A Few Parting Shots After My Glass Of Eggnog

Over the last weeks, I have been brainstorming, about a blog I would write to reflect on the year in sports and entertainment – the highs, lows and the most memorable. I thought about the death of legends, the making of legends and legendary performances. I thought to myself, how would I write a blog post capturing all that happened, and then it came to mind, that I should just let the thoughts flow from my fingers tips. You know me, I tend to shoot from my Caribbean hips, so with a little flavor and lots of drum and bass, here we go 2009.

We all rang in the new year with a new vision, as individuals and then as citizens of the free world, who elected our first African-American president – Barack Obama. It was a heavily contested democratic race, having almost elected the Senator from New York and Former First Lady Hilary Clinton. The female sorority of traveling pantsuits rallied behind Senator Clinton, but she finally succumbed to the change candidate Obama. The rookie Senator from Chicago, Illinois routed senior Senator John McCain to win the presidency. And then, there was the rise and fall of icon Sarah Palin with a fashion scandal too.

So after Mr. Obama became President Obama in the historic inauguration, The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals in the Superbowl with a clutch grab from wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Although, Larry Fitzgerald was my choice for MVP, Holmes was truly deserving of it. One low-light of that game was when Defensive End James Harrison punched Aaron Francisco, in what will forever be one of the dirtiest play, I have ever seen. Harrison made the news a few months later, saying he would not visit the White House with his team, as was tradition for the winning Superbowl team – Bonehead Award nominee.

The death of Michael Jackson stunned the nation, and fans from near and far came out to pay tribute to the king of pop. It was later determined that Jackson died of a drug overdose – a combination of prescription drugs, dispensed by his so-called doctor. But as big as Michael’s death was, there were other shocking moments. The sudden death of Titans’/Ravens’ retired quarterback Steve McNair, as a result of a murder suicide. As rumors swirl around the cause of his death, it was later discovered that his untimely death was as a result of an extramarital affair.

The Minnesota Vikings held the sports world and the media under seige, as they attempted to stay in the spotlight after a sub par 2008 season, by courting Brett Favre to come out of retirement. SportsCenter and every media outlet spent days and night covering Brett in his backyard mowing the lawn, playing pickup football with high school players in Mississippi, until they missed the secret private jet that took him to the Vikings headquarters. The Favre saga was out of control and I even stepped in to offer my two cents. Favre’s on again off again romance with the Vikings ended in a date to the prom after training camp, which was my bet – he is too old to be hit in two-a-days.

The Denver Broncos had their fair share of quarterback saga as Jay Cutler and his new coach had a falling out, after trade rumors surfaced, with talks of Matt Cassel coming to town. Stud wide receiver Brandon Marshall turned up his divatude refusing to show up to camp and demanded a trade in a contract dispute.

Bengals’ Chad Johnson deed-polled his name to Chad OchoCinco – need I say more? Terrell Owen was released by Dallas, did a TV Reality Show with his publicists, who were more like galpals – not one press release was written and one galpal booked a room for two with T.O. Then Mr. Owens went to Buffalo, his press conference was like an announcement for presidential candidacy.

The benching of Vince Young and then the return of Mr. Young who took his team on a playoff hunt. Young shared the spotlight with my candidate for MVP – running back Chris Johnson. Coach Mangini struggles in Cleveland, Coach Caldwell chasing the Dolphins 17-0 record – with my favorite horse Peyton.

Kobe and Lebron ads hinted of a NBA Finals matchup, but the Magic routed Lebron and the Cavaliers – breaking my heart as a Cavaliers’ fan. My fondest memory from the Magic-Cavs series was that 3-pointer by Lebron with seconds to go in the Orlando series. Lowlight was that unsportsmanlike infraction committed by Lebron at the end of the series – the “no hand shake”, come on Lebron. Steven Jackson was traded after that Don Nelson tirade. Ron Artest to Lakers and Vince to the Magic.

There was Chris and Rihanna, Beyonce, Taylor Swift and that annoying Kanye West moment. JayZ had that stupid D.O.A song, Usher got a divorce and wrote a song called “Papers”. Maxwell new album was a hit, Y.E. Yang beat Tiger Woods, talking about Tiger Woods – oh boy! As to Mr. Woods, he had a fall from grace after that Thanksgiving accident-incident turned extramarital affair turned media standoff, turn public relations nightmare turned transgressions. Oh well, I am just saying – agent/publicist for hire here – resume updated.

Delonte West and Gilbert Arenas had weapons issues, T.I. went to jail on weapons charges and his girlfriend had a reality show. Rodney Harrison retired, Junior Seau wanted to come back, Derrick Brooks had tryouts, Mr. Haynesworth went to Washington, Shaq to Cleveland and Dwayne Wade refused to resign – oh boy. Twitter became a bigger hit with athletes, artists and actors. Chad OchoCinco coined the phrase “child please” and Deion Saunders shouts “pay the man” when Joshua Cribbs runs one back. Chalmers of the Heat, started all 82 games off the bench, while Michael Beasley puts himself on blast on twitter result ing in a 30 day stay in rehab – too much disclosure there.

Hollywood lost Farah Fawcett and Britney Murphy,the Twilight Saga New Moon, Avatar and Transformers were all box office hits. Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry gone too soon and Brett Favre needs to know its too soon to show up his coach in national TV. Jamarcus Russell still overrated, Dolphins still struggles on December.

How I could I forget the Mike Vick story and the fact that he ended up on my favorite team the Eagles. The unselfishness of Donavan McNabb, the leadership of Andy Reid, the over-bearing Jerry Jones. The Tony Romo’s excuses, the heart of Darren Sproles.

Michael Jordan to the Hall Of Fame and Charles Barkley to golf rehab for that god-awful swing. So as I sip the last bit of eggnog and brings this blog to a close. Here are my final shouts outs: Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson, Lebron James, Chad OchoCinco, Akron Ohio High School wrestler amputee Leroy Sutton and his best friend Dartanyon Crockett – for their display of courage and friendship. John Daly for his courageous attempt coming back to the PGA Tour, Stewart Cink for his British Open win, Ray Allen and his son, Shaq for his kind gesture helping that North Carolina family, Senator Ted Kennedy for his contribution to mankind and politics. The Female US Golf team for winning the Solheim Cup and the boys for the Ryder Cup. Get a grip to Tiger Woods, James Harrison, Gilbert Arenas, Tom Brady (for snobbing Susie Kolber), Flozell Adams, Adalius Thomas, Brett Favre, JayZ, Kanye West, Sarah Palin (you are not a rogue), Charlie Weiss, Roger Goodell of the No Fun League. Tom Cable gets a thumbs down and shame on you Brett Favre for refusing to sit down, causing shame to your coach and yes Tiger Woods earns my god-awful swing for being a swinger… I am out.

The Sports World Mourns The Lost of Chris Henry

In a another case of how sports imitates life, today the sports world mourns the lost of Bengals receiver Chris Henry, who died on Thursday after falling from a moving truck in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday, according to police. Henry was a mere 26 years old.

News reports are citing to an apparent argument between Henry and with his fiancée at a home, when she drove away in a pickup truck. Henry jumped onto the bed of the truck, but fell out of the vehicle about a half-mile away and was later discovered by police.

A police spokesperson said homicide detectives were assigned to the case, but that no charges have been filed.

A seemingly perpetually troubled player, the hot-tempered Henry was arrested at various times for marijuana possession, gun possession and assault, earning him the epithet of “one-man crime wave” from a judge – and his ouster from the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008.

But after the Bengals’ owner gave Henry a second chance, the athlete seemed to have straightened out, staying out of trouble and focusing his off time on his fiancée and the three children they were raising.

Bernhard Langer Off To Fast Start In 2009

Bernhard Langer Off To a Fast Start

Champions Tour Player, Bernhard Lange and reigning Tour Rookie of the Year finished his final round four-under par – 68 on Sunday, January 25, 2009 in Kaupulehu-Kona, HI to hold off Andy Bean for a one-stroke win at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Golf Club.
The cool, calm and collective, Langer trailed by one entering the final round, posting a 68 which gave him the win at 18-under-par and 198 for the tournament.
After the round, a smiling Langer said “there is nothing better than winning,” collecting a purse of $315,000 for the victory. Bean fired a six-under 66 to take second at 17-under-par 199. Jay Haas carded a two-under 70 to end alone in third at minus-15, while Jeff Sluman (70) and Mark McNulty (67) were one back at 14-under-par 202.
Second-round leader Brad Bryant stumbled to a three-over 75 to end in a share of eighth place. Bryant, the 2007 U.S. Senior Open champion, has led after two rounds on four occasions and has lost all four of those events. He has played in the last group 11 times and has won just one of those titles.

Langer’s come-from-behind win is the fifth in the last six years at this event. Things didn’t look good for Langer at the start. He bogeyed the second to fall three back. He and Bryant birdied the third, then Langer two-putted for birdie on four to get within two.

A par on the par-three fifth was good enough to give Langer a two-shot lead as Bryant found the water right of the green twice en route to a quadruple-bogey seven. That dropped Bryant to minus-13 and he didn’t recover from there.

A confident Langer two-putted for birdie on the seventh to remain two clear of Bean and Haas. Langer got up and down for birdie on 10 to move to 17-under, where he was one ahead of Bean, who eagled the 10th to briefly gain a share of the lead.

Bean bogeyed the 11th, then Langer rolled in a long birdie putt on 12. Langer stumbled to a bogey on the 13th to fall into a share of the lead with Bean, who birdied the 13th and 14th to get to 17-under.
Langer rebounded with a two-putt birdie on the par-five 14th to move one ahead at minus-18. Langer parred the final four holes to collect his fifth Champions Tour title.
Langer said that he did not watch the Leaderboard, instead he just hammered away at the course, which was probably a good idea since other players like Bean and Haas where footsteps behind.
Bean poured in three birdies in a four-hole span from the fourth to jump to 14-under, where he was one behind. He briefly grabbed a share of the lead with a 13-foot eagle putt on the 10th.
He stumbled to a bogey on 11 to slip to 15-under. Bean birdied 13 and 14 to grab apiece of the lead, but like Langer, he could only par the final four holes to finish one back.
“I couldn’t do any better. I played well today and I just needed a few more putts to fall,” Bean stated. “I’ve certainly started off well. I certainly hit a couple of bad shots this week, but all in all I had a good start.”

Other contenders on the final day were Gil Morgan with a 66 and John Cook with 68 who shared sixth place at 13-under-par 203. Bryant was joined in eighth place at minus-12 by Loren Roberts 68.
Gary Player, 73, broke his age for the third straight day. He carded rounds of 70-71-71 to share 27th place at minus-four. He has now bettered his age 12 times and matched it 12 other times on the Champions Tour.