Grass

No, the above photo is not some movie set from a Steven Spielberg martian movie. It's an aerial photo of the greatest patches of grass on earth, Wimbledon, in London. Today marks the beginning of the Wimbledon fortnight, otherwise known as 14 days of grass stains, grunts and greatness. And with the glorious start of Wimbledon, the string of magical late Spring early summer worldwide sports magic continues unabated for the next several weeks.

This magic started a month ago in Paris on the red clay at the French Open. It continued and continues with stops along the way at: Congressional for the US Open which concluded yesterday; the British Open in mid July at Royal St. George's in the village of Sandwich; and concluding with the triumphant ride up the grand Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris signaling the end of the month long road grind known as the Tour de France in late July. Can this span of time be any better for the multi-interested sports fan? I don't think so.

Next up in this wonderful worldwide sports early summer calendar is Wimbledon. First round matches are underway on Centre Court and 18 lesser courts. The competitors look rested and ready. The rye grass looks green and bouncy. But in two weeks time of heavy use, the finalists will be exhausted, the ballboys will have butterfingers and the grass will be a brown dusted slick of old sod.

And who will hoist the silver cups as victors two weeks from now? My pick for the Gentlemen is Rafael Nadal, #1 in the world. Rafa owns Centre Court. More importantly, he owns the psyches of all of his competitors, including Roger. In 6 playing years, Nadal, 25, has won twice, been in the finals four times, won 88% of his matches and, arguably, playing his best tennis ever. Barring a freakish injury to his Mallorcan muscles, he will win his third Wimbledon. For the Ladies, it appears to be more questionable. Both Williams sisters are playing once again which is good competition for the tournament. How fit they are for this grind after long health rehabs is a question mark? But never underestimate the hearts of champions, which they both are multiple times, 9 times collectively in the last 11 years...REMARKABLE! Then there are usual suspects: the ubiquitous Russians, the tormented Danes, the annoying Italians and the surprising Chinese. My longshot pick to win the Ladies draw is a mature and wealthy yet beautiful and skillful tennis player, Maria Sharapova, 24, who won Wimbledon in 2004.

So, enjoy the fortnight and the rest of this wonderful ride called mid-year sports heaven for us competition junkies.

Ahhhh...the thrill of the grass, I'm loving it.

Game...set...match.

Rory

If Rory McIlroy wins the US Open at Congressional CC today it will be a remarkable achievement on many different levels. His age, his birthplace and his recent history in a major tournament all make his probable victory today that much more unique and thrilling for all golf fans.

Age. At age 22, Rory, is on the cusp of becoming the youngest winner of the US Open since Georgian, Bobby Jones, who won at Inwood Country Club in 1923 at age 21. Before Jones the youngest winner was, Philadelphian, John McDermott, who won at Chicago Golf Club in 1911 at age 19. Usually, youth is not rewarded in major golf tournaments. Youth folds under the pressure of the event. Rory may be young on paper but he is wise and mature well beyond his years.

Birthplace. Rory was born in Holywood, Northern Ireland. Golf is part of the landscape of that area. Rory took to it early in his life. At age 16, Rory shot a 61 at the Dunluce Links course at Royal Portrush, regularly ranked in the top 15 courses in the world. His 61 stands as the course record on the designer Harry Colt's masterpiece which has been in existence since 1889. What will be remarkable if Rory wins today is that this soggy windswept dunesland golfing area, will have produced the last two US Open winners, Graeme McDowell, another Ulsterman, who won last year at Pebble Beach, and Rory this year. What's going on up North? Northern Ireland has about 2 million residents. Can you imagine a state like Nebraska, same size as Northern Ireland, producing two US Open winners not only back to back but ever? Maybe a steady diet of Guinness is good for you and great for golf.

Memories. Just this past April, Rory was leading the field after three rounds at Augusta National at the Masters. He teed off that fair April Sunday with a four shot lead. After five horrible hours, Rory lost his lead, the tournament and settled for an 80 and tied for 15th place. His collapse was epic. Talk about unending nightmares. It was sad to witness. Golf can be so cruel. But Rory never shirked from this defeat. He faced himself, the cameras, the media and all the punishing scrutiny with grace and humility. He may have lost the Masters that day but he gained a legion of admirers. It appears from his stellar play this week that he has put his Masters loss in the rear view mirror. After two months of introspection, he's ready to face the glare again. His loss at Augusta in April will embolden him to win today.

So, as Rory tees off in less than an hour in the final round holding an 8 shot lead, let's hope he wins. His age, his birthplace and his memories may all conspire positively for him today. Golf needs him to win. He's the new face of the sport. Refreshing. Pure. Talented. Respectful. Thrilling. Normal. But, he needs to win.

Good luck, Rory. May the force be with you today!

Happy Fathers Day!

That cartoon above says it all for us Dads. We need all the help we can get...especially from our kids.

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads out there. It's not easy being a Dad. It's the toughest daily work out there not including being a Mom. But, the positive rewards of being Dad far outweighs the negatives.

On this day, I remember those Dads who have gone on before me and who have given me an instructional/survival manual by example on how to be a good Dad. My father, Jim, and my father-in-law, Jack, come instantly to mind. Though imperfect, they were gentlemen, strong, industrious, faithful and loving. Their example of being Dad has served me well in my own role of fatherhood. I don't always get it right but it's not from a lack of effort.

So, enjoy this day, Dads. The "honey-dos" can wait till tomorrow. You have a rightly-earned pass to do whatever. For me, I hope to see Rory win his first major in the US Open on NBC.

On the Tee from the White House...

Somewhere in the District area this fine Saturday morning, a famous golf foursome is teeing off. No, not that Rory foursome at Congressional in the ongoing US Open but another foursome more powerful than just about any fouesome ever grouped. I'm talking about the group of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker John Boehner and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

This unlikely foursome is teeing it up at some clandestine location to play a round of golf "just for fun." But, how could putting these disparate four together be classified as fun on their day off no less? I suspect these political adversaries will have about as much fun together as we are listening to Chris Berman of ESPN broadcast our National Open. And that ain't fun at all. In fact, it's awful.

But there is a higher purpose at play here. Golf brings people together. Lord knows, these four, leaders of our government, need some "QT" to bond. Do it for country. Put aside the mind-numbing double d numbers of the day and back-biting attacks for four hours (the limit imposed by the CBO) and try to enjoy the outing. They may not be on each others Christmas Card list but doggone it play the game, place some bets, yuck it up, have a drink later (Joe's specialty) and then fake it like it was the best time you've had since your honeymoons. Give us, your electorate, hope that all is not lost. Please.

So, here's to golf, the greatest game ever created, for bringing our leaders together. Right now primo leaders of the free world are strolling down some glorious fairway in Maryland or Virginia telling jokes about the "deflated Weiner", pimping Boehner about his latest crybaby outburst, laughing about Joe's narcolepsy, taking bets on when Kasich will become interesting, and asking Barack if the First Lady snores at night. If these precious timeless moments don't draw them closer...nothing will.

PS. At the end of it all, let's just hope this powerful foresome doesn't stiff the caddies, like the Lama did to poor Carl Spackler, "So we finish the 18th, and the Lama, a big hitter, the Lama, is going to stiff me. And I say, 'Hey Lama, hey, how about something for the effort?' And he says, 'Oh,uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness'. So I got that going for me which is nice."

H.E.L.P.

In the 1992 race for President, James Carville, master political strategist for Governor Bill Clinton, sealed the deal for Bill and cooked the goose of one George H.W. Bush #41, with one line, "It's the economy stupid." That line resonated with the electorate like no other and George was out and Bill was in...snap, like that. It didn't matter that George handily defeated Saddam in Kuwait, that was ancient news. What mattered most to the voters was that the economy was in tatters and #41 didn't seem to care. That ingrained blueblood Kennebunkport insouciance infuriated main street.

Now fast forward to 2012. Will 2012, as Yogi Berra declared some time ago on another matter, be "deja vu all over again"? Two plus years ago, President Obama was handed an economy near collapse by his predecessor, George W, Bush, #43. "Tanks for nuttin," W. A smart Obama knew what he was getting into, but, supposedly he had an enlightened plan to "change" everything that was wrong. After almost 30 months of the "policy of change", most of which was dubious, the only thing that hasn't changed from my perspective is that the economy is still fragile and teetering. I suspect if the economy is still in the doldrums in 12 months, the line above will be a redux resurrected from the opposition but with an added word, "it's the economy stupid...again" proclaimed by Palin or Romney or Perry or Christie.

Obama, if he wants another term, and what politician worth his tongue doesn't, has to H.E.L.P., an acronym, his country now. He cannot blame #43 for his past sins, that doesn't work anymore. He has to own this Presidency. He wanted this job. It wasn't thrusted blindly upon him. He has to own this sorry economy and fix it. We expect nothing less. That's part of the deal. Currently, we are in a 7% market decline in a 6 week downdraft on all the markets and the potential for a continued slide this week. Economic storm clouds are everywhere. Debt ceiling. Health care. Greece. Europe. China. Banks. FED. Oil. However, there are four main areas in the economy that need immediate H.E.L.P. now for his presidency and for all citizens of this great country.

H. Housing. This is the engine of our country. Trillions of dollars are at risk here. It was reported last week that 40% of people holding second mortgages on their homes are "under water." They owe more than the home is worth. How to solve this? Who the hell knows. Obama, seemingly, is hamstrung on this matter. It didn't help when his chief economic policy advisor, Austin Goolsbee, bolted for a tenured position at University of Chicago. (Why work in dysfunctional DC when AG can have a cushy job in ivory tower academia?) Obama was dealt a heavy body blow. Is there a solution to this short of taxpayers eating another trillion in losses? Now that wouldn't go over too well on main street.

E. Employment. Outside of Silicon Valley, companies are not hiring. Unemployment, unexpectedly rose last month to 9.1%. No President has ever won re-election with an unemployment rate over 7%. Engineers are coming out college with no job offers. Obama has one year to create a couple of million jobs. At the current measly rate of an added 50,000 non-governmental jobs a month (prior to last month's decline), that ain't going to get it done.

L. Lending. Continually hammered by the feds, banks are not lending to their capacity. They are in the trenches waiting for some love from Washington. Not coming. DC hates these guys. They created the near meltdown of 2008 in the first place. Banks have become Obama's personal obsession of hate. Obama needs to change his tone with them. Embrace the enemy, empower them to do business and make it work for the greater good.

P. Productivity. Our country's largest manufacturers and producers are operating at far less than optimum capacity. Again, they have little confidence in our government now. The ever-changing and aggressive anti-business policies coming out of DC are not good for corps and their CEOs in planning for the future. They remain cautious and scared. They don't hire. They don't expand. They keep inventories low. They horde cash. They wait for stability. Who can blame them?

I think both sides of aisle will agree with this: we need to grow this economy now. If we grow the economy we decrease crippling debt, our primary antagonist in this drama, we become healthier as a country. Employers employ. Tax roles increase. Public projects are started again. Municipalities thrive. Entitlements are funded. And everybody benefits.

So, Mr. President this is your siren call to action. Do something bold. Call it change. Call it whatever. But don't call it other people's fault. This is your deal now. And if you don't succeed, come November 2012, we'll do a Jimmy Carter on you as fast as you can say, one-term.

Vamos Rafa

As you awake this fine late Spring Sunday morning, make sure you turn on your flat screen to see one of the great modern day sporting classics Rafa Nadal v Roger Federer at the French Open in Paris. Frankly, any event staged in Paris is worth seeing but the topper is this pairing in the Men's Final on Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros. On the West Coast, the balls will be in the air starting at 6AM on NBC. For added enjoyment, John McEnroe, the best tennis analyst in the world, will be calling the action from courtside.

The last time these two tennis heavyweights met in the finals in Paris was in 2008. Rafa annihilated and embarrassed Fed in three straight sets. Fed won 4 games as the #1 player in the world at the time. A chastened Fed said afterwards, "Rafa is just too strong for me. I apologize to the fans for my performance today."

Fed is coming into the finals in fine form. He dispatched the current #2 player in the world, Novak Djokovic, in four tense sets in the semi-finals. His first serve was the difference in that match. He will need that same weapon today if he is to beat Rafa.

Rafa started slowly in this years French Open. He barely got out of the first round against 6'-8" American John Isner, in a five set marathon. But as the tourney evolved, Rafa became stronger. He handily beat the #4 in the world, Scotsman, Andy Murray, in straight sets.

So, today, as sports fans, we get what we all wanted. A Rafa v Fed major final. It's one of the greatest rivalries ever in sports. At 29, Fed has won 16 Open-era Majors. Rafa, 25, has won 9. If Rafa wins today on the red clay, he will tie Bjorn Borg's 6 French Open titles. Borg, arguably, is one of the greatest tennis players of all time ranked as high as #2 by some experts. Some say, if Rafa wins today he will be considered one of the top three of all time. Roger knows this and will not cede quietly. He will be formidable. What drama is waiting to unfold in the greatest city in the world, Paris.

Enjoy this match played by two exceptional athletes in their graceful sport. Both gentlemen. Both gifted. Both competitive as hell. Both in their prime. But, someone has to win; someone has to lose. My pick: Rafa wins in four sets.

Vamos Rafa. And don't break a tooth on the trophy.