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A busy week of sports … viewing

5 min read
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I had a rather busy week of sports last week.

Well, to tell the truth, I had a busy week of watching sports last week with the Summer Olympics in full swing and the annual Fayette County Open golf championship.

The county golf championship might not be The Masters or U.S. Open, or contended on The Olympic Club or Augusta National, but to cover a group of players who are so competitive was an enjoyable experience.

Consistency throughout a four-day tournament on four very different courses is a difficult task, and the scores showed just that. Two-time defending champion Jeremy Enslen had one sub-par round and one even-par round. Third-round leader Seth Rockwell had two sub-par rounds.

Cam Booth, who caddies at Nemacolin, won the title in his first time out, finishing with a very respectable 3-under 281wtih three rounds under par in the four-day tournament held at Pleasant Valley Country Club, Duck Hollow Golf Club, Uniontown Country Club and Springdale Golf Club.

The Fayette County, Ky., native who is trying to make his way in the golf world through Monday qualifiers on the Web.com Tour and South American tours, with his slight Southern drawl, was a very engaging interview, and showed a lot of respect for those he was paired with over the four days.

Save Santino Marchitello’s bright yellow ensemble and John Lenkey’s eye-catching orange golf shirt in the second round at Duck Hollow, fashion gave way to warm, humid conditions.

Speaking of Lenkey, few hold court in such an entertaining manner as the former champion. He was really dialed in after the second round with the crowd of golfers and fans gathered in the 19th hole with a “it really took a long way to get there” tale that evoked chuckles throughout the assembly.

Golf isn’t on the Olympic docket, but pretty much every other sport is, and I think I’ve watched most of ’em.

Some thoughts and observations heading into the final week of viewing:

— Water polo players, by far, are the greatest athletes in the games. Not only do they have to tread water the entire match, the athletes have to do so while the opposition is grabbing, pushing and doing who knows what under the water.

— Kim Rhode and Vincent Hancock sure can shoot a gun, sweeping the skeet gold medals in record-breaking fashion. Jamie Lynn Gray made it three No. 1 finishes in the 3-position Rifle competition.

— Throwing a badminton match? Really?

— I’d suggest you’d get your hands on the current issue of Sports Illustrated and read the article about Israel and the 40th anniversary of the hostage situation at the Munich Games. Brings a whole new perspective to the Olympic experience.

— FIBA officials make their NBA brethren look like sticklers to details. You think traveling isn’t called in the NBA, watch an international game.

— Speaking of basketball, Team USA looks like they got their act together with Monday’s second-half thrashing of Argentina. Although, Carmelo Anthony might opt for a cup after the low blow he took after making a 3-pointer. The Americans best hope they don’t play Lithuania again, or Coach K and his staff need to figure out how to defend the high pick-and-roll.

— I have a new respect for LeBron James after watching him take over the latter minutes of what was a rather lackluster team effort against the Lithuanians. This just in, LeBron can play!

— Doc Rivers, studio analyst, made me cringe with his analysis of USA’s thrilling OT win over Canada in the women’s soccer semifinals. A call against the Canadian goalie led to a free kick and a handball called on the free kick led to Abby Wambach’s match-tying third goal. The referee didn’t decide the game, Doc. She did her job, and the players decided the game.

— On USA-Canada soccer match, the Canadian coach called out the Americans for their rough, perhaps illegal, play in the box to open up lanes for Wambach. Apparently our polite neighbors to the north haven’t seen Sylvester Stallone in that cinematic classic “Victory” when he brought his brand of “football” to the Allied POWs’ “futbol” match against their Nazi captors.

— I think NBC has done a decent job with the announcing staff. Teddy Atlas tells it as he sees it in the boxing ring, and it’s amazing the IOC hasn’t put the gag rule on yet. The pool trio of Dan Hicks/Rowdy Gaines/Cynthia Potter did a great job, though one more close race and Rowdy’s vocal chords might have catapulted from his throat. Terry Gannon handled the rowing events just fine. Tim, Elfie and Al need to calm down a bit with the gymnastics stuff, but that’s been a long-time given. I enjoy Mike Emrick’s call of water polo matches. Otto Bolton sometimes lets his inner Rowdy Gaines out, but Tom Hammonds keeps him in check during track & field.

— Looked like McKayla Maroney (as well as Tim, Elfie and Al) counted her gold medal before she landed. I’ve spoken with a quite few teenagers over the years after they “sat down on the vault,” as it were, and most were upright and honest despite the disappointment. Brooding doesn’t become you, Miss Maroney.

— I will get my inner Olympics on early Saturday morning when I try to pace my niece Emily to another PR and a spot on the age group medals podium in the annual Foley 5K Run/Walk on the Yough River Trail. Came out and join us!

GO TEAM USA!

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