Back on the Prowl

For the first time in over two years, Tiger Woods is back in the winner's circle.

        It took 749 days, 107 weeks and 26 tournaments. He was the punch line of almost every joke and some considered him more of a cheetah than a tiger. He went through a major swing change and a pricey divorce and some thought the former world number one would never win again. Tiger Woods has always been one to prove his nay-sayers wrong and he certainly did that Sunday afternoon when he drained a birdie putt on the final hole to win the 2011 Chevron World Challenge.

        Tiger Woods has certainly been through a lot over the last 24 months. He went from a man who seemed destined to rewrite golf history to someone who looked lost and unfocused. Woods went through a major swing change, battled several lower body injuries and lost the respect of most, but he never gave up. During this time, his ‘go-to’ line to the media was that his game was a ‘process’ and it’s going to take time to get back to superstardom. Along with his play in Australia, where he finished T3 at the Australian Masters and clinched the President’s Cup for the US, Woods has definitely taken massive steps in the right direction.

        Some have argued that this victory doesn't mean anything because the Chevron World Challenge was only an 18 man field and wasn't a sanctioned PGA Tour event. Sure, Tiger only had to beat 17 other golfers, but they were some of the top players in the world. With this victory, he also earned over $1 million and jumped 31 spots in the world rankings (from 52 to 21). Even though the win doesn't count as an official victory on the PGA Tour, Woods proved to the world that he can still win. His performance confirmed that he can still make the crucial putts down the stretch and hit the important shots when they really matter. Plus, it was great to see Tiger pull off one of his vintage fist pumps, something that will definitely be imitated on golf courses around the world (at least where it's warm) in the upcoming weeks.

        Woods' victory will only bode well for golf in the upcoming season. TV ratings were down this year and a big reason for that could be pointed at the demise of Tiger. Now that he finally ended his 749 day winless drought, I'm guessing TV ratings will shoot through the roof in 2012. Many people want the former world number 1 back at the top of his game, whether it's the fans or the players. In fact, several top-notch professionals tweeted after the victory that they're looking forward to competing with Woods again next year.

        Tiger is not only a golfer, but a world-renowned public icon too. When he is in the field, an entirely new demographic tune in to the broadcast. After Woods sealed the deal on Sunday, I found it fascinating to see the Facebook status of several people that couldn't tell you who is currently the best player in the world, but were so excited to see Tiger back to his winning ways. The better Tiger performs, the greater the television audience will be on a weekly basis.

        Over the past two years, we’ve seen flashes of Tiger brilliance that had defined him for years. What had been missing was that supreme confidence to finish it off and win another tournament. Many pondered if he still had the ability to win and his performance at the Chevron World Challenge proved he still can. Woods said after the victory that he was nervous, but felt comfortable throughout his final round. If he can get himself into contention more often next year, 2012 could be a banner year for Tiger Woods.

Tangled in the Twine

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson has been brutally inconsistent so far this season

           When the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Jonas Gustavsson in 2009, he was regarded as one of the best goaltenders not playing in the NHL. The Monster was supposed to bring Toronto back to the playoffs for the first time since the lockout, but clearly that hasn't happened yet. During his last few outings, there have been flashes of brilliance, but also some signs that he shouldn't be earning an NHL paycheck.

            Gustavsson relies on a very methodical style of goaltending and there isn't a lot of movement in the crease. When he challenges a shooter, he doesn't glide outside his crease like Martin Brodeur. Instead, he pivots using the inside edges of his skates. The Monster is a prototypical student of Francois Allaire, who happens to be Toronto's goalie coach. Allaire has turned average 'tenders’ into Stanley Cup champions by teaching them to block the puck (in fact, if it wasn't for Allaire, J.S. Giguere wouldn't have a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup ring on his resume). Part of Allaire's niche is that all of his goalies appear to be under control at all times. All of his students make saves look boring because they're in the right position at all times and the shooter doesn't have anything to shoot at. For Gustavsson, it's a different story. It seems like his weight is too far forward, causing him to be unbalanced in the crease, which makes it a lot harder to perform routine saves.

            While it's definitely okay to study the technical aspect of the netminding position, it's nearly impossible to be successful only blocking the puck. Time and time again early in this NHL season, Gustavsson has been far too technical and it has made him look rather foolish. Case in point, last night against the Senators, he allowed a routine wrist shot from the point to beat him to the glove side. Instead of moving his glove hand a few inches, he tried to slide into the shot and stop it with his chest. Clearly, Gustavsson was trying to make a save in a fashion more difficult than it needed to be.   

            I know I'm not an NHL goalie coach, but I was taught the position by a man who has been regarded as one of the best goalie coaches in the Ontario Hockey League for years. Piero Greco, who now instructs the Kitchener Rangers goaltenders, taught not only the technical aspects of the game, but how to actually react to incoming pucks too. One of the key fundamentals that 'Grecs’ taught was glove position. He always harped that the glove had to be in front of the goalie's body, so much so that the goalie should be able to see their glove out of the corner of their eye. This way, the netminder can watch the puck fall into their glove.

            If all of this specific goaltending talk is confusing you, let's 'dummy it down'. When my Dad taught me to catch a baseball, he told me to watch the ball into my glove. Whenever I wouldn't watch it, I'd usually drop the ball. Moving back to hockey, the same thing applies. If a goaltender doesn't watch the puck, it's very hard to stop it. On this particular play, watch Gustavsson's eyes, they are looking directly forward, not at the puck. He's essentially acting like a soccer goalie, as he's guessing where the puck is going.

            Jonas Gustavsson has to branch out his goaltending style. He should take a page out of other netminder's style guides and add them to his arsenal. Ben Scrivens is third on the Leafs depth chart and had an excellent training camp. If Gustavsson continues to give up untimely goals, he may soon be permanently riding the buses in the AHL.

Reason for Hope in the Mile High City?

Matt Duchene looks to lead the Colorado Avalanche back to the playoffs for the second time in three years.

     
        The NHL season is almost two weeks old and there have already been a lot of surprises and disappointments. One of the biggest surprises of this young campaign has been the Colorado Avalanche. The third youngest team in the league has stormed out of the gate, with four wins in five games and has dominated their opponents. Has Colorado reached the pinnacle of their success already or are they going to keep playing well? All signs are pointing towards the latter.

        Just two seasons ago, the Avalanche were a very young team that didn't have many expectations. They had drafted two players that ended up making their opening night roster (Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly) and had signed goalie Craig Anderson from the Florida Panthers. As the story would go, the Avs battled their way to an unexpected playoff birth. Last year, Colorado didn't get the same type of goaltending from Anderson and the team was a disappointment. This year, Colorado seems poised to make another playoff push.

        Colorado boasts possibly the top group of young centres in the NHL. Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny centre the top two lines and both players are lethal with the puck. Duchene had a 12 point increase last season and it wouldn't be unreasonable to think he can do it again. Ryan O'Reilly and Jay McClement are the checking line centres and both know their role. O'Reilly has the potential to score a lot of points in the NHL. Even though he has only scored 26 points in his only two NHL campaigns, the Clinton, Ontario native was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection and was a prolific scorer for the Erie Otters. I had the privilege of playing with Ryan in Erie and his hands are absolutely scary in practice. He was always the first player on the ice and the last one off of it. As Erie coach Robbie Ftorek said, “He's captain material.”

        Last season, Colorado made an unexpected blockbuster trade, sending up-and-comers Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk to St. Louis for Jay McClement and Erik Johnson. Johnson was the No.1 overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and is an excellent puck-moving defenseman. The 21 year old has four points in five games and partners up with former Sarnia Sting captain Ryan Wilson to form a dangerous duo on the powerplay. The rest of Colorado's D-core is formed by Kyle Quincey, Jan Hejda, Ryan O'Byrne and Shane O'Brien. Four of Colorado's six defensemen are at least 6'3 and 230 pounds. They'll have no problem intimidating opponents.

        During the 2010-11 campaign, the Avalanche allowed 3.5 goals per game, which was the worst in the NHL. GM Greg Sherman revamped the squad's goaltending by acquiring Semyon Varlamov and J.S Giguere. The Capitals grew tired of the Russian puckstopper's injury woes, but Varlamov still posted a 2.23 GAA and a .924 save percentage last season. He's very fundamentally sound and has an underrated glove hand. To back him up, Sherman brought in Toronto Maple Leafs cast-off J.S Giguere. Although the Montreal native struggled during his tenure in Toronto, he still has a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup ring on his resume, something that not many goaltenders can say themselves. Both of the netminders have a .938 save percentage so far this year.

        To date, the Boston Bruins seem to be experiencing an early season Stanley Cup hangover, the Winnipeg Jets are having trouble keeping pucks out of their net and the Toronto Maple Leafs have already etched their names on the Stanley Cup. Colorado has gotten off to a very fine start and with their young core and new acquisitions excelling, it's seemingly realistic that this team will be playing hockey in late April.

York Lions vs UofT Varsity Blues

To view the broadcast, click the following link. Enjoy!

http://ssncanada.ca/game/3147/

The $11 Million Shot

Bill Haas hit an incredible wedge shot from the water en route to winning both the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup. Was Haas' shot the best of all time?

       Whether you're a weekend hacker or a seasoned professional, everyone faces some sort of pressure on the golf course. What Bill Haas accomplished Sunday afternoon under the spotlight and with over $11 million on the line was unbelievable. With his ball barely in a greenside lake, Haas had to get up and down to keep his hopes alive to win the both the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup. NBC commentator Johnny Miller said that if Haas hit the shot to within 15 feet he'd be happy. Instead, Haas nipped his shot perfectly, as it splashed onto the green and spun to within two feet of the hole. Sure if Haas tried the same shot 100 times again, he might not be able to do it again (and he'd eventually probably turn into this year's Aquaman.) Here are some other shots that defied the odds.

Phil Mickelson, 2010 Masters

       Standing in the pine needles on the 13^th hole in the final round of the 2010 Masters, Phil Mickelson had a two shot lead. He's always been known as a risk taker and this shot was no different. He had over 200 yards to the par 5 green that had trouble both short and long. Instead of chipping out like that average human being, Mickelson took the gambled and pulled off a thrilling shot. The shot led to his third green jacket.

Tiger Woods, 2005 Masters

       The 2005 edition of the Masters was a two-horse race between Tiger Woods and Chris DiMarco. The wiley veteran was battling with Woods throughout the final two days of the tournament. It looked like DiMarco had an opening on the 16^th hole, until Tiger remarkably chipped in from an impossible spot. Not only was it a great ad for Nike, but the shot was Tiger's defining moment in his fourth Masters win.

Tom Watson, 1982 US Open

       Tom Watson had always made it very clear that the US Open was the tournament he wanted to win the most. Standing on the 17^th tee, Watson was tied with Jack Nicklaus. His two-iron sailed into the gunky rough. He knew it'd be a tough shot and his longtime caddy Bruce Edwards told him to 'get it close.' Watson looked at him and smirked, responding with, 'get it close, hell I'm going to hole it.' He made no mistake, jarring the chip which led to his victory at the 1982 US Open.

Jonathan Byrd, 2010 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital Open

       Every golfer, no matter how skilled always dreams of making the 15 foot birdie putt to win a tournament. Maybe some would rather the chance to lag one close and tap in for the victory. But getting a hole-in-one to win a professional golf tournament? I'm sure Jonathan Byrd never thought he could do that. In the fourth hole of a playoff and the sunlight quickly setting, Byrd thought he'd end the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital Open in walkoff fashion.

       Although all of those shots were incredible, Haas' nifty wedge shot was that much better. With so much at stake, this has to be one of the best shots of all time. There aren't many scenarios in sports where there's a $9.876 million difference between first and second. Bill Haas' reputation has now completely changed to the golf world. For his first few years on the tour, the 29 year old was in his father's shadow. He'll now be known as the champion of the 2011 Tour Championship and FedEx Cup.

Optimism in LeafLand?

James Reimer will have to be brilliant if the Maple Leafs want to make the playoffs this season.

      
          With training camp recently opening, it's that time of year again for hockey optimists. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who are arguably the most highly scrutinized team in the NHL, made several off-season tweaks to their roster and are poised for another playoff push. But the burning question for all Leaf fans is if their beloved squad can climb over the hump and make the post-season for the first time since 2004.

          During the last two seasons, Toronto's offensive output has steadily increased. They ranked 25th in goal-scoring in 2009-10 and finished 21st last season. The Leafs had four players with 20 or more goals in 2010-11, which was the first time they've achieved that feat since 2008-09. A lot of discussion last year surrounded the play of winger Phil Kessel. Ron Wilson couldn't pair him with a talented centre to feed him the puck. GM Brian Burke obviously wanted to fix the issue over the off-season and he did so by signing Tim Connolly as a free agent. The Syracuse, New York native is a shifty centre and has nifty hands. However, throughout his career, Connolly's biggest fault has been his durability. During the post-lockout era, he has never played 82 games and has nursed about every injury imaginable. He'll be counted on as Toronto's number one centre this season, but only scoring 42 points in 65 games last season don't seem like top line numbers to me.


        The Maple Leafs were 25th in goals against last year. They acquired Cody Franson and John-Michael Liles over the off-season to help out the back end. Liles will provide leadership for some of the younger players and he should improve the powerplay. However, he's had a rating of minus 30 during the last three seasons, which just isn't good enough. With Franson, the Buds have a hulking blueliner that should patrol the backend for years to come. Whether the Salmon Arm, BC native will be able to handle the Toronto media spotlight, that is the question.

        For any hockey team to be successful, no matter what the level, the goaltender has to be one of the best players. During the first half of last season, Jonas Gustavsson and J.S Giguere just weren't cutting it for Toronto. But on January 1, 2011, the Leafs netminding changed in a big way. Some unknown prospect named James Reimer started and stopped 32 shots to lead the Leafs to a 5-1 over the Senators. That fine play continued throughout the entire second half, as he finished with a 20-11-5 record, with a 2.60 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. Standing at 6'2, Reimer combines both size and an efficient technical game that always keeps shooters guessing. If the Leafs have any chance to make the post-season, James Reimer has to be the team's MVP.

        That brings us back to the 'P' word. Can the Leafs make the playoffs? Toronto finished in 10th spot last season, eight points behind the eighth seeded New York Rangers. If the Buds make the playoffs, they'll obviously have to oust one of the teams that made the promised land last season. Can Toronto finish ahead of Carolina, with their dynamic forward duo of Eric Staal and Justin Beiber (I mean Jeff Skinner)? Will the Leafs have a chance to be better than Brad Richards, Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers? How about the Buffalo Sabres, who revamped their entire squad and now have the highest payroll in the NHL? Can Toronto edge their Original Six rival Montreal Canadiens, with Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges both back healthy to start the season? It appears that Washington, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay are post-season locks. So will the Leafs make the post-season for the first time since 2004?

In one word, no.

It’s Not All About Stevie

Adam Scott and new caddy Stevie Williams celebrated their first victory together this weekend at Firestone. Maybe Williams should have kept his mouth shut after the round.

     

     The WGC series of tournaments on the PGA Tour are always some of the most exciting of the season. They involve only the top players of the world, so thrilling finishes are ordinary.

     Heading into the tournament, all of the discussion was about Tiger Woods’ much-anticipated return to golf. Not only had he missed three months with injuries to his left knee and alchilles, but it was going to be his first tournament without long-time caddy Stevie Williams on the bag, after he recently let him go.

     After Tiger showed some signs of rust on the putting green, the attention shifted to Adam Scott. Not only was the Aussie playing good golf, his partnership with Stevie Williams on his bag had just become official. The new duo dominated the tournament, as Scott won by four shots.

     This all seemed to be a feel-good story until Stevie Williams opened his mouth after the round. Instead of saying the usual wishy-washy clichés about how his partner won the tournament, he decided to make the victory all about him. He stated that this victory was the “best of his life.”

     I don’t understand how Stevie could say this. He caddied for arguably the best golfer of all-time for 12 years and there were so many moments that will be forever etched in history. How about Tiger winning the 2000 US Open by 15 shots? When Woods won the 2006 Open Championship and then collapsed into Stevie’s arms in emotion after the death of his father? Or when Tiger won the 2008 US Open on essentially one leg? Were those moments not good enough Stevie?

     I understand that Williams is frustrated by the way Tiger treated him recently, but let’s face it, if it weren’t for Tiger Woods, nobody would have a clue who Stevie Williams was.

     Looking at it from Scott’s point of view, he has to be disappointed. The 31 year old has had an outstanding year so far and just changed to a long putter. Although he may look funny on the putting surface, he sure is rolling the ball beautifully. This week at the PGA Championship, instead of answering questions about his recent success, he’ll have to face the music about his caddy's remarks. Who knows how that will affect Adam Scott’s mindset this week.

    For Stevie Williams to come out in the arrogant way that he did was incredibly selfish. He made the week all about him. He’s not the one hitting the shots and making the putts. All he does is give yardages and carry Adam Scott’s bag.

     Stevie, stick to your job.