Tiger Woods mess is so confusing

I got up this morning to hear the pundit shows talk about the Masters and the ball dropping disaster and I have never been so confused.  Tiger put his ball a couple feet back to get a better shot and now they are saying that he may not have broken a rule?  Adam Scott must be wondering what he must do to escape this guy. Scott made unbelievable pressure putts and earned the victory. Tiger didn't.  I am the biggest Tiger Woods fan alive but even he knows that he should have been disqualified from the tourney. I have read comments from other golfers who have said that everything was handled properly. There was no way they take Tiger out of this tournament. This is the hallowed Masters and CBS would have had a coverage and ratings nightmare if they would booted Tiger out.
What would have happened if Tiger had won. Each day he had moments of brilliance. He had birdie binges and woke up the echoes of Augusta National. Would it have a been a disaster?  It would have been tainted and probably set the golfing world into a mess. Tiger still needs 5 majors to pass Jack.  Will he get it? Probably. He will become the All time leader in victories by this time next year. All everyone wants is for him to win a major this year. Without controversy. Tiger needs to come out today and make the world respect Adam Scott for his victory. We can't fix the past. We can either learn from it or repeat it. Replaying it over and over again hurts the game. Adam Scott deserves his day..So let's give it to him...

What would Jackie say...

As major league baseball prepares to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day, I wonder what he would say about baseball today.  I wonder if he would wonder what has happened to his game.  Where are the black faces? What happened to the black managers? Who is Tupac Shakur? Lebron James or RG3? I don't profess to a Robinson historian, but I am sure he would be fascinated by pop culture today. One of his last requests before he died was to see a black face in a dugout managing a team. Today there are two managers. Dusty Baker in Cincinnati. Bo Porter in Houston. Who the heck is Bo Porter? That is another blog another day. Cito Gaston won two world series with Toronto. So Jackie would be happy that that happened. He would excited the Ken Williams is a G.m. in Chicago and led them to a title. But where are the players? That would be the mystery to him.
When Jackie was playing baseball, the NBA was in its infancy. Football was more important in college. Boxing was the sport for most African Americans to try. Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis paved the way for the Cassius Clays of the world.  Jim Brown and Gayle Sayers hadn't wowed the world yet and Bill Russell, Willie Mays and Wilt Chamberlain were just warming up. Jackie brought everyone to baseball. The Negro league had better players than Jackie, but he got the shot. If there were jealousy or anger it was kept quiet in the black community. Can you imagine if that happened today?  I can't. Kids today want to play basketball, rap or play football.  Kids today could tell you more about Tupac than they can about any school topic or even Jackie Robinson. If a kid today did what Jackie did he would be called a sellout or a Tom. Kids today want to fight the power and start revolutions without understanding what it really means. They don't value life or education.  Jackie went to UCLA. He resisted non violently, He just played.  He did his social commentary when it was proper. Kids today think that being a professional athlete is so easy. They have no respect or regard for the commitment it takes to be a pro. They go to college for one semester to gain eligibility and then leave after one year.  They think that they are going to hip hop legends if they emulate the path that Tupac set forth. They don't understand the struggles that he went through. He and Lebron James are once in a lifetime talent. So is Tiger Woods. No one is trying to be like Tiger. To me that is puzzling. Let's talk baseball. The greatest leader in team sports is Derek Jeter. He is the biggest name in the biggest city. Matt Kemp is cut from the same cloth. But kids don't want to be like them on the field. Jeter, Woods,and Kemp are notorious ladies men. Maybe the fact that they are mixed race men too may factor into it for some as well.  I can't explain it...
So what would Jackie say? He probably would say be who you are,but don't forget about others are watching and learning from you along the way. He would be sad that kids are running away from baseball and disappointed that the brainwashing of our youths is real and destroying us as a people. He would psyched that there is a black President, but would be ashamed of the efforts to help inner city youth play baseball. He would be ashamed of the greed. He would be confused about the " me me" mentality of all sports.  He would say ," I created all of this?" He would change the channel....

Tiger at 75. Are we still spoiled?

I will not deny that I am as big a Tiger Woods fan as they come. I am not a stalker nor have I been to any golf tourney that he plays in, but I will watch if he is on television no matter where I am. He is a once in a lifetime athlete who commands your attention no matter what you think of him. The media today is truly spoiled. Micheal Jordan showed us how winners are on the floor. Derek Jeter does the same on the baseball field. Roger Federer personifies it on the tennis court. Floyd Mayweather does it in the ring. Micheal Phelps in the pool.  These men just know how to win and do it at all costs and do it at a level that most of all of us cannot comprehend.
Listening to the media coverage after Tiger won on Monday, you would think that Tiger was still public enemy number 1 and that winning this tournament was no big deal. Yes he has won at this course 8 times which is unprecedented. Some of the people chasing him had won their as well. The big question after the victory is whether or not he was going to win a major or not this year. Every pundit said the Masters maybe or the P.G.A. because they are a course he has played on before. Implying that Tiger can only win at the tournaments where he has a history at or has won before on. Yes last year he won Arnies', Jacks',his event to give him his victories last season. So I can see where they are making their argument. My point is that he has seventy five victories and they haven't all come on his favorite courses. If they did,so what? Can you same something that you have done successfully 75 times and made s billion dollars doing it? I understand his compulsion to be better than Jack and emulate Federer. Tiger is still under 40 and firmly number 2 in the world with his sights set on number 1. Can't we just enjoy his pursuit without being inundated with speculative questions. If he wins 100 tournaments and on 17 majors is he still one notch below Jack?
Will the public be that cruel on Tiger if he cannot pass Jack? If we are cruel, then we are truly spoiled. I look forward to finding out...

Here we go again..

The PGA season is about to come to an end and the people trying to get attention one last time are out with their comments.  The player of the year in golf based on winning 4 events inclduing a major is Rory Mcilroy.  No one disputes his achievements this year.  Yes he had a stretch earlier this year when he missed several cuts and other than the PGA was not impressive at the Masters, U.S. Open or even the British. Yes if Tiger wins this event starting tomorrow he will win the Fedex Cup and tie Mcilroy for most wins and may steal the award from Mcilroy, but lets face it that is a big obstacle to overcome based on how well Mcilroy has been playing. Greg Norman made a comment recently where he feels that Tiger Woods is intimidated by Mcilroy because he is friendly with him and is realizing that the torch is basically being passed down to Mcilroy.  I find his statements blog worthy only because of how silly they are.  Tiger has several friends on the tour.  People for years have been tryingand Phil, Ernie, and Lee Westwood out to be enemies.  Tiger goes fishing every year with Darren Clarke and Mark O'meara.  He gave Phil a ping pong table for a wedding gift saying that he looks forward to many matches on the table with Phil. He just can't be a normal guy ever can he? He has to be great every second of every day and He has to automatically have perfected his swing changes in haste so he can make you, me, and everyone else care about golf. 
He has outplayed McIlroy in 3 of the 4 majors this year.  When they have been paired together, Woods has shot a better score more than Rory has.  Rory is smart.  Out play Tiger when he is not paired with Tiger and then force Tiger to catch him.  Tiger has no reason to be intimidated by McIlroy.  Remember when Vijay had that magical year a few years back when he beat Tiger head to head jsut about every week and everyone said that Vijay was about to take over golf?  What happened the very next year?  Who won the most that year? Majors that year?  Who was the player of the year that year?  Who won the Fedex Cup that year as well?  It wasn't me.  It wasn't Vijay.  I don't think it was Phil either.  I know who it was and so does Greg Norman.  It was Woods.  In my opinion the fact that Woods has reascended to the top 2 in the world in one year is amazing.  He was awful to watch last year.  He was either always hurt or playing "in the woods" in every tournament.  He could hit a fairway if the fairway was a thousand feet wide. He contended a few times but could not finish what he started.  He was fixing his life, swing, and mind and he couldn't beat club pro's.  This year he has found some success, but the majors have been a weekend calamity.  Over the past few weeks, he has played sensational golf for 3 rounds and has been plagued by one bad round.  These next two weeks will be indicators as to how far he has come since last year.  He had the clinching match victory in the President's cup last September. He was a controversial pick, but he did not let his country down.   He will be counted on to lead us in the Ryder Cup next week.  He and McIlroy will be paired probably alot over the next two weeks and I am sure they are very familiar with each others games and styles of play.
Lastly, Tiger Woods has 74 wins and 14 major titles.  Mcilroy has 2 majors and what 5 PGA wins? At the same age in their careers Tiger has more wins worldwide (13-6).  Tiger had 68.19 scoring average at age 23. Mcilroys is 69 and change.  Mcilroy has already missed more cuts 5. Woods in 18 years has missed 9 cuts. Woods is approaching the 100 million dollar prize pool for money earned on tour. McIlroy has barely 5 million.   Tiger said it best when he said that there are no 255 linebacker going to tackle him in the fairway so he has nothing to be intimidated about.  Maybe Greg Norman was intimidated by Nick Faldo when he gagged away a 6 shot lead at the Masters.  Remember that Greg?  You were the hands down best golfer in the world and the green jacket was yours for the taking.  You would have validated as one of the best golfers in the history of the game.  You had the record for longest tenure at number 1 until Tiger destroyed that mark by almost 300 weeks!!!! Greg you are still one of my favorites, but lets let this bud into a rivalry.  Golf fans are sick of hearing about the next to challenge Tiger and they do it for one year and we never hear from them again. What happened to Vijay? He wins occasionally on the tour.  This has been a disappointing year for Phil in terms of wins and losses and missed cuts.  Lets see what happens over the next two weeks and into the international season finales.

My favorite month of the year is September..

September 1st is New Years day to me.  I feel like the fall months of the calendar year is a time for rejuvenation and rebirth.  Enough of that nonsense, the reason why I love September is that College football and pro football commence, MLB pennant races heat up, U.S. Open tennis, and usually there is a great fight to watch.  The Nascar season winds down as the NHL gets started.  I cannot get enough of sports as you all know and if I had multiple televisons where i stay I would have a game on every channel. This September is no exception.  The college football season got off to a crazy start with blowouts, shocking results and Alabama showing us what a defending champ is supposed to do ona neutral field.  USC won as well and they really need to get to the title game and save college football.  We cannot have a seventh year in a row with a champion coming from the same conference..  It hurts college football because there is no growth in the game.  USC plays a completely different style of football than most of the SEC teams and their style of football translates better at the professional level.  Every year we keep hearing about pro teams wanting quarterbacks who can run and throw but at the end of each season, the Super bowl champ has quarterback that is pocket passer who can read coverages and pick defenses apart.  In fact only Steve Young and Aaron Rodgers who could also pocket pass well, have won super bowls.  Both of those qb's run well and could move out of the pocket.  Big Ben moves well in the pocket but he is not considered a running quarterback.  If you look at SEC football most of the teams run a a form of the Florida Gator offense from the shotgun and depend on their quarterbacks to either run or pass.  Geogia and Alabama this year have gone back to a little more traditional offense so they may be the exception.  Most of the nation runs that Florida offense.  The big difference between the SEC and the rest of the nation is the physical play on the defensive line.  When you dont have a fullback to help you block because you are in the shotgun single back set, your plays get blown up in the backfield.  Michigan could not get out of the backfield. Alabama and LSU make you play physical football and most schools do not have the schemes to handle these behemoths one on one.  So I am rooting harder than i ever to try to get a USC vs. SEC champ title game. Oklahoma showed me nothing on Saturday against UTEP.
The NFL starts with the Cowboys and Giants on Wedsnesday and the Cowboys are banged up and really don't know what to expect.  This season will either be a coming out party for new eleite teams or the same stuff different day.  I like Houston alot.  They have a soft schedule and a team that has a lot build on.  Foster, Johnson, Schaub,Daniels have to stay healthy on offense.  Wade Phillips has a fast defense who are hungry for a title.  The Patriots have the easiest schedule and would crave another shot at the Giants to give Brady his 4th ring.  The NFC is loaded.  At least 6 teams have the ability to win the title.  Packers, Giants, Niners, Saints, Eagles, Falcons, Bears, Lions, Cowboys can win in anyone's stadiums at any time if healthy. Should a wacky season.
The pennant chase in baseball has just gotten interesting. The Yankees are bailing water off of their ship.  They are so beat up and hope that returning star players like Arod and Andy Pettite will give them the boost to rejuvenate their season.  The Orioles are for real and the Rays have the best pitching. The Angels spent alot of money to get to the post season and succeed.  This series with Oakland will is important because they must take care of head to head games in order to gain ground.  The Tigers and White Sox just played an epic series where the Tigers earned a sweep.  Detroit has the veteran players to get this done based on pitching.  The White sox can hit homeruns but can they play to outscore their opponents or out pitch them?  The National League the intrigue is just as high.  The Dodgers created a Yankee style payroll  to win now.  They lose to too many bad teams though and I dont think they can get it done.  Billingsley was their hottest pitcher and he may be shelved for the season if shot in the arm does not work. Kemp needs to find April's magic and lead this team to the promise land.  Nationals are shutting down Strasburg and seemed poised to stay at top of N.L. east.  Chipper Jones final month as a Brave will make it interesting as the Braves don't want him to go out a loser.  After what happened last year, the Braves are going to make every team earn 27 outs.  The Reds are the real deal and if the game goes to bullpen, the game is over. Chapman is a beast.  Can you imagine facing a guy who throws 105 miles an hour in cold weather? Ouch babe..
U.S. open tennis is in its final week and Serena and Maria are on a collision course. So are Federer and Djokovic. Andy Roddicks surprise retirement announcement has buoyed ratings but tonight could be his demise.  DelPotro hits a big ball and can overpower most opponents.  Andy must serve well and steal a few concentration lapse games from Del Potro in order to advance.  I will blog about Roddick later this week.  Tennis lost Kim Clijsters last week as the young Brit robson showed some flashes of brilliance.  Robson also defeated Li Na.  Also there are two italian women playing in the quarters for the first time at the U.S. open.  Serena is lurking in their quarter if she beat Ivanovic and after winnin 6-0 6-0, in her last match she is driven to reclaim America's prize.
Chad Dawson wants to be a star in boxing, but his fights leave you not wanting to see him fight anymore.  He beat Hopkins in an unspired performance but Hopkins is like 50.  Sergio Martinez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. are about to get it on soon as well and we shall see who is the pound for pound best middleweight is.  Martinez is the gold standard but Chavez, Jr. is unbeaten and has grown up right in front of out eyes.  Also Jones and Machida will be explosive in MMA. I know everyone wanted Jones to fight Sonnen but this fight will have some great moments.
Denny Hamlins win last week gave him four for the season and he wants this title real bad.  The story is whether or not Jeff Gordon or Kyle Busch qualify for the playoffs.  This weekend in Texas will be exciting.  Gordon had the car last week to win but could not catch Hamlin on the last lap after the restart. Busch has had a quiet season. Normally right now he has had a few wins and has ticked off some other drivers.
Did I mention Golf?  The Ryder Cup is in America this time around and Hunter Nahan wants revenge.  Mcilroy is number 1 in the world but Tiger is starting to re discover his form on the weekends.  Yesterdays perfomance on the final will give him a ton to build on as the season ends.  Both are now vying for player of the year honors.  Two events left for the Fedex cup.
I COULD TALK ABOUT MORE..
HOCKEY WILL DIE if THEY LOCKOUT THE PLAYERS...
NOW YOU KNOW WHY I lOVE September?

The world of sports is almost right.  Dale Jr. has won a race.  Alyson Felix finally got her gold in the 200.  Lebron James has finally won a title.  John Calipari can finally quiet his critics with Kentucky's title win too.  There are only a few other finally's that will make the world of sports right.  Paqiuao and Mayweather would be one.  Dwight Howard getting  a team to make the right trade for he and the Magic. Tiger Woods winning a major would supercede them all.  The most popular, scrutinized athelete in the world has had a terrific golfing season.  He has three wins.  He is number 1 in the current Fedex standings.  With a win this week would vault into the number 1 position in the world.  He is currently number 2 in the world.  He has won back a large percentage of his audience.  He has put golf back on the television map.  This weekend the Olympics wind down, the NFL is offering a slate of games, I wonder what the viewing public will do if Woods is making a charge or is atop the leaderboard on Saturday and or Sunday.  We have had two measurable earthquakes here in L.A. over the past three days.  I wonder what a Tiger charge would do for the world of sports.
Today Tiger had 6 birdies and three foolish bogeys to open the tournament with a 69.  The course is really up in the air because if the wind blows whoever is playing at that time is in for hell.  In fact the early round scores have been great.  This course has no bunkers and is playing like a links course.  Most expect an European player to be in contention and probably win because of the similiar conditions to most courses overseas.  Tiger is going to have to hit greens in regulation and put much better than he did last week at Firestone.  He currently sits in the 8th position and must not let Rory Mcilroy get too far away from him throughout the weekend.
The world of sports has had a renaissance this year with so many athletes finally getting their day in the sun.  Ernie Els was struggling and ended a major championship drought with a win at the British open.  Most people thought that he was finished.  Tiger woods needs to finish what he starts.  He has played well at the U.S. Open and the British.  He was on the leaderboard in both tournaments.  The Masters however, he shockingly just didn't have his "A" game and the fact that he has three wins this year is a shock to most people.  He has won tournaments this year with the best players playing in the field.  Jack's tourney, Arnie's and even Tiger's event bring out the best players in the world.  Tiger's appearance at an event usually brings out the best in all players in the field.  The crowds and galleries are livlier and there is a buzz to a tournament if he is playing and if he is winning or contending, he is must see t.v.
In this Olympic year we have seen the best of the best amaze us with their talents, class, and expertise.  Wouldn't it be the icing on the cake to have have this generations best athelete join the ranks of the legendary?  Micheal Phelps and Roger Federer have culminated their summer vacations with epic wins and history making perfomances.  Tiger has passed Jack on the total wins list this year.  Winning the PGA championship would put him closer to the record he covets most.  In my mind that would make the sports world whole again.  Serena did her thing at both the Oylmpics and the Wimbeldon.  It is time for Tiger to assume the crown that fell off of his head two years ago.  I crave a world of absolutes.  Let's go Tiger.. Get it done!!!

Buttercup...

"Why do you build me up, Buttercup baby just to let me down..." Many people are asking themselves that question today. The world first billionaire athlete has been a bad boy and I am shocked and outraged that people are surprised. I think that most people thought that Mr. Woods was a "square, a dork, a geek," and did not have it in him to be a playa.. Wrong!!! He has a model wife, a great self made career, two children, beautiful homes, in short he has it all. The question isnt why, either. The question is when.. If he did his cheating while his wife was pregnant most people in the world will lose a little respect for him. Some will say cheating is cheating no matter when, how or what a person does it. He is not the first and won't be the last. Is his action unforgivable? That is up to his wife. He has done enough for me. He has apologized and I agree with everything that he said. So my rant today addresses a broader topic.
What has happened to us as a culture that we have absolutely little to no faith in anyone. Whether it is a politician, police officer, iconic actor, actress, athlete, priest, doctor, lawyer, mother, father, WE AS A PEOPLE DO NOT TRUST ANYONE. WE BELIEVE EVERY STORY TO BE TRUE NO MATTER HOW SALACIOUS, CRAZY, UNFATHOMABLE, OR RIDICULOUS. We get mad at the media because we think that they exploit our intelligence or the exploit the people being accused. The reality is we need them to keep pointing out to us that no one is perfect. I blogged a while ago about how in the 40's, 50's, 60's the media seemed to have a code of honor and silence. We have all heard of stories of President Kennedy and Marylin Monroe. We have heard of stories of Muhammad Ali and his many mistresses. We have heard of stories of J.Edgar Hoover, and the Yankees and athletes of that era. Hell Wilt Chamberlain said he slept with over 20,000 women. I am willing to bet you today that there are bouncers and security guards around the country that know things about people that may stun you. The media isn't the one committing the bad act, they just get the story in a crazy manner and that incites people even more. The part that scares me is that I am scared to watch the news. I am waiting for bad news more than I am waiting for good news. To me that is wrong. I don't want to live in a world where I can't tell my daughter not to have heroes. Sure every parent wants their child to look to them and say that they are their hero. But the reality is that most kids look to leaders outside of the home for their inspirations. In the last 10 years I have heard that Dr. J had a child out of wedlock and was a pro tennis player. Micheal Jordan divorced, Janet Jones Gretzky was apart of a gambling operation, Roger Clemens wife was allegedly taking HGH to look good in a photo shoot, Marion Jones took steroids, there are people who sole job is to fix soccer games in Europe and the world, just to name a few. Marv Albert is a biter. Shawn Kemp and Jason Caffey had 10 kids out of wedlock different women. Evander Holyfield has a bunch too. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his mom fighting over his father's legacy.
Do we hold people in to high of esteem? I think those days are long over. I worked a party out here for NBC's 75th anniversary and there was a crowd of people across the street screaming at the stars going in to the party. I couldn't believe it. I asked one of the members of the crowd why he was saying what he was saying, and went on about some anti-Semitic stuff and I had to walk away because I was disgusted. As I walked away, he asked me why do I like them so much. I told him that they give me something to aspire to and they give me a relief when I have somethings that are bugging me. I said to him that there is nothing wrong with being a fan. I said that he does not have to be a fan, but being a racist made him look stupid. Then the cops shooed him and the crowd away. The point is I don't want my daughter to grow up in a world where she is told not to have heroes. If Tiger wins the first three tournaments out the block next year, this story will go away. In fact i think this story will be out of sight unless more women come out with proof or he goes on Oprah, or if Elin files for divorce. I guess we all sit and wait and see who is next. Derek Jeter has been dating starlets his entire Yankee career. I have never heard a bad word said by any of the ladies after he moves on. He is never in the tabloids. Then again neither was O.J......

I used to love the Olympics..

When i was a kid back in Yonkers, new york, I loved watching the Olympics. I loved hearing stories about unknown, obscure people from tiny town USA or from around the would and how they overcame the odds and became Olympians. Whether it was Eric Heiden, Mary Lou Retton, Sugar Ray Leonard( who is my favorite Olympian of all time) every four years i felt i had some thing to look forward to watching.. For these athletes they had one moment to shine and that was it. I remember reading articles about Carl Lewis before he became a star and wondering if he could be a champion. Even a few years ago reading about Allyson Felix and wondering how a high school star athlete could compete against the big boys and girls of the world. Then all of sudden the Olympics has become not a platform for the unknown, but for the wealthy and embarrassed. I will explain all of this momentarily.
The one thing i enjoyed as pro USA supporter is how we used to kick ass in all of these competitions using amateur athletes. Our athletes were sponsored by our big companies in the country and they got great endorsement deals. Bruce Jenner getting on the Wheaties box was so cool. Then team USA in hockey got the next one and the sponsorship frenzy began. The only money the athlete got amounted to nothing.. I am sure they got a food stipend but no salary whatsoever. I remember reading several articles in those days about amateur athletes refusing to take money because they did not want to lose their amateur status. Then the world started beating us. In 1984 Professional tennis players participated in the games and that opened the door for all other sports to someday attempt to bring their sport back to the Olympics.
We were losing games and track and field meets that just didn't make sense that we were losing. The sprinters from other countries were catching up to us and in the 1992 Olympics, the USOC decided that they had had enough of losing to the professional athletes of the world. When professional tennis joined the Olympic movement in 1984, it became a matter of time before all sports would follow. At first i thought it was a novelty, a once in a lifetime experiment that would not go over well in this country. Then in 1992 the dream team was constructed because we lost in the 1988 games and the rest is now boring history. We got embarrassed because we came in third place so we had to call in the "marines" to save face in this country. We also got embarrassed because the European athletes were getting paid money to represent their country and our athletes got a hand shake from the president and told to go back to the their lives in tiny town USA. So all of our Olympians just simply moved to Europe to compete in world wide events just so they could survive. Now if you won gold medals and Madison avenue came calling then you could have made a living for a little while. To my knowledge the '84 Olympic team did not receive wealth until after they dominated the games.
Today's announcement that golf and rugby are now going to be apart of the Olympics put out whatever Olympic flame i had. Don't the golfers have international events they play in? The Ryder cup, the Presidents cup. and the Europeans have an event when they take on the world also. It is bad enough that soccer is an Olympic sport with all of the pros who in that. They have the world cup, which i thought was the most prestigious tournament in the world. I don't understand why the IOC gets rid of softball as an Olympic sport and brings in golf. Tiger Woods will be 39 when the Olympics comes around in 2016. Why is this so important? What is next, the NFL? The Olympics have basically told the world that if you are not a paid athlete you cannot participate. The United States was the last country to crush the hopes and dreams of amateur athletics. I still believe our amateurs could still compete and succeed against the world. We just have to make sure that our best athletes compete. In 1984, we had an unbelievable team. Both the men's and women's team set standards that have never been matched since. We had great amateurs in 1960, 1956, 1936, 1972, and 1976. Wars and politics aside the United States has had a proud amateurs that have made us the dominant nation that we are. But i know, love is a thrill but it don't pay the bills...