at the top, then everything completely fell apart on him for about two years, now he's trying to piece it back together at the end. Just like his play right now.

There are flashes, then it crumbles. And the frustration within Tiger builds.

The current private issues Tiger is dealing with haven't manifested themselves in razor focus on the golf course like it was in the past. Tiger used the juice of being the world's No. 1 golfer while living his secret, under-the-surface life to practice and work harder than anyone else. By being No. 1 in the world justified every other action. And it worked for him.

Now Tiger hasn't won a tournament since 2008 and Stevie Williams is shouting from the rooftops how great things are for him now that he's not with Tiger. Things need to change, or maybe there's been too much change. Tiger needs to clean the entire slate, which may be done. Stevie on the bag was one of the last connections to the former Tiger Woods.

While there's a clean slate, that doesn't mean "new Tiger" needs to change completely. He can't, nor could anyone at 35. 'We are who we are' is a saying that holds true quite often. That's the direction Tiger needs to go. Get back to the basics, personally and professionally. Instincts and natural actions only.

There's still time for Tiger. He's still got time to achieve the goals many have set. But the clock is ticking and it never stops. Eventually the wins stop coming.

If Tiger is finally back healthy, as he appears to be, he will eventually bust out of this slump.

Go back to doing what made you the 'greatest ever', Tiger, what ever that was. You're running out of time.

Bad Signs, especially for the Dolphins

Sometimes you it's so obvious you have to trust the simplicity of it. You don't need to give it any more thought. It's clear. Trust the glaring signs.

Signs your NFL team is up against it this season.

Picking up where he left off last season. 

• You're answering questions about Brett Favre. Tony Sparano "isn't ruling anything out. Ok?" I'm sure he's not, and the media is dying to talk about Favre again, but why are they asking only Sparano? Miami is also the only team who really needed a QB that didn't land one. (I guess San Fran as well.) And Henne is already hearing the boos. 
• You're reportedly working out Tiki Barber. A double play for the Dolphins. They lose Ronnie Brown to the Eagles. Ricky Williams is finally at the end of the line and can finally walk away from the NFL, a day he no doubt cannot wait for. They clearly are desperate for a running back, which they desperately need to run the offense best suited for Sparano and Henne. 
• Your head coach is already on the hot seat. Hello again, Dolphins. Sparano was surprisingly retained by Miami after a rough 2010 season, where the Dolphins went 1-7 at home and ranked 29th in scoring. To go along with the Favre and Barber questions, Miami just signed 37-year-old Jason Taylor. They need help bad. Here's Sparano on all of this (courtesy of ESPN): "I can't rule anything out. OK? So, I mean, we don't rule anything out. I don't know how you want me to answer that. That'll be all over the news now too." ... "You know Tiki's age. We signed Jason Taylor. So we're going to flip over whatever rocks we think are necessary in this process. I don't want to say something that my feet are to the fire on."

The Dolphins are shooting distress flares all over Miami very early in the 2011 season. The Dolphins will be hard-pressed all year, and Sparano may be fired before the end of the season.

• BONUS SIGN: You signed Tarvaris Jackson to start at QB. This is an immediate red flag. You wonder if Pete Carroll has bothered to watch all the film of Tarvaris. Of course Dick Bevell has shown him all the good footage, not that it was extensive. The Seahawks will be better than some but not by much. Trying to find hope in Minnesota castaways is not a good sign. Sidney Rice will not live up to the expectations of his contract. At least they brought in The Cable Guy in case somebody needs their jaw broke.

(Photo credit: miamidolphins.com)

NFL Trading Block

Two days into the official start of the NFL season, teams are frantically signing and trading players. Free agency won't open until Friday, July 29 at 5 p.m. EST, but many teams have already gotten major pieces via trades.

Big Names On Move

McNabb moves on after a tumultuous year in D.C.

Donovan McNabb to Minnesota Vikings -
The Vikings had to do it. Facing the reality of a rookie quarterback starting, Minnesota had to make a move on McNabb. It's a good fit for both teams. Washington desperately wanted him gone, and Minnesota's situation allowed to gamble on a clearly fading McNabb career. While this is a wise move for the Vikings, it doesn't ensure anything but a couple more wins. Minnesota will have a hard time making the playoffs regardless of QB.


Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco to New England Patriots - 
Bill Belichick is known as the guy who can take any player with talent, regardless of personal baggage, and put them to good use. He's proved it with Corey Dillon and Randy Moss. Now he's made a move to sure up the D-line and get a reliable receiver for Tom Brady by bringing in Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco, two guys that have been a pain in the asses of their previous coaches. The difference between Belichick and most of the league, why he can take on "problem" players and immediately get production, is communication. It's the oldest thing in the book. He knows how to deal with all players. That's why he's so good year-in and year-out. He schemes very well and he knows how to deal with an NFL locker room. Haynesworth and Ochocinco will help New England greatly this year.


Kevin Kolb to Arizona Cardinals for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and 2nd rd. pick -
Arizona desperate for a QB + Eagles with one to spare = Andy Reid worked over Arizona into sending a very good CB over for a guy he wasn't even going to use. And a 2nd-round pick on top of it. Kolb's career consists of 19 games in four years. He's thrown 11 TDs and 14 INTs. He was concussed in the first game last year. There's doubt there. However, Kolb has potential. Arizona gave him the shot he wanted. Now he must really deliver a midst pressure he's never seen before.

Tarvaris Jackson and Sidney Rice to Seattle Seahawks - 
Digging through Minnesota's castaways probably isn't the best choice for a young team with a new coach. But Pete Carroll and Seattle are going to try it. Jackson proved too many times in Minnesota that he can't be a starting QB in this league for an entire season. Rice proved nothing more than he could catch passes from a vintage Brett Favre. Rice caught 19 passes in six games last year. He was plagued by injuries, due to rushing back from a training camp surgery. As Rice should already know, there's a big difference between Favre throwing the ball and TJack. Rice went to highest bidder.

Reggie Bush to Miami Dolphins -
The writing hit the wall draft night when New Orleans drafted RB Mark Ingram. Bush sent an ill-advised tweet about how it's "been nice knowing" the Saints organization. He knew his time was up. The injuries and inconsistent play, coupled with an upcoming contract situation, suggested it was time to move on. Miami picking him up makes sense and should help both involved. Bush will have opportunities to carry the ball outside the tackles and add to Tony Sparano's rushing game, which needs to get back to where it was in 2008.

(Photo: Yardback.com, David Johnson)

Blyleven: Finally gets his Hall of Fame wish

Bert Blyleven is proof that if you harp on yourself for 15 years about how you deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, eventually the writers will put you in - as long as you have at least one notable career statistical achievement. Blyleven is 5th in career strikeouts with 3,701.

Blyleven has spent previous years on national media outlets expressing his displeasure with not being elected into the Hall. On and on he would go about not being recognized, making sure people really gave his career some thought. This year he finally got his wish. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with Roberto Alomar, on Sunday in Cooperstown.

Blyleven has waited 14 years for Sunday.

Is Blyleven a Hall of Famer? It's not just Blyleven, but others in the same category as him. For instance, Andre Dawson. "The Hawk", like Blyleven, waited an extended period before getting the number of votes for induction last year. Dawson got in on his ninth ballot, Blyleven on his 14th, second-to-last year of eligibility.

My question is: do the voters feel like 'who are we to say this guy shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame?'  I looks like that's the case for Blyleven. He would have bitched and moaned beyond belief if they would have stiffed him completely. This year the ballot was weak and the voters had heard enough from Bert, who would have taken to the Twins broadcasts with his somber if denied again.

The couple different schools of thought on Hall of Fame voting must be applied here, and for all cases. There isn't a right or wrong answer, necessarily, and both are very compelling arguments.

HOF criteria #1: You don't even have to think about it. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Nolan Ryan, Barry Bonds. Those type of players. This has been made nationally known by Skip Bayless, who teaches this school of thought. "It's not the Hall-of-Very-Good."

In order to determine if someone like Blyleven or Dawson gets into the Hall of Fame, you have to go and look at the numbers. At least I do. I know about them, but they don't shout "Hall of Fame" to me. Because of that, these guys wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame.

However, this same school of thought can be applied to Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Both reached the levels of "Fame" that jumps out at you. They did things never done before. I don't have to even think about what Big Mac and Sosa did.

If you did back and look you'd see Sosa hit over 30 home runs 11 times (10 consecutive), while Dawson hit over 30 homers three times in a 21-year career. Sosa hit over 40 home runs seven times. He hit 66, 63, and 64 home runs in '98, '99 and '01 and DIDN'T LEAD THE LEAGUE. (I'm simply looking at the record book, this is not commentary on steroids.)

HOF criteria #1.1: A sub-division of the first school - You can't tell the story and history of baseball without this player. Examples: Joe Jackson, Pete Rose, McGwire and Sosa, Roger Clemens, Bonds. Those are a few omissions that make it in with this argument. I think we could get all the major details of Major League Baseball history without hearing Bert Blyleven's name.

HOF criteria #2: You get in based on career numbers and overall contributions to the game. With this, you pour over stats. You compare to others in the Hall of Fame. You use common sense. This is where having the fifth most strikeouts of all time, to go along with 287 wins, nearly 5,000 innings and 22 years of service pays off. Rafael Palmeiro, Sosa and Rose come to mind with this school of thought.

Dawson and Blyleven have career numbers that, if you look at them long enough, wear you down. Blyleven more so than Dawson, based on sheer volume of numbers. Dawson was a very good player but one season with 49 home runs and 137 RBIs shouldn't put you in.

I look at all schools of thought when determining my vote. I believe I would have done what the voters did in this case with Blyleven - looked at numbers for 10+ years, waited until time was running out, and voted him in. Dawson, I'm not sure I could have gotten there, unless in the 15th year, you simply say 'Why not?'

The Hall of Fame is the ultimate career accomplishment, so I know why Blyleven was so vocal about wanting in. I understand his motives. The strikeouts got him in, which means that big breaking curveball had a big role in Sunday's induction. I hope the 14-year wait was worth it.

Casey Anthony: What's Next

The million-dollar question in the Casey Anthony saga right now is: what's next?

A million dollars is used figuritivily and literally in this sense. I heard one "expert" of sort saying she certainly could extract $1 million from this case, in various ways. Interviews, the story, a number of media-based appearances and such.

Casey Anthony defense lawyer Cheney Mason 

There's no doubt people will be lining up at every opportunity to hear what she has to say. The demand is there, without question. But it's too hot out there for Casey Anthony right now. She can't be parading out front and center because, as her defense attorney Cheney Mason said, "There are idiots everywhere."

Mason spoke candidly about Anthony's future and some trials and tribulations his client has and will encounter.

"You ask her about coming back to the state of Florida. Would you? I wouldn't. The State of Florida tried to kill her," Mason said in the USA Today video.

Mason said Anthony mentioned wanting to work in his law office after release, but Mason says that's "not realistic." He said over 350 people have offered Anthony a place to stay and hundreds have offered jobs.

Mason said he would advise against media appearances and that Anthony isn't looking for money right now, just wants to be left alone.

Mason on Anthony reconciling with family: "I think she has a better reality of some relationship with Lee (her brother)."

On whether she did it: "My soul knew she did not kill that child. I believed it when I talked to her, I looked at the evidence and knew it. She did not kill that child.

For Anthony, staying out of the public eye will be most important for the near future. The first appearance would have to be a trusted news outlet, who came to her, for a televised interview. I wouldn't recommend anything for the first year.

From reports, Anthony has received not only jobs and lodging, but also financial contributions from many people and places. Her defense team will have something set up where she is isn't desperate for money but eventually Anthony will have to earn some income to support herself.

There are plenty of jobs you can do from home and out of the public. Certainly some profit will be made on the story and media appearances, however should be shelved for the first couple of years. For everyone's sake.

(All information courtesy of USA Today Video. Image: truTV)

Jeter, Mr. 3000, skipping All-Star Game

Derek Jeter is skipping the All-Star Game due to "emotional and physical exhaustion."  Jeter's chase of 3,000 hits, which culminated Saturday with a home run off David Price, was cited as part of the exhaustion. He returned from the 15-day DL at the end of June with a calf injury as well.

Jeter doesn't want to fly to Phoenix for the All-Star Game. It's that simple. He'd rather rest and stay out of the spotlight. Many, including an anonymous Major League Baseball official, don't like it. They want him there so everyone can celebrate his 3,000th hit. It's not about "honoring Jeter". It's so more people will watch the game, so others can make a big deal out of his accomplishment. Jeter doesn't need anymore honors or celebrations of his career. He'll take brief three days rest. And with the way the system is set up, it's his right to do it.

Bud Selig came out with an statement saying it's fine for Jeter to skip the game. Selig said there isn't anyone he's more proud of than Jeter, and how he might do the same thing Jeter is doing. Okay, Bud. But the point is players can back out if they want to, if they're injured or wanting rest.

At this point, for some of the All-Stars, they don't care about going to another All-Star Game. Whether it's the right thing to do or not, whether it screws the fans or not, maybe Derek Jeter doesn't care about going to his 13th All-Star Game. Maybe, for once, Jeter is looking out for Numero Uno.

I don't begrudge Jeter one bit for not attending. If the league wants every player selected to attend, make it mandatory. But they won't because of the backlash from the players. Sure, fans would like to see Jeter play in the All-Star Game but, I'm sorry, fans don't (and shouldn't) influence stars' decisions.

And of all people, there's going to be backlash against Derek Jeter?! Stop. He's played in 12 All-Star Games. He made the choice that staying put and resting was more beneficial to him than hopping a plane, flying cross country, playing three innings, and flying back. It may not endear him to the selfish fans but that's the way it goes.

The All-Star Game will be fine without Derek Jeter. I'm sure they'll be able to adequately honor him and his accomplishment without him actually being there. I have no doubt FOX will let everyone know about it.

All the All-Stars skipping the game this year, 16 in all, proves yet again that no one cares about the winner of the ASG determining home-field advantage in the World Series. It's time for that to go. And hopefully it will be retired when Selig goes.

Strikeouts are good for the game

I stumbled upon an article how strikeouts are taking over baseball. Good, I thought. The game always can use an uptick in strikeouts. Pitchers dominating the game, which generally results in a good number of strikeouts, is a good thing.

As I started reading, I found this wasn't a pro-strikeout article at all. I could have figured when it started with a stale, tired movie reference from Bull Durham, a movie usually reserved as a "favorite" for people who have never played baseball with any type of success.

This article talks about how boring strikeouts are for the game. How they result in fewer balls in play, more pitches, less diving catches, more replays of guys walking back to the dugout, etc.

Now, if you think because I'm a former pitcher, who liked strikeouts as much as any stat, I'm biased here - you're half right. But here's the point: A pitcher dominating the game with 10+ strikeouts is just as exciting as a home run or diving catch.

The games I want to see on ESPN Classic are Roger Clemens and Kerry Wood striking out 20 batters in a game. That's boring? How about a closer coming in with the bases loaded and no outs and striking out the side? That's not exciting?

To use an analogy: Basketball players are shooting too high of a percentage. If there were more missed shots, there would be more rebounds, more fastbreak opportunities, not as many replays of a guy running down the court after a make. Doesn't make sense, does it?

Are hitters striking out too often these days? Perhaps. There's some pretty alarming stats presented in the article I'm referring to. But it's not making the game "boring." It's a compliment to the pitchers. Pitcher dominance and more strikeouts also make a game go faster, something Major League Baseball desperately needs. This article is just another example of pro-hitter propaganda by people who wouldn't know good baseball if it bit them in the backside.