By ERIC FISHER
The artistry of Roger Federer. The determination of Tiger Woods. The killer instinct of Kobe Bryant. The skill of the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.
This past week has been a virtual sports brilliance appreciation week. Federer won the French Open. Woods won the Memorial. Bryant sparked the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. And the Penguins and Red Wings battled for Lord Stanley’s Cup.
We are watching the best do what they do best. They are reminding us why we watch sports in the first place.
Let’s begin with Federer. He is clearly among the best tennis players in history. The only thing missing from his resume was a French Open title. Now he’s got it.
The French Open completed the grand slam for Federer. And don’t listen to the naysayers who point out that Federer was lucky that nemesis Rafael Nadal got knocked out of the tournament early. Yes, Nadal would have provided Federer with a far greater challenge in Sunday’s final, but Federer beat Nadal several weeks earlier in Madrid – on clay.
With the French Open triumph, Federer ties Pete Sampras for career grand slam titles (14) and stakes his claim to being the greatest male tennis player of all-time. You can bet all eyes will be on Wimbledon later this month when Federer begins his quest for his 15th grand slam title.
Another superb athlete with 14 grand slam titles is Woods. Tiger has been dominating golf almost since the day he turned pro in 1996. Because of his early success, it seems like we’ve been watching Woods’ assault on Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 grand slam championships forever.
That quest has been on hold since last June when Woods had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, but Tiger roared back from three strokes down with eight holes to play Sunday to win the Memorial. The message was clear: Tiger is back!
And he’s “back” just in time for the U.S. Open, which begins next Thursday at Bethpage in Farmingdale, N.Y. You may remember last year’s U.S. Open. That was when Woods, playing with torn ligaments in his left knee, made a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday to force a playoff. Then he needed 19 holes to outlast Rocco Mediate in one of the most dramatic playoffs in memory.
Speaking of dramatic finishes, it doesn’t get much better than Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. That’s what we’ll get Friday night when the Red Wings host the Penguins.
It’s difficult to imagine, however, how Game 7 can get much better than the series has been thus far. With the exception of Detroit’s blowout victory in Game 5, this series has been a nail-biting demonstration of speed, skill and, of course, toughness.
There isn’t a tougher grind in sports than the Stanley Cup playoffs. To win four playoff series is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. The Penguins’ first-round series against the Flyers was a bruising, emotional roller coaster, as was their second-round series against Washington. And both those series seem like they took place eons ago.
Although the NBA playoffs are not as physically demanding as hockey, they too take a physical, mental and emotional toll. Perhaps nobody has dealt with the playoff pressure better than Kobe Bryant.
Less than a month ago, no less an authority than Jerry West was anointing LeBron James the new king of the NBA. But the talk of LeBron surpassing Kobe has quieted with the Cavaliers’ exit from the playoffs and Bryant’s continued excellence.
Put it this way. Is there anyone you would rather have the ball in their hands in the final seconds than Kobe? You can play nearly perfect defense and Kobe can still sink a clutch shot. That takes physical skill and mental toughness.
In fact, all of these outstanding athletes, whether the best of their generation or, in the case of Woods and Federer, arguably the best of all-time, possess all the characteristics mentioned in this column.
The grace and artistry of Federer is unmatched in tennis. But Bryant, Woods, the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin and Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom are artists in their own right. They just use a different canvas for their masterpieces.
All of these athletes are talented. All display incredible determination. All possess a killer instinct.
This doesn’t mean they’re all identical. Federer’s public graciousness and humility, as well as an accessibility that is perhaps unmatched among sports superstars, is very different from Woods’ intense persona and guarded privacy. Bryant’s sometimes prickly nature is very different from the subdued personality of many hockey players, who still possess that small-town “aw shucks” attitude.
But the differences are overshadowed by the similarities. They are all elite athletes performing at a championship level.
Please take a few moments and appreciate their excellence. Watch the Penguins and Red Wings battle in Game 7. Observe Bryant’s quest for another NBA crown. Watch Woods defend his U.S. Open crown. Follow Federer’s pursuit of history at Wimbledon.
Sports doesn’t get much better than this.
June 11, 2009
FOR ONE WEEK, CLASS RULES SPORTS WORLD
OUR VIEW: IT’S ABOUT TIME!
The Herald does not normally enjoy political speeches made by celebrities. They often are far to the left and do not seem rooted in reality. Additionally, these types of speeches generate more attention than is warranted because the person making the speech is famous.
Actor Jon Voight’s recent speech criticizing President Obama’s foreign and economic policies was a welcome addition to the national political debate, however. Voight’s speech came at a time when more Americans need to speak out against the nationalization of American companies at home and weakness abroad.
In his speech at a Republican dinner, Voight said he was embarrassed by Obama; Obama was turning America into a “weak nation” and would lead to the “downfall” of America; and labeled the Obama’s governance as “Obama oppression,” according to the Washington Examiner.
Although he is a celebrity, Voight’s comments should receive more credibility than the standard political fare from actors. He was speaking at a Republican dinner, which shows that he was not trying to appear non-partisan.
He did not make his remarks at an awards show, where such remarks are out of place, but in a forum in which political remarks are expected. By choosing an appropriate forum, Voight was not using his celebrity to force his remarks on an unwilling audience.
The content of Voight’s speech is even more important. Obama has to be questioned in a direct and straightforward manner. He is taking over companies with billions of taxpayer money and no clear plan of how to get these companies running again. The most likely result of this plan is that the money will be wasted because government cannot run companies profitably. Instead of making the best decisions for the companies, the government will make political decisions that are not related to profitability.
Obama also is appointing a government employee to tell people in the private sector how much money they should be making. Additionally, Obama’s stimulus plan is costing taxpayers trillions of dollars that the government does not have, and it has not created jobs. Nationalizing companies and massive government overspending will not lead America in a positive direction.
In foreign policy, Obama is overeager to please brutal dictatorships that are enemies of the United States.
He also is overeager to apologize for America, even though America has done more to advance the cause of freedom than any country in the world.
The country would be better off if Obama simply stayed home.
By attacking the direction in which Obama is taking the country, Voight stood up for conservative values in a straightforward way at a time when articulate opposition is needed. The Republican Party has not found a consistent voice to oppose Obama, in large part because no leader for the party has emerged since Sen. John McCain was defeated in the presidential election.
By criticizing Obama, hopefully Voight’s speech will lead people to focus their attention on the fact that the Obama administration is nationalizing companies, needlessly apologizing for the country abroad and moving to try terrorist suspects in the United States.
Jon Voight’s forceful speech was needed and hopefully will get the opposition to Obama to coalesce and be able to stop some of his destructive policies. Unlike the Obama administration economic plan, Jon Voight’s speech was right on the money.
June 4, 2009
FROM BOOKWORM TO BIKINI BABE
By MOLLY DAVIS
Kate Gosselin has transformed herself from a trailer park toddler to fabulous fashionista.
Pics of the multiple mom from high school have been splashed all over the web.
She’s probably cursing the Internet nostalgia, judging from the dorky shots.
Jon G. was a soccer stud, while Kate was a textbook nerd on the yearbook staff.
Almost unrecognizable from the Kate we see today frolicking on the beach with her teeny-bikinied brood, the yearbook shots show just how far she’s come.
Wow.
That body…
My tummy doesn’t look like that and I haven’t even had kids.
I’m sure the donated tummy tuck helped, but you have to give her props for upkeep.
Tight abs don’t grow on trees.
She is working out and it shows on her sculpted stomach.
And her bathing suit selections speaks volumes – bikini’s are a big purchase and not to be taken lightly.
What you wear in the sand says a lot about you… Confidence, style, etc.
I’m no psychologist, but I am a girl.
She’s confident enough not to worry about how she looks, but isn’t a brazen show off.
Her first choice was a solid one.
A burnt orange two-piece.
Which says flirty, fantastic, and ready for a little fun in the sun.
Not many women can pull off orange, but Kate does it with ease.
The second was a black swim suit with gun-metal gray appliqués strategically placed on top for accent.
This screams bad girl in training.
Mischievous, a little dangerous, but still classy and chic.
I’m hoping she stays longer in North Carolina so we can feast our eyes on a bikini-a-day.
Maybe her next industry undertaking will be a swimwear calendar.
It would sell, believe me.
KATE ISN’T CLAIR HUXTABLE
By ASHLEY DOS SANTOS
“Jon & Kate Plus 8″ may want to consider changing its name to “Do You Hate Kate? Yeah, Us Too.”
Or at least that’s what Kate’s critics would lead us to believe.
In recent weeks, Kate Gosselin has transformed from “Mom to Monster” according to US Weekly.
Deemed rude, mean and hateful – reportedly by her own children and their paid caretakers – Kate is now fighting an uphill public relations battle to reshape her image. Currently embroiled in a media soundoff with the infamous Octomom, Kate is already off to a rough start.
It would be easy to blame both Jon and Kate’s cheating scandals for the onslaught of venom aimed toward Kate but her negative press began some time ago.
Several “Jon & Kate” episodes depict Kate as overbearing, nagging and wholly unlikeable in comparison to her husband.
Now with rumors of Kate’s affair, her approval ratings are taking an even bigger nosedive. And yet her husband, Jon, reportedly cheated first.
So where are Jon’s “From Dad to Demon” headlines?
Beyond a few sporadic asides, they are nowhere to be found. Media critics and the general public have saved all the demonizing for Kate as America’s modern-day June Cleaver gone wrong.
She is too focused on her career and not on the kids. She uses the reality show’s profits to pay for liposuction and haircuts instead of college savings plans. She tears down Jon instead of working with him to raise their eight children.
There may be some truth to these allegations. Or they may be completely blown out of proportion. Either way, Kate and Jon are not held to the same level of scrutiny.
“Kate Gosselin” returns more than double the amount of Google news hits as “Jon Gosselin” within the past 30 days alone. On magazine covers, you are more likely to see an enlarged picture of Kate next a postage stamp image of her husband than a picture of same-sized Jon and Kate together.
For now at least, Kate Gosselin is the tabloid money maker and her husband is an after thought. She is in a no-win situation. In an age where working moms are more common than their stay-at-home counterparts, Kate serves as an example that women’s progress over the decades is still incredibly fragile and prone to censure.
Though both Jon and Kate are reaping the same financial rewards from the show, Kate is the only one accused of being an opportunist seeking to forge a career for herself at the expense of her children.
And though Jon was first seen stepping out with a younger woman, Kate’s alleged infidelity with her bodyguard has garnered more media coverage. Historically, women have received the lion’s share of responsibility – and blame – in child-rearing and family maintenance despite outside commitments.
While 2009 offers opportunities that women in 1959 did not have, the familial responsibilities and expectations are often the same. And some of Kate’s biggest critics are women, which suggests that her public disdain is not rooted in misogyny but in ties to tradition.
The perception being that if Kate spent more time as a wife and mother instead of basking in the glow of stardom, perhaps her approval ratings would start to rise.
But it’s easy to use the women’s liberation movement to explain away Kate’s lack of public appeal when the issue simply may be that she is not as personable as her husband. America’s favorite TV mom, Clair Huxtable, of “The Cosby Show” was a sassy working mom and has been embraced by millions of families over the past 25 years.
Kate Gosselin does not have the personality or the appeal of our beloved Clair and is miles away from ever achieving the same level of adoration.
Instead of a hair and body makeover, Kate Gosselin is in dire need of a perception modification. A shift in focus from self-promotion to family healing would do the world of good for all ten Gosselins and the millions of viewers waiting to see what will happen next. And for Kate to translate her current fame into long-term success, her next photo opportunity should show more hands-on parenting and less of her bikini-ready body.
—
Ashley Dos Santos serves as a senior account executive at Crosby~Volmer International Communications in Washington D.C. She received her bachelor of arts degree in women & gender studies and romance languages from Dartmouth College.
WE LOVE TO HATE KATE
By SASHA PASULKA
The show is called “Jon & Kate Plus Eight,” but at this point it should probably be called The Kate Gosselin Show featuring Jon and Eight.
Audiences originally tuned in to watch the children – they stayed to watch Kate.There’s a reason the show is TLC’s greatest hit to date, despite the fact that their lineup has featured plenty of other families with adorable kids. That reason is Kate Gosselin, the villain we love to hate. What’s so compelling about Kate – and what has been from the start – is her willingness to be completely herself, along with all her flaws, on camera.
She’s a clean freak.
She’s a control freak.
She’s condescending toward her husband.
She finds fault in everything, and she feels it’s her duty to vocalize every negative thought that crosses through her head.
Kate has never attempted to disguise these qualities – not in the filmed “reality” of her day-to-day life and not in the interviews she gives on the now-famous couch. As the seasons went by, Kate took increasing heat for her behavior from bloggers, columnists and, I’m sure, assorted fans who took the time to e-mail her outlining her many character flaws. (I get these emails daily, and I just write a gossip column; I can only imagine the carnage of Kate’s inbox.)
To her credit (or to her detriment?) she never changed her on-camera persona. If anything, these grating character flaws became even more pronounced.
She continued to put her personality out there, unchanged, for the world to watch and criticize. Is this a decision she made intentionally? I’ve considered that, and I doubt it. Kate’s most prominent character flaw is that she unwaveringly believes she is right.
It’s apparent already in the early fifth-season interviews: She really doesn’t understand why Jon left. She is still totally unwilling to believe that she may be at fault. She does not see the role she played in the demise of this relationship. It’s a lesson we all have to learn at some point in life, and the earlier we learn it, the better off we are: We are not always right. We don’t always know best. We need to step back, look at contrasting opinions from outside observers, and consider their validity.
We need to be willing to make changes in the way we behave, in the things we believe. Life goes much smoother that way. But it makes far less interesting television.
—
Sasha Pasulka is the founder and head writer for Evil Beet Gossip (www.EvilBeetGossip.com).
WILL JIMMIE BAG HIS 4TH CUP TITLE?
By ERIC FISHER
Not only are we between Dover and Pocono this week, but we’re also at the midpoint of NASCAR’s Race to the Chase.
Thirteen races are completed. We’ve got 13 to go before we find out which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
It is a good time, therefore, to revisit some questions I asked before the season – and possibly to change some answers.
What effect will the economy have on NASCAR?
The economy is definitely affecting NASCAR. Although the effect has been minor for fans, some smaller teams are having difficulties finding sponsorship. The elephant in the room, however, concerns the car manufacturers. With Chrysler and General Motors having declared bankruptcy, will their NASCAR budgets be reduced … or even slashed?
Is Mark Martin’s full-time ride with Hendrick Motorsports a nostalgia trip?
I’ll stick to my preseason answer: No way. Martin served notice that he’s serious about competing by earning a front-row spot for Sunday’s Daytona 500. This isn’t a ceremonial farewell tour. Martin has won two races. If the season ended today, he would qualify for the Chase.
How successful will Stewart-Haas Racing be in its first year?
Before the season, I said this was a difficult question. I was correct. Neither Stewart nor Newman has won a race, yet Stewart is leading the points race and Newman is fifth. Stewart has handled the dual roles of being management and the driver much better than I expected. With both drivers nearly locks to make the Chase, the first season of Stewart-Haas Racing appears headed for success. The extent of that success remains to be seen.
You’re not going to pick Jimmie Johnson to win a fourth straight Cup championship, are you?
I did not pick Johnson before the season. After watching his dominating performance at Dover on Sunday, I’m hedging my bets. (See below)
Was Kevin Harvick’s victory in the Bud Shootout a positive omen?
As I said before the season: No. Harvick, currently in 24th place, hasn’t won a points race since the 2007 Daytona 500.
Will Jeff Gordon win another race in 2009?
As I predicted, Gordon bounced back from a winless 2008 with a victory. He’s second in the points race, finally falling out of first place this week. Will he win another race? Yes, but maybe not until the Chase begins.
Will Kyle Busch duplicate last year’s performance?
Once again, I’ll stick to my preseason answer: If you’re asking if he’ll dominate the way he did for most of last season, the answer is “no.” If you’re asking whether Busch will collapse again during the Chase … the answer also is “no.” I expect to see a more consistent performance from the mercurial Busch, with fewer victories but fewer disasters during the Chase.
How come you haven’t answered a question about Dale Earnhardt Jr. yet?
Can you endure one more flashback to my preseason column? Here it is: Because his performance the last couple years hasn’t warranted all the attention he receives. He’s not the best driver on his own team. He might even be the third – or even fourth-best driver at Hendrick when the standings shake out. Earnhardt ranks fourth among Hendrick Motorsports drivers right now. He may make a run at the Chase with Lance McGrew taking over as crew chief this weekend and, hopefully, give us a reason to talk about him for reasons other than his popularity.
Here’s a new question: Will Danica Patrick switch to NASCAR after this year?
If Patrick switches purely for marketing reasons, it might be a good idea. She will quickly get sponsorship and NASCAR will garner a ton of publicity and may attract some new fans. As far as Patrick being a competitive driver in NASCAR, please examine the track records of other open-wheel racers who were far more successful than Patrick before making the switch to NASCAR. Patrick would be a novelty act that could inject instant excitement into NASCAR before fizzling out.
Are you going to weasel out and change your predictions?
You’re darn right I am! First, let me recap my preseason predictions for the Chase: Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch; Jeff Burton; Greg Biffle; Jeff Gordon; Denny Hamlin; Dale Earnhardt Jr.; David Ragan; Clint Bowyer; Matt Kenseth; and Kevin Harvick.
I wrote that I was tempted to select Kurt Busch or Ryan Newman. I should have gone with my instincts. I also should have included Tony Stewart, who, as I noted earlier, has handled being a team owner and driver far better than I expected.
Harvick (24th) and Ragan (31st) are obvious names to remove from my Chase field. Earnhardt (18th) and Bowyer (16th) also are on the outside looking in. Both will make a run, but will come up just short. Kasey Kahne is my pick to round out the top 12.
And your prediction is …
The same as the preseason: Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson … but I’m reversing the order! Johnson wins his fourth straight championship!
OUR VIEW: OBAMA’S BLUNDER
The government, unfortunately, is now immersed in running the auto industry. As part of the bankruptcy deal for General Motors, the federal government took a 60 percent interest in the company. This plan creates innumerable problems and makes President Bush’s handling of the economic crisis last year seem deft by comparison.
The government’s ownership percentage in General Motors gives it the controlling vote in how the company is run.
President Obama has said the stake is temporary, but rumblings from Congress suggest that the government may interfere on where plants are located and what kinds of cars are built.
With the government calling the shots, General Motors is far less likely to be able to emerge as a viable company from bankruptcy. Obama is known for wanting tougher emissions standards and smaller vehicles, but American automakers make most of their money off bigger vehicles, such as trucks and sport utility vehicles.
Americans like driving these types of vehicles. Because of the higher wages and benefits that are paid to unionized workers, smaller cars have not been as profitable and are not competitive on price with foreign manufacturers.
Now, Obama has the power to take away the only advantage that American car manufacturers have, the larger vehicles. Additionally, with the government running the car company, other decisions in running the company likely are to be politicized as well.
The people stuck with the bill for this disastrous plan are the American taxpayers. If General Motors were allowed to go into full bankruptcy without the government interfering, the company would more quickly be able to become profitable again because it could freely deal with its main problem, union expenses.
Now, General Motors has been dealing with union expenses, which are its underlying problem, but is subject to whatever constraints the government wishes to impose.
With government ownership of General Motors, taxpayers will be funding an increasingly shaky company for an unknown amount of time.
This move by Obama makes President Bush’s economic record at the end of his term look stellar by comparison. Bush bailed out banks for billions of dollars, but at least the government was not attempting to run them. Bush’s policy was not good, but Obama’s policy of actually buying and running General Motors is one of the worst ever domestic economic policies. The government buying General Motors is not a step toward socialism. It is socialism. Obama should jettison this plan immediately and allow the private sector to work its way out of the economic downturn.
June 2, 2009
KATE’S STUNNING BIKINI OVERSHADOWS REAL ISSUE
By MOLLY DAVIS
I didn’t think it was possible for the Jon and Kate scandal to get any worse.
Silly me.
The couple is reportedly under investigation by the Pennsylvania Labor Board to see if they are complying with child labor laws.
While a $2.5 million home is a far cry from a sweatshop, a complaint was made about the hours the eight kids devote to the show, “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” according to a Labor Dept. spokesperson.
TLC issued this statement:
“TLC fully complies with all applicable laws and regulations. ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8” is no exception. For an extended period of time, we have been engaged in cooperative discussions and supplied all requested information to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor. We will continue to engage the appropriate officials and meet any standards or regulations that are applicable to TLC procedures.”
But what worried me is that people seem more concerned with Kate’s post-tummy tuck bod.
Pics of the rightful “octo-mom” title clad in a teeny orange bikini have been splashed all over the Internet.
She looks great.
No argument here.
Except for her reverse-mullet.
Seriously, someone needs to let her hairstylist know she’s dyslexic.
What scares me is that the pix of Kate and kids at the beach in N.C. are overshadowing what the main issue is…
The cameras constantly shadowing the eight adorable offspring.
While it may not seem like traditional “work” to the public, for all intents and purposes, it is a job.
And they should all benefit for their “jobs.”
Handsomely.
Trust funds should be set up, as well as college funds.
Have they done that?
I certainly hope so.
People watch the show for the kids – not for Kate Gosselin.
Sure, it’s enticing to watch their marital woes unfold.
Ultimately, though, the show’s success belongs to the multiples.
I hope they have someone in their corner that’s looking out for them…
Look out Kate, or people will sic Gloria Allred on you.
What also disheartens me are the supposed “fans.”
The audience has reared its ugly head.
Support of Kate and her ability to juggle eight kids, and everything that comes along with them, has turned on a dime and the public is salivating at the possible demise of the marriage.
Fame and fans are fickle.
Yes, I make fun of her hair and her bossy ways.
But I still tune in every Monday night.
So instead of everyone attacking the show and her parenting ways, I have a suggestion.
Change the channel.
Let the show die the old-fashioned way, instead of turning the whole obsession into a witch hunt.
No one is perfect.
Including Kate Gosselin.
Cut her some slack.
To quote a great philosopher:
“Sometimes the only way you can feel good about yourself is by making someone else look bad.”
– Homer Simpson.
