2020 Masters Takeaway

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

The masters 2020

On the TunneySide of Sports November 30, 2020 #824 Up next… 2020 Masters Takeaway

After further review… Before we depart Augusta, Georgia this November, let us hope that all future Masters Golf tournaments will be played in the month of April where we can see the beautiful Azaleas in bloom. Although it must be said that the fall colors in November this year were a pleasant sight. Moreover, if the Masters returns in April (scheduled for April 5-11, 2021), we also know/hope that COVID-19 will be history.

In addition to the records set by the champion, Dustin Johnson, he returns as # 1 in the world. He led the 2020 Masters in scoring all 4 rounds and won by five shots. Followed closely in a tie for second was the 21-year old Australian Cameron Smith who became the first in Masters history to score under 70 all 4 rounds. With all the hall of fame golfers who preceded Smith, it’s hard to imagine he was the first to score that well.

Let us not forget Tiger Woods and his Masters’s accomplishments.  Tiger has won the Masters 5 times with his first win in 1997 at the age of 21, the same age as Smith in this year’s Masters. Only Jack Nicklaus has won more (six) with the last at age 46. Speaking of a golfer’s age, let us not forget German Bernard Langer who this year tied for 29th at age 63. If you are a golfer who is still playing in your 60s (and well you should be), you may know how exhausting playing four consecutively rounds of competitive golf can be.

Tiger now at age 44 had a disastrous score of 10 – no that is not a misprint — on hole #12 at Amen corner. Number 12, called the Golden Bell, sits in the far corner of Augusta National with Rae’s Creek crossing in front of the green. Tiger’s Bridgestone ball found itself (not floating) in that creek 3 times, then he 2-putted adding up to his 10. As he moved on to #13, appropriately called the Azalea, a sweeping dogleg left par 5, Tiger, was determined not to let that ten destroy him. He birdied five of the remaining six holes, scoring one-under for the tournament. How is that for never giving up?

How will you regain your confidence following a difficult incident in your life?

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Jim Tunney Dean of NFL RefereesStories from Jim’s adventures and people he has met can be found in “On the TunneySide of Sports” books now on sale just in time for Christmas giving. See the website for products.

You can also contact Jim directly (jim@jimtunney.com) to order your books and use PayPal or send a check to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953.

Thank you!

Jim Tunney

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Unlike Any Other

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports November 23, 2020 #823 Up next… Unlike Any Other

After further review… For years Jim Nantz, the Voice of CBS, has referred to The Masters as “A tradition unlike any other.”

The Masters held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta Georgia is so appropriately tagged because it is a tournament unlike any other with traditions unlike any golf tournament in the world. And 2020 took that iconic expression to a new level.

First and foremost is that at the Masters the customers are called Patrons. They are not allowed to lie on the ground but must sit in the bleachers or in chairs. No cell phones are permitted! Further, baseball caps must have the bill pointing forward. No cap is to be worn backward.

There is to be no running. At the Masters some years ago one of the TVs network’s best announcers said on-the-air “Look at that ‘mob’ of people” as they hurriedly followed a golfer from green-to-tee. That announcer was never allowed to be part of that television crew again.

While you and I may occasionally hit our golf ball into a sand trap, at the Masters they are called bunkers, not sand traps. A ball just off the fairway lands in the first cut, not the rough. And you play the first nine, then the second nine, not the back nine as most golfers refer to it.

The caddies are all dressed alike in white jumpsuits with the name of their golfer on the back and a number on the front. The returning champion is given the number 1. Caddies must also wear green caps.

The speed of the greens is measured by a Stimpmeter (other courses use this device as well) but the greens at Augusta National are extremely fast. One television announcer in describing how fast they were once said on-the-air: “they don’t mow the greens at Augusta; they use bikini-wax.” He was also not invited back.

Of course, with the pandemic raging in 2020, no spectators (oops, patrons) were permitted on the course at this 84th Masters. If you watched on ESPN or CBS and saw some patrons along the fairways, those were –only– Augusta National members or invitees of the golfers (one per golfer) and the golfer’s coach.

Dustin Johnson, age 36, won by 5 strokes and went wire-to-wire having the lowest score all four rounds. Again, a first at the Masters. Followed in a tie for second was 27-year old Australian, Cameron Smith, who scored all 4-rounds in the 60s. Another first at the Masters.

Will you appreciate the care that the Augusta National Golf Club has given to the Masters?

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Stories from Jim’s adventures and people he has met can be found in “On the TunneySide of Sports” books now on sale just in time for Christmas giving. See the website for products.

You can also contact Jim directly (jim@jimtunney.com) to order your books and use PayPal or send a check to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953.

Thank you!

Jim Tunney

Please forgive this personal note as I give my love and thanks to my wonderful wife, Linda, as we celebrate today our wedding anniversary. She still is my beautiful bride! Happy #24, hon!

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Authentic!

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

Bob Baffert

On the TunneySide of Sports November 16, 2020 #822 Up next… Authentic!

After further review… Authentic went wire-to-wire in the 2020 Breeders Cup at Keenland Race Course in Lexington, KY. Authentic, owned by Spendthrift Farms LLC, went the  1-1/4 in 1:59.19 with Jockey John Velazquez aboard. Authentic was trained by legendary trainer Bob Baffert who is the most decorated trainer in American horse racing. He has dominated the sport winning the Kentucky Derby six times and the Triple Crown twice in the last five years.

However, it is the word authentic, not the thoroughbred, that sheds a negative light on Baffert. Authentic as defined by thesaurus: ”worthy of acceptance because of accuracy” which also may define Baffert’s legacy. He has gained the enmity of his rivals who believe that he has persistently cheated. These suspicions were fueled by 29 failed drug tests by Baffert’s horses over the last four decades including four in the last six months.

Looks like thoroughbred racing is under suspicion again. I say, again, because my family has been in horse racing for the last 70 years, but in administration, not training or ownership. My father, Jim Sr. recruited by the California Horse Racing Association served 20 years as Steward at southern California tracks, namely, Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, and Del Mar.

Mind you, my dad had never been on a horse let alone was knowledgeable about racing rules. But he had been an established sports official and could recognize a foul when he saw one. At that time, in the 1940s, horse racing had fallen under suspicion of “fixing” races mostly through jockeys abuse during races. Dad had to learn “the ropes” as to what types of fouls needed to be corrected. During his 20-year racing experience, he not only learned what was happening but was honored as one who was responsible for “straightening things out.” Integrity matters!

My brother, Peter, had a similar role in California Horse Racing as the General Manager of Golden Gate Fields in Albany for 30 years. Under his watchful eye, thoroughbred racing held steady.

Horse racing leaders must again defend a culture of performance-enhancing and painkilling drugs which are undermining the credibility of one of America’s sports. Baffert said recently, “I want to have a positive influence on the sport of horse racing. Horses have been my life and I owe everything to them and to the sport to which I have been so fortunate to be involved.”

Will you maintain a high level of integrity in your job?

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Stories from Jim’s adventures and people he has met can be found in “On the TunneySide of Sports” books now on sale just in time for Christmas giving. See the website for products.

You can also contact Jim directly (jim@jimtunney.com) to order your books and use PayPal or send a check to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953.

Thank you!

Jim Tunney

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