Be seen and not heard, unless it's good music

A series of truly unrelated items today, catching up on the end of what turned out to be a tiring weekend.

I think I’m still not in the true rhythm of the baseball, the day-game-after-a-night-game thing and getting to the park at 3 on Saturday afternoon for a game that started about 8:30 kinda wears a fellow out.

Although I do live by the adage that the hardest turnaround in baseball – at least for a Grunt’s lifestyle – is day-game-after-a-day-game.

No clue right now what’s next on my fill-in career but there’s a homestand this week so I figure there’ll be some time with TOD.

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Did Steve Williams really say it was “the best win of my life” after caddying for Adam Scott this weekend?

What? Did Scott have a lighter bag than anyone else?

Seriously.

Who is this guy? He was/is a bully, either an enabler or the most naïve man in the history of men, an otherwise anonymous minor league race car driver in New Zealand and he should go home every night and worship at the mantle of Tiger Woods while looking at his multi-million dollar bank account.

Seriously.

Now, I find it almost impossible to feel any sympathy for Tiger Woods, let’s get that straight right now.

But a trash-talking caddy who owes pretty much his existence to the guy who did all the actual work?

Yeesh.

I don’t know Adam Scott from, well, from Adam but as long as that goof’s carrying his clubs, I hope he never wins another tournament.

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Any meteorologists out there?

Could someone please explain to me on the most humid day I’ve had in maybe ever – temperature 34 C, real feel about 46 C – how can a violent thunderstorm run through downtown Baltimore and leave it its wake EVEN MORE HUMIDITY!

Aren’t storms supposed to clear the air?

I don’t get it.

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First time covering games at Camden and, yes, it goes on the list of top major league parks.

Small enough to be quaint, big enough to be comfortable, new enough to be functional.

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Obligatory basketball update:

The senior women are in China for three games this week, the senior men are off before reconvening in Toronto at the end of the week for the big games against Belgium on Saturday and Sunday.

Raptors?

Still dead quiet but at one point I was told it’d be August before they got serious about re-doing the front office and hiring someone with some title to work with Bryan and it’s Aug. 8 so maybe there’s some movement coming on that. Better make the call after the baby plane touches down later this morning.

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I think the Irregulars – at least those who’ve been here over the weekend – know I hold Brett Lawrie in quite high regard.

Kid had a great first series (the story is here) but, man, getting a good quote’s like drawing blood from a stone.

I know he’s a rookie and they’re supposed to be seen and not heard but I have visions of Crash Davis and Nuke LaLoosh when we were standing around talking to him on Sunday.

(And this is right where I was going to link the clip of the cliché seen from Bull Durham but there’s a very bad word in it so I won’t).

Anyway, he seems to be a good kid and a helluva ballplayer, hope the other aspect comes around.

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I think this week – well, after the mail tomorrow, that is – we should chronicle airport pet peeves, like we did driving a while ago.

Here’s one:

Airports that don’t have good coffee places on the other side of security, a place where you can maybe get a latte or expresso or a croissant or something like that.

Because of our Institutionalized Security Paranoia, there will be no transporting of liquids through security, even caffeine-laced small paper cups.

And that means in some places we’re left to get small kiosk coffee that tastes like sludge and definitely doesn’t get a morning off to a good start.

True story:

It was more than 10 years ago – pre-9/11, I mean – and I’m at Reagan National in Washington.

Approach security check, have Starbucks with me and that was when you used to be able to carry a drink to the other side.

Well, this guy was having none of that and insisted I put my latte THROUGH THE X-RAY MACHINE!

No, it didn’t spill but, no, it didn’t warm it up, either.

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So I’m in cab or the lobby or somewhere and the guy on the radio says it’s The Edge’s birthday today and that gets me thinking:

Is U2 the best band of my adult era?

Has to be, right?

I’m a Man Of A Certain Vintage and since I neared the three decade mark, this has been the best music I can think of.

You?

I remember the buzz around the Joshua Tree release (I was working in St. John’s and it was huge) and if this wasn’t the best track, not sure what was.

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Speaking of mail, which we’ll have here tomorrow since I’m doing some travelling today and there’s really nothing going on:

Q: Good morning Doug. Since there may be no NBA games in October I was wondering what you think you might be doing? More fill in gigs? Maybe follow the Toronto Rock? Pucks (Ha ha ha ha! I jest). And what role or team would you like have/follow if the NBA lockout does extend?

Richard H, Whitby

A: We – that being The Tall Foreheads and I – haven’t had that discussion left but, trust me, they’ll find something for me to do.

Personally, I don’t really care, I’m pretty easy going and will do what they ask and be happy. Maybe I’ll do more web stuff – that’d be pretty cool – and expand the blog a wee bit. But it’s all up in the air at the moment until we get some indication of what might go on with the basketball.

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Comments

[ES]

Should be espresso and not expresso. One of my pet peeves. Thanks for the great blog as always!

[Matthieu]

I don't know if it's been mentioned alreay but I just read somewhere that Valančiūnas had 26 points and 11 rebounds in his debuts with Lithuania against the Czech Republic on August 6. Some highlighs can be see there: http://youtu.be/-GsmvHygGw4

[andrea]

U2 best band of our era (i am 40) ? Hmmmm, not sure. Whart about the police? Let's start a debate...

[Jacques]

Doug, I totally agree with your comments on Steve Williams. If it wasn't for Tiger, where would he be?? As for Adam Scott, he's having a great year since switching to the long putter. I do see him winning a few more on Tour, unfortunately, his odds are good for this weekends PGA Championship. Why doesn't your boss let you cover a few PGA events? would you be interested? on another note, do caddies get to go into the Golf Hall of Fame?

[Mark]

The Steve Williams shot was funny (but Tiger deserved it).

But before you go to far into the "Tiger made you" argument, you might want to have a look at Williams' job history. He caddied for Greg Norman and Ray Floyd, for Pete's sake.

I know that Tiger has somewhat dominated the golf landscape for awhile, and made Williams a lot of money, but Williams became Tiger's caddy because he was already one of the top caddies on tour. Tiger didnt make him. He didnt make Cowan either.

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

Are you getting enough sleep?? Is the heat 'n humidity, and lack of hoops news making you a bit extra cranky?

Yesterday's bashing about MLB umpires seemed a little bit out of character for a guys who goes to the end of the earth to support the NBA's officials against any and all criticism of the job they do, (cuz really, NBA refs don't try to make themselves part of the game at all, they are transparent...um Joe Crawford vs Tim Duncan ring a bell??) Today you are against a guy who has exhibited nothing but loyalty to his employer??

I have no idea what the dynamic was between Tiger and Steve, but I do know that Steve hadn't be able to continue to earn much of a living these past three years while Tiger first tried to put his life back together, and then tried to find his game again. In the entire Elin/Tiger dramarama Tiger's caddy AND FRIEND stayed conspiculously quiet regarding any dirt he may have had; in other words he had his friend (and employer's) back. Nice repayment of that loyalty Edrick.

Steve was utterly loyal to Tiger, up until after asking permission to hump a bag for someone else, and maybe make a little bit of cash, he was dumped by his friend. I don't know Steve's financial circumstances, and I suspect you don't either. Regardless of the cash he made with Tiger, Steve has the right to continue to make a living doesn't he? Maybe he's lost a boatload in the market, maybe his wife likes shoes like Emalda Marcos, whatever...the guy has worked a handful of days in 2 years!!

Steve savouring poetic justice of helping the new guy win on a course that the old guy used to flat out own, and rubbing the other guy's nose in it a bit, is sauce for the goose as my granny used to say.

I know we will continue to agree to disagree, and I still read your opinions everyday, your takes are that good.

Cheers amigo!

marc in panama

[KC]

U2 blows. Pseudo-poetic drivel. Worse than the Eagles even, and to quote the Dude, "I hate the f@&*ing Eagles man."

[Geoff Read]

Hey Doug,

I'm liking you as a baseball grunt.... Is Griffin getting nervous yet?

U2? They're certainly in the conversation... something about them has always felt a little forced and artificial to me though. It all seems a bit insincere or something. But Joshua Tree was a great album, no doubt about it, and Rattle and Hum and Achtung Baby were good too. Since then, well, they've had their moments but they've produced a lot of filler too. Beautiful Day is a great song. I've seen them live twice - once on the Zoo TV tour when I thought they were amazing, and once on the most recent tour when I was decidedly underwhelmed.

My nomination would be Tom Petty. The chronology of his career pretty much matches U2's but to me he's been more consistently good. His 80s stuff was great and then he switched sounds after recording with Roy Orbison and the Traveling Wilburys. After that Full Moon Fever, Into the Great Wide Open, and Wildflowers match up nicely to U2's best in my mind. His release from a few years ago, Highway Companion, was top notch too although it got more or less ignored on mainstream radio. I've seen him live twice as well, also once in the early 90s and once more recently, and while he's not a particularly dynamic performer the sound is great and his music is tailor-made for a live show.

That's my two cents!

[doug]

I agree with you on Steve Williams 150%, just a boorish,classless guy...and what appalled me further was how the gallery was cheering him as the round went on and on the 18th it was hard to decipher who had actually won the tourney...him or Scott, plus television just played it up...just sad and the saddest thing of all was/is Stevies way in which he is conducting himself...he needs a reality check, the caddies union needs a Oakley type to take Stevie in the back locker room and have a "talk" with him....Brett Lawrie can play, quick fast swing and plays the game the right way, 3 "castoffs" from other teams Escobar,Lawrie,and Rasmus are players, what were becoming Raiders north of the baseball world??....Rattle and Hum and The Wall are my 2 fav movies of the music genre, U2 put out of some classic early tunes, have sort of lost there way lately, but still put on a hell of a concert....Ireland sure does something right, produces musicians,writers and lately golfers at a high rate,hanging out in pubs does people good...

[Lorie]

Welcome back to Less Humid Humidity (hopefully!) Doug,
You know, I was going to launch an UnHoly Crusade to have the logo of this part of the cyberworld be: "There's Not Enough Beer To Watch This Game". Now, however, I am torn. I'm thinking @doug might have come up with a keeper. How's this strike you as a decent slogan for us all: "Hanging Out In Pubs Does People Good"?! Cheers! And I'm off to a place - if not to do some good, at least to allow some good to be done!!!

[Chuck]

Where did you work in St. John's?
I'm heading home there next week, I'll be sure to send my regards on your behalf.

[Landon]

Doug, I hate to provide a lot of praise on people - for fear of bloating egos - but your take on Steve Williams could not have been better. Seriously, the only reason why he is a story is because Tiger made him something like $10M. Shut up, carry bags, move on.

[grits]

Love U2, was always partial to "One Tree Hill" from the Joshua Tree album, never understood why it never got its due http://youtu.be/WfKhVV-7lxI

How about the pending re-release of Achtung Baby, the complete uber edition is only $309 on Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Achtung-Baby-20th-Anniversary-Deluxe/dp/B005FVA63A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312827272&sr=8-1

Wait, they throw in a sticker set and sunglasses, that explains it.

Can someone get me tickets to the TIFF opening night gala of the U2 Achtung Baby documentary movie "From the Sky Down"?

[John]

Couldn't agree more with KC, U2 blows big time!!!! ALL their songs sound the same!

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Steve Williams? Caddie. Very caddie. Can't wait for the documentary: "Caddyshat".
Cheers.

[Boko]

I get the impression that you'd make a good food, drink & music critic :-)

[Dean]

Watching JV play in his senior team debut, makes me think only one thing:

We NEED a guard who can play the pick and roll, and use the lob far far better than Jose ever has, or Jared possibly could.

Please oh please, can the new GM fid us a PG who can do these things well !!!

[Richard Y]

Maybe as a new sideline you could be a media coach for Brett Lawrie - teach him how to answer questions and make the grunt's life a little easier!

[M]

Best band, Lyle Lovett's Large Band, they'd blow u-2, police and any other of those pop bands right off the continent in style, musicality and taste.

[Gordo]

Hey Doug. I just want us to imagine if our hockey team was gearing up for a major nternational competition with the Olympics at stake. Our Toronto newspapers would devote article after article on every aspect of training camp. It might even get a special section. So how does one who has the audacity to follow another sport that actual has a professional team this town, find any tidbit of info on our national basketball teams training camp. This is not a good sports town to say the least. I do have a question that maybe you could answer either now or soon. Will Brady Heaslip be playing for Canada or Baylor on Saturday

[Alex C]

Love U2, but have to put in a word for Freddie Mercury and Queen... Pink Floyd?

As with all these things, it's impossible to list just one.

I'm a seamhead at heart Doug, so have been enjoying the Jays reporting when I wake up here in the UK. Thanks as always for your hard work!

[faye@torontosecurityguardcompany]

Nice video....enjoyed watching it....Toronto Security Guard Company

[Tabber]

Sorry, Doug, have to disagree on Steve Williams, kept unemployed for 2-3 years then dumped by one of the top A-holes of the time after one tournament for Scott? Williams has gone way up in my estimation - used to dislike the guy for his tactics with Woods (cameras, etc.). I'll go along to get along with you on U2 - no serious objections. And I'm with you all the way on the MLB umpires - I'm tempted to try to get a ticket behind home plate just to crap on them all game long - "Ooh, nice call, I'm sooo glad I bought a ticket just to see you perform", "How come they don't annouce the umpire rotatioin before series so we can come see you?", etc. As with any sport, the best officials remain anonymous, and far too many in baseball have their names stick in my mind after the game. Keep up the good work!