Bits and Bytes
Usually too busy to post on Sunday’s but today I have been compelled by a couple of incredible performances in the World of Sports….
First, Floyd Landis winning the Tour de France. Just to win the damn thing is impressive enough. To be the guy that wins after seven years of total domination by Lance Armstrong is another thing entirely. Then add to the equation the fact that dude is going to need a HIP REPLACEMENT after he returns to the U.S. Are you kidding me? A new HIP? I know what Lance Armstrong went through was extremely tough and he is deservedly a hero to many, many people. But what Landis accomplished is off the charts. He was 8 minutes behind with 4 stages to go and came back to win. Way to go Floyd! Have a glass of the bubbly for me!
I have been fixated on the British Open all weekend, and after finishing my 18 holes this morning raced home to see the conclusion. A horrible presentation by ABC aside, the win by Tiger Woods and the effort by Chris DiMarco were inspiring to watch. I must say that Mike Tirico’s constant blabbering about DiMarco’s late mother(a true tragedy indeed) was beginning to wear a little thin. Tirico was totally wrong by assuming that the “rush of emotion” would overtake DiMarco after he concluded his round. Just the fact that DiMarco was there only 2 weeks after the sudden passing of his mother tells you how mentally tough as nails this guy is. If anyone was going to break down it would be the guy who took 9 weeks off after losing a parent, and that is exactly what Tiger did.
Anyone who has watched golf and Tiger Woods over the years became used to seeing the “Bear-Hug” that Tiger would receive from his father after winning a Major. Who could forget the one after Woods won his first Masters? When he gave a congratulatory hug to Caddie Steve Williams you could almost see the realization com over Tiger that his father wouldn’t be there this time to greet him with that hug. Tiger didn’t want to let go, and it was touching to see a man who is so calculating both on the course and off have that moment of raw emotion. Tiger is human after all, though he proved again this week that no Golf Course on this planet is safe from his domintion.
Congrats to both Tiger Woods, Chris DiMarco and Floyd Landis on being inspirations not only in sports but in life as well!
