Darren Clarke – Not just another sports story.

Darren savoring victory-photo by Russell Cheyne, Reuters

On Sunday the prestigious British Open was won by Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke. The forty-two years young Clarke was playing in his 20th Open, but golf was not the only story here. The human interest saga behind the beaming face of Darren Clarke far outweighs the golf.

Clarke was probably one of the best golfers never to have won a major tournament. For those non-golfers there are four major tournaments in the world, The Masters, The US Open, The British Open, and the PGA Championship. It is every golfer’s dream to win one of these. In Clarke’s case he won his home country’s Open which made it doubly special.

Darren has had to fight not only the other golfers and the courses over the years, but a terrible tragedy as well.

Five years ago his wife Heather died of breast cancer. Since that time he has struggled on the course and in life. Darren had to raise two young boys on his own while making a living on the golf course. Clarke came through these troubles with strength and dignity. One of the first calls he made after winning the tournament was to his sons. His fiancée stood by him during the tournament. Life is coming together again for Clarke.

British Open champion Darren Clarke is a fine man who deserves to enjoy this win. May good fortune continue to shine on him.

Recommended Reading:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Clarke+wins+British+Open+under/5115667/story.html

Chicago Black Hawks: 49 year drought ends

2010 Stanley Cup Champs photo by John J. Kim/Sun Times

Long suffering Chicago Black Hawks fans can rejoice. Last night they won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years. The last time they hoisted the cup was the 1960-61 NHL season. That year Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Glenn Hall, and Pierre Pilote led them to the championship. 

The Hawks have had many opportunities to win since 1961, but haven’t been able to finish it off. Since the 1961 championship the team has reached the finals 5 times and lost every time. Here is their record in the modern era from 1960 to present. 

1960-61  won over Detroit Red Wings
1961-62  lost to Toronto Maple Leafs
1964-65  lost to Montreal Canadiens
1970-71  lost to Montreal Canadiens
1972-73  lost to Montreal Canadiens
1991-92  lost to Pittsburgh Penguins
2009-10  won over Philadelphia Flyers

Congratulations to the Chicago Black Hawks and their fans for a well played final and a well-deserved victory.

Avalanche

Avalanche results. Photo Jeff Bassett/CP/Pool

This past weekend in Revelstoke, British Columbia the “Stupids” were at it again.

A mob of snowmobilers were out on a snowpacked mountain in the Rockies “extreme high marking” . This involves running a high-powered machine up a steep hill turning on the top, or as high as they make it. Then they rocket down the hill to the bottom. This is a prime way to set off an avalance.

In this case a 30 foot wall of snow and ice came barrelling down the hill sweeping away 150 machines and riders.

The final toll of two killed and over 30 injured, some critically, in the end appears fortunate. Fortunate that many more weren’t killed as a result of this foolishness.

The two men killed were in their thirties and left behind wives and young children. All this for an adrenaline rush. These men were intelligent, hard-working individuals. Why would they risk it all for a short-lived thrill. Now their families have to cope without them. Wives have no husbands and children have no father. I rest my case.

Canada 7, Russia 3 – Olympic Hockey

Canada goal on the way in

Hockey in Canada is a religion. Last night one of the heated rivalries Canada vs Russia played out, with Canada winning 7-3 to advance to the semi-finals. 

“They came out like gorillas out of a cage,” Russian backup goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov said.

Prior to 1998 pros were not allowed to compete in the Olympics, unless you were Soviet. They fielded a team consisting of their best. The players were all members of the military and paid to train and compete 24/7. This is how they circumvented the rules. 

In 1998 the NHL allowed its players to compete for their respective countries. This leveled the playing field and the Russian monopoly on the Gold Medal ended. 

The top two teams in Vancouver are Canada and the USA. It appears likely they will meet in the Gold Medal game later this week. The USA defeated Canada in the preliminary round, but lately Canada have found their game and are playing much better. It should be a classic game with all the ingredients for the best game to date. Stay tuned. Go Canada Go.

The Thrill of Victory, The Agony of Defeat

The Masters golf tournament was played this past weekend. Being a golf fan I watched avidly. Some people say golf is boring to watch, but the name of the game is drama. Human interest stories make the players interesting.

(Left: Bob Goalby accepting the green jacket symbolic of The Masters Championship)

This tournament, one of professional golf’s four majors (others are US Open, British Open, and The PGA), are the diamonds of the tour. Ask any player and he will tell you that winning a major is his goal. It isn’t the money alone, but rather the prestige and accompanying endorsements that result from winning the players are after. To top it off the tour rewards winners of the Masters and other majors with exemptions and invitations to events that can relieve the pressure of winning. For example Masters winners get automatic invitations to the other majors for the next five years, a lifetime invitation to The Masters, and PGA Tour card for the following five years.

Back in 1968 when the four rounds of the Masters were completed there was a two-way tie between American Bob Goalby and Argentinian Roberto DeVicenzo. Both players were preparing for an eighteen-hole playoff, but first under PGA Tour rules they had to verify their scorecards and sign them to make it official. Most times this is a formality. Not this time.

There was a mistake on DeVicenzo’s scorecard. His playing partner, fellow professional, Tommy Aaron, marked a 4 on the No. 17 hole, when DeVicenzo had in fact made a 3. DeVicenzo failed to catch the mistake and signed the scorecard as being accurate. Professional Golfers Association rules state the “the higher written score signed by a golfer on his card must stand”. Because DeVicenzo now had a higher score by one stroke, Goalby won The Masters championship.

(Left: Goalby and DeVicenzo going over Roberto’s scorecard in disbelief. Sports Illustrated cover from April 22, 1968)

I still remember the dazed look on both player’s faces. DeVicenzo was in shock for making such an elementary mistake. Goalby being the consumate professional wanted to win, but his joy was tainted by winning this way. DeVicenzo to his great credit went over to Goalby and embraced him and congratulated him. Roberto spoke to the press and told them that Goalby was a deserving winner. Sportsmanship was displayed for all to see, but the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat were never so vivid.

 

On Any Given Day – Giants Upset Pats

Above: Dave Tyree of the New York Giants scoring a touchdown. 

The perfect season is no more. Super Bowl XLII ended with David slaying Goliath. The underdog New York Giants played a magnificent game. They showed true heart in their win.

This is another example of the truism of, on any given day anyone can beat anyone. I believe it came down to the Giants wanting it more than the Patriots in this case.

The members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins are surely celebrating because their perfect season of 17-0 including the regular season, playoffs and the Super Bowl still stands. I think it will never be broken. The Patriots had a fantastic season and won 18 games without a loss, but by not finishing the string, that accomplishment will be forever tainted.

Although not a high scoring game it had great defensive plays, wonderful offensive drives and high drama. It should do wonders for the ratings of future Super Bowl games.

Finally to both teams I salute you for providing wonderful entertainment and for the incredible effort.

Vince Lombardi: Super Bowl Coach Personified

I am a huge fan of the Super Bowl and of the National Football League (NFL). This Sunday Febuary 3, 2008 will mark the 42nd Super Bowl. This championship game started January 15, 1967 as a battle between the established NFL and the upstart American Football League (AFL). The AFL was a direct competitioner of the NFL. Eventually the AFL was merged with the established league. This merger took place after Super Bowl IV. Of the first four Super Bowls, the NFL won the first two, and the AFL the next two.

Today marks the day the Green Bay Packers hired coach Vince Lombardi so I thought I’d write about how this man had such a great impact on the Super Bowl. He was hired by the Packers on January 28, 1959. At the time the Packers were a losing team having finished with a 1-10-1 record the previous season. This was his first head coaching job in the NFL. For 4 years prior to this he was assistant coach of the New York Giants.

The first season with the Packers he lead them to a 7-5 record, and the next year to the championship game where they lost 17-13 to the Philadelphia Eagles. He won his first championship in 1961 when they defeated the NY Giants 37-0. In total his Packers won 5 NFL Championships (pre-Superbowl era) and the first two Super Bowls.

After the second Super Bowl Lombardi retired. He just could not stay retired though, and in 1969 he accepted a head coaching job with the Washington Redskins. The first season he coached the Redskins to their first winning record in 14 years. His overall coaching record now stood at 105-35-6 without a single losing season.

(above: Ring and ticket from Super Bowl I)

Vince Lombardi personified football coaching in the 1960s, and was perhaps the greatest coach in NFL history. Tragically, he died September 3, 1970 at the age of 57 of intestinal cancer. The NFL inducted him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame the next year. Most significantly, the Super Bowl Trophy was renamed the Vince Lombardi Trophy in his honor.

His beloved Green Bay Packers have appeared in four Super Bowls and have won three. This season they came close, but lost to the NY Giants in the NFC Championship Game in overtime.

Above: Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Super Bowl Championship being held aloft by winning players. 

I’ll leave you with some quotes about and by Vince Lombardi.

“He made us realize that if the mind was willing, the body can go.”
– Forrest Gregg, Green Bay Packer

“He made us all better than we thought we could be.”
– Jerry Kramer, Green Bay Packer

Vince Lombardi Quotes:

“To achieve success, whatever the job we have, we must pay a price.”

“Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.”

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”

“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”

“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”

“Winning isn’t everything – but wanting to win is.”

I think you’ll agree a lot of what he said made sense, not just to the sport of football, but to everyday life. Vince Lombardi was a truly remarkable man.

Perfect Season for the Pats?

(Superstar quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.)

As a huge NFL football fan I am amazed at the current edition of the New England Patriots. This team seems to have everything, great quarterback, quality receivers, impressive defense. The running attack is potentially the only weakness, but with their passing game who the heck needs to run the ball. First let me say that I am an Oakland Raiders fan, but most of all a fan of great football. Right now it is hard to be a Raiders fan, but it is still fun to watch great teams and players in action.

Dare we say “perfect season”?  Looking at the Patriot’s remaining schedule it is possible. As this is written the rest of their season shapes up like this:

Nov 25 – Philadephia Eagles (5-5)
Dec 3  – at Baltimore Ravens (4-6)
Dec 9  – Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
Dec 16 – New York Jets (2-8)
Dec 23 – Miami (0-10)
Dec 29 – at New York Giants (7-3)
Playoffs – at least two games
Super Bowl
Total Games = 19

It would appear that Pittsburgh and the Giants have the best chance to grab a win, but it would take a minor miracle. A perfect regular season would give them 16-0. Playoffs would be extremely tough, but they seem to be very focused. In fact they are on a mission in my opinion based on the interviews and games I have seen.

The only NFL team to have a perfect season including playoff and a Super Bowl win for a final record of 17-0 was the 1972 Miami Dolphins. They had an extremely well-rounded team both offensively and defensively. The Dolphins had great players on both sides of the ball and on special teams. They stumbled a couple of times along the way and overcame a key injury to their great quarterback, Bob Griese, to prevail in the end. Griese did return and helped them finish the rest of the season. Earl Morrall formerly of the Baltimore Colts came through as a super backup to keep them going.

(Above: Hall of Fame running back Larry Csonka of the 1972 Miami Dolphins)

So far, six players from the team are enshrined in Pro Football’s Hall of Fame: Nick Buoniconti, Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, Jim Langer, Larry Little, and Paul Warfield. In July 1997, Head Coach Don Shula joined them in immortality in Canton, Ohio.

The Chicago Bears of 1934 (13-0) and 1942 (11-0) had undefeated regular seasons, but in the end lost in the NFL championship game on both occasions. Still and all very impressive. No one else has ever had even an undefeated regular season, except the 1972 Dolphins.

It is my prediction that the New England Patriots will go undefeated in the regular season and further that they will win the Super Bowl for a true undefeated mark. So I will now watch with great interest the crusade for this team’s immortality.