The Frenette Files have moved to a new location on Jacksonville.com You can now find the Frenette Files at news.jacksonville.com/frenettefiles.
If you subscribe to the RSS Feed you can find it at http://feeds.jacksonville.com/frenettefiles
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
From Fenway fantasy to Jagsonville reality
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette provides weekly content for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Friday July 11.
You'd think I'd be able to take a two-day vacation to Fenway Park in Boston with my son for his 16th birthday without the Jaguars dominating the "breaking news" bulletins before boarding the plane on my return flight.
I know the team is disappointed on how season-ticket sales are going, but having a first-round draft pick arrested for cocaine possession, plus a newspaper report about a new owner possibly buying the team and moving it to Los Angeles, isn't exactly a way to get customers to rush to the ticket window.
Nothing the Jaguars can do now about receiver Matt Jones' stupidity other than cut their losses and move on. If they don't release him before training camp, it's simply going to create a distraction that the team doesn't need when they're in position to seriously challenge the Indianapolis Colts for AFC South supremacy.
As for the Philadelphia Daily News report that New Jersey billionaire C. Dean Metropoulos is negotiating with Weaver to purchase the team, we only have Weaver's denials against the newspaper's view that they stand by their story. My take is Weaver will sell this team sometime in the next 3-6 years and try to make sure the next owner keeps the team in Jacksonville, but he can make no guarantee with 100 percent certainty that it will happen.
When I returned to Jacksonville Thursday afternoon, which was supposed to be a vacation day, the feel-good experience of taking my son to see his beloved Red Sox (I grew up a New York Yankees fan) had to be temporarily put aside to focus on writing about the Jaguar developments.
It's two weeks before training camp. Couldn't we have at least gotten a break from Jaguar talk until it becomes almost 24/7 teal-and-black discussion? Guess not.
Anyway, be sure to check out my Sunday column in the Times-Union about the father-son memory of going to Fenway Park together for the first time. If you like home runs and Neil Diamond, it'll be right in your wheelhouse.
You'd think I'd be able to take a two-day vacation to Fenway Park in Boston with my son for his 16th birthday without the Jaguars dominating the "breaking news" bulletins before boarding the plane on my return flight.
I know the team is disappointed on how season-ticket sales are going, but having a first-round draft pick arrested for cocaine possession, plus a newspaper report about a new owner possibly buying the team and moving it to Los Angeles, isn't exactly a way to get customers to rush to the ticket window.
Nothing the Jaguars can do now about receiver Matt Jones' stupidity other than cut their losses and move on. If they don't release him before training camp, it's simply going to create a distraction that the team doesn't need when they're in position to seriously challenge the Indianapolis Colts for AFC South supremacy.
As for the Philadelphia Daily News report that New Jersey billionaire C. Dean Metropoulos is negotiating with Weaver to purchase the team, we only have Weaver's denials against the newspaper's view that they stand by their story. My take is Weaver will sell this team sometime in the next 3-6 years and try to make sure the next owner keeps the team in Jacksonville, but he can make no guarantee with 100 percent certainty that it will happen.
When I returned to Jacksonville Thursday afternoon, which was supposed to be a vacation day, the feel-good experience of taking my son to see his beloved Red Sox (I grew up a New York Yankees fan) had to be temporarily put aside to focus on writing about the Jaguar developments.
It's two weeks before training camp. Couldn't we have at least gotten a break from Jaguar talk until it becomes almost 24/7 teal-and-black discussion? Guess not.
Anyway, be sure to check out my Sunday column in the Times-Union about the father-son memory of going to Fenway Park together for the first time. If you like home runs and Neil Diamond, it'll be right in your wheelhouse.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
An empty feeling at Coke Zero 400
Florida Times-Union sports columnnist Gene Frenette provides weekly content for jacksonville.com This is his entry from Saturday July 5 at the Coke Zero 400.
From the tower press box at Daytona International Speedway, you can get a bird's-eye view of how the sagging economy is impacting NASCAR.
At the start of Saturday night's Coke Zero 400, the back-stretch grandstand that holds approximately 60,000 people is easily two-thirds to three-quarters empty. And there's significant stretches of green grass on the infield which, under normal circumstances, would be filled with motor homes.
The main grandstand with a maximum capacity of around 100,000 looks pretty full, but the significant dropoff in turnout was pretty much expected from pre-race estimates that were privately offered by NASCAR officials.
NASCAR fans are among the most loyal in all of sports. But when the economic climate is as bleak as it is now, it proves that an organization as solvent as NASCAR cannot escape the effects of people's pocketbooks not being as flush as usual.
From the tower press box at Daytona International Speedway, you can get a bird's-eye view of how the sagging economy is impacting NASCAR.
At the start of Saturday night's Coke Zero 400, the back-stretch grandstand that holds approximately 60,000 people is easily two-thirds to three-quarters empty. And there's significant stretches of green grass on the infield which, under normal circumstances, would be filled with motor homes.
The main grandstand with a maximum capacity of around 100,000 looks pretty full, but the significant dropoff in turnout was pretty much expected from pre-race estimates that were privately offered by NASCAR officials.
NASCAR fans are among the most loyal in all of sports. But when the economic climate is as bleak as it is now, it proves that an organization as solvent as NASCAR cannot escape the effects of people's pocketbooks not being as flush as usual.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Jacksonville really is Major League
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette provides weekly content for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Thursday June 26.
Jacksonville's reputation as a football town is currently undergoing a makeover. That's because the city is fast becoming just as much a pipeline for Major League Baseball as it is an NFL factory.
With the recent promotions of third baseman Brian Buscher, a Parker High graduate, to the Minnesota Twins and former Wolfson High pitcher Eric Hurley to the Texas Rangers, there are now an all-time record eight players who played high school ball in the Jacksonville area up in the big leagues, though Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ryan Freel (Englewood) is still on the disabled list. Last season, there were nine players from the Jacksonville area on a regular-season NFL roster.
Making this infusion of local baseball talent to the major leagues even more impressive is that many of the players are having a significant impact on their teams. They're not just taking up space on the bench.
Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones of The Bolles School is leading the National League in hitting at .394, along with 16 home runs and 46 RBI. Though he's nursing a quadriceps injury, Jones, who may return for Friday night's game at Toronto, is the leading vote-getter to be the NL's starting third baseman in the July 15 All-Star game.
Howie Kendrick, a West Nassau High product and starting second baseman for the first-place Los Angeles Angels, is hitting a respectable .318 with 15 RBI after missing six weeks this season with a hamstring injury. Busher, who was recalled by the Twins from Triple-A Rochester two weeks ago, has been on a hitting tear. He raised his average to .375 after hitting a ninth-inning home run Tuesday night off all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres.
Two former Bishop Kenny High stars, Jonathan Papelbon and Darren O'Day, are getting it done out of the bullpen. Papelbon, one of the game's elite closers, is 3-2 with a 2.08 earned run average and 23 saves for the Boston Red Sox. O'Day, a situational reliever for the Angels, is 0-1 with a 4.07 ERA since being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake City on June 9.
Hurley has started three games for the Rangers, going 0-1 with two no decisions and a 4.24 ERA. He has nine strikeouts and five walks in 17 innings.
The only local player struggling right now is Philadelphia Philies starter Brett Myers (3-9, 5.51 ERA), an Englewood product. Myers has allowed a major-league high 23 home runs in 16 starts.
Besides Jacksonville's eight big-leaguers, there's some promising prospects in the minor leagues that could be called up by September, maybe sooner. Hurley's teammate at Wolfson, Billy Butler, was up with the Kansas City Royals as their designated hitter before being optioned to Triple-A Omaha a few weeks ago. He's hitting .337 with 5 home runs and 13 RBI in 26 games, so he could be recalled any time.
Mat Gamel, a third baseman for the Double-A Huntsville Stars, has been a nightmare for Southern League pitchers with a leading .373 batting average and 67 RBI, and is second only to teammate Matt LaPorta in home runs with 15. Gamel was selected Thursday to the U.S. team for the All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium on July 13. One of the top prospects for the Milwaukee Brewers, he could also be playing in the Olympics in Beijing in August.
Two other players in Double-A, former Englewood third baseman Dan Murphy with Binghamton in the Eastern League, and second baseman Corey Wimberly (Ribault) with Tulsa in the Texas League, are also having solid seasons that could warrant future big-league promotions.
Jacksonville will likely always have more passion for football. But when it comes to producing talent that can make it on the biggest stage, baseball is right up there.
Jacksonville's reputation as a football town is currently undergoing a makeover. That's because the city is fast becoming just as much a pipeline for Major League Baseball as it is an NFL factory.
With the recent promotions of third baseman Brian Buscher, a Parker High graduate, to the Minnesota Twins and former Wolfson High pitcher Eric Hurley to the Texas Rangers, there are now an all-time record eight players who played high school ball in the Jacksonville area up in the big leagues, though Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ryan Freel (Englewood) is still on the disabled list. Last season, there were nine players from the Jacksonville area on a regular-season NFL roster.
Making this infusion of local baseball talent to the major leagues even more impressive is that many of the players are having a significant impact on their teams. They're not just taking up space on the bench.
Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones of The Bolles School is leading the National League in hitting at .394, along with 16 home runs and 46 RBI. Though he's nursing a quadriceps injury, Jones, who may return for Friday night's game at Toronto, is the leading vote-getter to be the NL's starting third baseman in the July 15 All-Star game.
Howie Kendrick, a West Nassau High product and starting second baseman for the first-place Los Angeles Angels, is hitting a respectable .318 with 15 RBI after missing six weeks this season with a hamstring injury. Busher, who was recalled by the Twins from Triple-A Rochester two weeks ago, has been on a hitting tear. He raised his average to .375 after hitting a ninth-inning home run Tuesday night off all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres.
Two former Bishop Kenny High stars, Jonathan Papelbon and Darren O'Day, are getting it done out of the bullpen. Papelbon, one of the game's elite closers, is 3-2 with a 2.08 earned run average and 23 saves for the Boston Red Sox. O'Day, a situational reliever for the Angels, is 0-1 with a 4.07 ERA since being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake City on June 9.
Hurley has started three games for the Rangers, going 0-1 with two no decisions and a 4.24 ERA. He has nine strikeouts and five walks in 17 innings.
The only local player struggling right now is Philadelphia Philies starter Brett Myers (3-9, 5.51 ERA), an Englewood product. Myers has allowed a major-league high 23 home runs in 16 starts.
Besides Jacksonville's eight big-leaguers, there's some promising prospects in the minor leagues that could be called up by September, maybe sooner. Hurley's teammate at Wolfson, Billy Butler, was up with the Kansas City Royals as their designated hitter before being optioned to Triple-A Omaha a few weeks ago. He's hitting .337 with 5 home runs and 13 RBI in 26 games, so he could be recalled any time.
Mat Gamel, a third baseman for the Double-A Huntsville Stars, has been a nightmare for Southern League pitchers with a leading .373 batting average and 67 RBI, and is second only to teammate Matt LaPorta in home runs with 15. Gamel was selected Thursday to the U.S. team for the All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium on July 13. One of the top prospects for the Milwaukee Brewers, he could also be playing in the Olympics in Beijing in August.
Two other players in Double-A, former Englewood third baseman Dan Murphy with Binghamton in the Eastern League, and second baseman Corey Wimberly (Ribault) with Tulsa in the Texas League, are also having solid seasons that could warrant future big-league promotions.
Jacksonville will likely always have more passion for football. But when it comes to producing talent that can make it on the biggest stage, baseball is right up there.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
A Giant contract number for Posey?
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette offers weekly commentary for jacksonville. com This is his entry for Thursday June 5.
With Florida State superstar Buster Posey being selected fifth by the San Francisco Giants in Thursday's Major League Baseball free agent draft, the hard part now will be coming to contract terms with the Seminoles' All-American catcher.
SIgning bonuses have been a tricky negotiation for clubs and agents over the past decade. With ESPN reporting that Posey wants as much as $12 million, speculation will escalate that it could be a long, drawn-out process before Posey begins his professional baseball career.
Posey, who leads all of college baseball in batting average (.468), slugging percentage (.897) and on-base percentage (.572), was the MVP of last weekend's Tallahassee NCAA regional and is a finaist for the Golden Spikes award, symbolic of the nation's top collegiate player. The question becomes how much is signing the consensus top defensive catcher and one of the best power hitters around worth to the Giants, who are weak at the position in their farm system.
Major League Baseball has had a "slotting" system in place since 2000 as a way of helping its teams sign the top drafted players without paying runaway prices for their services. However, the richer teams like the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox have been known to pay well above the slotting price to obtain the services of players they covet.
Posey, considered to be ready for the big leagues within two years, will likely want far above the approximate $3 million slotting price for someone in the No. 5 spot.
Last year, Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters was taken with the fifth pick and was given a signing bonus of $6 million by the Baltimore Orioles, more than double the $2.475 million bonus handed to Clemson pitcher Daniel Moskos, who was picked at No. 4 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wieters is a client of agent Scott Boras, who has a reputation of demanding well above market value for his draft picks.
Posey will be represented by the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which has recently ventured into the sports field after being the exclusive domain for actors, directors and music artists for decades.
Posey, who still has one year of eligibility left at FSU, has until the start of fall classes to sign a contract with the Giants. He could elect to return for his senior year, but it's doubtful his value will be any higher than it is at the moment.
In 1997, Boras client and FSU outfielder J.D. Drew was the No. 2 pick by the Philadelphia Phillies, but turned down a $3 million signing bonus and went back into the following draft in 1998. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and received an $8 million signing bonus.
Since then, Major League Baseball has tried to keep signing bonuses from getting out of hand, but the final price tag is at the discretion of the individual club. The San Francisco Giants don't have a reputation as a high-paying club when it comes to signing bonuses, but that could change with Posey.
With the aging Bengie Molina's contract expiring after the 2009 season, the Giants have no big-time catching prospects, though 21-year-old Pablo Sandoval got off to a hot start at Class A San Jose this season.
San Francisco desperately needs Posey, but it looks it's going to take a record signing bonus for them to get FSU's standout player in a Giant uniform.
With Florida State superstar Buster Posey being selected fifth by the San Francisco Giants in Thursday's Major League Baseball free agent draft, the hard part now will be coming to contract terms with the Seminoles' All-American catcher.
SIgning bonuses have been a tricky negotiation for clubs and agents over the past decade. With ESPN reporting that Posey wants as much as $12 million, speculation will escalate that it could be a long, drawn-out process before Posey begins his professional baseball career.
Posey, who leads all of college baseball in batting average (.468), slugging percentage (.897) and on-base percentage (.572), was the MVP of last weekend's Tallahassee NCAA regional and is a finaist for the Golden Spikes award, symbolic of the nation's top collegiate player. The question becomes how much is signing the consensus top defensive catcher and one of the best power hitters around worth to the Giants, who are weak at the position in their farm system.
Major League Baseball has had a "slotting" system in place since 2000 as a way of helping its teams sign the top drafted players without paying runaway prices for their services. However, the richer teams like the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox have been known to pay well above the slotting price to obtain the services of players they covet.
Posey, considered to be ready for the big leagues within two years, will likely want far above the approximate $3 million slotting price for someone in the No. 5 spot.
Last year, Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters was taken with the fifth pick and was given a signing bonus of $6 million by the Baltimore Orioles, more than double the $2.475 million bonus handed to Clemson pitcher Daniel Moskos, who was picked at No. 4 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wieters is a client of agent Scott Boras, who has a reputation of demanding well above market value for his draft picks.
Posey will be represented by the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which has recently ventured into the sports field after being the exclusive domain for actors, directors and music artists for decades.
Posey, who still has one year of eligibility left at FSU, has until the start of fall classes to sign a contract with the Giants. He could elect to return for his senior year, but it's doubtful his value will be any higher than it is at the moment.
In 1997, Boras client and FSU outfielder J.D. Drew was the No. 2 pick by the Philadelphia Phillies, but turned down a $3 million signing bonus and went back into the following draft in 1998. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and received an $8 million signing bonus.
Since then, Major League Baseball has tried to keep signing bonuses from getting out of hand, but the final price tag is at the discretion of the individual club. The San Francisco Giants don't have a reputation as a high-paying club when it comes to signing bonuses, but that could change with Posey.
With the aging Bengie Molina's contract expiring after the 2009 season, the Giants have no big-time catching prospects, though 21-year-old Pablo Sandoval got off to a hot start at Class A San Jose this season.
San Francisco desperately needs Posey, but it looks it's going to take a record signing bonus for them to get FSU's standout player in a Giant uniform.
Posey drafted No. 5 by Giants
Florida State All-American catcher Buster Posey, bypassed as the No. 1 pick Thursday in the Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, was taken fifth by the San Francisco Giants.
After the Rays took Georgia high school shortstop Tim Beckham with the top selection, Posey slid down to the No. 5 spot and will begin the process of negotiating a contract with the Giants after FSU finishes its 2008 season. The Seminoles will host Wichita State in the NCAA Super regional starting Friday and would advance to next week's College World Series in Omaha if they win the best-of-three regional.
ESPN reported after Posey was selected that he may be seeking as much as a $12 million signing bonus, an extraodinarily high number for the No. 5 pick because last year's top three picks only commanded around $6-9 million.
Posey, who leads the country in batting average (.468), slugging percentage (.897) and on-base percentage (.572), is also a finalist for the Golden Spikes award, symbolic of the nation's top collegiate player. If Posey elects not to sign with the Giants, he still has one year of eligibility left at FSU.
Posey, a native of Leesburg, Ga., has until the start of FSU's fall classes to sign with the Giants. If he signs a contract, he could be sent to the Giants' rookie-league team in Arizona or possibly one of their Class-A teams in Augusta, Ga.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Spurs prove they're not championship whiners
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette provides weekly commentary for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Wednesday May 28.
The best part about Tuesday night's dramatic 93-91 victory by the Los Angeles Lakers over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Western Conference finals was how quickly the defending champion Spurs threw water on the postseason's biggest controversy.
Clearly, there was enough contact by the Lakers' Derek Fisher on San Antonio sharpshooter Brent Barry, who was 26 feet away from the basket with time running out, to warrant a foul call. Barry pump-faked, got Fisher up in the air and he landed akwardly on Barry's shoulder, which would have meant a two-shot foul because Barry didn't commit to a shot attempt.
Instead, official Joey Crawford let the play continue, which ended up with Barry's off-balance attempt clanging off the backboard. The way Barry initially threw up his arms in frustration while looking at Crawford, the feeling was the Spurs would soon be filling the airwaves with charges of "We wuz robbed."
But in the aftermath, with the Spurs now facing a 3-1 deficit, a beautiful thing happened. Spurs coach Greg Popovich did his part to defuse any controversy by saying he wouldn't have called a foul in that situation. Even Barry acknowledged afterwards that the game wasn't lost on a non-call, but on what transpired in the 48 minutes before it.
Isn't that what championship teams do? They hold themselves accountable. They don't take a game-ending moment, rip the official for a non-call, and blame someone else for why they're on the brink of elimination.
What made Popovich and Barry's post-game stance so admirable is the situation could have justified a foul being called because it was more than incidental contact. Fisher hit Barry fairly hard, but the Spurs understood that unless you're a superstar like Kobe Bryant or Tim Duncan, you're probably not going to get the whistle in a critical, game-deciding moment like that.
The truth is, San Antonio didn't lose Game 4 because of what an official failed to do, but what the Spurs consistently failed to do: hit big shots. Every time the Spurs had a chance to take a lead, they couldn't hit the field goal that could have given the crowd at the AT&T Center a reason to provide the home team with a huge emotional lift.
Barry kept the Spurs in the game with a 23-point night, but Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Robert Horry and Bruce Bowen kept missing important shots that might have allowed San Antonio to seize control of the game instead of relying on a last-second whistle to rescue them.
The San Antonio Spurs' season is practically over because they must now win two games in Los Angeles to return to the NBA Finals. They had a chance to pull out a game they had no business winning, but they looked like a champion afterwards when the media gave them every opportunity to complain about a no-call.
Thankfully, the Spurs showed some class and sportsmanship by not whining. Sometimes, even after a crippling defeat, you can still come away looking like a champion.
The best part about Tuesday night's dramatic 93-91 victory by the Los Angeles Lakers over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Western Conference finals was how quickly the defending champion Spurs threw water on the postseason's biggest controversy.
Clearly, there was enough contact by the Lakers' Derek Fisher on San Antonio sharpshooter Brent Barry, who was 26 feet away from the basket with time running out, to warrant a foul call. Barry pump-faked, got Fisher up in the air and he landed akwardly on Barry's shoulder, which would have meant a two-shot foul because Barry didn't commit to a shot attempt.
Instead, official Joey Crawford let the play continue, which ended up with Barry's off-balance attempt clanging off the backboard. The way Barry initially threw up his arms in frustration while looking at Crawford, the feeling was the Spurs would soon be filling the airwaves with charges of "We wuz robbed."
But in the aftermath, with the Spurs now facing a 3-1 deficit, a beautiful thing happened. Spurs coach Greg Popovich did his part to defuse any controversy by saying he wouldn't have called a foul in that situation. Even Barry acknowledged afterwards that the game wasn't lost on a non-call, but on what transpired in the 48 minutes before it.
Isn't that what championship teams do? They hold themselves accountable. They don't take a game-ending moment, rip the official for a non-call, and blame someone else for why they're on the brink of elimination.
What made Popovich and Barry's post-game stance so admirable is the situation could have justified a foul being called because it was more than incidental contact. Fisher hit Barry fairly hard, but the Spurs understood that unless you're a superstar like Kobe Bryant or Tim Duncan, you're probably not going to get the whistle in a critical, game-deciding moment like that.
The truth is, San Antonio didn't lose Game 4 because of what an official failed to do, but what the Spurs consistently failed to do: hit big shots. Every time the Spurs had a chance to take a lead, they couldn't hit the field goal that could have given the crowd at the AT&T Center a reason to provide the home team with a huge emotional lift.
Barry kept the Spurs in the game with a 23-point night, but Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Robert Horry and Bruce Bowen kept missing important shots that might have allowed San Antonio to seize control of the game instead of relying on a last-second whistle to rescue them.
The San Antonio Spurs' season is practically over because they must now win two games in Los Angeles to return to the NBA Finals. They had a chance to pull out a game they had no business winning, but they looked like a champion afterwards when the media gave them every opportunity to complain about a no-call.
Thankfully, the Spurs showed some class and sportsmanship by not whining. Sometimes, even after a crippling defeat, you can still come away looking like a champion.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Worst part of job: athletes dying too soon
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette provides weekly content for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Saturday May 17.
Going over to Fleming Island High School on Friday afternoon and watching a football team deal with the emotional fallout of linebacker Wesley Whiddon's death was a grim reminder of another sad experience.
A month ago, I wrote a story for the Times-Union just before the NFL draft about Heath Benedict, the ex-Newberry College offensive tackle and Jacksonville resident who was found dead in late March from an enlarged heart.
Benedict was expected to be a mid-round NFL draft pick. He was entering one of the most exciting times of a young football player's life when a previously undetected medical condition led to his premature death. Talking to Heath's parents was a difficult experience, but they wanted the opportunity to let people know who their son was and the great memories he provided during his short time on earth.
As a father of four children, it's hard not to feel an emotional attachment to this kind of story, and the same thing occurred Friday when I visited Fleming Island to talk to head coach Neal Chipoletti, his staff and players about Whiddon's tragic end. The Golden Eagles' starting middle linebacker was struck by a train while fishing with two teammates on a railroad trestle at Black Creek in Orange Park early Wednesday night.
I hadn't seen Chipoletti in over 20 years, back when he was coaching basketball at Forrest High School and took the Rebels to a state championship game with star player Otis Smith, now the general manager of the NBA Orlando Magic.
As a sports writer, most stories you deal with are generally of the positive nature, with others sprinkled with a controversy now and then. But the death of someone so young, and in such a bizarre manner, is a highly sensitive subject for so many people.
In this instance, it's not just heartbreaking for a kid's family, but his extended family of coaches and about 100 players involved with Fleming Island's football program on every level. You cannot possibly see the hurt and pain on their faces and not think to yourself that it could easily be your own teenaged son in that same situation.
Who even thinks for a second that anyone could get hit by a train while fishing? There was no alcohol, drugs or horseplay involved. Just three kids wanting a break from spring football practice and dropping a line in the water, and in a matter of seconds, so many lives are changed because one of the players couldn't get out of the way of an oncoming train fast enough.
For Sunday's Times-Union, I wrote a column about Wesley Whiddon and how his tragic passing has impacted the Fleming Island community. The Golden Eagles resumed practice Saturday morning for the first time since his death and Whiddon's parents, Wesley Sr. and Angie, were among many fans who showed up to support the team.
"I've never lost a player before while coaching them," said Chipoletti. "This is a first for me. I hope there's never a second."
Twice in the last month, I've had to write about football players dying too young. This job is much easier when the subject matter is the game instead of an obituary.
Going over to Fleming Island High School on Friday afternoon and watching a football team deal with the emotional fallout of linebacker Wesley Whiddon's death was a grim reminder of another sad experience.
A month ago, I wrote a story for the Times-Union just before the NFL draft about Heath Benedict, the ex-Newberry College offensive tackle and Jacksonville resident who was found dead in late March from an enlarged heart.
Benedict was expected to be a mid-round NFL draft pick. He was entering one of the most exciting times of a young football player's life when a previously undetected medical condition led to his premature death. Talking to Heath's parents was a difficult experience, but they wanted the opportunity to let people know who their son was and the great memories he provided during his short time on earth.
As a father of four children, it's hard not to feel an emotional attachment to this kind of story, and the same thing occurred Friday when I visited Fleming Island to talk to head coach Neal Chipoletti, his staff and players about Whiddon's tragic end. The Golden Eagles' starting middle linebacker was struck by a train while fishing with two teammates on a railroad trestle at Black Creek in Orange Park early Wednesday night.
I hadn't seen Chipoletti in over 20 years, back when he was coaching basketball at Forrest High School and took the Rebels to a state championship game with star player Otis Smith, now the general manager of the NBA Orlando Magic.
As a sports writer, most stories you deal with are generally of the positive nature, with others sprinkled with a controversy now and then. But the death of someone so young, and in such a bizarre manner, is a highly sensitive subject for so many people.
In this instance, it's not just heartbreaking for a kid's family, but his extended family of coaches and about 100 players involved with Fleming Island's football program on every level. You cannot possibly see the hurt and pain on their faces and not think to yourself that it could easily be your own teenaged son in that same situation.
Who even thinks for a second that anyone could get hit by a train while fishing? There was no alcohol, drugs or horseplay involved. Just three kids wanting a break from spring football practice and dropping a line in the water, and in a matter of seconds, so many lives are changed because one of the players couldn't get out of the way of an oncoming train fast enough.
For Sunday's Times-Union, I wrote a column about Wesley Whiddon and how his tragic passing has impacted the Fleming Island community. The Golden Eagles resumed practice Saturday morning for the first time since his death and Whiddon's parents, Wesley Sr. and Angie, were among many fans who showed up to support the team.
"I've never lost a player before while coaching them," said Chipoletti. "This is a first for me. I hope there's never a second."
Twice in the last month, I've had to write about football players dying too young. This job is much easier when the subject matter is the game instead of an obituary.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Players needs a three-hole playoff
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette was at The Players Championship all week and offers some post-tournament thoughts for jacksonville.com
After seeing how quickly Sunday's sudden-death playoff at The Players ended, I think the PGA Tour needs to seriously consider going to a more extended format. It's a shame that a deadlock between eventual champion Sergio Garcia and Paul Goydos after 72 holes in such a big-time event had to end with a quick thud -- a gust of wind pulled Goydos' tee shot at No. 17 into the water.
Goydos, who did a phenomenal job of taking a one-shot lead into the final round and holding at least a share of it throughout regulation, should have had the opportunity to recover from one errant shot.
All day long, Goydos had a knack for rebounding when it looked as if the wheels might be coming off a bit. It started with that tricky, downhill 50-foot birdie putt he made at No. 4 after bogeying the second and third holes. When it looked like he might be headed for a bogey at No. 10, he holed it out from 34 yards away for a birdie.
However, with a sudden-death playoff starting at the par-three island hole, Goydos drew the first slot and it was pretty much over when his ball found water. Garcia followed with a career shot, sticking his ball within four feet of the cup and a two-putt par for the win. Goydos made double-bogey.
It was great theater, seeing everything ride on such a signature hole. But in fairness to the competitors, The Players should go to a three-hole playoff and start it at the par-five 16th hole. You'd have the most entertaining risk-reward homestretch in all of golf to decide the biggest championship outside the majors.
Each of the Grand Slam tournaments has a different playoff format. The U.S. Open has an 18-hole playoff on Monday, while the British Open and PGA Championship have four-hole and three-hole aggregate playoff formats. Only the Masters has sudden death like The Players.
The only change The Players would have to make for a three-hole playoff, especially if the agonizingly slow Garcia is involved, is move the starting time for the leaders up about 15-20 minutes on Sunday to ensure enough sunlight in case of a 72-hole deadlock. So for television purposes, it's a minor adjustment.
Goydos had several chances to close out a victory, but bogeys at No. 14, 15 and 18 opened the door for Garcia. In Goydos' defense, none of those three bogeys was all that bad except for a sloppy putt at the 15th hole. Even there, he hit a marvelous approach shot right at the flag, but the ball didn't hold on the rock-hard greens.
Garcia deserved to win, but the championship should have been decided with all three closing holes at TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium course deciding the outcome.
Hopefully, the PGA Tour considers that option in the future. It'd only help their television ratings and increase already great drama.
After seeing how quickly Sunday's sudden-death playoff at The Players ended, I think the PGA Tour needs to seriously consider going to a more extended format. It's a shame that a deadlock between eventual champion Sergio Garcia and Paul Goydos after 72 holes in such a big-time event had to end with a quick thud -- a gust of wind pulled Goydos' tee shot at No. 17 into the water.
Goydos, who did a phenomenal job of taking a one-shot lead into the final round and holding at least a share of it throughout regulation, should have had the opportunity to recover from one errant shot.
All day long, Goydos had a knack for rebounding when it looked as if the wheels might be coming off a bit. It started with that tricky, downhill 50-foot birdie putt he made at No. 4 after bogeying the second and third holes. When it looked like he might be headed for a bogey at No. 10, he holed it out from 34 yards away for a birdie.
However, with a sudden-death playoff starting at the par-three island hole, Goydos drew the first slot and it was pretty much over when his ball found water. Garcia followed with a career shot, sticking his ball within four feet of the cup and a two-putt par for the win. Goydos made double-bogey.
It was great theater, seeing everything ride on such a signature hole. But in fairness to the competitors, The Players should go to a three-hole playoff and start it at the par-five 16th hole. You'd have the most entertaining risk-reward homestretch in all of golf to decide the biggest championship outside the majors.
Each of the Grand Slam tournaments has a different playoff format. The U.S. Open has an 18-hole playoff on Monday, while the British Open and PGA Championship have four-hole and three-hole aggregate playoff formats. Only the Masters has sudden death like The Players.
The only change The Players would have to make for a three-hole playoff, especially if the agonizingly slow Garcia is involved, is move the starting time for the leaders up about 15-20 minutes on Sunday to ensure enough sunlight in case of a 72-hole deadlock. So for television purposes, it's a minor adjustment.
Goydos had several chances to close out a victory, but bogeys at No. 14, 15 and 18 opened the door for Garcia. In Goydos' defense, none of those three bogeys was all that bad except for a sloppy putt at the 15th hole. Even there, he hit a marvelous approach shot right at the flag, but the ball didn't hold on the rock-hard greens.
Garcia deserved to win, but the championship should have been decided with all three closing holes at TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium course deciding the outcome.
Hopefully, the PGA Tour considers that option in the future. It'd only help their television ratings and increase already great drama.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Hold on for a wild Players ride
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at The Players Championship all week and filing reports for jacksonville.com. This is his early-day entry for Sunday May 11.
If Billy Mayfair's TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium course forecast is any indication of what awaits the Players Championship field later today, the leaders will be in for a long day.
"I'd say it's a par 76 or 77 right now," Mayfair said after shooting a final-round 81 in the blustery wind conditions. "We had a hard time keeping the balls from just not rolling on the greens [while waiting to putt]. You stand over a ball and it starts wiggling or trying to move.
"If the wind comes up more this afternoon and we don't get any rain, [the rest of the players] could be in trouble."
The par-three No. 3 hole could be especially troublesome for the leaders because it's directly into a 15-30 mile per hour wind. Today, the pin is at the back on the upper tier of the green, playing to 183 yards, and many golfers wait on the tee to try and hit when the winds are calmer.
"To get it on that back tier today is just about impossible," said Mayfair, who took a triple-bogey 6. "If you do get it back there and hit it a tad too far, it rolls over the back into the bunker. You have to try to hit to the center of the green."
Ben Crane hit the shot of the day at No. 3 among the early groups, putting the ball within 6 feet and making birdie. The only other birdie at that hole came from Bart Bryant, who made a 12-foot putt.
The heavy wind conditions could favor Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who is No. 1 this week in greens in regulation and stands in third place at four-under-par 212, three shots behind leader Paul Goydos.
It appears the potential for great drama will be there at the two closing holes, the par-three island at No. 17 and the par-four No. 18, which was playing almost a full shot above par after the first 22 players completed their round.
So far, the rain has held off through 2 p.m. and there's a strong chance that the thunderstorms that were forecast to push the tournament into Monday could miss us. Stay updated throughout the day at The Players by clicking on to jacksonville.com
If Billy Mayfair's TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium course forecast is any indication of what awaits the Players Championship field later today, the leaders will be in for a long day.
"I'd say it's a par 76 or 77 right now," Mayfair said after shooting a final-round 81 in the blustery wind conditions. "We had a hard time keeping the balls from just not rolling on the greens [while waiting to putt]. You stand over a ball and it starts wiggling or trying to move.
"If the wind comes up more this afternoon and we don't get any rain, [the rest of the players] could be in trouble."
The par-three No. 3 hole could be especially troublesome for the leaders because it's directly into a 15-30 mile per hour wind. Today, the pin is at the back on the upper tier of the green, playing to 183 yards, and many golfers wait on the tee to try and hit when the winds are calmer.
"To get it on that back tier today is just about impossible," said Mayfair, who took a triple-bogey 6. "If you do get it back there and hit it a tad too far, it rolls over the back into the bunker. You have to try to hit to the center of the green."
Ben Crane hit the shot of the day at No. 3 among the early groups, putting the ball within 6 feet and making birdie. The only other birdie at that hole came from Bart Bryant, who made a 12-foot putt.
The heavy wind conditions could favor Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who is No. 1 this week in greens in regulation and stands in third place at four-under-par 212, three shots behind leader Paul Goydos.
It appears the potential for great drama will be there at the two closing holes, the par-three island at No. 17 and the par-four No. 18, which was playing almost a full shot above par after the first 22 players completed their round.
So far, the rain has held off through 2 p.m. and there's a strong chance that the thunderstorms that were forecast to push the tournament into Monday could miss us. Stay updated throughout the day at The Players by clicking on to jacksonville.com
Saturday, May 10, 2008
A Cink-ing feeling at The Players
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at The Players Championship all week and providing daily reports for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Saturday May 10.
Most of the time, PGA Tour players make the game of golf look easy, but occasionally, they can look like 20-handicappers.
Such was the case for Stewart Cink at the par-five No. 2 hole, where he needed five shots to get in the hole from about 45 feet away.
Cink's approach shot barely rolled off the back of the green and down a grass embankment that was pretty well shaved down. He had about 25 feet of hill to get up, but Cink's first attempt with a wedge stopped about a foot short of the top before rolling back near its original spot.
He pulled out a 9-iron for his next attempt, but the result was the same. Cink's ball stopped just before reaching the top of the hill and came back down. For his fifth shot, he took out his putter, rammed it up the hill, but not far enough. Cink found himself almost in the same place he was three shots earlier.
Finally, with his second putt attempt, the ball made it up to the green and rolled within a foot of the cup for a tap-in double bogey.
"All in all, it took two perfect shots to end up where I did [behind the green]," Cink said. "I should not have made worse than a par there. I guess I learned my lesson."
Had Cink's 3-iron approach from 240 yards stayed on the green, he would have likely had no worse than a 15-foot putt for eagle. Instead, he put himself in an early hole. Cink was 4-over-par after eight holes, but played the last 11 in three-under to finish with a 73 and a 219 total (3-over-par) for the tournament.
While Cink made a nice recovery from a front-nine disaster, playing partner Adam Scott made his move up the leaderboard with four birdies in the first six holes before cooling off with three bogeys and winding up with a 71. It was a virtual repeat of Thursday's opening round when he made three birdies in the first five holes, then stumbled to a 75. Scott stands at one-over-par 217 going into Sunday's final round.
Most of the time, PGA Tour players make the game of golf look easy, but occasionally, they can look like 20-handicappers.
Such was the case for Stewart Cink at the par-five No. 2 hole, where he needed five shots to get in the hole from about 45 feet away.
Cink's approach shot barely rolled off the back of the green and down a grass embankment that was pretty well shaved down. He had about 25 feet of hill to get up, but Cink's first attempt with a wedge stopped about a foot short of the top before rolling back near its original spot.
He pulled out a 9-iron for his next attempt, but the result was the same. Cink's ball stopped just before reaching the top of the hill and came back down. For his fifth shot, he took out his putter, rammed it up the hill, but not far enough. Cink found himself almost in the same place he was three shots earlier.
Finally, with his second putt attempt, the ball made it up to the green and rolled within a foot of the cup for a tap-in double bogey.
"All in all, it took two perfect shots to end up where I did [behind the green]," Cink said. "I should not have made worse than a par there. I guess I learned my lesson."
Had Cink's 3-iron approach from 240 yards stayed on the green, he would have likely had no worse than a 15-foot putt for eagle. Instead, he put himself in an early hole. Cink was 4-over-par after eight holes, but played the last 11 in three-under to finish with a 73 and a 219 total (3-over-par) for the tournament.
While Cink made a nice recovery from a front-nine disaster, playing partner Adam Scott made his move up the leaderboard with four birdies in the first six holes before cooling off with three bogeys and winding up with a 71. It was a virtual repeat of Thursday's opening round when he made three birdies in the first five holes, then stumbled to a 75. Scott stands at one-over-par 217 going into Sunday's final round.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Boo! A wild ride up the leaderboard
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at The Players Championship all week and offers daily content for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Friday May 9.
If not for an uncooperative putter, Anthony Kim might have walked off the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium course with the outright lead after his second round Friday, but at least playing partner Boo Weekly kept things light-hearted for him.
Kim missed birdie putts in the 5-12 foot range at No. 4, 8, 9, 11 and 16, but a second consecutive 70 left him at 4-under-par 140, keeping him two shots off the lead as the afternoon group began teeing off.
"I think today was my best ball-striking round I've had in the last six tournament days I've played," said Kim, who won the Wachovia Championship last week by a five-shot margin. "But the putter was a little bit cold."
What wasn't cold was keeping company with Weekly, the country boy from Milton who has built somewhat of a cult following because of his catchy first name and willingness to acknowledge frequent gallery chants of "Boo!"
Despite missing three putts that would have tied Sergio Garcia for the lead, Kim had no trouble keeping his emotions in check as he walked most of the day with the laid-back Weekly, who shot a one-under-par 71 and stands at 141.
One of the most interesting interactions came after both stuck their tee shots at the par-3 eighth hole within six feet of the cup. A soft-shell turtle crossed their path about 50 yards in front of the tee box, and Kim forced its head back in by teasing the tortoise with his wedge. Then Kim began rubbing its shell like he was petting the turtle.
Weekly started rubbing it with him, then made a noise that forced Kim to jump back, thinking the turtle might somehow lunge at him. Weekly took great delight in spooking Kim, which met with the approval of the small gallery that was following them at the time.
"I got him pretty good with that turtle," Weekly said.
Kim acknowledged that Weekly momentarily scared him, sticking his hand out for a slap as if to say, "Good one, you got me."
"I didn't know if it was a snapping turtle or anything like that, and I don't know much about wildlife and I know [Weekly] does," said Kim. "So when he yelled at me, he scared me pretty good. I think that's why we probably both missed those [birdie putts] on that hole."
If not for an uncooperative putter, Anthony Kim might have walked off the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium course with the outright lead after his second round Friday, but at least playing partner Boo Weekly kept things light-hearted for him.
Kim missed birdie putts in the 5-12 foot range at No. 4, 8, 9, 11 and 16, but a second consecutive 70 left him at 4-under-par 140, keeping him two shots off the lead as the afternoon group began teeing off.
"I think today was my best ball-striking round I've had in the last six tournament days I've played," said Kim, who won the Wachovia Championship last week by a five-shot margin. "But the putter was a little bit cold."
What wasn't cold was keeping company with Weekly, the country boy from Milton who has built somewhat of a cult following because of his catchy first name and willingness to acknowledge frequent gallery chants of "Boo!"
Despite missing three putts that would have tied Sergio Garcia for the lead, Kim had no trouble keeping his emotions in check as he walked most of the day with the laid-back Weekly, who shot a one-under-par 71 and stands at 141.
One of the most interesting interactions came after both stuck their tee shots at the par-3 eighth hole within six feet of the cup. A soft-shell turtle crossed their path about 50 yards in front of the tee box, and Kim forced its head back in by teasing the tortoise with his wedge. Then Kim began rubbing its shell like he was petting the turtle.
Weekly started rubbing it with him, then made a noise that forced Kim to jump back, thinking the turtle might somehow lunge at him. Weekly took great delight in spooking Kim, which met with the approval of the small gallery that was following them at the time.
"I got him pretty good with that turtle," Weekly said.
Kim acknowledged that Weekly momentarily scared him, sticking his hand out for a slap as if to say, "Good one, you got me."
"I didn't know if it was a snapping turtle or anything like that, and I don't know much about wildlife and I know [Weekly] does," said Kim. "So when he yelled at me, he scared me pretty good. I think that's why we probably both missed those [birdie putts] on that hole."
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The best Players' bird's-eye view
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at The Players Championship all week, providing daily content for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Thursday May 8.
For the last two decades, one of the best and most exclusive vantage points to watch The Players Championship belongs to Brian Phraner, an NBC cameraman who operates his equipment on a tiny island between the 16th and 17th greens.
Phraner takes a 12-foot, flat-bottom boat with a small electric motor from behind the 17th green to get to his work station. He has the island all to himself, unless you count several different species of birds who park themselves in the gigantic oak tree above Phraner.
Except for a late morning lunch break, and occasional bathroom emergencies, Phraner will be staying on that island from the time the first group arrives after 9 a.m. until the last group comes through around 7 p.m.
"It's a good spot, nice and private," said Phraner. "No distractions."
On Thursday, he was there when 48-year-old Tommy Armour III and Jose Coceres narrowly missed hole-in-ones. Armour's shot stopped a foot short of the hole, while Coceres rattled the pin and settled five feet behind the cup. Both made birdie.
Terry Hester, another veteran NBC cameraman who operates his lens in a television tower 30 feet high behind the par-3 17th hole, and Phraner both love the golf portion of NBC's schedule because it's their favorite sport to capture in pictures.
"Anybody would want to be up here," said Hester. "This is as good as it gets."
Unlike last year's first round, when high winds contributed to 50 balls finding the water at No. 17, it played rather tame for the golfers teeing off in the morning. Only five of the first 77 players failed to stay on dry land Thursday.
For more on the good life for spectators around the 16th and 17th greens at the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium course, check out my column in Friday's Florida Times-Union.
For the last two decades, one of the best and most exclusive vantage points to watch The Players Championship belongs to Brian Phraner, an NBC cameraman who operates his equipment on a tiny island between the 16th and 17th greens.
Phraner takes a 12-foot, flat-bottom boat with a small electric motor from behind the 17th green to get to his work station. He has the island all to himself, unless you count several different species of birds who park themselves in the gigantic oak tree above Phraner.
Except for a late morning lunch break, and occasional bathroom emergencies, Phraner will be staying on that island from the time the first group arrives after 9 a.m. until the last group comes through around 7 p.m.
"It's a good spot, nice and private," said Phraner. "No distractions."
On Thursday, he was there when 48-year-old Tommy Armour III and Jose Coceres narrowly missed hole-in-ones. Armour's shot stopped a foot short of the hole, while Coceres rattled the pin and settled five feet behind the cup. Both made birdie.
Terry Hester, another veteran NBC cameraman who operates his lens in a television tower 30 feet high behind the par-3 17th hole, and Phraner both love the golf portion of NBC's schedule because it's their favorite sport to capture in pictures.
"Anybody would want to be up here," said Hester. "This is as good as it gets."
Unlike last year's first round, when high winds contributed to 50 balls finding the water at No. 17, it played rather tame for the golfers teeing off in the morning. Only five of the first 77 players failed to stay on dry land Thursday.
For more on the good life for spectators around the 16th and 17th greens at the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium course, check out my column in Friday's Florida Times-Union.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Another Auss-ome win at Players
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at The Players Championship this week and offers daily content for jacksonville.com
After my wonderful projections for the Kentucky Derby -- picking none of the top three horses and saying that Big Brown would be another favorite biting the dust -- be forewarned that my forecast for win, place and show at The Players Championship should not be taken to Las Vegas.
The first caveat for any picks at this event is that it's the absolutely hardest golf tournament to do it because the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium course favors no particular player. Big drivers, short hitters and medium hitters have all won the tournament, and there's no particular advantage for left-to-right or right-to-left players.
Even if Tiger Woods were in this field, I'm not sure I'd pick him to finish in the top three. That's how unpredictable The Players really is.
So here's my untrustworthy picks on the eve of the 2008 championship:
1. Adam Scott. His 71.36 scoring average in 22 rounds at the Stadium Course is one of the best around and the third-ranked player in the world is playing as well as anybody not named Tiger. He already has a Tour win at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship this season, so he's not pressing to get into the winner's circle. More importantly, Scott has a Players title to his credit and the Australians have karma here, winning four of the past 17 times. Scott can join Steve Elkington as the second Aussie to be a two-time champion.
2. Lee Westwood. A bit of a darkhorse pick, but you can bet somebody no one expects will be on the Sunday leaderboard. Westwood has only one PGA Tour victory, back in 1998 at the Freeport-McDermott Classic, but he can be a big-time pressure player as his splendid Ryder Cup record (14-8-3) indicates. Most experts picking Europeans would favor Ireland's Padraig Harrington or Spain's Sergio Garcia to be a contender, but Westwood does have top-six finishes here in 1998 and 1999.
3. Phil Mickelson. If anyone can break through and win as a defending champion, other than Tiger Woods anyway, it's Lefty. Though Mickelson has a spotty record at best at The Players, he obviously figured something out last year after turning to coach Butch Harmon for guidance. The PGA Tour would like for television ratings to not take too big of a dip without Tiger, and the best way to ensure that is for Mickelson to be in contention down the stretch.
After my wonderful projections for the Kentucky Derby -- picking none of the top three horses and saying that Big Brown would be another favorite biting the dust -- be forewarned that my forecast for win, place and show at The Players Championship should not be taken to Las Vegas.
The first caveat for any picks at this event is that it's the absolutely hardest golf tournament to do it because the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium course favors no particular player. Big drivers, short hitters and medium hitters have all won the tournament, and there's no particular advantage for left-to-right or right-to-left players.
Even if Tiger Woods were in this field, I'm not sure I'd pick him to finish in the top three. That's how unpredictable The Players really is.
So here's my untrustworthy picks on the eve of the 2008 championship:
1. Adam Scott. His 71.36 scoring average in 22 rounds at the Stadium Course is one of the best around and the third-ranked player in the world is playing as well as anybody not named Tiger. He already has a Tour win at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship this season, so he's not pressing to get into the winner's circle. More importantly, Scott has a Players title to his credit and the Australians have karma here, winning four of the past 17 times. Scott can join Steve Elkington as the second Aussie to be a two-time champion.
2. Lee Westwood. A bit of a darkhorse pick, but you can bet somebody no one expects will be on the Sunday leaderboard. Westwood has only one PGA Tour victory, back in 1998 at the Freeport-McDermott Classic, but he can be a big-time pressure player as his splendid Ryder Cup record (14-8-3) indicates. Most experts picking Europeans would favor Ireland's Padraig Harrington or Spain's Sergio Garcia to be a contender, but Westwood does have top-six finishes here in 1998 and 1999.
3. Phil Mickelson. If anyone can break through and win as a defending champion, other than Tiger Woods anyway, it's Lefty. Though Mickelson has a spotty record at best at The Players, he obviously figured something out last year after turning to coach Butch Harmon for guidance. The PGA Tour would like for television ratings to not take too big of a dip without Tiger, and the best way to ensure that is for Mickelson to be in contention down the stretch.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Players buzz not up to par
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette will be at The Players Championship all week and offers daily commentary for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Tuesday May 6.
It's not just Tiger Woods who is taking a pass on The Players Championship this year. So, too, are some of the people paid to chronicle his every move.
While it's still early in the week, seats inside the media center at The Players are definitely less full than normal and the expectation is that the trend will continue for the remainder of the tournament.
At press conferences Tuesday morning for European players Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood, only 10-12 credentialed media were in attendance. That's a smaller number than usual for this event, an indication of both Tiger's absence and that the move to May is less convenient for the international media to make the trip.
"Economically, we're struggling with costs," said veteran golf writer John Hopkins of the London Times, who has covered The Players for the past 30 years. "Looking at balance sheets and Tiger not being here, [many publications are choosing to] give The Players a miss."
Hopkins estimates that the normal European media contingent on Tuesday at The Players would be 12-15 journalists, but it's down to six or eight this year.
Before the tournament was moved from March to May last year, many European golf writers made The Players and Masters as part of one long trip. But now that the events are almost a month apart, it requires two trans-Atlantic flights. Coupled with the fact Woods isn't here because he's rehabilitating from knee surgery, the 2008 Players lacks the feel of a major inside the media center.
Come Sunday, there may be great drama at The Players, but definitely less of a media contingent to write how it all plays out.
It's not just Tiger Woods who is taking a pass on The Players Championship this year. So, too, are some of the people paid to chronicle his every move.
While it's still early in the week, seats inside the media center at The Players are definitely less full than normal and the expectation is that the trend will continue for the remainder of the tournament.
At press conferences Tuesday morning for European players Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood, only 10-12 credentialed media were in attendance. That's a smaller number than usual for this event, an indication of both Tiger's absence and that the move to May is less convenient for the international media to make the trip.
"Economically, we're struggling with costs," said veteran golf writer John Hopkins of the London Times, who has covered The Players for the past 30 years. "Looking at balance sheets and Tiger not being here, [many publications are choosing to] give The Players a miss."
Hopkins estimates that the normal European media contingent on Tuesday at The Players would be 12-15 journalists, but it's down to six or eight this year.
Before the tournament was moved from March to May last year, many European golf writers made The Players and Masters as part of one long trip. But now that the events are almost a month apart, it requires two trans-Atlantic flights. Coupled with the fact Woods isn't here because he's rehabilitating from knee surgery, the 2008 Players lacks the feel of a major inside the media center.
Come Sunday, there may be great drama at The Players, but definitely less of a media contingent to write how it all plays out.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Bold move by Jaguars to nab UF's Harvey
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium covering the Jaguars in the NFL draft. This is his second entry after Jacksonville selected Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey with the 8th overall pick.
Wow! The Jaguars really do expect to win now and wasted no time with the first bold move of the NFL Draft.
By moving up from the 26th spot to the Baltimore Ravens' No. 8 slot to select Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, the Jaguars took a major step toward fixing the weakest part of their team -- a pedestrian pass rush.
Not only did the Jaguars get a premiere pass-rusher, they got away with not having to give up their second-round pick in the process. Surrendering two third-round picks and a fourth-rounder to move up 18 spots in the first round was almost a steal.
"When you have that opportunity, you take advantage of it," said Jaguars' coach Jack Del Rio. "We didn't think we had enough ammo to get into the top 10. We weren't going to give away the whole draft."
Another factor that makes this trade a bonanza for the Jaguars is, given the depth of their roster, there's no guarantee that the third and fourth-round picks would have much of an impact or even make the team at all.
"We felt it was a reasonable trade," said James Harris, the Jaguars' vice-president of player personnel. "Defensive linemen can go any place. If we wait to [the 13th pick], we may miss him. We had him clumped in with a group of guys in that [bottom of the top-10].
"We're not sure if two third-rounders could come in and make the team. This was about evaluating our team and looking to strengthen it."
Harvey figures to fortify a Jaguars' pass rush that finished tied for ninth in the NFL with 37 sacks last season, but had a difficult time in the 31-20 AFC playoff loss to the New England Patriots. Quarterback Tom Brady completed 26 of 28 passes and was never sacked after John Henderson got to him on the opening play.
The Jaguars gladly let former Florida Gator Bobby McCray, a part-time starter at defensive end, walk into free agency after he registered just three sacks in 2007 after a 10-sack season the year before. At minimum, Harvey will come in and be a situational third-down pass rusher, but he should immediately challenge for a starting spot.
Del Rio said he didn't think the Jaguars "had the ammo" to get up into the top-10 of the draft, but they found a willing partner in the Ravens, an organization where Harris and Del Rio were both employed before coming to Jacksonville.
In Jaguars' history, the two draft-day trades that brought the Jaguars huge impact players were quarterback Mark Brunell in 1995 (for a third and fifth-round draft pick) and running back Fred Taylor in 1998 (for quarterback Rob Johnson).
For the first time in the Jack Del Rio regime, they made a bold trade that could net a similar result.
Wow! The Jaguars really do expect to win now and wasted no time with the first bold move of the NFL Draft.
By moving up from the 26th spot to the Baltimore Ravens' No. 8 slot to select Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, the Jaguars took a major step toward fixing the weakest part of their team -- a pedestrian pass rush.
Not only did the Jaguars get a premiere pass-rusher, they got away with not having to give up their second-round pick in the process. Surrendering two third-round picks and a fourth-rounder to move up 18 spots in the first round was almost a steal.
"When you have that opportunity, you take advantage of it," said Jaguars' coach Jack Del Rio. "We didn't think we had enough ammo to get into the top 10. We weren't going to give away the whole draft."
Another factor that makes this trade a bonanza for the Jaguars is, given the depth of their roster, there's no guarantee that the third and fourth-round picks would have much of an impact or even make the team at all.
"We felt it was a reasonable trade," said James Harris, the Jaguars' vice-president of player personnel. "Defensive linemen can go any place. If we wait to [the 13th pick], we may miss him. We had him clumped in with a group of guys in that [bottom of the top-10].
"We're not sure if two third-rounders could come in and make the team. This was about evaluating our team and looking to strengthen it."
Harvey figures to fortify a Jaguars' pass rush that finished tied for ninth in the NFL with 37 sacks last season, but had a difficult time in the 31-20 AFC playoff loss to the New England Patriots. Quarterback Tom Brady completed 26 of 28 passes and was never sacked after John Henderson got to him on the opening play.
The Jaguars gladly let former Florida Gator Bobby McCray, a part-time starter at defensive end, walk into free agency after he registered just three sacks in 2007 after a 10-sack season the year before. At minimum, Harvey will come in and be a situational third-down pass rusher, but he should immediately challenge for a starting spot.
Del Rio said he didn't think the Jaguars "had the ammo" to get up into the top-10 of the draft, but they found a willing partner in the Ravens, an organization where Harris and Del Rio were both employed before coming to Jacksonville.
In Jaguars' history, the two draft-day trades that brought the Jaguars huge impact players were quarterback Mark Brunell in 1995 (for a third and fifth-round draft pick) and running back Fred Taylor in 1998 (for quarterback Rob Johnson).
For the first time in the Jack Del Rio regime, they made a bold trade that could net a similar result.
Tough call, but Falcons had to take Ryan
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is over at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium to cover the NFL draft. This is his early first-round entry for Saturday April 26.
When former Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith took the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job, there were so many holes to fill that it'd be hard to miss with the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
As tempting as it was to take LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, and the Falcons needed an impact interior lineman to replace Rod Coleman, they did the right thing by selecting Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan.
The NFL is a quarterback-driven league and the Falcons couldn't afford to gamble that whoever is their second choice (Joe Flacco or Brian Brohm) would be available with the 34th overall pick.
You could argue that the Falcons' starting quarterback will struggle mightily in 2008 no matter who it is, but if Atlanta's brass is convinced that Ryan has the right stuff to be successful, then it's imperative you grab him because nothing is more important than having stability under center.
I believe Ryan has the makeup to be a good one because he made Boston College a relevant team despite not having any big-time weapons. Other than tackle Gosder Cherilus, the Eagles weren't a club loaded with future NFL prospects. Yet Ryan had a knack for pulling out close games when his team needed big drives in the closing minutes.
This marks the sixth consecutive draft that a quarterback has been taken in the top three picks. The jury is still out on the last three quarterbacks that were the first to go off the board -- JaMarcus Russell, Vince Young and Alex Smith -- but the Cincinnati Bengals' Carson Palmer (2003) and the New York Giants' Eli Manning (2004) eventually validated the position in which they were chosen.
Smith has a huge rebuilding job ahead. It may be a couple years before the Falcons can recover from the debacle of Michael Vick's professional decline and the bizarre departure of former coach Bob Petrino.
By taking the best quarterback in this draft, the Falcons took the necessary gamble to eventually get back on track.
When former Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith took the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job, there were so many holes to fill that it'd be hard to miss with the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
As tempting as it was to take LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, and the Falcons needed an impact interior lineman to replace Rod Coleman, they did the right thing by selecting Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan.
The NFL is a quarterback-driven league and the Falcons couldn't afford to gamble that whoever is their second choice (Joe Flacco or Brian Brohm) would be available with the 34th overall pick.
You could argue that the Falcons' starting quarterback will struggle mightily in 2008 no matter who it is, but if Atlanta's brass is convinced that Ryan has the right stuff to be successful, then it's imperative you grab him because nothing is more important than having stability under center.
I believe Ryan has the makeup to be a good one because he made Boston College a relevant team despite not having any big-time weapons. Other than tackle Gosder Cherilus, the Eagles weren't a club loaded with future NFL prospects. Yet Ryan had a knack for pulling out close games when his team needed big drives in the closing minutes.
This marks the sixth consecutive draft that a quarterback has been taken in the top three picks. The jury is still out on the last three quarterbacks that were the first to go off the board -- JaMarcus Russell, Vince Young and Alex Smith -- but the Cincinnati Bengals' Carson Palmer (2003) and the New York Giants' Eli Manning (2004) eventually validated the position in which they were chosen.
Smith has a huge rebuilding job ahead. It may be a couple years before the Falcons can recover from the debacle of Michael Vick's professional decline and the bizarre departure of former coach Bob Petrino.
By taking the best quarterback in this draft, the Falcons took the necessary gamble to eventually get back on track.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Florida State needs to show Parker tough love
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette provides weekly commentary on various issues for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Thursday April 24.
It'll be interesting to see what the disciplinary measures will be for one of Florida State’s most skilled players, receiver/running back Preston Parker, after this week’s arrest on marijuana possession and a felony charge of carrying a concealed firearm. Under new athletic director Randy Spetman, FSU football has an opportunity to continue a makeover of its wrist-slapping reputation in the punishment department.
Not that schools like Florida, Miami, Tennessee and Georgia are any tougher on star players who wind up on a police blotter, but those athletic departments aren’t being presently weighed down by an academic scandal. Parker picked a bad time to be piling on a football program that is in recovery mode.
On the disciplinary scale, Parker’s case is as high-profile as it gets for any Seminole athlete. If all that matters to FSU is the 2008 won-loss record, Parker will be suspended for no more than a game or two.
But if Parker is either dismissed or misses a good chunk of the season, it’d be a clear message to all FSU athletes — and not just the ones sidelined for cheating in an online music course— that there’s serious consequences for bad behavior across the board.
In the long run, the football program may be better off if the hammer comes down on Parker.
It'll be interesting to see what the disciplinary measures will be for one of Florida State’s most skilled players, receiver/running back Preston Parker, after this week’s arrest on marijuana possession and a felony charge of carrying a concealed firearm. Under new athletic director Randy Spetman, FSU football has an opportunity to continue a makeover of its wrist-slapping reputation in the punishment department.
Not that schools like Florida, Miami, Tennessee and Georgia are any tougher on star players who wind up on a police blotter, but those athletic departments aren’t being presently weighed down by an academic scandal. Parker picked a bad time to be piling on a football program that is in recovery mode.
On the disciplinary scale, Parker’s case is as high-profile as it gets for any Seminole athlete. If all that matters to FSU is the 2008 won-loss record, Parker will be suspended for no more than a game or two.
But if Parker is either dismissed or misses a good chunk of the season, it’d be a clear message to all FSU athletes — and not just the ones sidelined for cheating in an online music course— that there’s serious consequences for bad behavior across the board.
In the long run, the football program may be better off if the hammer comes down on Parker.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Prepare to be blown away by Masters
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at the Masters and providing daily content for jacksonville.com This is his entry as play begins Sunday April 13.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Judging by how the flags are flapping at 11 a.m. by the main scoreboard, the champion of the 72nd Masters may feel more like a survivor than a winner.
It's a Winnie the Pooh kind of day for the final round at Augusta, with west winds gusting from 20-30 miles per hour. So don't look for 12 of the 45 golfers to post scores in the 60s like they did in Saturday's third round.
It may not be as bad as last year's third round when champion Zach Johnson shot a 76 and the field scoring average was 77.352, the highest average since the 1982 opening round. But expect scores today to plummet significantly from Saturday, which could bring leaders Trevor Immelman (11-under-par), Brandt Snedeker (9-under), Steve Flesch (8-under) and Paul Casey (7-under) back to the field.
Strong winds could be a huge boost for Tiger Woods, who is six shots off the lead at 5-under, and is the only player in the final three groups to have any experience being in final-round contention at a major.
Who will win the Masters? The answer may be blowing in the wind.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Judging by how the flags are flapping at 11 a.m. by the main scoreboard, the champion of the 72nd Masters may feel more like a survivor than a winner.
It's a Winnie the Pooh kind of day for the final round at Augusta, with west winds gusting from 20-30 miles per hour. So don't look for 12 of the 45 golfers to post scores in the 60s like they did in Saturday's third round.
It may not be as bad as last year's third round when champion Zach Johnson shot a 76 and the field scoring average was 77.352, the highest average since the 1982 opening round. But expect scores today to plummet significantly from Saturday, which could bring leaders Trevor Immelman (11-under-par), Brandt Snedeker (9-under), Steve Flesch (8-under) and Paul Casey (7-under) back to the field.
Strong winds could be a huge boost for Tiger Woods, who is six shots off the lead at 5-under, and is the only player in the final three groups to have any experience being in final-round contention at a major.
Who will win the Masters? The answer may be blowing in the wind.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
An error-Philed day at the Masters
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at the Masters and providing content for jacksonville.com This is his entry on Saturday April 12 following third-round play.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It wasn't as bad as giving away the 2006 U.S. Open on the final hole at Winged Foot, but Phil Mickelson's prodigious drop from contender to near afterthought in the third round of the Masters makes you wonder if all is right with Lefty.
On a day where soft conditions enabled most players on the leaderboard to post numbers in the 60s, Mickelson blew himself out of any realistic chance of winning a third green jacket by firing an inexplicable 75.
"I felt like I was going to have a good round today," said Mickelson. "I don't know what to say."
Mickelson got within two shots of the lead with a birdie at the par-five second hole. But every time he appeared to gain momentum, he gave it away with self-destructive play in what really wasn't difficult circumstances.
He caught a bad break at the par-five No. 8 hole, hitting the pin with his short approach shot, and the ball bounced back much further from the hole. He ended up three-putting for bogey, missing the par attempt from three feet.
Two more bogeys at No. 10 and 12 were followed by birdies at 13 and 14, but by that time, most of the leaders were running further away and Tiger Woods also passed him. Then came the final dagger on a rough day, a double-bogey at the par-three 16th after he plunked his tee shot into a bunker and a three-putted.
Suddenly, the Phil Mickelson that was starting to close the wide gap between him and Woods a couple years ago is looking shakier than ever on the big stage.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It wasn't as bad as giving away the 2006 U.S. Open on the final hole at Winged Foot, but Phil Mickelson's prodigious drop from contender to near afterthought in the third round of the Masters makes you wonder if all is right with Lefty.
On a day where soft conditions enabled most players on the leaderboard to post numbers in the 60s, Mickelson blew himself out of any realistic chance of winning a third green jacket by firing an inexplicable 75.
"I felt like I was going to have a good round today," said Mickelson. "I don't know what to say."
Mickelson got within two shots of the lead with a birdie at the par-five second hole. But every time he appeared to gain momentum, he gave it away with self-destructive play in what really wasn't difficult circumstances.
He caught a bad break at the par-five No. 8 hole, hitting the pin with his short approach shot, and the ball bounced back much further from the hole. He ended up three-putting for bogey, missing the par attempt from three feet.
Two more bogeys at No. 10 and 12 were followed by birdies at 13 and 14, but by that time, most of the leaders were running further away and Tiger Woods also passed him. Then came the final dagger on a rough day, a double-bogey at the par-three 16th after he plunked his tee shot into a bunker and a three-putted.
Suddenly, the Phil Mickelson that was starting to close the wide gap between him and Woods a couple years ago is looking shakier than ever on the big stage.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
