The sports world’s favorite gambler, Charles Barkley, is displaying some uncharacteristic self-control nowadays. Making the rounds at the various celebrity golf tournaments this early-summer, Barkley has been staying away from the tables in lieu of keeping us amazed with his atrocious skills on the links. One witness to the new-and-improved Barkley is fellow celebrity NBA’er Jason Kidd.
Jason Kidd, on a conference call to promote the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship from July 11-13 at Edgewood Tahoe, said Charles Barkley has been true to his word and stopped gambling after he was sued by the Wynn casino for failing to pay up on a $400,000 marker.
“We were at a casino and he said he was on the wagon” at a golf tournament in Palm Springs, Kidd said.
“As much as Charles can sit there and talk - and everybody likes to listen to him talk - I think he’ll be fine at Tahoe.”
Upon hearing the assessment, Harrah’s announced third-quarter profits will be off 29 percent. [Story]
Let’s here it for Chuck! It’s really nice-and-sweet that these charities continue to bring in Chuck to help them raise money. Never mind that the guy tried to swindle out of close to a half-million dollar commitment, is/has been completely irresponsible with money and his public stature. I don’t know about you, but since American Century approves of Chuck, I’m willing to invest my life savings with ‘em! It just makes good moral sense. I hear Tim Donaghyjust rolled-over his NBA 401k to an American Century IRA too.
Based on a challenge set by Tiger Woods– that no 10-handicapper could break 100 at the newly steroid-ed out South Course at Torrey Pines, host of the 2008 U.S. Open next week – Golf Digest and NBC sponsored a pre-Open, made for T.V. event featuring Tony Romo, Justin Timberlake, Matt Lauer and one lucky essay contest winner to challenge the mammoth 7,643 yard, rough manged course the Friday before the Open. The contest will be aired next Sunday (6/15) during the Open.
The winner of the contest — who was chosen from 56,374 applicants — was John Atkinson, a medical salesman from Omaha, Nebraska who suffers from inoperable lung cancer…and the dude has never smoked in his life!?!
Although the course was a bit taming, it didn’t do nearly the same damage to other San Diego celebrities, as I reported HERE.
Some details of what transpired:
Romo, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Open this spring, won with a 13-over 84. The beefy quarterback, who boasts a 2.2 handicap index, barely broke a sweat playing the first nine holes in 5-over 40 but slowed as the six-hour round wore on.
“It got really tough to stay sharp,” he said, nodding toward the 18th hole, where he had his only double bogey after hitting into a bunker.
Timberlake, suffering from allergies, seconded Romo, although his game improved over the last four holes with two pars and two bogeys as he went into “Michael Jordan mode.” A 6.0 handicap index, he parred the 18th to finish at 27-over 98.
Oh. How did Matt Lauer do, you ask?
Lauer scraped by with a 100 on the par-71 course despite playing with a 6.2 handicap index. He came back from an early quad and a series of double bogeys to make a par 5 on the final hole. [Story]
And the dude who won the essay contest shot a 43-over 114. Yikes. But, I tell you what, a 114 at the South Course is very respectable. Did I tell you I broke 100 at the fabulous Mission Bay course here in San Diego the other day? It was outstanding! I was great off the tee. My approach shots were magnificent. And putting was extraordinary. The golf-pro at the 9-hole course said he’d never seen anyone break 100 out there. So, I feel pretty good shooting 102…my game is really coming around for the summer!
ESPN’s Chris Berman will be doing play-by-play for ESPN’s coverage of the first two rounds of the U.S. Open next week at Torrey Pines. But, don’t expect a toned-down Berman during his six hour on-air appearance, as he expects to blurt out typical Bermanisms…despite some critical opinions on his “over use” of nicknames to color up the commentary:
“First of all,” he said, “it’s unfair because if you’re on the air for six hours and heaven forbid I say, ‘Ground control to David Toms,’ you’re writing it like I said it 500 times. Not the case.”
“It’s unfair if people say I’m trying to make it my show. Then you haven’t paid attention. Then you haven’t done me fair. ‘Cause I’m not. But I’m trying to be me and have a good time with it as someone who’s an avid follower of the game; someone who’s like most of the audience who are watching, a 16-handicap give or take, not a 3 (handicap) or a scratch.” [Story]
Now, why would you NOT want Berman dressing up the first couple of U.S. Open rounds? His style and knowledge of the game, sports, and general enthusiasm in the booth are a good reprieve from the over-dramatic Jim Nantz.
It would be like kinda like asking me to sit at Spearmint Rhino for a day of adult beverages and talent evaluation and not make drunken comments about the fillies running around the place. My friends always enjoy my assessments like, “Hey, she’s about a B–…body of Carmen Electra, but the buttered face of Edward James Olmos.” Or when I blurt out, “I did her two years ago…!” Or when I make the comment, “I did that one a year ago…” Mind you, by this time my credibility is nil, as I’m doing shots of mouthwash with the bathroom attendant and doubling down with my pair of Juicy Fruit gum. But…hey…I’m the funniest person I know…despite the vomit on my collar.
Tiger Woods prowled around the South Course at Torrey Pines on Wednesday in preparation for the U.S. Open next week. His newly recuperated left paw (knee surgery….where ya been!) wasn’t an issue and his swing coach Hank Haney gave him the “thumbs up”.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Woods played in 3 hours, 15 minutes amid tight security and no spectators or media. The South Course has been closed to the public since May 21.
Woods was accompanied by caddie Steve Williams and swing coach Hank Haney. The newspaper said on its Web site that Woods laid up to 100 yards on the par-5 18th, and upon seeing a few people gathered near the green, picked up his ball and was taken around the grandstand to the parking lot. [Story]
Nice. This is setting up for a tremendous booze-it-up weekend on the bluffs of Torrey Pines…with America’s fittest person in the mix. I’ve got my fake EMT gear in place to get on to the course, my fake Canon Copier hospitality tent badge all laminated for free libations, and paid off all my outstanding warrants at the courthouse yesterday. All set! Now I just pray Tiger doesn’t recognize me or that whole “within 200 yards” thing may be my downfall.
The 2008 golf season is fast approaching….umm, as in this coming weekend on Maui…and the world’s most prolific marketing endorse could actually be more endorsable this coming year.
With his game still peaking, the stiff/robotic Tiger Woods could benefit from his new found fatherhood and more palletable, human image. With daughter Sam and supermodel mommy Elin in tow, Woods could continue to build upon his $100M-a-year empire in ‘08….beyond imaginable heights.
Additionally, although Woods is not playing this opening weekend in Kapalua, many think this could be his most dominate year and could very well rival his 2000 campaign. A possible Grand Slam in 2008?
“For Tiger, it’s the ultimate challenge,” said former British Open champion Ian Baker-Finch. “I think champions like Tiger want to put themselves under the gun. They’re searching for the ultimate goal, and really the only thing left for him is that.” [link]
Colin Montgomerie thinks Woods is getting back to that 2000 level,
“I always feel his best time was in 2000 when he held all four majors at the one time, and I think he’s getting back to that level again,” Montgomerie says. “And who says that 2008 won’t be the time that he does all four, you know? [link]
With Tiger’s first 2008 golf outing coming up at the $5.2 million Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines three-weeks from today — where he’s won three straight titles — we’ll get a glimpse of what could be a historic year for Mr. Woods, family, and pocketbook.
