A few times a year we're privileged to wake up relatively early on a Sunday morning and watch Federer versus Nadal in a Grand Slam final. I think most people would agree that Nadal and Federer are in a class of their own when it comes to mens' tennis. Their matches are absolute battles. The two rivals always seem to play back and forth matches with incredible shot making and sometimes even more incredible defense. Anyone who can't roll out of bed to watch these two compete against each other is missing out.
Federer holds some unbelievable tennis records. He's got records for consecutive semifinals made (23), top two for consecutive finals made (10,8, the next closest is 4), and most importantly Grand Slam titles (16). I suggest viewing a list of Federer's achievements here, his dominance and consistency are quite impressive. Despite Federer's dominance, Rafa Nadal has pretty much owned him over the past several years going 17-8 against Roger. Nowhere else has he had Federer's number quite like he does at the French Open.
Nadal is so smooth on clay and its awesome to watch. I was sitting on my couch watching the 2011 final and thinking to myself, "geez, Nadal gets to every ball." It's got to be gut wrenching for Federer to be so unsuccessful against one man. Few people recognize that during Nadal's run, Federer should be considered the second best on clay during the era. Him and Nadal have met four times in the French Open final and Federer has been unable to beat him. Fed has 16 Grand Slam titles but what if not for Rafa? Federer could be playing for his 20th this morning against undoubtedly someone he'd beat.
Flip to the other side - Nadal is in the process of winning his 10th Grand Slam title and he's got four or five good years left (barring any issues with his knees). Unless Djokovic or Murray can get their acts together late in Grand Slam tournaments, Nadal has a legit shot to surpass Federer's mark. Federer has to be aware of this and he knows every time he's got a shot at beating Rafa he needs to make it happen to keep Nadal far off from his titles record.
Alas, back to the match. After going down 2-5 in the first set, Nadal won seven straight games to take the set and gain an early break in the second, which he later won in a tiebreaker. Down two sets, things looked bleak for Federer but inspired play at the end of the third set cut Nadal's lead in half. However, Fed's first double fault of the match gave Nadal triple break point and a chance to grab a 3-1 strangle hold in the fourth set. Nadal indeed capitalized and the match was never in doubt from there as Nadal went on to win the set 6-1. He won his 10th Grand Slam title and pulls to within six of tying Federer for most all time. More importantly, sports fans got another opportunity to watch a great match between two great rivals.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Game 7: Bruins vs. Lightning
A game 7 to reach the Stanley Cup finals is likely going to be tight. Last night's tilt between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning was especially so. Both teams had several chances and both teams had defenses and goalies who thwarted all but one of them. And that one that found the back of the net was the difference as the Bruins advanced and get a chance to play for the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1990.
The TDBank Center was rocking before the puck even dropped but hit another level when Derek Seidenberg lit up Lightning leader, and perhaps Conn Smythe candidate, Martin St. Louis at the Bruins blueline less than two minutes into the game. After seeing TB score three times this series within the first 70 seconds of the opening period, Seidenberg's hit definitely sent the message that the Bruins would not be sleepwalking through the first five minutes of the game.
The frenetic pace of the opening ten minutes is intense enough for anybody. The players will never have fresher legs, their shifts are short and all out. The crowd, waiting all day for the game to start, is at its peak. It "oooos" and "ahhhs" at its loudest levels at every big play. Doc Emerick puts it over the top though. If you're not already on the edge of your seat, the excitement in his voice has to bring you there. He even knows when to let the viewer soak in the atmosphere, pausing several times during the game to let the chants "Let's go Brewww-ins" and "We want the cup" come through the TV and echo around the living room.
After the first ten minutes, the game settled into a great flow and the level of play never dropped. Fans were treated to an up and down game and superb goaltending. Boston dominated the first two periods, out-shooting TB 29-17. They were finally able to break through with 7:33 left to play. Nathan Horton buried a sweet pass from David Krejci and the Bruins were able to hold on and clinch the Eastern Conference.
Its good to see the Bruins in the finals again. For the fourth straight season the Cup finals will be hosted by an original six team (Red Wings '08 and '09, Blackhawks '10) and that bodes well for national interest. It pits the league's #1 and #2 defenses during the regular season. The pace will be extremely high but don't expect it to result in a lot of goals. It could potentially be one of those series where 2-1 and 3-2 will be the final score. That doesn't mean the hockey won't be great though; it just makes every goal that more valuable.
The Chara/Seidenberg vs. Sedin twins match up will be great. It puts a lot of importance on coaching decisions and which HC will be able to get his guys on the ice at the right time. Double shifting a player to get him some open ice or getting fresh legs out there after the opposition just ices the puck could lead to a goal and be the difference between winning and losing the game.
If I had to make a pick this morning, I'd lean towards picking the Canucks in six games. If the games are tight, the Canucks have the horses to find the back of the net. However, until Luongo finally wins a Stanley Cup there will always be doubts, including from me. His matchup with Tim Thomas could be too much for him to handle and he may crack three or four games into the series, opening up the door for the Bruins to win hugely important games. Regardless, I'm looking forward to a great Stanley Cup final. One franchise base has the chance to celebrate for the very first time and another gets a shot to raise the Cup for the first time since 1972.
Finally, I'd like add to some quick thoughts on the Tampa Bay Lightning:
The TDBank Center was rocking before the puck even dropped but hit another level when Derek Seidenberg lit up Lightning leader, and perhaps Conn Smythe candidate, Martin St. Louis at the Bruins blueline less than two minutes into the game. After seeing TB score three times this series within the first 70 seconds of the opening period, Seidenberg's hit definitely sent the message that the Bruins would not be sleepwalking through the first five minutes of the game.
The frenetic pace of the opening ten minutes is intense enough for anybody. The players will never have fresher legs, their shifts are short and all out. The crowd, waiting all day for the game to start, is at its peak. It "oooos" and "ahhhs" at its loudest levels at every big play. Doc Emerick puts it over the top though. If you're not already on the edge of your seat, the excitement in his voice has to bring you there. He even knows when to let the viewer soak in the atmosphere, pausing several times during the game to let the chants "Let's go Brewww-ins" and "We want the cup" come through the TV and echo around the living room.
After the first ten minutes, the game settled into a great flow and the level of play never dropped. Fans were treated to an up and down game and superb goaltending. Boston dominated the first two periods, out-shooting TB 29-17. They were finally able to break through with 7:33 left to play. Nathan Horton buried a sweet pass from David Krejci and the Bruins were able to hold on and clinch the Eastern Conference.
Its good to see the Bruins in the finals again. For the fourth straight season the Cup finals will be hosted by an original six team (Red Wings '08 and '09, Blackhawks '10) and that bodes well for national interest. It pits the league's #1 and #2 defenses during the regular season. The pace will be extremely high but don't expect it to result in a lot of goals. It could potentially be one of those series where 2-1 and 3-2 will be the final score. That doesn't mean the hockey won't be great though; it just makes every goal that more valuable.
The Chara/Seidenberg vs. Sedin twins match up will be great. It puts a lot of importance on coaching decisions and which HC will be able to get his guys on the ice at the right time. Double shifting a player to get him some open ice or getting fresh legs out there after the opposition just ices the puck could lead to a goal and be the difference between winning and losing the game.
If I had to make a pick this morning, I'd lean towards picking the Canucks in six games. If the games are tight, the Canucks have the horses to find the back of the net. However, until Luongo finally wins a Stanley Cup there will always be doubts, including from me. His matchup with Tim Thomas could be too much for him to handle and he may crack three or four games into the series, opening up the door for the Bruins to win hugely important games. Regardless, I'm looking forward to a great Stanley Cup final. One franchise base has the chance to celebrate for the very first time and another gets a shot to raise the Cup for the first time since 1972.
Finally, I'd like add to some quick thoughts on the Tampa Bay Lightning:
- 41-year old Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson should not feel bad about letting in the clinching third period goal. He stopped 37 of 38 shots including a first period Lucic breakaway, a Recchi howitzer from right outside the crease in the second, and a third period chance from XXXX that he moved all the way across the net to block with his left pad and keep it a one goal game. One could argue 'Rolly' is the reason why the Lightning got as far as they did and still had a chance at the end of game 7.
- I am convinced that Victor Hedman is going to be a stud. After struggling earlier in the series he led his team in minutes played in game six and was second in game seven. Coach Boucher sure must have incredible confidence in his 20-year old sophomore defenseman. With Lidstrom possibly retiring this summer, Hedman is positioned to be the next great Swedish defenseman. It would have been great to see him go up against the Swedish Sedin twins in the Cup final.
- Vinny Lecavalier and St. Louis are great leaders and have given a lot to their organization over the years. They may not have had the best game 7 but they provided the guidance needed to take a young team deep into the playoffs. What's sad is that this could be the last time those two are one game away from playing for the cup.
- Steven Stamkos is an absolute man. He took a slapshot square in the face early in the second period but got up and skated right off the ice and headed straight for the dressing room. Stamkos returned less than six game minutes later with a cage screwed on to his helmet and a huge gash on the right side of his nose. What's even more incredible is that on his first shift back in the game he went diving to block another shot from the point. Those things do not go unnoticed by teammates and the Lightning's next captain is wearing number 91.
- Lastly, the Lightning and its fans should be excited about their team. They've got savvy vets with a year or two left in the tank and a young core that now has some major playoff experience on their resumes. Pending another high level season from Dwayne Roloson there's no reason to think the Lightning can't make another deep run next season.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Looking Back... and Ahead
The NHL playoffs start today and for the fourth straight season they begin without the New York Islanders. There was hope that the Isles would at least contend for spot in this year's postseason but a 1-17-3 stretch that lasted nearly two months erased any realistic chances of that playing out. In fact, things were so bad that on December 16, 2010 I decided to write about it. Coincidentally, that night the Islanders beat the Anaheim Ducks and went 8-2 over their next ten games. That ten game stretch was part of a 24-15-7 run for the Islanders that was good enough for the second best record in the Eastern Conference over that time period.
Despite a 1-6-1 finish that removed some of the luster from the mid-season success, the Islanders and their fans should be excited about several things from the 2010-2011 season and hope that they carry over to next season.
The first thing that pops out to me is the team's offense. Over the previous playoff-less seasons the Islanders finished 30th, 29th, and 21st in total goals. The team continued the upward trend this year by potting 225 goals and finishing 15th in the league. Perhaps more impressively, the Islanders led the entire NHL in shorthanded goals, scoring 15 while killing the man advantage (Frans Nielsen tied Bob Bourne's team single-season record with seven).
Goal scoring comes at a premium in the NHL these days. One player reached the 50 goal plateau this year and only four more players were able to tally at least 40 goals. Had John Tavares been able to score one more goal to bring his total to 30, the Islanders would've joined the Ducks as the only team in the NHL to have at least three players on the same team score at least 30 goals. The increase in goals can be attributed to five key players -
1. Michael Grabner, a speedy winger picked up off waivers from the Florida Panthers before the season started, led all rookies in goals with 34 (including 6 shorties!). Gremlin, as his teammates call him, was an exciting player for the Islanders this year and has an outside shot at winning the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league's top rookie.
2. Matt Moulson finished second on the Islanders in goals with 31. After coming off his first career 30-goal season in '09-10, there was some doubt whether or not this former 9th round pick by the Penguins would be able to continue at that pace. After getting this season's campaign off to a strong start the Islanders agreed to a 3-year contract that will keep Moulson with the team through 2014. One can only expect his production to increase with the continued development of his pivot man, John Tavares.
3. Speaking of JT, the second-year player and first overall pick in 2009 lit the lamp 29 times for the Islanders this year. Tavares is quietly making a name for himself in the NHL and was tied with Matt Duchene for tops in points (67) among the league's second year players. With another summer of physical development and maturity ahead of him, 80+ points for the cornerstone of the franchise should not be out of the question. In fact, he continues to be the most important player in the franchise's quest to gain respectability and I have a feeling he knows that.
4. Blake Comeau, another youngster in the Islanders system, set a career high with 24 goals in 77 games this year. Comeau spent this season on the Islanders second line and provided great depth with his scoring.
5. Lastly, PA Parenteau rounded out the Islanders 20+ goal scorers by hitting the milestone in the 82nd game of the season. A cast-off from the arch rival New York Rangers, PAP benefited greatly from playing alongside Tavares and Moulson this season.
Beyond these five players the Islanders will need at least two more forwards to step up next season. The most likely candidates are Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey, two third-liners who can add some solid depth behind the top two lines.
Okie played in just 38 games this year after suffering a preseason shoulder injury and in those games he proved to be largely inconsistent. He did manage to put up 20 points but that was a bit off the pace he set in '09-10 when he had 52 points in 80 games. The Islanders need him to take advantage of a full training camp and be the power forward force they projected him to be when management drafted him with the 7th overall pick in 2006.
The Islanders had high expectations for Bailey this year, who had 25 and then 35 points in his first two seasons in the NHL. After a hot start with six points in the first five games, Josh Bailey went scoreless in his next 13 games and was sent down to Bridgeport as part of a wake up call for the 21-year old. If anyone needs a great offseason its Bailey. For the Islanders to be competitive they need production from a third-liner like him.
If these two players struggle, the Islanders may be forced to ask a lot from potential rookie Nino Niederreiter. El Nino got a taste of the NHL at the beginning of the year, playing in 9 games (scoring a goal and recording an assist) before being sent back to the Portland Winterhawks to continue his development in the WHL. The front office expects Nino to challenge for a spot on the 23-man roster for the '11-12 season and his size would be a welcomed addition to the roster.
These eight players, as well as Frans Nielsen (who happens to be considered among the league's top two-way centers), are a solid base for the Islanders. As the current Blackhawks are proving, a team needs its stars but its the depth that makes the difference between making the playoffs (and winning the cup) and not making the playoffs. I think Islanders fans should be excited about its top three lines. There surely can be improvements to the offensive side of the roster and hopefully the Islanders can lure some veteran experience to its offensive corps in the offseason but if they fail to, having this core continue to grow together might end up paying big dividends two or three years down the line.
Despite a 1-6-1 finish that removed some of the luster from the mid-season success, the Islanders and their fans should be excited about several things from the 2010-2011 season and hope that they carry over to next season.
The first thing that pops out to me is the team's offense. Over the previous playoff-less seasons the Islanders finished 30th, 29th, and 21st in total goals. The team continued the upward trend this year by potting 225 goals and finishing 15th in the league. Perhaps more impressively, the Islanders led the entire NHL in shorthanded goals, scoring 15 while killing the man advantage (Frans Nielsen tied Bob Bourne's team single-season record with seven).
Goal scoring comes at a premium in the NHL these days. One player reached the 50 goal plateau this year and only four more players were able to tally at least 40 goals. Had John Tavares been able to score one more goal to bring his total to 30, the Islanders would've joined the Ducks as the only team in the NHL to have at least three players on the same team score at least 30 goals. The increase in goals can be attributed to five key players -
1. Michael Grabner, a speedy winger picked up off waivers from the Florida Panthers before the season started, led all rookies in goals with 34 (including 6 shorties!). Gremlin, as his teammates call him, was an exciting player for the Islanders this year and has an outside shot at winning the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league's top rookie.
2. Matt Moulson finished second on the Islanders in goals with 31. After coming off his first career 30-goal season in '09-10, there was some doubt whether or not this former 9th round pick by the Penguins would be able to continue at that pace. After getting this season's campaign off to a strong start the Islanders agreed to a 3-year contract that will keep Moulson with the team through 2014. One can only expect his production to increase with the continued development of his pivot man, John Tavares.
3. Speaking of JT, the second-year player and first overall pick in 2009 lit the lamp 29 times for the Islanders this year. Tavares is quietly making a name for himself in the NHL and was tied with Matt Duchene for tops in points (67) among the league's second year players. With another summer of physical development and maturity ahead of him, 80+ points for the cornerstone of the franchise should not be out of the question. In fact, he continues to be the most important player in the franchise's quest to gain respectability and I have a feeling he knows that.
4. Blake Comeau, another youngster in the Islanders system, set a career high with 24 goals in 77 games this year. Comeau spent this season on the Islanders second line and provided great depth with his scoring.
5. Lastly, PA Parenteau rounded out the Islanders 20+ goal scorers by hitting the milestone in the 82nd game of the season. A cast-off from the arch rival New York Rangers, PAP benefited greatly from playing alongside Tavares and Moulson this season.
Beyond these five players the Islanders will need at least two more forwards to step up next season. The most likely candidates are Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey, two third-liners who can add some solid depth behind the top two lines.
Okie played in just 38 games this year after suffering a preseason shoulder injury and in those games he proved to be largely inconsistent. He did manage to put up 20 points but that was a bit off the pace he set in '09-10 when he had 52 points in 80 games. The Islanders need him to take advantage of a full training camp and be the power forward force they projected him to be when management drafted him with the 7th overall pick in 2006.
The Islanders had high expectations for Bailey this year, who had 25 and then 35 points in his first two seasons in the NHL. After a hot start with six points in the first five games, Josh Bailey went scoreless in his next 13 games and was sent down to Bridgeport as part of a wake up call for the 21-year old. If anyone needs a great offseason its Bailey. For the Islanders to be competitive they need production from a third-liner like him.
If these two players struggle, the Islanders may be forced to ask a lot from potential rookie Nino Niederreiter. El Nino got a taste of the NHL at the beginning of the year, playing in 9 games (scoring a goal and recording an assist) before being sent back to the Portland Winterhawks to continue his development in the WHL. The front office expects Nino to challenge for a spot on the 23-man roster for the '11-12 season and his size would be a welcomed addition to the roster.
These eight players, as well as Frans Nielsen (who happens to be considered among the league's top two-way centers), are a solid base for the Islanders. As the current Blackhawks are proving, a team needs its stars but its the depth that makes the difference between making the playoffs (and winning the cup) and not making the playoffs. I think Islanders fans should be excited about its top three lines. There surely can be improvements to the offensive side of the roster and hopefully the Islanders can lure some veteran experience to its offensive corps in the offseason but if they fail to, having this core continue to grow together might end up paying big dividends two or three years down the line.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Championship Weekend
When it comes to football my first love, without a doubt, is definitely the college game. But there is no mistaking the difference in quality between college and the NFL. Furthermore, when the college bowl season kicks off one could argue the quality of the games drops off as teams lack motivation and are typically coming off a long layoff that kills any momentum and rhythm established over the course of the regular season. Not the case with the NFL. Teams that qualify for the NFL playoffs ratchet up the intensity and its quite obvious the best teams have risen to the top.
Both wild card weekend and the divisional round offer up some great games and moments. This year alone the 7-9 Seahawks upset the defending Super Bowl champion Saints. A Jets team beat both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in back-to-back weekends, something we'll touch on later. And the darling of this year's playoffs, quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, has been absolutely lighting it up.
Despite all the excitement of the first two playoff weekends, nothing compares to conference championship weekend. I would even argue that the games are of higher quality and greater intensity than the Super Bowl. NFL fans get to see four teams that are playing at the absolute peak of their game. Knowing that they're only one win from the Super Bowl, desperation oozes through the skin of every player. The aura and rabidness of the home team's stadium is felt by those watching from a couch or bar. Vegas tightens its lines and any play can swing the momentum of the game in a profound way.
I don't pretend to be an expert and know as much about football as the casual fan does. I think these weekend games are so close that I have been struggling who to pick as I thought about writing this column. As I'm typing these words I still don't know who I'm going to pick. All that takes us to this weekend's games. I'll do my best to set them up and then offer a reason, however unscientific, as to why I'm picking who I'm picking.
The first Sunday game is a dream match up for the NFL. It pits the Green Bay Packers versus their long time rival, the Chicago Bears, at Soldier Field. These two teams have played each other 181 times dating all the way back to 1921. No two teams have played each other more in the history of professional football. What's even crazier is that they've only played each other once in the playoffs and that was 70 years ago when the Bears beat the Packers 33-14 a week after the Pearl Harbor attack.
The Bears have been written off since the beginning of the season but they continue to defy the experts and now find themselves playing the NFC championship game on their home turf. The Packers were the preseason favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. The teams split the regular season series with each team winning on its home field. As division rivals, both teams are incredibly familiar with each other and both teams play outside in cold weather cities. It really doesn't get much closer than this.
I waffled back in forth all week and even thought about picking the Bears, a team that I have come to hate even though I live in Chicago, but I'm going with the Packers, 20-16. It's hard for me to go against Aaron Rodgers the way he's playing right now. On top of that, the Packer pass rush (see: Clay Matthews) should be able to get to Jay Cutler, who is only playing in his second career playoff game. If the Packers front seven can outperform the Bears' offensive line and harass Cutler, I like the cornerback combo of Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams to come up with a big play or two and help cement the Packers berth in Super Bowl XLV.
The AFC championship, Steelers versus Jets, doesn't have the same longtime rivalry as its counterpart but the game features two of the best defenses in the league. (On a personal note, this game is a problem for me only because the Jets are the one team I hate more than the Bears and they're playing in this game. The New York Jets??? Come on! When anyone thinks New York football the Giants have to be the first team to come to mind. I almost puked in my mouth when I saw the Empire State Building lit up green at the top. That's not right, those colors are supposed to be blue and red for the Giants! Unfortunately, Eli Manning did his own puking and my team was on the outside looking in after Week 17 despite going 10-6 in the regular season.)
The Jets traveled to Pittsburgh earlier this season, upending the Steelers 22-17 in Week 15. It was a huge win for Gangreen (and the franchise's first ever in Pittsburgh) as they were coming off two straight losses where they scored a combined nine points. What is more impressive, the Jets are the first team to beat both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the same season since 2001 and they did it in the playoffs nonetheless.
The Steelers earned a first round bye and met the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round. Whereas the division rival Packers and Bears have met once in the playoffs in the last 70 years, it seems like the Steelers and the Ravens always clash in the playoffs. This year's game didn't disappoint. Buoyed by a ball hawking defense in the second half, the Steelers were able to overcome a 14-point halftime deficit and beat the Ravens 31-24.
Looking a little deeper into this clash, both teams benefit from playing in recent conference championship games, the Jets in 2010 and the Steelers in 2009, so the experience is there. As already mentioned, both teams boast top flight defenses. Need more similarities? Both offenses are incredibly balanced in terms of employing the pass versus the run when they have the ball. Over the course of the regular season, the Jets passed the ball 49.58% of the time. The Steelers passed the ball 50.42% of the time.
For anyone who knows me, they can imagine how difficult it is for me to type the next sentence. I am picking the Jets to win 24-20 and advanccccccc. Sorry, I just came back to after passing out. So yeah, I think the Jets are going into Pittsburgh and beating a Super Bowl winning quarterback on the road for the third straight time. That has to be a record. If the Jets win this weekend they will have beaten quarterbacks who have won a combined six Super Bowls!
While it makes me sick to pick the Jets to advance to Dallas, I see it happening for one reason - Rex Ryan. I just think he's got this team believing they can beat anybody. The teams match up so evenly that there has to be some intangible that puts one of them over the top. Rex's antics might prove to be his downfall at some point in the future but for now he's got a locker room that's bought into what he's selling.
So I'm predicting and all green Super Bowl - Packers vs. Jets. The Packers, like the 2007 Giants, seem to be a team of destiny. I can only hope they break the hearts of that lesser team from New York and their fans.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
No Taming Tiger in 2011
Today is a great day for me. The 2011 PGA Tour opens at Kapalua Resort with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. (I've got my fantasy golf lineup set and I'm ready to win it all this year.) This weekend's lineup has a field of only 34 golfers because the competition pays homage to the Tour's previous season's winners. Tiger Woods hasn't played in the season's opener since 2005, more recently saving his first tournament of the year for the Buick Invitational at the end of January. However, even if he wanted to, Tiger Woods would not be able to play in Hawaii this weekend because for the first time in his career he went winless on the PGA Tour.
Tiger's personal problems in 2010 have been covered ad nauseum and, while I do not agree with his actions, I am someone who believes that that is part of his private left and should be left alone. I also believe that the off-the-course distractions affected his game and were a major factor in his performance or lack thereof.
The intense practice sessions and dedication to the game of the world's greatest golfer are well documented. Tiger's obsession with catching Jack Nicklaus drove him towards 12-hour practice days, hitting countless golf balls, practicing every imaginable shot, and even introducing a focus on fitness and exercise rarely seen from golfers who proceeded him. But with everything going on in his personal life, Tiger wasn't able to dedicate himself to the game as he had done his entire life. He attempted to fix his personal life and his family at the expense of his success on the course.
But now the divorce is final and the hatchet buried. For the first time since the 2007 offseason, Tiger was healthy enough and void of any personal strife where he could employ the practice habits and focus that led to 14 major championships and 71 career victories. I can only hope that means one thing - Tiger is ready to take the 2011 season by storm. I can't imagine Tiger was too happy about going winless last season despite all the personal distractions and he will be expecting to pass Jack in career victories (73) and pull closer in major victories (18) during the 2011 season.
A lot of comparisons have been made between Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, namely that both are completely obsessed with winning. I'm going to go ahead and make another comparison that probably turns out to be a little bit of a bold prediction.
Let me set the scene a bit: After dominating the NBA from 1987 to 1993, winning three straight titles and three MVPs, Michael Jordan left basketball to play professional baseball for a season and a half. He returned to the NBA in March of 1995 and bowed out to the eventual Eastern Conference champions in the second round of the playoffs. Jordan and the Bulls weren't just weren't able to form the chemistry that develops over an 82 game season. Losing left a bad taste in Jordan's mouth and he and his team came back with a vengeance during the 1995-1996 season. They won 72 games and captured the first of three consecutive championships, the Bulls second three-peat of the decade.
Enter Tiger. Like Jordan, he dominated his sport for nearly a decade, winning an absurd 26.8% of the time he entered a tournament (Phil Mickelson is second all-time at 9%). It might be a stretch but I'd like to attribute Thanksgiving 2009 through the 2010 season as Tiger's professional baseball moment - he just wasn't "there". We all know how Jordan handled being eliminated by the Shaq and the Magic in 1995. I think Tiger experienced something similar when he lost in a playoff to 2010 sensation Graeme McDowell at the season ending Chevron World Challenge.
Now for the prediction. I think Tiger has a "Jordan-like" run over the next three years. I'm talking big. I'm looking for six wins this season, including at least one major - preferably a green jacket (he hasn't won at Augusta since 2005). I expect him to surpass Sam Snead's all-time wins record (82) in 2011 finishing the season with 84 career victories. For those who are counting that's seven more wins in 2011. While I think it will be difficult for him to pass Jack in the next three years, I expect him to enter the 2014 PGA season with 18 total majors - again, that's 4 more majors over the next three seasons (a career total for pretty much any other golfer). At 38, I would imagine Tiger has three or four solid seasons to win the record-breaking 19th major.
Look, Tiger didn't all of a sudden forget how to play golf. Like Jordan, the chemistry just wasn't there in 2010. With the divorce behind him, I expect Tiger's focus and dedication to be back. Sunday afternoons just aren't the same with Tiger not in contention and I am excited to get those Sunday afternoons back this year because I suspect he will be in contention more often than not.
Tiger's personal problems in 2010 have been covered ad nauseum and, while I do not agree with his actions, I am someone who believes that that is part of his private left and should be left alone. I also believe that the off-the-course distractions affected his game and were a major factor in his performance or lack thereof.
The intense practice sessions and dedication to the game of the world's greatest golfer are well documented. Tiger's obsession with catching Jack Nicklaus drove him towards 12-hour practice days, hitting countless golf balls, practicing every imaginable shot, and even introducing a focus on fitness and exercise rarely seen from golfers who proceeded him. But with everything going on in his personal life, Tiger wasn't able to dedicate himself to the game as he had done his entire life. He attempted to fix his personal life and his family at the expense of his success on the course.
But now the divorce is final and the hatchet buried. For the first time since the 2007 offseason, Tiger was healthy enough and void of any personal strife where he could employ the practice habits and focus that led to 14 major championships and 71 career victories. I can only hope that means one thing - Tiger is ready to take the 2011 season by storm. I can't imagine Tiger was too happy about going winless last season despite all the personal distractions and he will be expecting to pass Jack in career victories (73) and pull closer in major victories (18) during the 2011 season.
A lot of comparisons have been made between Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, namely that both are completely obsessed with winning. I'm going to go ahead and make another comparison that probably turns out to be a little bit of a bold prediction.
Let me set the scene a bit: After dominating the NBA from 1987 to 1993, winning three straight titles and three MVPs, Michael Jordan left basketball to play professional baseball for a season and a half. He returned to the NBA in March of 1995 and bowed out to the eventual Eastern Conference champions in the second round of the playoffs. Jordan and the Bulls weren't just weren't able to form the chemistry that develops over an 82 game season. Losing left a bad taste in Jordan's mouth and he and his team came back with a vengeance during the 1995-1996 season. They won 72 games and captured the first of three consecutive championships, the Bulls second three-peat of the decade.
Enter Tiger. Like Jordan, he dominated his sport for nearly a decade, winning an absurd 26.8% of the time he entered a tournament (Phil Mickelson is second all-time at 9%). It might be a stretch but I'd like to attribute Thanksgiving 2009 through the 2010 season as Tiger's professional baseball moment - he just wasn't "there". We all know how Jordan handled being eliminated by the Shaq and the Magic in 1995. I think Tiger experienced something similar when he lost in a playoff to 2010 sensation Graeme McDowell at the season ending Chevron World Challenge.
Now for the prediction. I think Tiger has a "Jordan-like" run over the next three years. I'm talking big. I'm looking for six wins this season, including at least one major - preferably a green jacket (he hasn't won at Augusta since 2005). I expect him to surpass Sam Snead's all-time wins record (82) in 2011 finishing the season with 84 career victories. For those who are counting that's seven more wins in 2011. While I think it will be difficult for him to pass Jack in the next three years, I expect him to enter the 2014 PGA season with 18 total majors - again, that's 4 more majors over the next three seasons (a career total for pretty much any other golfer). At 38, I would imagine Tiger has three or four solid seasons to win the record-breaking 19th major.
Look, Tiger didn't all of a sudden forget how to play golf. Like Jordan, the chemistry just wasn't there in 2010. With the divorce behind him, I expect Tiger's focus and dedication to be back. Sunday afternoons just aren't the same with Tiger not in contention and I am excited to get those Sunday afternoons back this year because I suspect he will be in contention more often than not.
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