And The TOMMY Goes To:


Though the time constraints of life have limited my column writing in recent days, the wild world of sports is bringing me out again. It is once again time for me to recognize recipients of the annual TOMMY Awards. This annual ritual is my way to recognize the people, places and things going on in the sports world that are getting my attention at the present time
And the TOMMY’S Go To:
The TOMMY For Dad of the Year In the Sports World Goes to Phil Mickelson.
Hats off to Lefty for passing up the temptation to fill the missing hole in his trophy case to go to his daughter’s graduation. There is no doubt My man Phil lies awake at times wondering when he will earn the prestigious title of U.S. Open Champion. He probably has nightmares about losing by one stroke to Payne Stewart at Pinehurst or shanking balls to the left off his driver in another attempt which cost him that title.
Those in the area will remember that Mickelson carried a pager with him in 1999, prepared to leave the tournament if his wife went into labor. He finished and only missed a title because of one of the greatest moments in North Carolina Sports History, Payne Stewart’s miraculous putt for par that handed him the title. His daughter Amanda was born shortly there after. It is no surprise that his love for his daughter once again took over predominance for the future hall of famer. Maybe Karma will pay him back with a title at Shinnekok Hills next year.

The What the Heck is Going on TOMMY also goes to Tiger Woods. My attention is once again drawn to the golf world following the arrest of Tiger Woods. As he has for years, Tiger keeps his health a secret but that secret was let out of the bag with his arrest and admission of having a problem with prescription pills.
Its hard to feel sorry for a guy who had the whole world in his hands and millions of dollars in the bank but beneath all that he is human. He needs our prayers that some how the can get his life back together.
The TOMMY for Bad Policy relating to young people goes to the NCAA.
Fact is "college" athletics is a joke these days. Students used to go to college to get educated and play sports on the side. Now athletes go to college to play and attend class on the side, maybe. I doubt the One and Dones who got NBA contracts this week spent little or no time in classroom. That is tragic. Its time for major reform when it comes to college athletes.