THE WEEK IN SPORTS...

THE WEEK IN SPORTS, June 20, 2008
Earlier this week, two important events happened in the world of sports. First, the Boston Celtics clinched their 17 NBA Championship by humiliating the Los Angeles Lakes in Game 6 of the series, 131-92 Tuesday night. A series that the NBA hoped for, with its two “premier” teams facing off once again in the finals had everything setup perfectly for the NBA. But then it all fell apart, first a former NBA ref claimed that the NBA fixed playoff games in 2002 and 2005. Then the series turned into a snore, blowout series. Teams blew 20 point leads and the final game was a 39 point blowout. This is the best of the NBA? If I am the league, I really would hope not.
Also, Monday Tiger Woods won the US Open at Torrey Pines in a 19 hole playoff against Rocco Mediate. Tiger was playing his first tournament since he had surgery on his knee following the Masters. Tiger’s injured knee includes a double stress fracture in his left leg as well as a torn ACL. He hopes to be back competing on the PGA tour next season. The fact that Tiger was able to win a major tournament, playing an additional 19 holes, under those conditions is truly remarkable. Tiger is the PGA tour in a lot of respects. He is the best player, the biggest draw and drives TV ratings. The tour will survive without Tiger, but it will not grow as much as it would if Tiger was playing. The upcoming British Open, PGA Championship, and the Ryder Cup will all miss having Tiger play, but the bigger issue will be tournaments such as next week’s Buick Open in Grand Blanc, MI and Tiger’s own AT&T National tournament outside Washington, DC. These tournaments flourish if Tiger participates. More spectators attend the tournament, higher TV rating accompany Tiger’s play, more kids get a chance to learn about the game of golf when he hosts clinics near the tournament, and more merchandise is purchased at tournaments he plays. His inability to play in these types of tournaments is a huge drain to the local economy and hurts the overall PGA tour. The PGA tour should hope that one of its young stars – Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, or another young golfer or established veteran goes on a run where he is competitive each week. Let the PGA develop and promote another one of its players so that it takes some of the pressure and reliance off Tiger Woods.