I have an early appointment that precludes leisurely blogging, but there are two stories I want to cover before the weekend. The more so since the holiday weekend will deny us our typical Monday wrappage. Both stories carry a Detroit dateline, and very much in sync with our Golfers Behaving Badly recurring theme.
It's Not You, It's Me - I really thought these kids were going to make it this time:
Bryson DeChambeau and longtime caddie Tim Tucker have parted ways, according to multiple reports.No Laying Up’s Chris Solomon first reported the news that Tucker, who had been on the bag for each of DeChambeau’s eight PGA Tour wins, would not be caddying for DeChambeau at this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic. That was notable, given Tucker caddied for DeChambeau in last week’s Travelers Championship and in the practice rounds for the Rocket Mortgage. Tucker was also listed as DeChambeau’s caddie in the weekly player-caddie list compiled by the Caddie Network.Solomon then tweeted that Tucker “quit, and will no longer caddie for Bryson.” Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner then confirmed the news with DeChambeau’s agent, Brett Falkoff, who suggested the split was mutual in nature.
Mutual I wouldn't recommend trying to sell that premise during any interviews of prospective new caddies, as per this authoritative source:
In a last demonstration of their remarkable similarity, Jerry and Jeannie Steinman simultaneously voice a desire to break off their engagement. Dolores from "The Junior Mint" asks Jerry out on a coffee date; he realizes that her interest in him was renewed because she heard of his engagement, which proves his willingness to commit. However, she doesn't believe him when he tells her the breakup was mutual and storms out. Still intrigued by how the engagement earned him a date, Jerry makes up a questionnaire to determine how a man's relationship history affects his attractiveness to women.
Of course, Delores herself has a treasured place in Seinfeld lore...
As always, the best part are the reaction shots. Though first I should include this adult reaction from Tim Tucker:
“I love the kid,” Tucker texted Golfweek. “Hardest worker I have ever seen. Proud to have been his caddie. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win Rocket Mortgage. He is hitting it great.”
Tucker caddied for DeChambeau in the practice rounds this week, including Wednesday’s pro-am. Tucker has been on the bag for DeChambeau for all of his eight PGA Tour victories, including the 2020 U.S. Open. DeChambeau went through a slew of caddies early in his career, including a previous break with Tucker, before making him his steady bagman in 2018.
Which sounds very Coatanzaish, as per my header.
Frat boy Brooks Koepka didn't enjoy the story at all, but just happened to decide that it was the opportune moment to attest to the strength of his relationship:
Couldn’t do it without my guy Rick! Best friend and greatest caddie to do it💯 @RickyElliott appreciation day! pic.twitter.com/cNvD2VX8Nh
— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) July 1, 2021
I've no doubt that Ricky is honored to have his life's work used as a foil in the manspat between two overly-entitled lugs. Though, were I Ricky Elliot, I might not want to be associated with Brooks' performance since about the tenth hole at Bethpage in 2019.
But Shack found the funniest bit from Craigslist:
To his credit, Geoff thinks that this might be a fake.... Geez, folks can be so cynical.
The kids will be all right, but whoever drafted that spoof certainly seems familiar with the Bryson oeuvre.
Bad Phil, The Return - As regular readers know, I've long considered Phil Mickelson a modern day Jekyll & Hyde. Good Phil has much to recommend him, everything from the over-tipping of locker room attendants to his interactions with fans (especially young and/or disabled fans). Good Phil has been on quite the roll lately, most notably in his PGA win at Kiawah, but also at the U.S. Open, where he was gracious about the USGA's management of the event. I also though that those images of Phil sitting with Jon Rahm's wife as the event reached its denouement was a fine moment, highlighting his support of his fellow Sun Devil.
Bad Phil? Lots there, beginning with his gambling issues. There's the issue of his consorting with gamblers, most notably Billy Walters, whereby he quite obviously traded on what he had to know was insider information. Phil seems to have a need to show off his over-sized sports bets, though there's also an under-reported tendency to not actually pay up when he loses, both in the Walters case above, as well as with his move to Callaway in 2004 ( the equipment company is believed to have satisfied a seven-figure debt of Phil's as part of that contract).
Peak Bad Phil, to this observer, has to be that self-indulgence at the press conference at the conclusion of the 2014 Ryder Cup. I'll spare you that rant for the moment, but there's a connection to the Callaway contract cited above. Folks forget that Phil had such a profound commitment to the U.S. Ryder Cup team, that he showed up to the 2004 Ryder Cup with brand new clubs and, more importantly, a brand new ball, both previously unused in competition. That we ceded control of the the U.S, effort to a man that would show up completely unprepared is ironic, at best.
So, what has Bad Phil done now? He decided to play in the Rocket Mortgage sponsored event in the Motor City, and a journalist committed an act of journalism:
A mob-connected bookie from Grosse Pointe Park handled lucrative bets for Phil Mickelson andwas accused of cheating the PGA Tour golfer out of $500,000, according to federal court records obtained by The Detroit News.
Previously unreported gambling allegations outlined in a trial transcript filed in federal court in Detroit link Mickelson with one of the biggest gamblers in Detroit history, “Dandy" Don DeSeranno, who also handled bets for big shots as a Las Vegas casino host and bookie from 1994-2002.
The Mickelson connection was a well-hidden curveball thrown during cross-examination of DeSeranno during the Giacalone trial in 2007 and designed to damage the bookie's credibility. Neither the federal prosecutor nor DeSeranno's lawyer knew about the Mickelson link until hearing it in court while DeSeranno claimed not to recognize the name of the world-famous golfer.
So, he took to Twitter during the weather delay to air his displeasure.“Took place 23 years ago. Had I not come here to Detroit it wouldn’t have run. My mistake making the effort to be here and have my foundation look into ways to help the local community. Didn’t even think of the opportunistic Rob Snells in the area would try and take advantage.”
I can certainly understand why it feels unfair to Phil, after all, who among us wants our old dirty laundry aired. But there's quite a bit of nonsense to unpack
First, this from Phil's attorney:
Mickelson’s attorney, Glenn Cohen, told ESPN on Wednesday: “He [Snell] didn’t say anything that wasn’t true; I’m not complaining about that. But why? Why are you going to embarrass Phil Mickelson when he’s there to support your tournament and the charities it supports and the [PGA] Tour? Rocket Mortgage is a Detroit-based company. Phil has never played there before.”
OK, that's a rather startling admission against interest....
Let me add this:
Indeed, the timing is intentional and the topic sensational. Whether it's fair never enters into the equation. It's just, simply, "news," even if the only newsworthy aspect of such a story is its sensationalism. The fallout is that Mickelson, in response, is making news by calling out the reporter, which, is his right, and which, it appears, has drawn mostly applause on social media.
The writer might be swayed by social media approval, but this strikes me as a rather stupid move on the part of Phil. I get that he didn't like the story, but all he's accomplished is to draw eyeballs to the story, including both of my own.
But then he adds a threat:
And now it sounds like he won’t play in the tournament again.“When you have a divisive voice like that, you can’t bring people together,” he said after his round. “That needs to change, because the people here are great. But when that's your voice, it's hard for me or somebody to come in and bring other people and entities involved [together] to help out because you're constantly being torn down.
“I don't see me coming back,” Mickelson added definitively. “Not that I don't love the people here and they haven't been great, but not with that type of … thing happening.”
So, you love the people but you're gonna punish them for the act of a third-party that they don't control? Aren't you just a lovely human being... I Just wish the Rocket Mortgage folks would have the gumption to suggest that he leave now.
I don't actually agree that this is a hit job. First and foremost, the connection of Phil to this story only became known with the release of grand jury testimony in 2018. More importantly, the connection of a major local gangster to a newsworthy participant is what we call a news hook, and I have absolutely no problem with it.
As for Phil's seeming belief that he's entitled to skate through life with nary a dissenting word, good luck with that. But what I really hope is that Robert Snell, the author of the piece in question, is both pissed off at being called out and capable of actual journalism. Because don't you wonder at all that happy talk about his foundation and the help he's brought to the community? Is there anything behind that? I'd love to see a deep dive into that very subject, and my instincts tell me there would be gold in them there hills.
Over to you, Mr. Snell.
UPDATE: After posting, a rather obvious point came to me, but one I think is worth making. Folks seem to feel compelled to make the point that Phil was the victim here and did nothing that was wrong. I understand those instincts, but as Geoff blogged, that's quite the take:
Mickelson’s attorney spoke at greater length to ESPN.com’s Bob Harig and admitted that his client does not deny the activity which sounds, well, illegal.
To sum up, he was placing illegal bets through organized crime families, better known as the mafia. On what planet is that "nothing wrong"? And while, despite all evidence to the contrary, I don't have first-hand memories of the Chicago Black Sox, I am old enough to remember when major sports leagues would discourage this sort of thing among their players.
That's it for today, as I just barely met my time par. I expect that we'll next meet on Tuesday, so enjoy the holiday weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment