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03/16/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When people find out you're a golf writer, in the last few months, the inevitable question varies in form, but mostly sounds like this:
"What's up with Tiger?"
Hard to answer, but the smarter fans always wanted to know when he'd come back. That question was answered on Tuesday with Woods' announcement that he will be in the field for the Masters in a few weeks.
It's been my contention all along that he wouldn't miss Augusta. Perhaps I'm a tad jaded in my outlook on life, but I couldn't see Tiger missing a major championship.
Score one for the bald guy.
"The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been awhile since I last played," Woods said in his statement on Tuesday.
I wouldn't use the word "need" when it relates to a golf tournament and you being, there considering the degree to which you publicly humiliated your wife. Maybe both the word choice, and the timing of the comeback, were Ari Fleischer's doing.
(Also, the Masters is the safe choice because it's a very controlled environment with regard to the media.)
Some pundits with purer souls than my own believed Woods would sit out at least the Masters. Maybe they were swayed by his "performance" in his press/friends-and-family gaggle, but I never saw it that way.
Some believed he should sit out the Masters just to show how serious he was about building the family structure. So the rationale there is, just as a show, sit out the Masters so people will believe you are serious about repairing your life. If you really wanted to repair your family life, that would be good too, but just sit out the Masters and then everyone will believe you're serious.
Why bother? Tiger is a professional golfer and professional golfers don't miss major championships, especially a guy who plastered pictures of Jack Nicklaus on his wall as a kid. The goal is that major championship record.
There's no timetable for this. Hey, you cheated on your wife, that costs you the Masters. Or you're delinquent in child support, you must skip the Masters and U.S. Open.
No one but Tiger, perhaps Elin and maybe his therapist know what's really on Tiger's mind. But remember that not even one month ago, Woods uttered these words:
"I do plan to return to golf one day," Woods said on Feb. 19. "I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year."
So we went from maybe this year to six weeks? That happened quick. He must have gotten a whole lot better in that month. According to some reports, Woods was out of therapy the next week. To some, it might ring a tad disingenuous.
Maybe it's time to stop giving Woods the benefit of the doubt. He skipped probably four events he would've played if he hadn't gotten caught. While I'm sure Woods wouldn't mind having another Sarazen Trophy on his mantle for the CA-Championship, it's nothing compared to that green jacket.
I'm no marriage counselor and quite frankly it's Tiger's business when he feels he's ready to come back, but, that press joke a few weeks ago didn't show a guy who seemed ready to get back to the rigors of major championships.
Was he blowing smoke there? Yes, and it's clear that his focus has never totally left the world of professional golf. It's refreshing that he went to therapy, for whatever the reason. And, everyone should root for reconciliation with his wife if it's still possible, but let's not lose sight of the big picture as Woods sees it.
There's no sense in a token skipping of the Masters to show contrition to the skeptical masses. Woods won't be missing anything that truly mattered to him, and since his motivations will be questioned at every turn anyway, Woods might as well play Augusta.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- CBS has to be a tad excited about this announcement. Ratings will be other worldly.
- I think an underrated aspect of this whole Woods saga is how galleries will respond. I imagine after some spectators partake of a few cocktails, Tiger may hear some gentlemen saying some unpleasant things about Perkins parking lots and the volume of waitresses there. All earned, by the way.
- My apologies, Ernie Els. My column contending that you have a good run left in the tank was going to be fantastic.
- Movie moment - How do guys in the Star Wars movies have British accents? Luke grew up on a desert planet, some characters come from an ice planet, and the other grew up in a flat in Liverpool?
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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