By Jayson D. Henry
Ailurophobia is the fear of cats. I could not find a word for the specific fear of Tigers so this phobia will have to do.
This weekend professional golfers from all over the globe will head to Augusta National Country Club to experience one of the four ‘Major’ cases of Ailurophobia they will get this year to go along with numerous bouts of lesser cases of the condition.
It’s not enough that Tiger Woods is simply better than every other professional golfer. Not only is he better but he strikes fear, no make that absolute horror, into the hearts and minds, and bladders, of his opponents whenever he strolls up to the first tee.
There are other very talented golfers on the PGA Tour. However, the biggest difference between Tiger and the rest of the pack is that he burns to win. Winning is everything to him. There is no such thing as a good Top 10 finish.
Many of the other golfers out there seem content to take their six-digit paychecks for 4th or 5th place and head home in their private jets. Woods is not happy unless he is taking a trophy, or a green jacket, with him.
Like so many other sports such as NASCAR, and even football, basketball and baseball, big money has taken away the competitive drive and replaced it with contentedness.
Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino not only wanted to win, they needed to win. Players couldn’t Top 10 their way to multi-million dollar status back then. Now, they can.
So, when Tiger takes to the course with his desire and talent along with him he has a big advantage over those who have become content. That’s why it is so obvious he is going to win even when he enters the last day of a tournament several strokes behind.
He wants to win. He is not afraid to let it be known he wants to win and he is not happy with anything else. To the guys who are satisfied with anything else that is very intimidating. Knowing that Tiger will do whatever it takes to ‘seal the deal’ causes the other players to make mistakes. Then, the “I’ll still get a nice check for 2nd place” mindset starts to take over. It is written all over their faces every time it happens.
Tiger’s talent is immense. He is perhaps the greatest pressure putter ever. He can get himself out of messes better than almost any player the game has ever known, in the instances when he gets himself in messes. There is never a time when you can look at where he is on the course or the leader board and say, “He’s done”.
But even with the incredible skill he has been blessed with and has honed, it is his mind that makes him the greatest player in the game today, and quite possibly the greatest ever. His mind is set on that one thing, winning. Total focus and total energy on one thing, the only thing.
His talent is scary to the other players, but his mind is even more frightening.
So, you other golfers take your satisfaction and your big paycheck to the jet port as you leave Augusta this Sunday. But remember, Tiger will be leaving later than you and he will have more than satisfaction and a big check, he will have another green jacket.
Maybe the others can use those big checks to see a psychiatrist about that little case of ailurophobia they have.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
What's the deal with Jeff Gordon at Texas?
By Jayson D. Henry
Jeff Gordon does not have many good memories of the Texas Motor Speedway. Of all the tracks that make up the NASCAR circuit, Texas is one of only two where he has never won. Homestead is the other.
There really seems to be no rhyme or reason for this. Gordon is one of the few drivers who can be considered a threat to win on any type track. He has wins on road courses, short tracks, intermediate tracks and restrictor plate tracks.
Yet, in 15 tries he has never been to victory lane in Fort Worth. He does have 6 Top 5s and 8 Top 10s. Those numbers would be outstanding for some drivers but for Gordon they are very ho-hum.
This Sunday he will again attempt to lead the pack to the checkered flag in the Samsung 500.
He has won on the similar tracks in Charlotte and Atlanta. Perhaps this will finally be the time he adds a cowboy hat and a pair of six shooters to his wardrobe.
Last year in this race he crashed early and finished last. Then, in the fall race on this 1.5 mile speedway he started on the pole and finished 2nd behind Carl Edwards. Maybe he has turned a corner of some sort and his Texas luck has changed.
Whatever the deal with Jeff Gordon at Texas, he would probably like to create some new memories of this place.
Jeff Gordon does not have many good memories of the Texas Motor Speedway. Of all the tracks that make up the NASCAR circuit, Texas is one of only two where he has never won. Homestead is the other.
There really seems to be no rhyme or reason for this. Gordon is one of the few drivers who can be considered a threat to win on any type track. He has wins on road courses, short tracks, intermediate tracks and restrictor plate tracks.
Yet, in 15 tries he has never been to victory lane in Fort Worth. He does have 6 Top 5s and 8 Top 10s. Those numbers would be outstanding for some drivers but for Gordon they are very ho-hum.
This Sunday he will again attempt to lead the pack to the checkered flag in the Samsung 500.
He has won on the similar tracks in Charlotte and Atlanta. Perhaps this will finally be the time he adds a cowboy hat and a pair of six shooters to his wardrobe.
Last year in this race he crashed early and finished last. Then, in the fall race on this 1.5 mile speedway he started on the pole and finished 2nd behind Carl Edwards. Maybe he has turned a corner of some sort and his Texas luck has changed.
Whatever the deal with Jeff Gordon at Texas, he would probably like to create some new memories of this place.
Bruce Pearl going to Memphis: Why not?
By Jayson D. Henry
One does not have to be much of a Psychologist to notice that Bruce Pearl is not as happy as he once was about being the head basketball coach for the University of Tennessee.
In recent radio and printed interviews Pearl has expressed dismay at the fact that the UT fan base has called his team’s most recent season a disappointment. After all, the Vols did win the SEC East…again. They played in the SEC Tournament title game. And, they were chosen for the NCAA Tournament.
However, Pearl’s problems are three fold in Knoxville.
First, he has set his own bar very high. The Volunteer basketball program has reached new heights while under his command. Sweet 16 appearances and regular season SEC championships have come to be expected rather than surprising. Now, any season short of reaching or exceeding all of those goals proves to be a disappointment in the ‘Vol Nation’.
Another thing that disappointed UT fans this year was that Pearl’s talent did not allow him to employ the fast paced, pressing style he has used in his previous years in Thompson-Boling Arena. Fans were not as excited about the half-court, methodical approach displayed in 2008-09.
And perhaps most importantly, Pearl has no doubt come to the full realization by now that football is king in Knoxville.
In his first years, his program has experienced increased enthusiasm due to the football team’s less than stellar seasons. Now, new coach Lane Kiffin has re-energized the Volunteer faithful in regard to their true favorite.
So, these factors now have to be considered by the popular coach. Will he stay with the Vols or will he head west for the fruitful recruiting fields of Memphis?
Consider all the advantages of going to Memphis.
Basketball is tops in Tiger land. There certainly will be no competition from football on his own campus.
Playing in Conference USA will almost assure a conference championship and a high seed in the NCAA Tournament every year.
And even though previous Memphis coach John Calipari recruited nationally, Pearl would, in reality, rarely ever have to leave the city limits of his own town to recruit a championship caliber club.
All of this has to be considered along with the fact that Memphis appears to be prepared to offer a significant amount of money that Tennessee may not be willing or able to match.
So, will Bruce Pearl leave UT for Memphis? Why not?
Reach me by e-mail at neverenoughsports@yahoo.com.
One does not have to be much of a Psychologist to notice that Bruce Pearl is not as happy as he once was about being the head basketball coach for the University of Tennessee.
In recent radio and printed interviews Pearl has expressed dismay at the fact that the UT fan base has called his team’s most recent season a disappointment. After all, the Vols did win the SEC East…again. They played in the SEC Tournament title game. And, they were chosen for the NCAA Tournament.
However, Pearl’s problems are three fold in Knoxville.
First, he has set his own bar very high. The Volunteer basketball program has reached new heights while under his command. Sweet 16 appearances and regular season SEC championships have come to be expected rather than surprising. Now, any season short of reaching or exceeding all of those goals proves to be a disappointment in the ‘Vol Nation’.
Another thing that disappointed UT fans this year was that Pearl’s talent did not allow him to employ the fast paced, pressing style he has used in his previous years in Thompson-Boling Arena. Fans were not as excited about the half-court, methodical approach displayed in 2008-09.
And perhaps most importantly, Pearl has no doubt come to the full realization by now that football is king in Knoxville.
In his first years, his program has experienced increased enthusiasm due to the football team’s less than stellar seasons. Now, new coach Lane Kiffin has re-energized the Volunteer faithful in regard to their true favorite.
So, these factors now have to be considered by the popular coach. Will he stay with the Vols or will he head west for the fruitful recruiting fields of Memphis?
Consider all the advantages of going to Memphis.
Basketball is tops in Tiger land. There certainly will be no competition from football on his own campus.
Playing in Conference USA will almost assure a conference championship and a high seed in the NCAA Tournament every year.
And even though previous Memphis coach John Calipari recruited nationally, Pearl would, in reality, rarely ever have to leave the city limits of his own town to recruit a championship caliber club.
All of this has to be considered along with the fact that Memphis appears to be prepared to offer a significant amount of money that Tennessee may not be willing or able to match.
So, will Bruce Pearl leave UT for Memphis? Why not?
Reach me by e-mail at neverenoughsports@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Might UK and UT Athletic Directors share common fate?
By Jayson D. Henry
University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart and University of Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton have more in common than their job titles. Their schools may be bitter rivals but both men have recently made moves that will define the tenures of each as the AD at their respective schools.
Barnhart has just done the most important thing a Kentucky AD can do. He has fired one head basketball coach and hired another. At UK, basketball is king and Wildcat fans expect the very best from their beloved program.
Barnhart has had the opportunity to go through this process already. Just about two years ago coach Tubby Smith left UK under intense pressure to take the coaching job at Minnesota.
After making a run at Florida coach Billy Donovan, among others, Billy Gillispie was finally chosen to lead the Wildcats. The short duration of his tenure speaks to the lack of approval the UK fans and administration had for the job Gillispie did. That short duration also indicates that Barnhart failed in his last basketball hiring.
Now, Barnhart has made a big splash by bringing in a big name. John Calipari will move from Memphis to Lexington to roam the sidelines of Rupp Arena.
For Barnhart, this is a make or break move. All indications are that Calipari will succeed at Kentucky. However, what if he doesn’t? What if, for some reason, the ’cats don’t live up to expectations? What if Calipari decides to give the NBA another try? What if there is some type of probation?
If any of those scenarios play out, Barnhart will almost certainly not be the guy to hire the next coach at UK.
Mitch Barnhart has to be John Calipari’s biggest fan.
Tennessee’s Hamilton is under the same type of scrutiny. In his case, he has made the same move but with a different sport.
During the 2008 football season, Hamilton made the decision to relieve long time head coach Phillip Fulmer of his coaching duties.
Unlike Barnhart’s call, the UT boss took quite a gamble. Fulmer still had plenty of support both within the fan base and the donor base. And, Fulmer was far more entrenched at UT than Gillispie at Kentucky not only due to his length of service but also because of the fact that he had delivered a national title to ‘Big Orange Country’ in 1998.
In a sense, Hamilton took an even bigger gamble than Barnhart. UK hired a proven commodity in Calipari. UT went with a young, and somewhat unproven coach by hiring Lane Kiffin to work the Neyland Stadium sidelines.
Just like Barnhart, Hamilton has been charged with hiring the leader of the school’s most important program. Football is king in Knoxville, much like the rest of the SEC.
The same questions facing Barnhart’s hire of Calipari face Hamilton in regard to his hire of Kiffin.
Both of these ADs have experienced success in the ‘other’ program at their respective schools. UT has reached heights rarely attained in their basketball program since Bruce Pearl was brought in to run the show. Rich Brooks has led UK’s football program to a more respected status over the last few seasons.
Mitch Barnhart and Mike Hamilton have recently been charged with re-energizing their school’s most important game. Each has now had the chance to fully place his own stamp on their departments. Each has experienced success to a degree in ‘other’ sports. However, no amount of success in the ‘other’ sport will save either of these two men should these hires not work out for whatever reason.
University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart and University of Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton have more in common than their job titles. Their schools may be bitter rivals but both men have recently made moves that will define the tenures of each as the AD at their respective schools.
Barnhart has just done the most important thing a Kentucky AD can do. He has fired one head basketball coach and hired another. At UK, basketball is king and Wildcat fans expect the very best from their beloved program.
Barnhart has had the opportunity to go through this process already. Just about two years ago coach Tubby Smith left UK under intense pressure to take the coaching job at Minnesota.
After making a run at Florida coach Billy Donovan, among others, Billy Gillispie was finally chosen to lead the Wildcats. The short duration of his tenure speaks to the lack of approval the UK fans and administration had for the job Gillispie did. That short duration also indicates that Barnhart failed in his last basketball hiring.
Now, Barnhart has made a big splash by bringing in a big name. John Calipari will move from Memphis to Lexington to roam the sidelines of Rupp Arena.
For Barnhart, this is a make or break move. All indications are that Calipari will succeed at Kentucky. However, what if he doesn’t? What if, for some reason, the ’cats don’t live up to expectations? What if Calipari decides to give the NBA another try? What if there is some type of probation?
If any of those scenarios play out, Barnhart will almost certainly not be the guy to hire the next coach at UK.
Mitch Barnhart has to be John Calipari’s biggest fan.
Tennessee’s Hamilton is under the same type of scrutiny. In his case, he has made the same move but with a different sport.
During the 2008 football season, Hamilton made the decision to relieve long time head coach Phillip Fulmer of his coaching duties.
Unlike Barnhart’s call, the UT boss took quite a gamble. Fulmer still had plenty of support both within the fan base and the donor base. And, Fulmer was far more entrenched at UT than Gillispie at Kentucky not only due to his length of service but also because of the fact that he had delivered a national title to ‘Big Orange Country’ in 1998.
In a sense, Hamilton took an even bigger gamble than Barnhart. UK hired a proven commodity in Calipari. UT went with a young, and somewhat unproven coach by hiring Lane Kiffin to work the Neyland Stadium sidelines.
Just like Barnhart, Hamilton has been charged with hiring the leader of the school’s most important program. Football is king in Knoxville, much like the rest of the SEC.
The same questions facing Barnhart’s hire of Calipari face Hamilton in regard to his hire of Kiffin.
Both of these ADs have experienced success in the ‘other’ program at their respective schools. UT has reached heights rarely attained in their basketball program since Bruce Pearl was brought in to run the show. Rich Brooks has led UK’s football program to a more respected status over the last few seasons.
Mitch Barnhart and Mike Hamilton have recently been charged with re-energizing their school’s most important game. Each has now had the chance to fully place his own stamp on their departments. Each has experienced success to a degree in ‘other’ sports. However, no amount of success in the ‘other’ sport will save either of these two men should these hires not work out for whatever reason.
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