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Tom Watson Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images Europe

It was late Sunday afternoon at the Turnberry golf course and 59 year old Tom Watson was staring down a medium length putt that would seal his victory at the 138th Open Championships. He could feel a brisk wind hitting him; the same wind that was coming off the ocean all day and reaching speeds of over 20 mph. He knew what was on the line as he stared down at the hole. If he was to sink that putt then he would complete one of golf’s most amazing feats by becoming the oldest man to win a major golf championship at the age of 59. Watson had the opportunity to win his first major title in 26 years (his last victory in a major happened to be the 1983 Open Championships) and win his 6th Open Championship, tying Jersey’s Harry Vardon for the most wins ever at the Open. Tom Watson had the chance to finish a dream weekend in Scotland that would conclude with him hoisting the Claret Jug for the 6th time. Tom Watson had a lot on the line.

Watching from the Club House was the American Stewart Cink. Cink was the club house leader and the only other player in the tournament that had a chance to take the victory. Earlier, he had sunk a fifteen foot birdie putt at the 18th to post a score of -2. As he watched, he knew that if Watson missed his par putt, then he and Watson would enter a playoff for the Championship. He knew that the putt would determine whether or not he would have a legitimate shot at his first major victory. The former 3-time All-American at Georgia Tech and 1997 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year knew that victory was within his reach, but it all depended on one putt.

With the entire crowd in complete silence, Watson hit his putt. As the putter hit the ball his eyes inched forward as he watched the ball move toward the hole. The ball rolled along the green and then broke to the right. The putt was not to be. It stopped short of the hole and a little bit to the right. Watson then tapped in the bogey putt and finished the day at -2, thus forcing a playoff between he and Cink.

The Open Championship has it’s own unique style of a playoff, where players golf four holes and see who can do it in the least strokes. Cink took care of Watson easily in those four holes, as he finished six strokes ahead by the end of the playoff. It was not Tom Watson who would be holding the Claret Jug by the end of the day, but rather Stewart Cink. Although, it would have been nice to see a 59 year-old win a major, we have to remember that Cink had never won a major before in his career. Watson had already won eight. So whether you were rooting for Watson or Cink, it was overall a great weekend on the links.

The next major to be played on the PGA tour will be “Glory’s last shot”: the PGA Championship. The tournament is nicknamed “Glory’s Last Shot” because it is the last major tournament in the season, the last chance at immortality for each golfer. Will Watson bounce back and win the PGA (which happens to be the only major tournament that he has never won)? Will Tiger rebound from a poor weekend at the Open and win his first major since coming off of his knee injury? Will the World number 2, Phil Mickelson, reclaim a title that he earned in 2005 as the victor of the PGA Championship? These questions and more will be answered in August at the Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Zach Seites-Rundlett

One of the most celebrated teams in sports history and three time world champions, the New England Patriots have been caught red handed. The team was caught cheating last week, by means of filming the hand signals of the opposing New York Jets. This has raised all sorts of questions from: was it really that bad of thing to should it just be though of as just part of the game such as the famous “hack-a-Shaq” technique in basketball (a techniques in which Shaquille O’Neil is intentionally fouled in order send him to the free throw line, where his percentage is quite poor, and he will likely miss one out of two instead of allowing him to get a 2 point basket) or even football tactics such as icing the kicker (calling a time out right before an important field goal attempt in order to put more pressure on the kicker), or holding (which is now considered legal inside the framework of the body) or internationally committing a holding penalty to prevent a pass inference penalty because it is for 5 yards less, or even walking batters in baseball for that matter. The gist here, is that while owners and executives are on one hand always trying to make the game more “fair”, on the other it seems they do not even know what they really want at the core of the game. Specifically where and what they want the competition to focus upon, it seems that these rules are really just about trying to play robin hood and even things out by stealing the edge that the tactful players and coaches enjoy. Granted this cannot excuse the Patriots at this point because they have broken an established rule, but let’s examine why all these crazy rules have been created, it seems that many rules are created after someone has gained an edge through then legal means specifically to take that edge away. This of course is not unique to the football, in fact it seems to be the nature of modern sports for someone to find a way to get an edge; then word eventually gets out, and everyone implements it themselves or they find a way to eliminate that edge though new rules. Though out the history of sports many have searched for a way to get an edge, and it has become all the more important today where the difference between the winners and the loser is often so minute, so as it some sporting events it can only be measured in milliseconds.

Why is it that instead of continually defining what the game is not, they do not just define what the game is, and state anything else is simply not a part of it? I believe it is because we deep down want to see people come up with ingenious new tactics, some of which we do not always like at fist and even maintain many different opinions of whether it is alright, to eventually have it completely transform the game. Although, the Patriots were clearly in the wrong it this instance, it seems they have now just become as many others in professional sports, and have followed in the growing trend of doing anything to get an edge at any cost. This really hurts because the Patriots were portrayed as noble and above the rest due to their humility and lack of basking in the spot light in favor of meticulous preparation. Now when they display that same tendency towards failure and not dwelling upon their serious wrong doing, in favor of focusing solely on preparing for San Diego it seems so negative, and to a degree rightfully so. It seems that the Patriots are now also pragmatists, like so many today. However, now that the New Patriots clearly have sunk to pragmatism the question becomes can we still bestow upon them the designation of a dynasty, or will history condemn them to the ranks of Pete Rose, Mark McGwire, and Barry Bonds (Rose was banned from major league baseball for gambling, and remains ineligible for the hall of fame. The verdict is still out on Bonds and to a lesser extent McGwire, though it seems pretty clear both of them used steroids of some sort in order to attain their records.) Things certainly look bleak right now, but I certainly believe the Patriots can recover and Robert Kraft’s statement seems to speak volumes for the fact that they accept the failure and are ready to move on. It is going to take time for the fans to heal. Since the trust has been broken, it will take time to learn to trust the Patriots again.

See more picture of the New England Patriots here

With the whole scandal that Barry Bonds has become embrolied in many people are forgeting one of the greatest players of all time, Roger Maris. Why? Most likely because he isn’t in the Hall of Fame. And to tell you the truth I think its a shame that he isn’t. He is the only player to ever legitemetly break Babe Ruth’s home run record. Furthermore it took over 30 years for Mark Magwire to break his record and only with performance enhancing drugs.

Now Barry Bonds has come along and drawn all the attention once again to records. He broke the single season home run record himself with 73 and now he is about to break the all time home run record held by Hank Aaron. The big debate is if he will be in the Hall of Fame someday and honestly I believe it is taking the attention away from the real players who are overlooked for the Hall of Fame, Roger Maris. It is obvious that Bonds has used steroids yet people are so starved for something great from baseball that they are willing to embrace him. I think it is about time that the greatest single season home run hitter is recognized and elected to the Hall of Fame*, which I will now write with an asterik until Maris is elected.

I believe that the stats of Roger Maris’ career stand for themselves and so does the website http://pw2.netcom.com/~houdini/maris.html which I will leave these for everyone to comtemplate.

61 Single Season Home Runs (1961)
This record stood for 37 years,
longer than the record Maris broke,
the immortal Babe Ruth’s 60-homers of 1927.
Roger remains one of only four players
to ever hit more than 60 homeruns in a season.

Two-time American League Most Valuable Player
1960 and 1961
Only 11 players have won consecutive MVP awards
– all of the others (who are eligible) have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame —
Jimmy Foxx, Hal Newhouser, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle,
Ernie Banks, Joe Morgan & Mike Schmidt.
Other than those seven,
no other Hall of Famer has achieved this distinction,
including (to name just a few) Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench,
Roberto Clemente, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio, Nellie Fox,
Lou Gehrig, Reggie Jackson, Al Kaline, Harmon Killebrew,
Willie Mays, Babe Ruth & Ted Williams

3 World Series Championships and 7 League Pennants
New York Yankees 1960-66
Yanks won 5 pennants and 2 World Series in Maris’ 7 seasons
St. Louis Cardinals 1967-68
Cards won 2 pennants and 1 World Series in Roger’s 2 seasons

Lifetime 5.39 Home Run Percentage
Better than Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio (5.29), Hack Wilson (5.13),
Johnny Bench (5.08), Yogi Berra (4.74), Larry Doby (4.73) Billy Williams (4.56)
and the Hall’s most recent inductee — Bill Mazeroski (1.78)
Lifetime .983 Fielding Average and a Gold Glove
Better fielding average than most Hall of Famers,
including Hank Aaron (.980), Joe DiMaggio (.978), Roberto Clemente (.976),
Harmon Killebrew (.976), Ted Williams (.974), Billy Williams (.973),
Babe Ruth (.968), Willie Stargell (.961)
and identical to the Hall’s most recent inductee — Bill Mazeroski (.983)
Maris had a better fielding average than
Mickey Mantle (.982), who was considered a truly superb outfielder.
Maris earned a Gold Glove, even though he played in an era
filled with Hall of Fame outfielders.

Lifetime Batting Average Comparable to Many Hall of Famers
Roger’s .260 lifetime batting average is higher than that of
Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew (.256), identical to Bill Mazeroski (.260),
and in the same range as many other Hall of Famers, such as:
Reggie Jackson (.262), Brooks Robinson (.267),
Mike Schmidt (.267), Al Lopez (.261), Willie McCovey (.270), Luis Aparicio (.262),
Johnny Bench (.267), Pee Wee Reese (.269), and Bobby Wallace (.267)
Selected to, and played in, 7 All-Star Games (1959 – 1962)

If these stats aren’t good enough to make it into the Hall of Fame* then I don’t what someone has to do to make it in, maybe steroids would help?

I hope that your 7/7/7 is going well and I just wanted to leave you with a special list related to the number seven:

Father’s get your kid out kicking some balls, soccer balls. Yes, that European sport that 90% of Americans play until the age of seven, before calling the sport “gay” and picking up a football (American style with hands). Yes the only sport which can make a drunk college student turn off ESPN. So why should your kid take up this most unpopular of American sports? Well, they could be the highest paid athlete on the planet. As of January 11th 2007, David Beckham signed a 5 year, $250 million contract with the L.A. Galaxy of America’s Major Leage Soccer. This made him the highest paid athlete in American sports. Beckam’s contract trounces the contracts of better known athletes such as Alex Rodriguez, Kevin Garnett, Carson Palmer, and some guy from the NHL. The point is this, if your son is a SWB(suburban white boy) who is not twice the size of his peers, or just naturally gifted, such as people from Canada (NHL, Steve Nash, etc.) then get him into the every scwrawny man’s league of soccer. He might lose a few pounds, and learn that if a small weak guy is mad enough he can beat anyone. Therefore, Dad, if you’re stuck watching only a 32″ plasma, enroll your son now.

Did your dad ever say lets talk and then gave you some money. I don’t think so. Recently the Boston Red Sox paid the Siebo Lions $51 million dollars for the right to talk to their star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. I think it is universally agreed upon that is the most mony anyone has ever been paid for the right of a desparate party to talk to them. However this large expendature seems wrong in so many ways. Firstly, the Boston Red Sox deemed $45 million too much for their former ace, and one of the best pitchers in baseball hitory, Pedro Martinez. They also refused to pay Johnny Damon more than he’s worth. In fact, throughout the history of baseball the Red Sox have not been willing to go the distance for their team. Yet all of a sudden, Epstein has bottomless pockets and we will be paying $50 million for a back up player. Pocket change to the new Red Sox, considereng $50 million covers about three Fenway Franks and two beers. However if the Red Sox are now willing to pay old, broken players like J.D. Drew more money than Johnny Damon, and more money to talk to an unprven young gun than a proven hall of famer, like Pedro Martinez, maybe people will continue to pay these outrageous prices to relive the dream of 2004. But if the Red Sox finish in 3rd place again this year, I guarantee you the ante will only be upped by Epstein and the owners.



On a new side story, the New York Yankess, have paid the Hanshin Tigers $25 million to talk to their star pitcher Kei Igawa This is noteworthy, because it is half of what the Red Sox paid, and chances are he will double the nubers of Daisuke Matsuzaka because with Boston and New York, that is the status quo.

As you all know, Floyd Landis an American Professional Bicycle Rider recently won the most coveted event in his sport, Le Tour De France. Shortly after winning it he failed a drug test saying he had a high testosterone level and he could possibly have his trophy taken away. Now he has joined up with a group of other extraordinary athletes who have had their reputations ripped up by the media, because of steroid accusations .

Illegal substances however has now become the biggest thing in sports from Justin Gatlins recent testosterone test in track and field to Barry Bonds ongoing criticisms and questionings in baseball. Speaking of Barry Bonds his whole Steroidal controversy in baseball has been very huge and a hot topic in sports news. For one thing he has given ESPN a load of stuff to talk about; he even has his own reporter (Pedro Gomez) who just reports on Bonds. In addition, he has his own show on ESPN called Bonds on Bonds which is Barry Bonds talking about the entire controversy. Then to cap it all off just about every 4th episode of Outside The Lines with Bob Ley features a story on Bonds or at least Steroids. Another great athlete ruined by steroids, Justin Gatlin, who could have destroyed a great track career. He won a gold medal in the 100 m at the 2004 Olympics and a shares record for fastest 100 m race ran tied with Jamaican Asafa Powell.

Another one of the guys in this group is Mark McGwire the man who hit 70 home runs in 1998 and 65 the following year having his two best years at the ages 34 and 35 and hitting a total 583 home runs career. People saying it was fishy how his two best years were somewhat late but the truth being told he had plenty of great years through his entire career. They also said that he was an abnormally large man, well truth be told he was always a big man. With him being eligible for the Hall of Fame class of 2007 all the predictions say he will not be accepted. Which is just too bad because he may or may not have taken steroids, nevertheless the assumption is he did take steroids. Barry Bonds may have worse luck than McGwire as he did get substantially larger but i mean, hey, there is such thing as a gym. It has just become something we just hear too much: great accomplishments and careers ruined by steroids.

For one thing we can ask is what about all the others? As we all know there is plenty of names who take steroids but not so many of them are remembered for it. What about the guy who came in fifth? Nobody cares whether he took performance enhancing drugs. What about that guy who hit 23 home runs, 88 RBI’s and had a .279 average nobody cared that he took steroids. Its only the great ones, the accomplishments we all dream of. They are the ones who are accused of taking anything that might make them perform to a higher level. In this group of athletes who have performed in the closest to perfection there is a majority who have passed every test. Every test thrown at them comes out with the answer negative .

Well, are all these big names really taking steroids? Have most sports been taken over by the act of cheating? Well I just don’t know, I just think people should be congratulated for greatness not scolded especially when science shows innocence.

If I have accomplished nothing else with this article I would just like to discourage anybody who would consider taking steroids; it is cheating and it destroys your body and not to mention your manliness (or your womanliness) and your complexion.

Zach Seites-Rundlett