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PGA Tour–Sights & Sounds at Torrey Pines”

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Observations from Day 1-at Farmers Insurance Open.

It’s not about the leaderboard alone, it’s about the players, the f fans, the golf course.

An interesting day walking the course with the stars and the hangers on.

TIGER WOODS….He is back as a fans favorite.  Not the long bomber he used to be, but rather as someone who has reinvented himself.  It’s a mob scene walking up the fairway with him.  The are 5-deep around the green, cheering, hoping he can be what he used to be.  He admits he is no longer the mad bomber he used to be off the tee.  He now knows what his body is capable of day-to-day, and what he has to do before he plays each day.  But his re-emergence is amazing, not just from the four surgeries he had in 14-months on his back, not just from the knee surgery, but also from his decline as a human being, the whole mistress thing.  His win last year at the Masters, validates how he has reinvented his game.  He is humble, it is a different kind of fire he now has.  He has streamlined his physique, and no longer looks like Barry Bonds in the upper body.  And the fans still follow, and he recognizes them for the decades of support he still gets at age 44.

PHIL MICKELSON…You wonder how hard this must be for the fans man.  It would be unfair to say Lefty is just holding on, but his ability to position himself at the top of the leaderboard no longer seems relevant.  Hard to believe he has just 1-win since 2013, but then last year’s win at the ATT-Pebble Beach did prove there are still merits to his game.  He is fit and trim, and can still bomb it 300-yards off the tee.  But you also sense he knows, our at least sees the twilight just ahead, with his comments about playing on the Champions Tour.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE….The ex-Aztecs has arrived and been successful a lot quicker than most imagined.  Rock solid consistent tee to green, you can always find his name in the top 10-on leaderboards most weekends.  He is consistent, does not get rattled, and is building a following.  So much infront of him from a career standpoint, he looks poised as the next local golfer about to elevate himself to being something special on the tour.

CHARLEY HOFFMAN….Local hero does good, but not good enough to stay up with the money winners.  It takes grit to want to keep playing when things get rocky, but he soldiers on.  We all remember big tourneys, and the players who wins those tourneys.  One of my fun times as a TV anchor was watching Hoffman win his first tourney a couple of years back, jumping for joy like a kid who got his forever want Christmas gift.  It is what fuels him, and so when you see him 3-under par early in the open round out here, you ;privately root there will be more good days for him this year.

PAT PEREZ….Local guy part of the next tier of veteran players you follow.  Wins have been few and far between.  Maybe there is disappointment his growth has stalled, but being middle of the pack allows you to cash checks, keep your Tour card, and playing the sport you love.

TORREY PINES….All the conversation this opening day was not just about the stars, but the course, the newly designed South Course.  They changed it and did they ever, stretching it to over 7,700 yards.  The repositioned bunkers.  The rough is different.  The undulations around the pins is something to see.  All this as the lead in to hosting the 2021-US Open here.  The fans say you used to get your birdies on the North Course, and you knew how tough the South would be.  But they re-designed the North a couple of years back, and that is no easy day at the beach.  And now the South Course could ruin a ‘Good Days Walk’ as the great author John Feinstein would say.

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“NFL–Changing of the Guard”

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The most important position in the NFL, the quarterback, is about to begin the passing of the baton after all these years of watching these guys passing for lots of touchdowns.

In what might be the most unique year of NFL free agency, a record number of star quarterbacks are going on the open market.

Philip Rivers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees headline a list of eight veteran QBs who will be on the free agent open market come March 1st.

One who will not is Eli Manning.  In a somewhat surprise move, he has just retired, electing not to change teams, but to go out with 2-Super Bowl rings and a host of memories, most of them favorable with the New York Giants.

A career that began with him refusing to play for the San Diego Chargers, forcing a trade, that turned out to be win-win for both teams, he went to the Giants, in the deal that sent Philip Rivers to the Bolts.

Both reached superstar status, Manning’s capped by the wild Super Bowl wins he engineered twice, both come from behind victories over the Patriots.

He finishes up a career with a strange (117-117) record, though he was (8-4) in postseason games, an amazing mark.  He concluded th career in Giant colors with (366TD-244Int).

He was tough, competitive, fiery, resilient, and classy, even in the wake of getting benched this year when the Giants decided they had to play rookie QB-Daniel Jones in a learning curve season.

Manning could be headed to retirement, alongside his brother Peyton, the legendary Colt-Bronco, or he could be headed to a front office job as an Assistant GM.

Now we wait to see who is the next to leave, though retirement does not seem to be the sentiment of Chargers QB-Philip Rivers, the Saints-Drew Brees, the iconic Patriots QB-Tom Brady. or the Steelers-Ben Roethlisberger.

All but Rivers have Super Bowl rings, and it is doubtful Rivers will ever have that opportunity considering the state of the LA Chargers.

The first one, Manning, stepped off the merry-go-round.  Now we we wait to see who is next.

He was very good.  And as much hatred as there is in San Diego for the Manning Family, the Eli-Rivers trade turned out to be ‘win-win’ for both, even if the Giants traded away a lot of talent in the twilight years of his New York career, and the the fact the Chargers front office failed to put enough good people around Rivers, who never go to a Super Bowl.

Superstars are not forever.  Giants fans should remember the great days they had, for they would never have happened had it not been for Eli Manning.

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“Farmer’s Open-Fabulous”

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The stars come out in the sunshine at Torrey Pines, as the 2020 Farmer’s Open tees off with a calvalcade of stars dotting the field.

Tiger Woods returns to the scene of one of his greatest accomplishments, winning the US Open while playing thru a broken leg.

Woods capped his miraculous comeback from all his personal and professional problems by winning the Masters at Augusta last spring.  He kicks off his 2020 season here, needing just one win, to break the PGA all time victory mark of 83-wins, passing the legendary Sam Snead.

Woods statistical accomplishments are staggering, the 82-wins, the 15-Grand Slam events, the 11-time Player of the Year, 10-times a Money winner on the tour.

Included are 5-Masters titles, 3-US Opens and 3-times a winner at the British Open.  He has won at Torrey Pines 7-times in its history

The field is loaded and Woods knows the tour now is as tough as it has ever been.  Phil Mickelson returns home, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth  and young sensation Xander Schauffele are here, plus all the names,  are on hand to take on the North and South Greens.

Tiger Woods comments:

..Have enjoyed Torrey Pines…played well here as a professional…
..Came here when it was the old Andy Williams Open
..Coming off President’s Cup play…was a bit fried after that tourney…needed to get away with it
..Olympic Year…Medal is on our mind…US guys have to play well.
..So many events to be played over the next 6-months.

..This tour is so young…so many good young players…to play for so well for decades is an accomplishment
..It is a different sport than it has ever been
..jI still have the ability to hit the ball…but so many guys can now hit over 300-ayrds off the tee.
..It is such a different game…some 50-guys can bomb the ball…when I started maybe 3-of us could.

..Taking time off-then come back-takes time to knock rust off…have to manage my training and preparation.
..I am hell-bent to play…I have to dumb myself down in preparation…
..I need to manage my adrenalin
..I need to step back and take some time to come back
..Sometimes it takes 3-4-5 holes to find my rhythm.
..Concentrate on putting and technique-not as much long ball hitting now preparing to play
..I need to grind thru a process to get ready..putting..chipping..pitching..wedging…work thru the entire bad.

..I can still drive…my driver is not maxed out….I can still torque it off tee
..The majors (15)..I don’t speculate how many more I can get
..Not too many guys can get to that number. though.
..Expectations for Tiger..I have had more good days than bad..but at 44-I feel bad days more
..Hardest part of where I am at…hard to put together all 4-days…hard to recover from some rounds

..Break Sam Snead record of 82-wins…so many shots you have to play-can’t think of wins-streaks…
..Steaks-think about Edwin Moses winning 113-straight races…I can’t think of streaks..just make shots each round
..Need to be consistent to win a lot of tourneys…have won 5-to-10 tourneys in some years..
..Winning breeds winning-you get a feel when on top of your game

..Carry over from last year…feel good about finish…but have a lot of testing to do now
..North-South Course…changes…will see it in Pro-Am
..US Open…narrow fairways-hard greens…that’s what tourney is…miss fairway-get punished.
..Sure next year tourney will be tough here.

..Training is different now…different regimen
..I can’t go to the first tee and hit a 300-yard shot anymore…I can’t chip a driver 100-yards anymore
..I need a lot to prepare…stretching….for practice…and to play….
..I need time to start the process on the range of moving

..I know my body-but my body is now different and I have to prepare differently.

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Jordan Spieth had such a great splash at a young age.  His 2015 season was amazing.  At the young age he won 3-majors …winning the Masters, the US Open and the Tour championship plus the Fed X-title.  He was the youngest US Open since 1923.  But then game injuries, a loss of mechanics and a blow to his confidence.  From the top to the bottom of a winless season.  Now he is back.

Jordan Spieth comments:

..Torrey Pines is so beautiful…a peaceful place to be
..Coming off a long break-ready to get started
..Have set some lofty goals for ..From 12 years old it was easy…
..It has gotten harder…then panic set in
..Take each week to make improvement…then fix things in offseason
..Feel like 2013…feel comfortable
..Got out of off season tourneys with what I wanted to
..Big picture, I am in good frame of mind and need to be patient
..Worked on a lot…needed to fix mechanical flaws in my swing
..I have researched back what I was doing when things went well
..Putted well but timing with longer clubs out of the bag
..I did research to find the red flags in my swing…get my timing back
..I haven’t played any tourney rounds yet, but ready to trust what I can trust.
..I know what feels good with my swing…I have to find it again and will
..Need to pace myself and not panic…it’s my 1st rouney in 3-months.
..I want to stay consistent….practice well…turn that into good rounds.
..I need to take my time on my shots and play my style
..When you play with Tiger-he plays at a fast pace
..Rules officials understand the pace we play
..Golf courses take time to play..not going from a (4:40-to-3:40) round
..I did not enjoy being labelled as a slow player
..Players need time to get a feel for the courses we play..it takes time.
..I watched President’s Cup…excited for the Ryder Cup..love to represent the country
..Need to play my game consistently.

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Justin Rose is the defending champion as they tee off on Thursday.  It’s been quite a career, for someone who missed the cut in his first 21-tourneys on the tour.  Since then he has won the US Open,the first Brit since Tony Jacklin to do it in 1970.  He has now been ranked #1 coming into the season.  He has 10-tour wins, the Fex X-championship, and 24-global wins in his career.

Justin Rose quotes:

..Torrey is one of my favorite venues on tour.
..Special come back from a win last year and play so well last season
..Playing abroad is a highlife of my career….game taking off in Japan too

..US Ryder Cup team is hardest team in world to make
..British  team-world rankings go up……
..Having been ranked #1 in world

..Changing PGA tour schedule….there used to be peaks and valleys on schedule
..Now you need reserve to get thru the schedule…because the Olympics are part of all this
..We need to structure your workouts to be ready…can’t play catchup on the road…
..Need to take care of yourself…to be ready for new schedule

..Things I value in preparation…injuries change your approach
..Back injuries force you to re-evalute how train…and what changes to make
..It takes a good 6-months to see realists if you make changes
..You must play well of the tee…that is where it starts…
..Must do work at home to be ready…can’t do it on a Wednesday on the tour.

..Tiger Woods-coaching himself..you want ownership of your own game..
..He has had a few coaches…knows where he is now as talent…
..He is playing within himself..
..His resiliency is a testament to him and his approach
..To have 4-surgeries is quite something
..It is not just physically but how you play mentally.
..Mental side goes with it when you get hurt
..He wants it to happen…now he is back to where he used to be
..Him going for 83rd win..his game got stronger and stronger
..It is hard to rack up 7-8-9 wins a year….it is impressive what he did.
..You learn how to work around injuries…3-D technology has helped us evaluate ourselves.

..Yes I watched President’s Cup..enjoyed how Tiger played the course..and see Internationals give US run for money

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“Aztecs Basketball–Never Been There”

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San Diego State basketball is in unchartered waters.  They’ve never been there before, with the potential to go higher..

The Aztecs try to make it 20-wins in a row on Tuesday night facing Wyoming.  They do so carrying the label, Ranked 4th in the nation, in this week’s AP basketball poll.

They rocketed up the poll after the teams infront of them, Duke, Auburn and Butler were each beaten twice in games last week.

Steve Fisher’s Aztecs were ranked 4th in 2011 at the height of the Jamal Russell era.  Oddly during the Kawahi Leonard run, they never got that high.

But this is a very different Aztecs team.  The talent base is not reliant on one player.  It’s job responsibility is spread among a lot of different players.  Yanni Wentzel, Malachi Flynn, Mat Mitchell, Nathan Mensah, KJ Feagin have all had nights to carry the load.

The team’s defensive stats are in neon lights.  Opposing teams shooting 36%, averaging just 56-points a game, only 27% from the three point line, 287-turnovers this year,, 125-steals and 60-blocked shots.  SDSU wears teams out with the defensive pressure, making you grind for every quality shot, for open looks, and challenging a team’s ability to cope with 60-miutes of hell.

Running the table is possible, though SDSU has to face UNLV and Nevada on the road, has Utah State’s erratic Aggies coming in here to play, and still must go to the Pit to play New Mexico.

But this is quality basketball, in a year in which there have been 7-different number one teams in the first 10-polls of the campaign.

Coach Brian Dutcher’s comments:

..We climbed to 4th poll….great for San Diego State basketball brand
..We have bigger target on our back
..We have matured team….Look at what happened to 3-4-5 teams
..Winning-losing is paper thin in
..Always thing we’d be good on paper when opening night happened
..Maturity help us win games early
..Needed to find our grit…come from behind wins BYU-Iowa…it has worked out
..2011-team..if they played each other…it would be something.
..2011-alot of great depth-experience on Kawhi-DJ Gay team
..Was really good defensive team..that team had great length
..Our team are ballhawks-got better and better-did worry about our size
..Our team never talks about comparison to Kawhi Leonard team
..Good group-don’t have to micromanage it
..We can be on the cusp of losing-so our players do focus
..Don’t over-react to it…if things go bad…work make it better
..Nevada shot 14% in second half because we tweaked-made adjustments
..Mountain West…Tams 2-thru-11 struggling…teams getting better some
..MWC teams need to win non conference…wins vs LSU and Wisconsin
..If you are good defensively-you are in two places at
..Nathan Mensah..is working out on the floor-hope to get him back by end of year.

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Yanni Wetzel–KJ Feagin

..It’s crazy-national recognition…have that number beside our name
..We have to stay grounded-stay focuses…prepare like champions
..We are part of something special-memories in campus and in city
..We turned corner after comeback from BYU win…thought be special team
..We rely on lots of players
..Bearting BYU, then Iowa made this season special
..Those wins showed us defense wins championships
..Our 3-transfers know our roles…fit them perfectly…willing sacrifice personal needs
..Transferring here close to home
..Coach Dutcher is perfect coach-let me be myself
..Breaking 20-game win streak-super excited to get the chance at that
..Whatever record we get-we are not chasing record-just wins each night
..Different dynamic from last year…transfers came from losing program-knows feels like
..Our mission is to win.
..The chemistry has been great with all the transfers
..Coach Dutcher knows how to handle egos…he gets us all involved
..That Kawhi Leonard team was stacked
..I knew the whole Steve Fisher era…Fab 5…then the Kawhi Leonard time here..wow.
..I was so impressed with Steve Fisher defense first philosophy
..If we played the Kawhi team…it would be tough across the board-great length
..We’d use up all our fouls on Kawhi
..Yanni-entered transfer portal..I knew SDSU reputation
..My visit was huge..Coach Dutcher was huge…like family atmosphere
..Coming off (0-18) in SEC…much more appreciative of everything we have
..Wanted to come to law school here too.

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“Super Bowl–No Pretenders–Only Contenders”

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You knew it was only a matter of time in one game.

The other game was over just after it got started.

And so the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers are headed to the Super Bowl, after both over-ran opponents on Sunday.

My worst fears were realized, that the AFC-and-NFC title games would be anti-climatic after the fireworks we have seen the last couple of weeks in the opening rounds o the playoffs.

it was only a matter of time for the Chiefs to over-run the one dimension Tennessee Titans.

Patrick Mahomes rallied his team from a (17-7) deficit, scrambling, throwing, even running for an impressive 27-yard TD enroute to the eventual blowout win.    When the Titans fell behind they could not use the hammer, running back Derrick Henry to try and catch up.

KC’s 3-wide receivers, their tight ends and the running back Damiem Williams were just too much for the Titans to defense.  It got so bad, that in one stretch, the Chiefs had outgunned Tennessee (342-to-39) yards in offense and had a (30-12) edge in snaps in the 2nd-3rd and into the 4th quarter.

Take nothing away from the Titans accomplishments, the wins in Baltimore and New England, they were so impressive.  But the magic ran out.  Coach Mike Vrabel ran out of things to create for his team.

In San Francisco, it was really over at the beginning.  Too much 49ers defense against Packers QB-Aaron Rodgers.  Too much RB-Raheem Mostert pounding the ball and chewing up big yardage.  And way too much on the shoulders of the Green Bay quarterback.

San Francisco has gotten progressively better as the season has gone on.  The roster is loaded, it’s young, it’s big, it’s physical.

John Lynch won the Executive of the Year award for the turnaround in just three short years.  In two weeks time he could also be in the NFL Hall-of-Fame.

He traded for Jimmy Garoppolo to end a quarterback crisis that had existed for years.  All those bad seasons netted them the likes of Nick Bosa, DeForrest Buckner, Arik Amsted, Deebo Samuel. George Kittle and many others. via the draft.

They picked up journeyman running back Raheem Mostert, traded for WR-Emmanuel Samuels, and picked up aging kicker Robbie Gould.  You cannot place a true value on the leadership Richard Sherman gave them coming from Seattle.  And it goes on and on.  Mostert finished with (220R) and 4-TDs in a career day for a guy picked up on a street corner.

This will be a pretty good Super Bowl in two weeks, matching that old dog coach Andy Reid against the upstart Kyle Shanahan and his defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.  Matching big plays (Chiefs) vs the big boy defense (49ers).

These two teams deserve to go to Miami, the Niners with its relentless defense and the Chiefs with its ever explosive offense.

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