Tiger Skipping the AT&T

I'm very sad to say that the Philadelphia Enquireris reporting:

TIGER AND PEBBLE:@ Tiger Woods has had some of his greatest moments at Pebble Beach. He came from seven shots behind with seven holes to go to win the 2000 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and later that summer won the U.S. Open by a record 15 shots with the lowest score ever in relation to par at a U.S. Open (12 under).

But it could be a while before he returns.

Woods said he was skipping the AT&T for the second straight year because of the bumpy, poa annua greens in early February.

"You walk off the golf course saying you can never make a 1-foot putt," he said.

Woods says his confidence on the greens is shot for weeks after Pebble Beach. Instead, he will take a four-week break after this week and return at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, where he is the defending champion.

Woods also is expected to play the Nissan Open and Accenture Match Play Championship.

Asked if he would ever return to the AT&T Pro-Am, Woods replied, "That depends on the greens."

and here's another golf song

Double Bogey Blues

It's early Sunday morning, the sun is coming up
I'm on the tee at seven, I'm here to try my luck
They say this games a tough one, but I'll give it my best shot
Cuz the bunkers look like beaches and the greens like parking lots

Oh lord....what I'm I gonna do, Help me keep my head down
And save me from these double bogey blues

First I pull out my driver, check my stance and grip
I'm trying to remember every Nicklous tip
Strighten that left elbow, slightly bend your knees
Keep that ball behind you, and look out for those trees

Oh lord....what club should I use, I'm lost out in the forrest
Save me from those double bogey blues

Lead break

Well I started out with three balls, now two of them are lost
Got two hundred yards of water that I gotta get across
Did I hear somebody talking about a Forty dollar bet
I got Thirty in my pocket, but I won't let em' see me sweat

Oh Lord....the next Bud's for you, help me with this three wood
Save me from those double bogey blues

Well I'm on the eighteenth and seven, my knees began to shake
I'm praying I can one putt, try to save an eight
It's a forty dollar nassa, if I sink this I'm in lock
I'll be sitting in the club house, sippin' bourbon on the rocks

Oh Lord....what am I gonna do, Help me keep my head down
Save me from these double bogey blues

Oh oh oh Lord....I can't afford to lose, I'll be in church next Sunday
Just save me from those double Bogey B L U E S________________

Golf Golden Oldie

I'm repeating a story I had in September, but I'm in a golf mood. Blogging, interwoven with on-line shopping for some snappy clothes to wear while I'm in Pebble Beach for the AT&T Pro-Am in three weeks. I hope Tiger will be in the house! ;^D

I was surfing around and came accross this post from John Ellis. I happened to be sitting on the 18th fairway watching Tiger when this happened (although I was clueless) and thank you SBC for the tickets!

"Friday, August 01, 2003
Posted 10:28 AM by John Ellis
A Golf Story

A friend of mine relates the following story. He swears that it is a true story and I believe him. It goes like this:

At the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2000, Tiger Woods pull-hooked a driver off the 18th tee into the Pacific Ocean. There followed a burst of profanity, for which Mr. Woods was later fined. That's the part of the story everyone remembers.

The part that followed, however, is astonishing. Picture the scene. Woods is standing there on 18 tee. His tee shot rests on the ocean floor. His caddy, Steve Williams, hands him a reload. As he does, he suggests that Tiger hit his two-iron. Tiger says no, he'll stripe the driver, knock it on the green in two, two putt and make the bogey 6. Williams says: "I really think you should hit the two-iron." Tiger says no, the driver is fine. Williams says: "I really, really think you should hit the two-iron." Tiger dismisses him, stripes the driver down the center of the fairway, knocks it on the green in two, two putts, makes his six.

And so the matter died, until a couple of weeks later, when Williams reminded Woods of their debate. "What was that all about?" asked Woods. "It was your last ball," responded Williams.

Incredible as it may seem, Woods only had two balls in his bag that day. Had he hit the reload into the sea, he would have been disqualified from the US Open, a tournament he ended up winning by 15 strokes."


There aren't that many golf songs, but I know a few.


My Heart Belongs To Daddy
by Cole Porter

While tearing off a game of golf
I might make a play for the caddy
But when I do, I don't follow through
Cause my heart belongs to Daddy

If I invite a boy some night
To dine on my fine food and haddie
I just adore, his asking for more
But my heart belongs to Daddy

Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
So I simply couldn't be bad
Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, DAAAAD

So I want to warn you laddie
Though I know that you're perfectly swell
That my heart belongs to Daddy
Cause my Daddy, he treats it so well

Some Thoughts About Illegal Immigration

All my conservative friends are up in arms about the President's immigration proposal. I admit that illegal immigration is not a very important topic to me. I live in Sacramento, not San Diego, and most of my interaction with illegals is positive. My gardeners, the janitors at work, the workers at the fabulous mexican restaurant in the neighborhood, the father and son who installed my totally fabulous 600 sq foot brick patio. I bet everyone in our state has some kind of contact with illegals, and some of it is positive. But I can understand how those who live in Southern Cal, Arizona, etc. might feel differently.

I'd like to have a discussion - want to join me? I think most of the ideas I hear from the anti-illegals are impractical and here's why.

1. Deportation - There are 8 to 12 million illegals and each and every one of them has friends/clients/contacts who are citizens. My gardeners, for example, work on approximately 100 homes per week. If they were under threat of deportation, they certainly could get some citizens to speak on their behalf. If each illegal had 5 people who would speak for them, that would be 50 million Americans protesting the government's action. No sensible politician would risk fighting with 50 million people. Congressman Tancredo can gain positive attention from his base while it's all theoretical, but if his solutions were implemented, he'd be in a world of hurt.

2. Military Guarding the Border - Don't we ask enough of our military already? Are there thousands of soldiers and guardsman who are twiddling their thumbs waiting for the government to think of something for them to do? If part of their assignment was to guard the border, and shoot someone trying to illegally cross, would we have more people enlisting? Or would some, who currently serve with honor, decide not to enlist because that type of assignment is unappealing to them?

3. Americans Are Lazy - When the middle and upper middle class complain that welfare recipients should do this work instead, they demean the hard work that some illegals do. Every American grew up in a prosperous society, even those of us who are poor. It's unreasonable for me to say that it's OK for me to be lazy, but not for you. If my Dad had wanted a brick patio, he would have put it in himself. If my Mom wanted her house to be clean, she'd clean it herself. They would have been appalled at how willing I am to pay someone to do work that I could do myself. People who grew up working hard are willing to work hard when they get to America and I'm glad, 'cuz I still don't want to mow my own lawn. How much money would you have if you lived a frugal life? I say, don't judge me and I'll try not to judge you. (unless you do something truly heinous, of course.)

4. If we give them a permit, they'll never go home - A guest worker visa might solve some of the overburdening on schools and hospitals. When it's cold and yicky here, I would be happy to go to Mexico for a month or three, if I had somewhere to stay. If my sister lived in Oaxaca, I'd be there right now. Relieved of the worry about how they'd got back in to the USA, I think a good percentage of illegals would take extended vacations back home, and while they're gone, they won't be using American government services. Wouldn't that be good?

5. Increase Our Tax Base - A portion of the underground economy would evaporate. Why would any illegal work under the table, if that wouldn't qualify them for a guest worker visa? We'd add some revenue to our tax coffers, and there would be slightly less pressure to tax the rich.

What do you think? Please discuss, don't insult.

Conventioneering

Is anyone interested in getting together during the upcoming CRP Convention in Burlingame -- Feb 20-22, 2004? It is being held at the San Francisco Airport Hyatt Regency. First convention post recall. Just 2 weeks before primary election day. The grapevine says that Arnold will be the guest speaker at the Friday banquet. There could be a debate or forum with the U.S. Senate candidates. Lots of good Irish Bars in Burlingame. Good times had by all.

Hillary thinks a Joke is Lame?

Everyobody's talking about how Hillary made an ethnic slur against Indians by suggesting that Gandhi ran a gas station in St. Louis. Than she got busted by the AP.

And she apologized ... by saying:

ST. LOUIS - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (news - web sites) apologized for joking that Mahatma Gandhi used to run a gas station in St. Louis, saying it was "a lame attempt at humor."

So, she won't make fun of Indians, but it's ok to make fun of people who are lame? I know it's a common expression, but I certainly wouldn't make that joke to my parapelegic next door neighbor. I really doubt whether my neighbor would think it's ok. Isn't ultra-sensitive Hillary from the mommy party supposed to know better?

The Best? Movie Speeches and Quotes

I thought the Scotsman's article on the best ever movie speeches was decent, but they left out some really good ones.

How could they forget General Patton?

I want you to remember that no bastard every won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country. Then, all this stuf you heard about American not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war is a lot of horse dung. Americans traditionally love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle.

or Bluto?

Bluto:What?! Over? Did you say over? NOTHING is over until WE
decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
HELL, NO!
Otter: Germans?
Boon: Forget it, he's rolling.
Bluto: It ain't over now! For when the goin' gets
tough,..............the tough get going! Who's with me!? LET'S GO!
C'MON! OOOOOOOOOOOO!

And I'm partial to Ty

"Ty, what'd you shoot today?"
"Oh, I don't keep score, Judge."
"Oh, well, how do you measure yourself with other golfers?"
"By height."

and Jimmie Foxx

There's no crying in baseball!

Would you like to add you suggestions?

Dan Lungren

I just sent a few bucks to the Lungren for Congress campaign -- You can do it online. I met Dan almost 20 years ago, and he's always been a gentleman, the kind of person you can be proud to have represent you. He's running against Rico Oller, who I think is nasty, and Mary Ose, who's probably nice, but I've never met her.

Dan once said that his favorite movie was Braveheart, which was mentioned in the Scotsman today as one of the best speeches in movie history.

Wallace: Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace.

Young soldier: William Wallace is 7 feet tall.

Wallace: Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. I am William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight?

Veteran soldier: Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live.

Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live -- at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom.

Wallace and Soldiers: Alba gu bra! (Scotland forever!)

Why not send a few bucks to Dan? It's easy and you'll be glad you did.

Aloha

Welcome to visitors sent by the Venomous Kate and her snark hunt.

One month til the kickoff of Piano Bar Season

The AT&T Golf Tournament, more fondly called the Crosby Clambake, is one month away. Can't Hardly wait. Every night for a week you will find me at the Mission Ranch singing my heart out.

Gerrymander - Jerrymander - I'll Never Win the Spelling Bee

I was just having a smug moment that I'm number one on google for Jerrymander - linking to a post about my friends Ted Costa, Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy and Congressman Devin Nunes working on a reapportionment initiative, when I discovered that I'm number one 'cuz I spelled it wrong. Must avoid smugness.