TOMMY time once again

TOMMY time once again

By Tom Woerner

The world’s greatest sports network, ESPN, beat me to the punch this year with their annual presentation of the ESPY awards but since I am the boss in this tiny little corner of the Internet, I can present the annual TOMMY awards on my own time schedule. Below are some of the things that have gotten my enough attention to earn TOMMYs this year.

I have been thinking about this TOMMY for a while, anyone with any interest in the world of sports hasn’t had another option, but the TOMMY for Biggest Idiot of the last 100 years, has to go to Donald Sterling. Mr. Sterling in fact gets a lifetime TOMMY, to be permanently displayed with dishonor.

The former, lets hope it stays that way, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers was set up by a jealous wife and girlfriend but the things he said about African Americans was beyond out of line. The way he insulted a race that made him a millionaire multiple times over is beyond disgusting. The way he attacked basketball icon Magic Johnson is an embarrassment.

And in a related TOMMY, the NBAs Adam Silver gets the TOMMY for Best Performance of a Sports Commissioner. The man who took over for the legendary David Stern did as my favorite comedic character Barney Fife would say, and nipped the Donald Sterling situation in the bud. He made a clear statement that he won’t tolerate the nonsense of racism in his league. 

Anyone who is involved with the NBA will know that this young man means business. It will prevent further problems in the future.

The TOMMY for best Hall of Fame Class This Century goes to this year’s class. It doesn’t get better if you are a Braves fan with Joe Torre, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and Bobby Cox going through the doors at Cooperstown. 

Only us true Braves fans remember Torre’s stand with the team when during that we all know as “the bad years” Torre managed the one year the team made it to the playoffs in that awful period of the 1980s.  It was a little light in a grim period for Chief Nok a Homa and the boys. True fans of that period will know exactly that that means. 

Glavine, Maddux and Cox speak for themselves. The only Atlanta hero missing is John Smoltz and his time is coming. Those four and their teammates made the statement “Wait til Next Year” obsolete for Braves fans. Every year was next year with an unprecedented series of division championships.

We were no longer the laughing stock of the college dorms when we refused to give up our allegiance to the team. Thirty years later the words “wanna bet” are still a joke from college dorm mates in relation to the Braves. Enough said on that.

The TOMMY for Best Reunion with your home town goes to Lebron James. When James announced four years ago he was “taking his talents to South Beach,” he immediately leaped to the top of Cleveland’s most wanted list. 

Now he took an eraser to his name on that list and immediately became the “prodigal son” who returned. He did it in a classy way which has not always been the case for him. Lets hope next year’s season is as heart warming as his return. Cleveland is desperate for a  sports champion and this may be their best opportunity.

Finally, the TOMMY for Best Mystery on a Golf course goes to Tiger Woods. You never know what you are going to get with Woods. Still highly talented, he is always capable of a great win. He has lost the mental toughness more than physical skill. One shot into the woods or the water and he becomes distracted and often down right angry. As long as he doesn’t control his emotions he will have a hard time controlling himself.

The TOMMY for slack sports columnist of the year goes to yours truly. A goal for the future is to put more material through the doors of The Corner. I look forward to the challenge.