Who Cheers For The Bad Guys?

Greetings Golfers,

So it looks like the Gophers are going to a Bowl game. They have a losing record … and are tied for last in the Big Ten West Division. What’s the point?

Big Ten West Division? That’s also ridiculous. Then adding PAC schools … so USC and Rutgers can be in the same conference?

I can see conferences adjusting as time goes on … things change. But conferences were built on natural alliances and rivalries. Unless that changes - why blow it up? Bigger is not necessarily better.

Obviously the tv networks want “bigger” games. But will these conferences build bigger rivalries than Ohio State-Michigan or Auburn-Alabama or USC-UCLA? Not to mention rivalries such as Minnesota-Wisconsin. 

Will the powerhouse schools just get stronger? Will non-powerhouse schools even have a chance?

Or is that the plan? Just a perpetual series of “big games” between the same schools.

Went out last Monday night with some old high school friends. No one was aware that the Vikings were on Monday Night Football. Every one of these guys loved sports and knew everything about MN sports - until recently. Why the change? Because it’s just about hype and money.

We used to know every player. There used to be loyalty. There used to be a distinct culture on every team. 

How does this relate to golf? Easily. The powers that be just want the Tour to be exhibitions of the “stars”. That way the big sponsors can get their players on tv. And supposedly that’s all people want to see. I love when a no name guy qualifies and wins a tournament. How great is that?

When I watch a movie … if I don’t care about the characters … I don’t care how much “excitement” happens. If I go to a party and the food is “big time”, etc … but if the vibe is bad … I’m gone.

What’s going on?

My sons just submitted a bunch of my blogs to AI and they analyzed my style and then wrote a blog in my style. It was decent … clever … but soulless. It wasn’t authentic. Why are we trading authentic for flash and cash?

I can understand if you’re starving. But once you reach a basic level of stability … more is not more. It’s usually awful. We all know it. In fact it’s embarrassing.

While I was writing this … I shared it with staff and their spouses. One of them agreed and said why isn’t anyone talking about this? Yeah. Everyone who read it agreed … even poor victims who just walked into the Clubhouse … and had stories about Gophers hockey, etc. They actually got enthused and started ranting.

Bottom-line to caring … we have to care about people. If teams are just faceless, soulless people we don’t care about … we won’t care if they win or lose. Why would we?

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com