Honda Classic Finally Where It Should Be

Hello. This week is the Honda Classic. Yippee!
Actually I don't care. Looks like many of the top players don't care either.
The point is, many of the top players have never cared about this tournament. Yet before it was after the Doral stop, not before. This meant a player had to finish the WGC-Match Play event (which could've meant playing over 100 holes) on the West Coast, then flying to Miami to play at Doral, then sitting out.
Now the top players can take their time getting to Florida (maybe even ride with John Daly), rest up and then play at Doral.
Does this make a difference? I think so. Many of the top players don't play consecutive weeks often, unless forced to by the schedule. Now they should all be well-rested for Doral.
This then raises the question of whether there are too many events. In an ideal world maybe there should be less events. But if there are, then how many fewer would the top players play, knowing they can secure their cards with even less top finishes?
That argument is academic anyway, because unless the Hondas revolt, the events will remain.

Regards,
Steve

Tax-Free Savings Account A Good Thing

Hello. Yesterday the Conservatives released their federal budget. The main (and I must say the only) thing I read was the introduction of a Tax-Free Savings Account (TSFA). I think it's a good thing.
While your money is still taxed when it gets put into the account, it's allowed to grow tax-free. In the example I saw in the Toronto Star, this means $200/month for 20 years at 5.5% would generate a tax saving of over $11,000 (the $48,000 put in would generate $39,525 in investment income, and all of it would be sheltered, instead of only $28,480 in a regular account).
Talk about your no-brainers! This represents an almost 28% savings on your money! Imagine what the numbers will be if you can put in the $5,000 a year! And you can catch up if you're short in a year! And you can withdraw money, and replace it, and it won't count against the $5,000!
To me, paying less tax is the best investment a person can make. What other investment can you be guaranteed of getting a 28% return? None come to mind.
I'm ready to pile it in. Bring it on!

Regards,
Steve

Tiger Wins Toughest Tournament

Hello. Congrats to Tiger Woods for winning the WGC-Match Play title. Tiger crushed Stewart Cink in the final 8 & 7. Awesome!
I felt this would be Tiger's toughest tournament of 2008 to win, because a bad day can eliminate you. Tiger got a couple of scares from JB Holmes and Aaron Baddeley, but managed to survive. From then on he was in complete control.
It just shows again anyone who is in Tiger's group on Sunday is probably going to collapse. How someone can play as well as Cink did for 4 days, then get creamed is beyond me.
I now feel after talking to my best man that Tiger can win every tournament he plays in this year. That's something I'd never say about any golfer before or since, but Tiger in 2008 looks unstoppable to me. I can't see anyone challenge him head on and win. Unless Tiger does a face plant, he looks like a lock every week.
Can you imagine if Tiger gets to the PGA this August on the verge of a Grand Slam? What will the media be like? How will the other players react when they see galleries that move like tornados? Time will tell.

Regards,
Steve

2008 Scotties One For The Memory Books

Hello. Congrats to Team Manitoba for an amazing win of the 2008 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. This team was lucky to make it to the tiebreaker. Once they did, they were unstoppable.
Many people talk about Jennifer Jones' final shot in the 2005 Scotties as arguably the greatest shot to win a curling championship. However, her last shot in the final was more impressive to me. She was facing 4 Alberta stones and had to go through a narrow port to get behind her only guard. It was the kind of shot most players would've been lucky to do once in 10 tries under normal circumstances. When it's a win or lose shot for a national championship, it's more impressive to me than what she did in 2005.
Shannon Kleibrink's last shot didn't look like it was there to me even if she hit it the way she wanted. We'll never know, because the line call was awful. I don't know what everyone was thinking on that shot. Maybe they had another shot still in their minds.
There were many great games in this event. Sherry Middaugh added some more Scotties demons by losing 3 extra end games to the eventual finalists. The curling overall was outstanding.
Good luck Team Jones in the Worlds!

Regards,
Steve

The 2008 Scotties Good, Bad and Ugly II

Hello. With only two draws to go, here are the updated Good, Bad and Ugly:

The Good
1. Alberta (9-1). Two extra end wins locked up first place.
2. Ontario (7-2). Extra end loss to Alberta after being down 6-2 proves they're for real.
3. Newfoundland (7-3). This team has depth.
4. Quebec (6-3). Control their own destiny.
5. Nova Scotia (6-4). Strategy may be holding them back.
6. Manitoba (6-4). Big wins may sneak them into tiebreaker

The Bad
1. Canada (4-5). Out of it unless Quebec, Manitoba and Nova Scotia go 0-4. Unbelievable!
2. Sask (4-5). Two losses Wednesday were their undoing.
3. BC (4-6). One step forward, one step back.
4. PEI (3-7). A win and extra end loss to Alberta took them out of Ugly.

The Ugly
1. Territories (1-9). They could be so much better
2. New Brunswick (1-9). They lost to the Territories this morning. Need I say more?

Regards,
Steve

The 2008 Scotties Good, Bad and Ugly

Hello. My apologies for not writing Monday or Tuesday. I took an extended Ontario Family Day.
After 7 games, here is The 2008 Scotties Good, Bad and Ugly:

The Good
1. Alberta (6-1). TV games have been awesome
2. Ontario (6-1). First game victory vs Team Canada was no fluke
3. Quebec (5-2). Big day Tuesday beating Alberta and Manitoba
4. Newfoundland/Labrador (5-2). Combining with Cathy Cunningham has made Strong stronger
5. Nova Scotia (5-2). Colleen who?
6. Saskatchewan (4-3). Michelle Englott skipping after her father's death feel-good story so far

The Bad
7. Canada (3-4). 2 wins Tuesday got them off Ugly list. One loss puts them back to stay
8. Manitoba (3-4). See Canada
9. BC (3-4). Could be better, could be worse

The Ugly
10. PEI (1-6). Where's the Suzanne Gaudet team I saw 5 years ago in Kitchener?
11. New Brunswick (1-6). Attending school of hard knocks
12. Territories (0-7). Improved last night, but this team has declined as well.

Regards,
Steve

Can Scott Be Stopped At Scotties?

Hello. The Scotties Tournament of Hearts begins on Saturday. There is a great field, but all will be chasing two-time defending champion Kelly Scott from BC.
Can anyone challenge her? Definitely. Shannon Kleibrink from Alberta, bronze medalist at Torino, beat Scott in the Olympic Trials final to get there. Jennifer Jones, 2005 Canadian champion from Manitoba, has battled Scott for both of their curling careers. Suzanne Gaudet of PEI, Heather Strong of Newfoundland, Kerry Galusha-Koe of the Territories, Mary-Anne Arsenault of Nova Scotia, Larouche of Quebec, Englott of Saskatchewan and Ontario's Sherry Middaugh all have been there before. Only BC and New Brunswick are lacking in experience.
In spite of this strong field I expect Scott to win the round robin, and eventually the crown. Like Glenn Howard, this rink is focused long-term on the 2010 Olympics. They are trying to win and dominate everything possible between now and then. And Scott is even more dominate at this point than Howard is.
It should be an interesting time in Regina.

Regards,
Steve

Does Anyone Care About Tigerless Tournies?

Hello. I used to watch the LA Open (now called the Northern Trust Open) annually. Having Mike Weir win twice in a row there certainly peeked my interest. I also used to watch the AT&T Pebble Beach annually. Now I don't watch that often, other than to see the views of an area I visited a few times.
Why don't I watch these events regularly anymore? Because Tiger doesn't play them. Period. I find myself not having any interest in non-Tiger events. I don't think I'm the only one.
I got the same way watching the NHL and wondering if Mario Lemieux was playing. If Lemieux was injured, I just didn't care anymore. When he came back from his first retirement, I realized how poor the rest of the NHL was, because he still dominated even though he was past his prime. And when Lemieux retired for good, and the lockout ended, that pretty well ended my NHL viewing.
The same thing has now happened for me in golf. Tiger is so much better, the rest can only challenge him when they have a career week. Even the US Open, the toughest one for Tiger in the past, will not be as hard for him this year at Torrey Pines.
Is this good or bad. I'm not sure, but that's the way it is for me.

Regards,
Steve

Another Big Name Blows It

Hello. Congratulations to Steve Lowery for winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Classic. Lowery beat Vijay Singh for his 3rd career victory, and his first since 2000. All 3 of Lowery's victories have been in playoffs.
Singh should've won this in a walk. He made 3 bogies on the back nine to open the door.
Singh joins Justin Leonard and Phil Mickleson as "big names" who recently lost leads and let "little names" win.
What is wrong with these guys? I think they're so used to having the world by the tail, making gazillions of dollars, hearing how good they are, that they are lulled into a false sense of security. When they do get into the pressure cooker, they're the favourites, which adds more pressure. Then the fall is much steeper.
What has become evident is the gap between Tiger and the "big names" is larger than the "big names" gap from the "small names".
Also apparent is when a Steve Lowery gets in the hunt, and is highly motivated to win, he can take out a Vijay Singh. And that's worth congratulating.

Regards,
Steve

Can Howard Be Stopped? II

Hello. Congrats to Team Glenn Howard for winning the Ontario Men's Curling Championships.
As it turns out, Howard could not be stopped, but he was slowed down. After winning 9 straight games to open the bonspiel, Howard lost his final game to Mike Harris' team, then lost the 1-2 page game to Peter Corner's squad. Two loses in a row is shocking for this team, and I was wondering if they'd continue their slide.
As it turns out, I was probably the only one who was worrying for my former University of Waterloo golf teammate. Howard played the same two teams again, and this time took care of business in convincing fashion.
Howard now prepares for Winnipeg and the Brier in March. Some of the other provinces also declared their champs as well. Gushue from Newfoundland, Simmons from Saskatchewan and Ursel from BC will also be going, whereas Shawn Adams will not be, as he lost the Nova Scotia final to Team Rafuse.
Can Howard repeat at the Brier? Gushue and the Alberta and Manitoba teams will have something to say about that. However, it seems when Howard's team is firing on all cylinders, their strategy seems to produce the results.
Congrats again Glenn and squad!

Regards,
Steve

Can Howard Be Stopped?

Hello. FYI Team Glenn Howard is great! They are 7-0 at the Ontario Men's Championships. They've completely dominated the field so far. And I expect it to continue, even though they play Wayne Middaugh tonight and Mike Harris and Rob Loebel (the other playoff teams if it were to end right now) Friday.
Watching the team play is like seeing surgeons at work. They are so precise throughout the lineup. They hardly ever miss. And it seems the best anyone can score on them in one end is one point.
Why are they so good? I had the pleasure of interviewing Glenn yesterday, a kind of quick biography. He retold the Steve Bice story. Brent Laing wanted to leave before last year's Ontario final as his partner was about to give birth. The others talked it over, and they didn't hesitate in their unanimous decision - go be with your new child. It's just a game. Steve Bice spared, they won and the rest is history.
This attitude really surprised me. After all, everyone except Glenn had never won a Brier. That told me a lot about why these guys win.

Regards,
Steve

Ontario Provincials The Place To Be

Hello. Just got back from watching the Ontario Men's Curling Championships in Waterloo. Believe it or not, some guy named Howard (the defending world champion) won. Corner and Harris also scored victories.
I got a chance to tape myself interviewing Glenn, Peter and Mike after their games. It was good to catch up with them. Obviously all were in a good mood. They were very polite with me and were happy to give me their time.
I strongly urge you to go to the rink to see the action if you're in the area. While the weather today has been bad and is supposed to get worse, it's well worth the time. $8 for a ticket is not bad either considering there are 5 games on in the round robin.
Why is this event so sparsely attended? I'm not sure, but I suspect there is no buildup. No one besides a diehard fan follows the zones and regions leading up to the finals. And as the media relations person told me, the papers rarely post the standings.
And even for me, it seems almost inevitable Howard will win again. Of course the same was said for the New England Patriots.
All the best to all the competitors!

Regards,
Steve

Dubai Latest Tiger Conquest

Hello. Congrats to Tiger Woods for winning at Dubai. After spotting Ernie Els a 54 hole 4-shot lead, Tiger shot 65 the final day for the victory.
What does this say about Tiger? He's the favourite on both Euro and PGA Tours. I thought the Euros would give him a challenge. Relative to Torrey Pines, they did. But they are still a notch below Woods. And I don't see that changing this year.
What does this say about Els? To blow a big lead at a course you love is a sign you're not ready to challenge. I don't expect Ernie to get any closer this year to Tiger.
I'm now completely convinced Tiger has found a different way to golf. It's better than what is taught at the NCAA or any other level. And since Tiger is still improving, the others will have to make quantum leaps to catch up.
Unfortunately for those players, it's not going to happen this year. Phil Mickelson could've made a statement in Phoenix, but lost in a playoff to J.B. Holmes (congrats by the way). And that's the difference - Tiger takes advantage where others don't.
Continued success in 2008 Tiger!

Regards,
Steve

Patriots Outcoached, Outmanned

Hello. Congrats to the New York Giants for winning Super Bowl 42 17-14 against the New England Patriots. Offically, this was the 3rd biggest upset in Super Bowl history, behind the New York Jets of Super Bowl III and the New England Patriots of 2001. However, I don't think too many people thought the Giants had a chance.
How did they win? The Giants outcoached the Patriots, something that would've been unthinkable to believe before. They had a much better plan to stop New England, and their offense was able to move the ball all night.
And New England made a disastrous call. Up 7-3, they had a 4th down on the Giants 31. Instead of kicking a 48-yard field goal in a dome, or just trying to get a first down, they went for the end zone. A 10-3 would've made a big difference.
Of course you can have the best game plans, but the team still has to execute. And the Giants sure did that. Both Giants lines won the battle big time. And Manning's last drive was as good as any drive any Hall of Famer ever did.
Congrats again to the Giants. Great game!

Regards,
Steve