March Madness Is Here

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports March 15, 2021 #839 Up next… March Madness Is Here

After further review… It’s March Madness time again and, indeed, the prominent word is “Madness!” With our country’s pandemic still in place as we try to safely open schools, indoor- dining, and with sports opportunities becoming more prevalent, will this year’s March Madness operate as it did in 2020? It probably won’t. Of course, there is a plan in place, but the real question is will they be able to make it happen? Stay tuned!

The present NCAA plan is to hold this tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana with all 64 schools in or about that location. The plan that has been in operation in “normal” times is that selected teams would play their first game in the higher-seeded T*E*A*M’s home team arena. As the tournament progresses the winning teams would play in divisional tournaments with the winners moving on the next round and ultimately going on to the “Final Four” usually played on Saturday with the two winners playing for the NCAA Championship the following Monday night.
At this writing, all 64 teams will be in or about Indianapolis with Lucas Stadium (home of the NFL Colts) being the site of the final four. Those Saturday semi-final games would split Lucas in half. The question is what is the process of even getting to Lucas? Like the guy asking: “How do you get to Carnegie Hall (in NYC) ?” The answer is “Practice! Practice! Practice!” The question here is, ”How do you get to Lucas?” The answer is: “Win! Win! WIN! In past years it was easily determined with the higher seed being at their home arena. But for 2021, various arenas in and around the Indianapolis complex had to be secured. Incidentally, ALL players, coaches, 96 officials, and media will be housed in and about the city of Indianapolis.
Let’s look at those playing locations.
  1. Indiana University in Bloomington is some 54 miles (1 hour + driving).
  2. Purdue University is 65 miles (1 hour+ driving).
  3. Butler University near downtown Indy.
  4. Bankers Life Fieldhouse is just minutes away from Central Indianapolis.
  5. Indianapolis State Fairgrounds is near the city.
  6. And Lucas Stadium will have 2 courts available, but will only use one at a time.
These six courts will be available throughout the tournament with play scheduled morning, afternoon, and evening. All of the above is tentative at this writing. It will be an interesting tournament.
Will you be watching CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV throughout the tournament from March 22nd – April 4th?

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Jim’s books “On the TunneySide of Sports” as well as “Chicken Soup for the Sports Fans Soul” are full of baseball stories. Each sells for $20. However, as a 2021-year special if two are bought, a third is included free of charge. All autographed with no tax and free shipping. Mail to: Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953  Be well!

See the website for all products.

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Reflections On Tiger Woods

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Jim Tunney Ed.D
Tiger Woods

Photo by my son Michael Tunney: Tiger Woods as he walked past the 28th tee on the final practice day before the start of the US Open.

On the TunneySide of Sports March 8, 2021 #838 Up next… Reflections on Tiger Woods

After further review… The tragic automobile accident that nearly took Tiger Woods’ life recently could certainly be a lesson for all.

Remembering my classroom driver education teaching days of many years ago, I can vividly recall my continuous stern warnings to those tenth graders: Speed Kills!

While it may not have been announced by the investigation, we certainly can assume that, given that no physical impairment was confirmed, speed was a factor on that tricky road in Southern California.

While this accident doesn’t compare to the 500,000 lives that have been lost in the US due to the coronavirus, this article is not written to explain comparisons. Automobile accidents happen every day and many with fatalities. Tiger is lucky to be alive. The tragedy is his loss in the golfing world. That sport like so many others has lost superstars over the years. But what is it that seems to make this tragedy so special?

Tiger has had many transgressions in his 45 years. It was recently commented that Tiger has probably had more surgeries than wins on the PGA circuit. In fact, in an interview on Sunday (two days before this accident) with CBS announcer Jim Nantz at the Riviera Course, Tiger was asked if he would be ready for The Masters in Augusta, Georgia (April 8-11). Tiger responded that he hopes so, but it will depend on the doctor’s evaluation. It sure will!

Tiger has had five back surgeries and five knee surgeries. Most will remember that Tiger came on the scene when he appeared on the Mike Douglas television show in 1978 accompanied by his father Earl, who was his mentor and staunch encourager. On that show, Tiger demonstrated his putting and golf swing to the amazement of Douglas and his viewing audience. His amateur play was about as auspicious as it could get. He turned professional at age of 20 and began winning immediately.

He won four PGA Tour events including his first major, The Masters, winning by 12 strokes at the (youngest ever) age of 21. He has continued winning with 82 PGA Tour wins tying Sam Snead’s record.

Tiger Woods

Photo by my son Michael Tunney: Tiger Woods on the 2nd green.

With Tiger as his idol, Colin Morikawa won the World Golf Championship in Bradenton, Florida by a 3-stroke advantage. This was the first PGA tournament following Tiger’s accident. His presence was prominent at the WGC with several players adopting Tiger’s wardrobe style of traditionally wearing black pants and a red shirt on the final (fourth) day of the tournament.

Morikawa, who was a year old when Tiger turned pro, was also planning on that type of wardrobe, but his ordered package failed to arrive on time. Colin had a tear in his eye in his TV exit interview.

Will you log-on to describe your admiration (or not) of Tiger Woods?

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Jim’s books “On the TunneySide of Sports” as well as “Chicken Soup for the Sports Fans Soul” are full of baseball stories. Each sells for $20. However, as a 2021-year special if two are bought, a third is included free of charge. All autographed with no tax and free shipping. Mail to: Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953  Be well!

See the website for all products.

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Congratulations Are Due!

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

Pebble Beach Pro AmOn the TunneySide of Sports March 1, 2021 #837 Up next… Congratulations Are Due

After further review… The Coronavirus Pandemic continues to wreak havoc on our country and the world. While we must maintain our safety by wearing masks (which we all dislike) and maintaining physical distancing (will we ever get back to congratulatory hugs?), we all so desperately desire to resume a normal lifestyle. Those in the world of sports remain determined to schedule games and sporting events. While it is certainly challenging, we do what we can to maintain normalcy.

Such a challenge recently faced the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in that beach-town community. In order to follow state guidelines, the “AM” –meaning “amateur” had to be canceled. For more than 75 years this tournament – started by Bing Crosby and initially held in the southern California community of Rancho Santa Fe — had to be held without amateur partners of professional golfers and without the massive crowds that it usually draws.

The Monterey Peninsula Foundation along with its partner the Pebble Beach Company as well as its corporate sponsor, AT&T, successfully put on a “Celebrity Shootout” with six golfers participating: Bill Murray, a perennial favorite, teamed with Arizona Cardinals Wide-receiver Larry Fitzgerald, competing against Alfonso Ribeiro who partnered with Macklemore (yes, just one name) and Kathryn Newton and Kira K. Dixon (former Miss America) with the latter two as winners for this AT&T “Every Shot Counts Charity” $1.6 million dollar event. Jim Nantz was M/C.

The 2021 Pro-Am champion was Daniel Berger who stood on the 18h tee box tied for the lead needing a birdie on this iconic Par 5 finishing hole. Going through his mind had to be that on Saturday (the day before), Berger had hit his tee-shot out-of-bounds for a double-bogey. Berger not only won that hole and the tournament but sank a 31-foot eagle putt for 65 – 7 under par!

The tournament for the pro golfers and their caddies had good weather. The “Crosby” as it was called for years traditionally drew rainy weather with everything from sprinkles to stormy to blizzard conditions. For the most part, golfers don’t mind what the conditions are –“just get me on the course and I’ll play”. Spectators who are golf-enthusiasts don’t seem to have a concern about weather conditions either. Mostly, they just want to follow their favorite golfer wanting to learn how and which club to use for each shot.

Playing both the Pebble Beach golf links and Spyglass Hill courses this field of 156 pro golfers played four days of challenging golf. The pre-tournament favorite Jordan Spieth, while not the winner this time, had a 62 on the first day (tying the course record at Pebble), but sadly finished in a tie for third. Maverick McNealy, a Stanford graduate who once lived on Pebble’s 16th  fairway finished second.

Will you join me in congratulating the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the PBC and AT&T?

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Jim’s books “On the TunneySide of Sports” as well as “Chicken Soup for the Sports Fans Soul” are full of baseball stories. Each sells for $20. However, as a 2021-year special if two are bought, a third is included free of charge. All autographed with no tax and free shipping. Mail to: Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953  Be well!

See the website for all products.

Posted in Sports, Tunney Side of Sports Columns | Tagged | Leave a comment