Eureka...I Found It!!!!

As I drove home from the bowling alley last night at 9:15 p.m., I discovered the one true route. The route Jere Hart tells everyone about. I left the bowling alley at 30th and Slide and drove north along Slide to Loop 289, thence NW along Loop 289 to University Avenue, thence North on University to Kent Street and thusly, home to the place on Manioca Rd. All lights green...none red. Yes, God...there is one route in Lubbock that is not all red.

Mr. Hart...my heartfelt apologies.

The "N-Word"

Nigger...there, I said it, and I have no qualms about it. I am at a loss as to why we cannot have a discussion in this country about this word without falling back on the 6th Grade-esque use of "N-word". I brought this up at Thursday night's meeting, and you would have thought I had publicly lynched Bill Cosby. There was a shocked gasp from my otherwise intelligent friends, when I asked what was wrong with saying the word "Nigger" in the context of "I believe the word Nigger is very offensive."

Just for the record, I do find the word "Nigger" very offensive. I used this word extensively when I was younger, and even made a habit of passing on jokes relating to this word. It was while hanging out with a black friend of mine in Littlefield in 1985, that it was made clear to me what this word meant to Black people. I ceased using the word in that context at that point and have not done it since. I promised one of the TNT members, I would have this discussion with that same Black friend to get his take on it, and I intend to follow up on that.

I am not interested in discussing the strange fact that it seems to be okay for Blacks to use that word, but not Whites. That is not the point. It is a word in the English language, and in the proper context, should be used. I mean...what the "F-word" is wrong with us?

Little League World Series

I must admit, I began watching the Western All Stars in the LLWS with some trepidation. These kiddos had waltzed through the regionals with very little competition. Then, with all of the hype from the hometown still buzzing in their ears, I was afraid they would show up in Williamsport, overconfident and a little too cocky, and get their butts handed to them.

What a pleasant surprise to see them play solid ball, as a team and win handily. (An 80 mph fastball doesn't hurt.) These guys are conducting themselves wonderfully, and graciously. Listening to, and watching the coaches helps me see why. These coaches are nothing like the stereotypical Little League coaches I have heard so much about. As I watched the Georgia team get beat the other night, I saw a coach criticizing and ripping his players, who, in turn played right up to his expectations. The Lubbock coaches (and in fairness, the coaches from Minnesota and Arizona) continually encouraged their young charges, imploring them to relax and have fun.

When asked in interviews about a stellar pitching performance or a couple of home runs, these players constantly refer to the teamwork, and shy away from relishing the credit which is fairly deserved.

My fears assuaged, I will watch this team to the bitter end, and hope they can win it all. They have proven to be a better team than I imagined...both on the field and off.

Impending Doom - Lifted

It struck me this weekend that my recent feeling of impending doom had lifted. Maybe it was the trip to Colorado...I don't know. But it is gone for now.

I was mowing the yard twice on Saturday. I had to mow it twice to clean up the mess my nephew made of it while we were in Colorado. I think he had the mower in road gear and just mowed in random patterns. There were gouges and burned spots all over and several bales of loose grass left in piles all over the yard.

But it was during the second mowing of the back that I suddenly realized how good I felt, and how much I enjoyed recovering my yard from its butchering. God, I really love this house.

Well...back to living for a while until the next feeling sets in, as I know it will.

Summary of a Bad Tournament Outing

For those who do not know, in match play if your opponent fails to show up, you still have to play 10 holes in an 18 hole match and 5 holes in a 9 hole match. At that point you have won enough holes to win the match even if your opponent shows up late.

What that means is, if I had failed to even go to the golf course, my opponents would have had to play a total of 15 holes. As it turned out, I did show up, and my opponents only had to play 21 holes. That is about as bad as one can play in a match play tournament.

And no, I did not win an umbrella. I finished the tournament as badly as I started.

Maybe next year...

Well, That Was a Lot of Fucking Fun

Began my first 9 hole match at 8:50 this morning. After tying the first two holes, he won four straight. And just like that, at 10:20, my tournament was over. This guy hit one bogey and five pars, and pretty much made me look foolish.

Tomorrow, I play in the "Umbrella Flight" with all the other losers. It is simply nine holes, stroke play. The low score in each flight wins...you guessed it...an umbrella. Woo hoo.

Disaster at The Dos

First round...I won the first four holes and we tied the 5th. For the first time in my life, I began a match by getting way out ahead. I never won another hole, as my opponent rattled of 5 pars and a bogey to win six straight. Basically, my putter abandoned me again. During the six hole stretch, I three putted three times and missed two putts inside 2 feet.

In the end, he won 9 of the last 10 holes, and I lost on the 15th hole...down five.

Now, to get a chance at third place, all I have to do is win three 9 hole matches tomorrow, and another 9 hole match Sunday morning. That would get me into the Consolation 18 hole match Sunday afternoon. Damn, I hate uphill climbs.

More tomorrow...

Thursday - Oh Calcutta

My quiet round by myself at 8:10 this morning was not to be. I was paired up with the official worst golfer in the tournament. This guy (Bob Carey), with a 30 handicap was listed as the highest handicap of all 144 players in the tournament. In short, I had to play with Pratas this morning. To make matters worse, he was from Queens, was 70 years old, and did not stop talking for the entire round. Needless to say, today's practice round began as bad as yesterday's. All hope was fading.

I hit the driver like a real golfer. Bombing 280 yard drives square down the middle of the fairway. I would then proceed to butcher the remaining 100 yards to the green to convert a nice drive into a bogey or double bogey. Then came the 9th hole. Bombed a drive, and only had 245 yards to the green on a par five. I turned to Bob and said, "I may as well hit, I can't get it that far." I then hit my old "wooden" wood straight on a line to the green, directly into the group putting out in front of us. Found my ball on the back of the green with a 25' putt for eagle. Yes, I three putted for par. Took a 46 to the back nine.

Continued to butcher perfect drives as I worked my way to 6 over with the three hardest holes to play. Finished with three straight pars (damn near birdie on the last two) to shoot a "42 on the back". Final score - 88...but glimmers of hope for the way I finished.

Now to the title of the post...The Calcutta was held tonight. For non-golfers, a Calcutta is where people bid on the competitors in a tournament, auction style, in an attempt to buy the golfer's chances of winning their flight. It is gambling. All of the money bid on the 16 golfers in my flight goes into a pot, and is paid out proportionally to the 4 top finishers. Last year, my second place finish paid out over $800.

Well, I was auctioned off for $270...the second highest amount in my flight. Somebody apparently thinks I have the ability to win this damn thing.

We begin to find out tomorrow at 8:08 a.m. A perfect tee time as far as I am concerned. More tomorrow...

Wednesday Practice Round

Well hell...I have no confidence now. I shot a 92 today with only three pars. I play again tomorrow at 8:10 by myself. I will take the opportunity to concentrate and focus on what needs to be done.

More tomorrow...

How Easily We Get Spoiled

Made it to Gunnison last night at 6:30 p.m. Of course the first thing we have to do is reconnect to the world through the laptop. Gaaaaa...dial-up connection. Khiva and I both had a birthday waiting for the damn thing to download. To make matters worse, both Windows and Macafee were doing their automatic update thing. I could not get this site to finish loading, so I gave up.

This morning, I am sitting in the parking lot of the Alpine Inn, taking advantage of the wireless connection. I have got the virus updates complete and am currently working through the Windows updates.

Thought I would take advantage of the time and make a quick post.

12:10 today, I get to hit the Dos Rios course with a couple of the Old Fart Gang to get reacquainted with the course. Tomorrow at 8:10 is my official practice round. Tomorrow night I attend the Calcutta player auction. Wonder how much I will go for this year. I drew about $175 last year, and I am prepared to invest up to $200 in myself this year. But, the mafia consortium's up here pool their money and buy everybody, so I will probably end up splitting my purchase price with them, and splitting whatever money I happen to win.

Friday begins the match play. The prize for winning your first 18 hole match? You get to turn around and play another 18 hole match immediately. Lose your first match, and you are faced with having to win three 9 hole matches on Saturday to get back into the consolation bracket.

I hope Friday proves to be a long day.

I'll let you know...Al, Damian was wanting updates, as he invested $20 in me himself. Could you forward this link to him again, as this is probably the only place I will be posting results.