Capelle On Golf

I saw Michael Jordan’s bald head on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s Feb. 25 issue and was sold on the promise of an edgy story about what’s wrong with basketball. My thinking was that some of Jordan’s advice might be applicable to golf. I opened the cover, grabbed my highlighter, and quickly digested the Jordon expose. Here is his game plan.

• Don’t create a fake image because the public will not buy it.
• Market golfers and their on course performances.
• Give the fans a new wrinkle.
• Decisions should not always be based on the bottom line.
• Adhere to the traditions of the game.

I give kudos to Jordan’s insights on what made basketball work so well in his day. His pearls of wisdom can be applied to golf, and should be. I will work on his list as if I were in commissioner Tim Finchem’s shoes, and I would like to hear your thoughts as well.

Since I invested $4.99 for MJ’ of wisdom, I thought I’d stroll through the magazine cover to cover and see just how the ESPN treats our fair sport.
On page 18 I discovered Stuart Scott’s Chat Room. He answers questions on the Super Bowl, Roger Clemens, and Tom Brady before weighing in on Tiger Woods’ supposed Grand Slam in 2000-2001. Here we go:
Fan: Is this the year Tiger wins his Grand Slam?
Stuart Scott: I think he already has.
I heartily disagree. The Tiger Slam can begin at any of the last three majors. The Grand Slam must start with the Masters, which adds pressure to the season opening major for any aspirant to the GS.

Pages 26-27 are covered with a gorgeous photo of the 7th hole of Pebble Beach. Brandt Snedeker is about to sink about a 7-foot birdie putt while a huge wave is crashing against the rocks. The problem is that the caption says the Famous 7th at Spyglass Hill, which is a par 5 in a forest.

On the PAGE 2 section, which starts on page 28, there is a one line mention of Phil Mickelson’s 11 at Pebble Beach. Right course this time. Congrats.

On page 29 of PAGE 2 is a three line mention of Tiger Woods’ 2-0 start (which includes a European Tour event). Boy, they’ve got the mania bad.

On page 40 of PAGE 2 they list the 10 bestselling sports books. Mark Frost’s The Match (about a great golf match that includes Hogan and Nelson, which Amazon’s readers have rated highly) is #4. A copy is sitting on my nightstand. I can hardly wait.

This has nothing to do with golf, but the #5 selling book is blogger Will Leitch’s God Save the Fan (which I’ve nearly finished). I’ve got to give ESPN credit for running a picture of the cover since Leitch trashed ESPN on numerous occasions in his book.

Page 57 covers the subject of Sports and Redemption. We learn that Phil Mickelson’s 2004 Masters victory enables him to shake his choker’s label, but that it returned after the 2006 U.S. Open meltdown. Gee, thanks for the history lesson, and for the mind altering new perspectives.

Finally, Jim Furyk is the subject of Outtakes, a short Q&A on page 98. Best answer: “I’ve seen him (Charles Barkley) attempt to hit a golf ball, but that’s not a golf swing.” You’v e got to click on this link!

The scorecard: Meaningless Golf Tidbits 7, Meaty Stories on Golf 0.

My question to you, my fellow golf fan, is this: Should golf be glad that ESPN TM even bothers to cover our sport, or should we be pissed that our sport is dissed? Or should we even care about their golf “coverage?”