In defense of Nicklaus and the spelling bee kids. . .

I basically watched ESPN all day Friday, so in an attempt to convince my bosses I was “working", I’d like to share some thoughts. . .

First off, I think Jack’s got the right idea as far as this whole bunker mess. Since when did it become okay to have bunkers that were more manicured than Ryan Seacrest?

Pine Valley, regarded by many as the best golf course in America, doesn’t use rakes. Frankly, I think the tour should let the bunkers go starting on Monday, thus making lumpy, PENAL lies in sand traps. If you look in the rule book, bunkers are defined as hazards. When you hit your ball in a water hazard, you’re penalized a stroke. When you hit your ball in a sand bunker, someone brings you a Corona.

Secondly, I’m a little disgusted about how ESPN and ABC report and promote the spelling bee kids. The highlights they show are basically the kids at their most “home-schooled” moment. Then the SportsCenter anchors – forgetting, as usual, they aren’t athletes themselves and put on make-up for a living– turn Varsity Letter Jacket on the spellers and ridicule them as the go through “highlights". I mean why didn’t they just bring the winner on SportsCenter and give him a wedgie?

It’s a shame when the characters on MTV’s “Laguna Beach” are taken more seriously than truly gifted, real live kids. Parent company of ESPN/ABC Disney is probably doing this because it’s these kids who weren’t watching hours of their crap shows like “That’s So Raven” and “Lizzy Maguire” that are dumbing adolescents down by the episode.

Now about the Pistons/Heat. . .

ESPN has been glorifying the Heat the entire series so I’m sure they’re tickled pink, and the comparisons of Wade to Jordan just because Wade barfed last night were simply shameless and over-dramatized.

Not that I’m bitter.

Thankfully the World Cup is around the corner. I’m curious if Mr. Balls Out will be rooting for the Czechs or the US, who face each other in their first game. . .?