Thank God for Camera 2...

  • I don't have anything Earth shattering to say about Tiger's speech.  He said all the right things, but it came in a robotic package.  I'm cynical about people turning to religion when things go wrong in their life, but he's just been in rehab and spirituality is often a large part of that process.  Honestly, I'm skeptical of the entire thing, which is why I wanted the reporters to ask questions.  Even if he did not answer them, saying it's between he and his wife, we would at least see how he responds under some pressure.
  • Honestly, how did we get here in the first place?  I was never mad at you Tiger, so don't apologize to me.
  • I was sure that he'd be back for the Masters, but missing an Augusta in his prime and maybe more shows how serious he is about cleaning up his act.  My father made a good point: Like an alcoholic or drug addict, if he comes back too soon, he's likely to repeat his old behavior.  And, he's out of second chances in this judgmental country. 
  • I liked Bootsy's comment from yesterday's post: "There are hundreds of athletes who cheat on their wives and end up with a broken marriage because of it.  They aren't required to apologize to the public, or further to take questions from the media about it.  After the PED users' apologies, it felt like something changed when they came back.  You could never trust that they were clean.  I don't think anything about Tiger's game changed, and that's why I'll still root for him on Sundays."
  • The closest apology that I can think of is Kobe Bryant, but he was accused of rape.  Tiger did not commit a crime, but he's been punished harder than Donte Stallworth, who killed somebody while drunk driving.  What a country!  At least we're good at snowboarding...
  • Two great quips about the day: Rick Reilly on the press conference stage, "It looks like he's about to pop out and do a magic show."  I wish he had!  And, SNL's Seth Meyers on hypothetical conversations before the presser, "How close should I put the chairs?"  "How close can you get them?"  They were squeezed in tight and Tiger's mom could barely look at him.  The shame of a mother is twice as strong as America.
  • So, Donnie Walsh or as I now call him "The King of Wishful Thinking" (great song!) pulled the trigger and the wheels are in motion.  LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Michael Jordan should be signed by July 4th.  I assume the Eddy Curry for Dwight Howard swap will immediately follow. 
  • The Knicks made a good case last night without doing anything.  "The King" drops 43 pts., 13 reb. 15 ast., and 4 blocks in a LOSING EFFORT!!!  How is that possible?  Not to get too nerdy, but he had 122 fantasy points last night, which is getting a good night from THREE players typically.  Antawn Jamison, get down from the luxury suite and help out.
  • Carmelo punched in with a tidy 40 and the game-winner, so I guess the other guys matter too.  The Nuggets might be the second best team in the NBA.  They can't beat the Lakers, but they play with a much more confident stride than the Celtics and Magic.  The Cavs and Nuggets would be an epic NBA Finals.
  • Kevin Garnett...what happened?  The man is a shell.  It's like watching Willie Mays stumble around the Mets outfield and I was not even alive for that.  Please hang 'em up after this year, and take Rasheed Wallace, Derek Fisher and Ron Artest with you.
  • After watching Boston, they actually could use Nate Robinson's energy and clutch offense.  When he has it going, he can close the show by himself.  But, does Doc Rivers have the stones to play Nate down the stretch over Ray Allen in a big game?  Doubtful.  There's a lot of Joe Torre in Doc, overly loyal to "his guys."
  • I miss the good old days when Big East officials swallowed their whistles until the first blood was spilled.  On Wednesday, Notre Dame completely outplayed Louisville, but the zebras called 28 fouls on an undermanned Irish team, including fouling out four players.  On Thursday, Syracuse blew a 23-point lead in the final 10 minutes (and still won) to Georgetown because the refs eliminated the Orange big men, Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku.  If it effects a shot, blow the whistle.  Otherwise, let the boys bang a little bit on the block.  
  • Last year, I was really high on Washington PG Isaiah Thomas, but now I see that he's bound for the typical Washington/Oregon basketball career.  Exciting as a Freshman, disappears as a Sophomore, enigmatic as a Junior and all-conference as a Senior.  For examples, see Aaron Brooks, Brandon Roy and Quincy Pondexter. 
  • Switzerland!  Do you think Canada's hockey team is feelin' the heat?  Yikes.  We're just getting started.
  • The free skate or long program needs an editor more than a Quentin Tarantino movie.  Three minutes or less per routine...
  • On to the weekend...Canada vs. USA in hockey.  Everton with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard vs. Manchester United on ESPN2 in HD.  #3 Villanova at #21 Pittsburgh and #12 Ohio St. at #11 Michigan St. headline the college basketball weekend, but both are on Sunday at noon Eastern.  Cavs at Magic followed by Celtics at Nuggets as an ABC doubleheader Sunday. 
  • One final thought for Dick Ebersol's weekend (head of NBC Sports): "The Miracle on Ice" was shown on taped delay in 1980.  If it had happened in 2010, everyone and their mother would have know the result hours before Al Michaels uttered that immortal phrase.  Where would it then stand in sports history?

My prom photo was less staged.