Compiled by MARY HANNIGAN
Garcia makes Major admission
SERGIO GARCIA represents a golfing enigma. There was a childlike animation to the way he comported himself, those unguarded, unaffected emotions clearly etched on his face in the early years of his career, exemplified at the 1999 US PGA in his reaction to a second shot to the 16th hole at Medinah.
Stymied by a tree, he took a significant physical risk, in hitting a huge, controlled slice that chased up onto the green. There are two snapshots, one of his eyes tight shut as he hits the shot and the other of the 19-year-old chasing the shot and jumping in the air to ascertain where it had gone. As he got older, the natural exuberance was pockmarked by more outbursts and a conspicuous lack of grace at times. A beautiful ball striker, his career – like all those who aspire to experience the view from the pinnacle – was going to be defined by the majors.
Having finished second to Tiger Woods at Medinah he would twice more be tormented by narrow failure. On both occasions Pádraig Harrington barred his path, first in the British Open at Carnoustie – Garcia watched a putt kiss the hole on the 18th before losing a play-off – and the US PGA at Oakland Hills when he was overtaken by the Dubliner.
The Spaniard cursed the golfing gods in bemoaning his misfortune, outbursts that didn’t elicit much sympathy: a little introspection might have directed his focus more accurately. “Gripping yips” and putting woes tested his patience and he took a short break from the sport, feeling like a jilted suitor whose love wasn’t reciprocated.
Last week at the Masters Garcia displayed both sides of his personality. There was the moment on the 12th green in the third round when he embraced Rory McIlroy in a bear-hug after both had a birdie to offer respite to the pocketful of dropped shots.
Afterwards the 32-year-old revealed to Spanish media the mental attrition that has eroded his confidence to such a point he admitted: “I’m not good enough; I don’t have what it takes to win a Major. After 13 years I’ve come to the conclusion I have to play for second or third place. I have had plenty of chances and opportunities to win one and I wasted them. I have no more options, I’ve wasted them all.”
It’s a startling admission and a reminder the mental game is the toughest contest that an individual faces no matter how well endowed in terms of talent.
Azinger has swipe at Woods' antics
THE 2008 US Ryder Cup captain, 2003 US PGA winner and former tour player Paul Azinger was known for his forthright views throughout his career and age – he’s 52 – has not dulled his sharp tongue.
Appearing on the wonderfully-named American radio station Sirius XM Mad Dog Radio, he was asked about Tiger Woods club-kicking at Augusta National during the recent US Masters.
Azinger admitted that: “Tiger’s antics this week were an embarrassment to the game, to the membership at Augusta.
“I was really disappointed to see him carry on that way. He’s not trying to endear himself to anybody.
“And after he won Bay Hill I thought, ‘here we go again, this is going to be Tiger just kicking butt and taking names.’
“I don’t know. I thought he acted like the south end of a northbound mule.”
Azinger wasn’t impressed with Woods’s golf either.
“In the 28 years that I’ve played golf for a living I’ve never been as lost as he looked out there.”
Praise of Castro lost in translation
IF YOU tuned in to Ozzie Guillen’s 50-minute press conference on Tuesday and you had no clue who he is or what he was speaking about, you might have assumed he was owning up to a dastardly crime.
Remorseful, conscience-stricken, emotional, his voice breaking at times, he vowed to become a better man, if people would only give him a second chance.
“I’m here on my knees . . . I’m sorry that I hurt a city, a country,” he said. “I’m here . . . with my heart in my hands. And I want to say I’m sorry to all those people that I hurt indirectly or directly.”
Outside, incensed protesters gathered, calling for his head.
“It’s getting ugly. Protesters pushing against stadium front door demanding Guillen leave,” tweeted the Miami Herald. “Guillen, you are a communist rat!,” went up the cry.
His employers, baseball franchise, the Miami Marlins, could take no more of the heat, suspending their manager for five days without pay, although that still didn’t satisfy those who insisted Guillen be sacked.
His offence?
He praised Fidel Castro in an interview with Time magazine.
“I love Fidel Castro,” he said. “You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years but that motherf***er is still here.”
And with that the roof caved in on the Venezuelan-native, who became an American citizen in 2006. He’d survived trouble before, when he called a Chicago Sun-Times columnist a “fag” and suggested Americans were “lazy”, leaving the hard work to immigrants while they spent their time on their computers.
This, though, was a bridge too far.
“Mr Guillen’s remarks . . . have no place in our game,” said baseball commissioner Bud Selig. “It’s like going to New York’s Jewish district and saying: ‘Hitler wasn’t so bad. He managed to stay in power for a few years.’”
Guillen insisted his comments were lost in translation.
“I was thinking in Spanish and said it wrong in English. I don’t want to make excuses. What I wanted to say was I was surprised Fidel Castro stayed in power so long, considering what he’s done.”
That was a chronic mis-translation.
The big issue here, of course, is that Miami has a large community of Cuban exiles, most of them as fond of Castro as the Tea Party is of multiculturalism. And their tax dollars helped pay for the Marlins’ shiny new $515-million (€391 million) ballpark, so they reckon that’s earned them a say on Guillen’s future.
There’s a certain irony, though, to the indignation expressed by those condemning Guillen, some of them the very same people who habitually defend Rush Limbaugh’s right to spew racist and misogynistic bile because of America’s much cherished constitutional protection of freedom of speech.
Guillen, funnily enough, was afforded no such defence.
As the Washington Post editorial put it on Thursday, “expressing admiration for the Cuban leader is not the same as debasing an entire race of people . . . those demanding Mr Guillen’s head might want to show a bit more of the tolerance that helps distinguish this country from Mr Castro’s.”
Meanwhile, also in Florida, George Zimmerman will use the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law – which allows individuals who feel threatened in a public place to “meet force with force” – to defend himself against a second degree murder charge for shooting dead a black teenager armed with no more than a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea.
If Guillen had stood his ground he’d be even more reviled than he already is, probably unemployed, and quite possibly on his way back to Venezuela.
Only in America?
Reverend on mission to fight the good fight
REV Dave Smith, 50, has set a world record for the most continuous boxing rounds.
The Anglican priest took on all-comers to complete 120 three-minute rounds, an amazing commitment best illustrated by the fact he faced 66 opponents in over six hours in the ring.
He’s well known in Australia, having written a book and appeared on numerous radio and television stations over the years. He is also black belt in martial arts. He is best known for his work with rehabilitating young people from drug and alcohol issues through boxing.
His latest enterprise raised over AUS$10,000 (€8,000) for the youth centre at the Holy Trinity Church in Dulwich Hill, Sydney. It brings a new meaning to the power of faith.
Morgan needs to have an Indian summer
EOIN MORGAN decision to choose Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket over playing with his county, Middlesex – the IPL finishes at the end of May – on foot of being dropped by England following a 3-0 series defeat to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates has attracted plenty of comment in the English media and message-boards. Morgan was roundly criticised for a perceived flaw in his technique in relation to squatting down too much and the attendant head movement.
His brilliance in one-day internationals and Twenty20 (he is England’s vice-captain) should see him return to the English team for series against the West Indies and South Africa: the test team make take a little bit longer. To that end many felt he should have returned to play for Middlesex to rediscover his form.
Given England defend their World Twenty20 crown in Sri Lanka in September it’s easy to see why Morgan wanted to honour his IPL contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders. The problem is he has yet to play for them in their opening four matches. The selection issue is complicated in that only four foreign players are allowed per team in any one match and coach Trevor Bayliss prizes versatility. Morgan is an outstanding batsman but doesn’t bowl.
In the matches to date Bayliss has selected for one game or another, Brendon McCullum (New Zealand), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Brett Lee (Australia), Marchant de Lange (South Africa) Sunil Narine (West Indies), Ryan ten Doeschate (Holland) and Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan. Morgan must be hoping he gets a chance soon.
