Opinions...and the PGA Championship

Credit goes to Shaquille O'Neal who opined "Opinions are like belly buttons, everyone has one. I never knock a man for having one." I thought that cliche/quote was coined long before him! Regardless, I appreciate his generosity. How's that? 

From time to time, I grow weary of hearing opinions. Too often they are charged, entitled and condescending. I hear them quite often without asking for them. But the 2023 PGA Championship changed that narrative. From the second major of the year, I was reminded that sharing our opinions can be fun, playful and provide good insight into one's personality. Next time, members of your foursome weigh in too heavy on something, consider seeking their opinion on the following.

1. Walk and. Talk—yes or no?!
   If you are a sports fan, it should come as no surprise that the interview space has now encroached upon the walk from the tee box to where a golfer's drive ends up. The days of waiting for the post game presser to hear from an athlete are long gone. 
   
   From inside the dugout to the sidelines and on the way into or out of the tunnel, coaches and athletes alike are grabbed for a quick conversation. 
   
   Golf fans call it "walk and talk." Although it has been part of other tourneys, the PGA is the first time I saw it underway. I noticed that Tony Finau put on wireless earbuds after his drive and I thought to myself "What is going on?" I quickly realized golf now shares the same space as other sports. 
   
   I didn't need to ask my trusted friend Charlie, a true student of the game what he thought of it. I knew. His principles for disapproval and disdain were grounded. Others love the insight they get from a golfer and to hear what is going on inside the mind of greatness.
   
   Questions loom large on how it affects a golfer's game. In the meantime, ask your playing partner what he/she thinks!
   
   
   
   
2. Battle or Beautiful? What do you prefer?!
   The PGA Championship was once the fourth and final major of the year. Because scheduling around the NFL and the Olympic games, albeit every four year, this tourney falls between The Masters and The U.S. Open. That May time slot means that weather may present a real challenge at many a host site.
   
   Located in upstate New York, Oak Hill Golf Club in Rochester brought hearty wind and driving rain. While this is certainly possible under sunny skies—as seen at many a U.S. Open, it's just not a given that May equals warm weather. And truth be told, when I watch a golf tournament I just love seeing warm weather. Perhaps its my version of displacement but I want to see pristine skies, perfect conditions and the dream of what could be. Though I live in California, it just doesn't feel that way...
   
   My former colleague and friend Tom, is life long fan of the game who watches every major from start to finish (he's retired). He said "I absolutely love when a player has to battle the elements." He wants to see how they handle not only the pressure to win but the added challenge of hitting through long rough that is doused in rain, teeing off into strong gusts of wind." He certainly has a point, I just want to live vicariously through these golfers—their game, their ability and the warmest and sunniest of places to play.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Amateur or Pro
   One novel aspect of the game of golf, and in particular the majors are the exemptions and the inclusion of amateurs in the competition.
   
   As seen at many a Masters or US Open, one of these qualifiers makes his or her mark. This year was no exception. The story of PGA club pro (Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club), Michael Block was incredible, inspiring and interesting.
   
   In "How did Michael Block qualify for the 2023 PGA Championship? Qualification criteria" Joseph McMahon writes, 

He has played in five PGA Championships, including this one. It’s his seventh major, but it’s his first time making the cut in one of them. In the final round of the PGA Championship he starts his day on Sunday T8 and is paired with Rory McIlroy. He is one of 20 club pros to be invited to the event, but he’s the only one that everyone is talking about. 

Block hasn’t won a PGA Championship or a Masters, US Open or British Open. He isn’t a Senior PGA Champion and he hasn’t won one of the last three Playes Championships. 

What Michael Block did do to qualify was finish T2 at the 2023 PGA Professional Championship.  

And in case it needed to get any better, Block recorded a hole-in-one on the 15th hole during his final round Sunday. According to The Athletic, this is what you need to know: 

• Block entered Sunday at even par playing with Rory McIlroy.
• Going to the 15th tee, Block was 2 over for the tournament.
• Block’s hole-in-one brought him back to even par.
• Block finished with a final-round 71. Because he finished T15, Block qualified for the 2024 PGA Championship. 

Block is both the best exemption and a notable exception but I don't usually cheer for amateurs in a major tourney. Call me Eeyore or "the Grinch," but as my friend Jimmy O'D said "I didn't pay to watch an amateur play." I agree. Golf is an unpredictable game. Part of its appeal is the story line that allows for us mortals to play with and against the greats....but this isn't what make a tourney great to me. You?!

Opinions are funny things. They can be kind and generous, cutting, critical and even obtuse.  They can also be important, helping us to understand what we think and why. Opinions can even be teachers—revealing important truths or insights into human nature, our beliefs and preferences, dreams and desires. As a teacher, I work hard to help students develop informed opinions, for young people believe "everyone has a right to an opinion." Sure, but a discerning one, a careful or creative one makes for a more thoughtful conversation or deeper dialogue. 

So maybe we start with asking opinions on matters of play and preference more often...work from there and see where it takes us. Just a suggestion; not an opinion. 

Photo Credits
Brooks umbrella
Shaq Quote

Athletes and Numbers: One that Jordan Spieth Wears Well

There's just something to be said for numbers. My friend who teaches math loves them. I suppose she should—her job depends on them—but she takes comfort in the fact that "they aren't open to interpretation; they don't lie." Indeed, numbers confirm for us that you have it or you don't. And that's just a small reason why numbers color the language of sports. From total yardage in passing to greens in regulation, shots on goal to pitch count— to love sports means to enter into a relationship with numbers. 

In 2014, the Giants had won 88 games in the regular season. The team that won the World Series didn't even have over 90 wins in the regular season! That's surprising, and my dad, my brother and me were talking about this feat. But, my brother was convinced that the G-men won 89 games. I said 85. Our father, the statistician—naturally—got it right. He sees games through the lens of numbers as stats. I see them a little differently.

Numbers add to the narrative. I love learning about the number and athletes chooses to wear and why. I've written about athletes who honor other athletes with the same number. I'm intrigued by sports, like football that forbids certain position players from wearing any number of one's choosing. And it's interesting for me to see that not all numbers are up for grabs. For example, Major League Baseball retired the number 42 from the game, to honor Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player in the league. Indeed, numbers can serve as the most rudimentary point of connection, as I enjoyed reading in the article "Why We Love Sports." 

Last fall, after Alabama kicker Cade Foster missed two field goal attempts and had a third blocked in the Crimson Tide’s 34-28 loss to Auburn, George W. Bush dropped a note to Foster: “Life has its setbacks. I know! However you will be a stronger human with time.” Bush signed the note “another 43,” reflecting his position in the line of U.S. presidents and Foster’s uniform number.

And, I have no doubt that the Texas Rangers' front office enjoyed calling attention to a prestigious number Jordan Spieth earned earlier in the week, after his second place finish at the PGA Championship. Spieth, a native of Dallas, threw out the first pitch at the Ballpark in Arlington in a Rangers jersey with none other than the number one underneath his name. He is now the number one golfer in the world; he wears "1" well.

Spieth has put up incredible numbers this past year. He finished 1, 1, 4 and 2 at the Majors this year. He has won two other PGA tournaments in 2015. His prize money (this is just from the tour, not from Under Armour and other promotions or bets ;-) is over $10 million.

However what I love about the video (here and above) is that it finally demonstrates one number that eludes his fans. From time to time, it's hard to believe that Spieth is just 22 years old (he won the Masters and US Open at 21!). But to hear him talk about baseball, stories from games of the past and more, is to get a glimpse of Spieth, not necessarily, a kid—but rather a young man.

Unfortunately, sister Ellie is not in the photo.

Spieth could be a knucklehead, but I have a feeling only his brother, sister, closest friends or his caddy know the extent of that. But he's also just a guy, who—in the past year has changed the face of golf. He uses the term "we" more than any other player, he demonstrates exemplary sportsmanship and his reminds me that the most important part of the game is maintaining focus and control of what happens between the ears.

Photo Credits
Spieth Family
First Pitch