Ten years past his glory days, why Tiger Woods is still the best thing in golf. New column; plus Panthers embrace of Stoneman Douglas, the incongruous buoyancy of Marlins spring training, latest Back In My Day video (Concerts!) & more
GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It's SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24. The Dolfans in your life don't know it yet, but they need this. Click on Amazon or Barnes & Noble to check out our book, Fins At 50. 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top 10, columns on Derek Jeter and Stoneman Douglas shooting, your verdict on Jeter, Dear Greg & more. 3) Join us on Twitter @gregcote. Also Facebook and Instagram.
TEN YEARS PAST HIS GLORY DAYS, TIGER IS STILL THE GREATEST SHOW IN GOLF: Tiger Woods is playing in this week's Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. I was up there for Thursday's first round -- Tiger shot even-par 70 -- and wrote how loyal his massive support remains even as he hasn't won in a long time. Entering today's third round he is one-over, four shots off the lead. For my column, click: Tiger Still Best Thing In Golf, But Reasons Why Have Changed.
PANTHERS RETURN HOME WITH EMBRACE OF STONEMAN DOUGLAS: The Florida Panthers, the local pro team closest both logistically and emotionally to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, tonight plays its first home game since last week's mass shooting that killed 17 at the school. The occasion will be in manhy ways a tribute to the victims of the tragedy. In my latest column I explore the bond between the Panthers and the Parkland community, and marvel at the inspiration arising from the tragedy thanks to student activists now taking on the fight against assault weapons. For that latest column, click: MSD On Their Jerseys, A Community In Their Hearts. For my first Stoneman Douglas column in the wake of the shooting, click: Sports Mourns. We All Mourn, Then Wait For The Next Tragedy While Leaders Do Nothing. Quick aside: Fascinating, emotional CNN Town Hall from the Panthers arena last night. Give Marco Rubio and the NRA spokesperson this much, at least: They showed up and faced the anger. #NeverAgain
AN UNEXPECTED AND INCONGRUOUS BUOYANCY AS MARLINS OPEN FULL SPRING TRAINING: You may hate what Derek Jeter (pictured) has done to the Marlins, trading away Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich and Dee Gordon in the latest fire sale. I hate it, as I wrote in this recent column: Jeter's Shameful Decimation Of Marlins Overshadows Season. But I was in Jupiter for Monday's start of full spring training and sensed and saw a fresh-start feel, a clubhouse buying in to Jeter's plan. The Captain has instilled in the team the idea this may be bitter pill but that it was necessary. After slamming Jeter in the aforementioned column, I went up there looking for positives. And found some. For that column, click: Will You Make The Leap Of Faith The Marlins Are Asking?
THE LATEST 'BACK IN MY DAY': CONCERTS!: The new 'Back In My day' video form Tuesday's LeBatard Show on ESPN Radio, reminisces about the days when music fans waited in long lines, sometimes overnight, to buy tickets. One note: I made a mistake. I refer in the video to a Springsteen fan who knows how to sing "Rosalinda's Eyes" backward. That, of course, is a Billy Joel song. I think I was thinking of the Springsteen song, "Rosalita," but misspoke.
Comments