The Wisconsin Badger open defense of their Big Ten Championship tonight. Here are my predictions for the upcoming season.
Week 1 tonight versus UNLV. You may recall the Rebels hung with the Badgers in a game at Vegas last season. But that had a game time temp of over 100 degrees. I think the Badgers pull away again in the second half tonight and roll to a 45-17 win. 1-0
Week 2 versus Oregon State. This game was set up after the Beavers went to a BCS Bowl Game. Like the rest of the Pac-12 (hey! a conference that knows how to count!!), they have gone downhill since then. Plus, game time is set for 11:00 our time--so the OSU players will feel like its 9:00 am. Expect the Badgers to roll again--38-13. 2-0
Week 3 aginst Northern Illinois at Soldier Field. There is already some concern about the quality of field conditions for this one. One thing that can be guaranteed: Soldier Field will look more like Camp Randall as the Badgers overwhelm the Huskies 40-14. 3-0
Week 4 versus $outh Dakota $tate. When I become Czar of the NCAA my first move will be to ban these games involving Fooball Playoff Sub-Division teams. The dollar signs represent the cash payment the Jackrabbits get for being scrificial lambs at Camp Randall--and the millions the Badgers make for getting another home game on the schedule. 56-13. 4-0
Week 5 versus Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are now officially my second most hated team in the Big Ten. It's not because of any great rivalry with the Badgers--but rather because their addition to the conference lead to the stupid divisions, with the stupid names and the stupid championship game in a sterile NFL dome. I'll hate the 'Shuckers even more after they beat the Badgers 27-23. 4-1
Week 6 versus Indiana. Big Red gets a week off to lick its wounds after its first loss and rolls the pathetic Hoosiers 48-23. 5-1
Week 7 at Michigan State. This is the first real road game for the Badgers--and the Spartans beat Wisconsin at home last year--but I think Wisconsin plays better on special teams and holds down the score this time 27-21. 6-1
Week 8 at Ohio State. Until Terelle Pryor and Jim Tressel combined to bring the Buckeyes program to its knees, this was the game of the year on the schedule--as it would probably decide who wins the (insert stupid name here) division. But I think THE Ohio State University comes into the game with a couple of losses already and some real doubt in the new head coach. The Badgers get a big road win 33-24. 7-1
Week 9 versus Purdue. The Boilermakers stink. 45-20. 8-1
Week 10 at Minnesota. The Gophers are due for their one win per decade in the Ax Game--but it ain't this year. 77-21. 9-1
Week 11 at Illinois. This is one of those "danger games"--second in a row on the road--a middle of the pack team. But the Badger running game grinds out a win over the Illini 32-27. 10-1
Week 12 versus Penn State. With a (insert stupid name here) Division championship on the line--and an ailing Joe Paterno back in Happy Valley, the Badgers roll the Nittany Lions 37-21. 11-1
Big Ten Championship versus Nebraska. In the biggest game of the year, the Badgers rise to the occasion and avenge their week 5 loss to the Cornhuskers 31-27. 12-1
THE ROSE BOWL!!! Bucky makes his second back-to-back appearance in Pasadena in school history taking on Stanford and Heisman Trophy winner Andrew Luck. Bret Bielema and his coaching staff learn from their mistakes in last year's Rose Bowl and run the ball on every single play--until a play-action pass to the tight end late in the 4th quarter scores the winning touchdown 44-38. 13-1
Of course, now I have scared myself--because the Badgers have a history of falling flat in seasons where big things are expected of them. Honestly, they are an injury to quarterback Russell Wilson away from finishing 5-7 and staying home for the holidays. But let's stay positive and get ready for another great run. ON WISCONSIN!!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Michael Vick--An American Success Story
How does the headline for today's blog make you feel? Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that "There are no second acts in American lives." But for Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick--that is obviously not true. Especially when you consider that for the second time in his 31-years of life, he has signed a $100-million dollar contract with an NFL team.
And that is why you seriously have to consider Vick as an American success story. We laud people like Dave Ramsey--who squandered his first million dollars and had to file for bankruptcy before building a new fortune on showing people the right way to make money--as examples of learning from one's early mistakes and becoming something even better on the other side. So why not applaud Michael Vick for learning his lesson while spending his 18-months in Federal prison and returning to stardom in his chosen profession?
As you might expect, after the announcement of the Vick contract on Monday the social media sphere was all abuzz--mostly with people disgusted or offended that Vick was going to be getting that much money. (By the way, 40-million of that contract is guaranteed) But let's take a step back and think about this in a cool, emotionless way. Vick is a convicted felon and is giving up a number of constitutional rights--probably for the rest of his life. He served out his sentence. There was no "Paris Hilton/Lindsay Lohan-I'm-too-scared-to-serve-time-early-release-deals". And he is meeting the terms of his probation by not owning any other animals and talking to kids about the idiocy of dogfighting. So why should we deny him the opportunity to make a living--and a good living at that? Apparently, there is a high demand for someone of his talents.
What I find interesting, is how people are totally incapable of forgiving someone who commits a crime against an animal. Somehow, in our list of social mores, Animal Abuse has moved exponentially higher on the list of "heinous crimes" than anything else--including killing a person. I laugh every time I see people protesting at the courthouse during the appearance of a dog or cat abuser claiming to be "giving a voice to the animal." One time I'm going to tell them "There's a hearing for a guy who killed his girlfriend in a drunk driving crash on the next floor--why don't you give her 'a voice' as well?"
Now I should point out, I'm offended by the Michael Vick contract as well. But only because I don't think a guy who completes fewer than half his passes, takes off running if his first receiver isn't open and has a losing record in the playoffs deserves to be one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in league. If that's the case, then all of the God Squad Tim Tebow fans should be out protesting as well.
And that is why you seriously have to consider Vick as an American success story. We laud people like Dave Ramsey--who squandered his first million dollars and had to file for bankruptcy before building a new fortune on showing people the right way to make money--as examples of learning from one's early mistakes and becoming something even better on the other side. So why not applaud Michael Vick for learning his lesson while spending his 18-months in Federal prison and returning to stardom in his chosen profession?
As you might expect, after the announcement of the Vick contract on Monday the social media sphere was all abuzz--mostly with people disgusted or offended that Vick was going to be getting that much money. (By the way, 40-million of that contract is guaranteed) But let's take a step back and think about this in a cool, emotionless way. Vick is a convicted felon and is giving up a number of constitutional rights--probably for the rest of his life. He served out his sentence. There was no "Paris Hilton/Lindsay Lohan-I'm-too-scared-to-serve-time-early-release-deals". And he is meeting the terms of his probation by not owning any other animals and talking to kids about the idiocy of dogfighting. So why should we deny him the opportunity to make a living--and a good living at that? Apparently, there is a high demand for someone of his talents.
What I find interesting, is how people are totally incapable of forgiving someone who commits a crime against an animal. Somehow, in our list of social mores, Animal Abuse has moved exponentially higher on the list of "heinous crimes" than anything else--including killing a person. I laugh every time I see people protesting at the courthouse during the appearance of a dog or cat abuser claiming to be "giving a voice to the animal." One time I'm going to tell them "There's a hearing for a guy who killed his girlfriend in a drunk driving crash on the next floor--why don't you give her 'a voice' as well?"
Now I should point out, I'm offended by the Michael Vick contract as well. But only because I don't think a guy who completes fewer than half his passes, takes off running if his first receiver isn't open and has a losing record in the playoffs deserves to be one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in league. If that's the case, then all of the God Squad Tim Tebow fans should be out protesting as well.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Terms of Endearment
I realize that President Obama needs to seperate us into as many classes as possible to create animosity and advance his social and economic agenda--but can we at least get a few definitions so we know where we actually stand? I ask this after watching the President introduce his new Chief Economic Advisor on Monday. Twice during the speech he used the phrase "Working Families and Middle Class Families". And this was not the only time the President has used those terms seperately--it's actually quite common in his (or his speechwriters') lexicon.
So what I need to know is which of those two classifications do I belong to? My wife and I both work--so we must be a "Working Family". But as we learned here in Wisconsin this spring, "Working Families" are only those who belong to public sector unions--because they were the ones who were "under attack" by Governor Walker and the Legislative Republicans. Those of us seeing the property tax relief and increased efficiency in government operations are obviously not "Working Families". So, I guess we will have to be "Employed-But-Not-'Working'-Middle Class".
And then you have my parents--who until January were working (but in non-public sector, non "Working Families" jobs) and bringing in Middle Class wages--but are now retired. And thanks to frugal living and diligent savings and investing, they are now living off of retirement accounts in excess of seven-figures--making them "Millionaires". Under President Obama's classification that would make them "Rich Fat Cats"--deserving of my scorn--because obviously, they have not been paying "their fair share". Needless to say, this is going to be a very awkward weekend at their cabin on the lake--and just think of animosity that will hang in the air when we visit their winter place in Florida!
So, if we could just get a flow chart or maybe some set of guidelines before President Obama's next speech on the economy so I know if I should be angry or ashamed of my current place in life, I'd appreciate it. In the meantime I guess I'll just continue to consider myself part of an "Employed-But-Not-'Working'-Middle-Class-Family-Striving-To-Become-A-'Rich-Fat-Cat'-Family".
So what I need to know is which of those two classifications do I belong to? My wife and I both work--so we must be a "Working Family". But as we learned here in Wisconsin this spring, "Working Families" are only those who belong to public sector unions--because they were the ones who were "under attack" by Governor Walker and the Legislative Republicans. Those of us seeing the property tax relief and increased efficiency in government operations are obviously not "Working Families". So, I guess we will have to be "Employed-But-Not-'Working'-Middle Class".
And then you have my parents--who until January were working (but in non-public sector, non "Working Families" jobs) and bringing in Middle Class wages--but are now retired. And thanks to frugal living and diligent savings and investing, they are now living off of retirement accounts in excess of seven-figures--making them "Millionaires". Under President Obama's classification that would make them "Rich Fat Cats"--deserving of my scorn--because obviously, they have not been paying "their fair share". Needless to say, this is going to be a very awkward weekend at their cabin on the lake--and just think of animosity that will hang in the air when we visit their winter place in Florida!
So, if we could just get a flow chart or maybe some set of guidelines before President Obama's next speech on the economy so I know if I should be angry or ashamed of my current place in life, I'd appreciate it. In the meantime I guess I'll just continue to consider myself part of an "Employed-But-Not-'Working'-Middle-Class-Family-Striving-To-Become-A-'Rich-Fat-Cat'-Family".
Monday, August 29, 2011
Supreme Court Fight Club
So the investigation into the Supreme Court Fight Club is over--and nobody is going to be charged with anything. A show of hands from those who are surprised by that........anybody?.......that's what I thought.
When you take a look at the police reports that were provided to the special prosecutor you notice that political affiliation apparently affects a person's vision and memory. The liberal members of the court seem to remember seeing David Prosser going Angry Hulk and putting the Killer Kowalski Sleeper Hold on Ann Walsh Bradley. The conservative members remember Walsh Bradley going Fatal Attraction on Prosser and him reacting like the Brave Sir Robin from Spamalot.
If anything, this was a hockey fight--without all the pads, gloves and helmets. Ann Walsh Bradley is the "Instigator". Playing on a losing team and frustrated by getting her butt kicked, Walsh Bradley decides she is going to come over the boards and take a run at somebody to get her side fired up and perhaps take out a member of the other team. Prosser is the "Hothead"--easily goaded into a fight and the perfect target for the "Instigator".
Just like on the ice, the fight starts with trash talk, the two combatants circle each other for a while, maybe there is a few jabs with the sticks--and then the gloves are off. The two go at it for a few seconds--the fans get a rise out of it--and then the refs step in.
In hockey, the two "combatants" are sent to the penalty box. Maybe the "Instigator" didn't throw any punches (Claude Lemieux-type fighter)--and maybe the "Hothead" was pushed into throwing down (Tie Domi--or pretty much any other goon that has ever played the game)--regardless, both go to the box. And maybe that is what should be done here as well. Ann Walsh Bradley and David Prosser should be "sent off" for a little bit of time to think about what they have done.
Sticking with the hockey theme, five minutes for fighting represents 1/12th of a game. A Supreme Court Justice's term is 120-months--so Walsh Bradley and Prosser should be suspended for ten months. No hearing arguments, no issuing rulings, no collecting a state salary. Unfortunately, as elected officials, Supreme Court Justices answer to no one--so absolutely nothing is going to come of this. I guess we will just have to remember this little fracas when these two come back up for re-election--and hand them lifetime suspensions from the High Court.
When you take a look at the police reports that were provided to the special prosecutor you notice that political affiliation apparently affects a person's vision and memory. The liberal members of the court seem to remember seeing David Prosser going Angry Hulk and putting the Killer Kowalski Sleeper Hold on Ann Walsh Bradley. The conservative members remember Walsh Bradley going Fatal Attraction on Prosser and him reacting like the Brave Sir Robin from Spamalot.
If anything, this was a hockey fight--without all the pads, gloves and helmets. Ann Walsh Bradley is the "Instigator". Playing on a losing team and frustrated by getting her butt kicked, Walsh Bradley decides she is going to come over the boards and take a run at somebody to get her side fired up and perhaps take out a member of the other team. Prosser is the "Hothead"--easily goaded into a fight and the perfect target for the "Instigator".
Just like on the ice, the fight starts with trash talk, the two combatants circle each other for a while, maybe there is a few jabs with the sticks--and then the gloves are off. The two go at it for a few seconds--the fans get a rise out of it--and then the refs step in.
In hockey, the two "combatants" are sent to the penalty box. Maybe the "Instigator" didn't throw any punches (Claude Lemieux-type fighter)--and maybe the "Hothead" was pushed into throwing down (Tie Domi--or pretty much any other goon that has ever played the game)--regardless, both go to the box. And maybe that is what should be done here as well. Ann Walsh Bradley and David Prosser should be "sent off" for a little bit of time to think about what they have done.
Sticking with the hockey theme, five minutes for fighting represents 1/12th of a game. A Supreme Court Justice's term is 120-months--so Walsh Bradley and Prosser should be suspended for ten months. No hearing arguments, no issuing rulings, no collecting a state salary. Unfortunately, as elected officials, Supreme Court Justices answer to no one--so absolutely nothing is going to come of this. I guess we will just have to remember this little fracas when these two come back up for re-election--and hand them lifetime suspensions from the High Court.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thanks for the Laugh
Wednesday was not a real good day here at the Radio Ranch. As our listeners may have noticed lately, we are having some serious satellite issues that are causing problems with several of our shows here on WOSH--and the problems got even worse yesterday. Those problems kept me from getting down to cover the 20-man playoff in the US Amateur at Erin Hills (it was as crazy as it sounds). Fortunately, Golf Channel had it on during their window of live coverage yesterday. Throw in the flat performance by the Brewers in Pittsburgh--and concern over a prematurely-born nephew--and you can understand why I was feeling a bit blue yesterday.
And then I got an email from former Congressman Steve Kagen--which provided me with one of the biggest laughs I have enjoyed in some time. The email itself certainly wasn't funny. It was a "letter" detailing all of the things that Kagen and Tommy Thompson "agree" upon in politics (obviously an attempt to discredit Thompson with anyone even slightly right of Kagen's far left position). The big laugh came as I got ready to send the email to the giant circular file in space and I noticed the "signature" at the bottom.
Kagen sent the email signed:
Steven Kagen MD
Member of Congress (Retired)
Wisconsin
Now maybe I missed something while I was busy in the 2010 elections--but I am pretty sure that Steve Kagen did not "Retire" from Congress. I think it would be more factually accurate to say that Steve Kagen was "Fired" from Congress. His bosses in the Eighth District got together and said "Steve, it's just not working out and I think you should seek employment somewhere else." Herb Kohl will have the right to put "Retired" on his emails after next year--because he is not running for re-election. I'm thinking about fowarding the email on to Donald Trump so that in the next season of "The Apprentice" he can point to whatever celebrity is getting the boot and say "You're Retired!"
Furthermore, Kagen has been trying to inject himself into the conversation about who will run for his old seat and for Kohl's seat in the Senate next year--so I guess he's not really done "working" on getting back to Washington. The Doctor's weekly conference calls with reporters were always good for a few chuckles--and now I guess he's making comedy house calls as well.
And then I got an email from former Congressman Steve Kagen--which provided me with one of the biggest laughs I have enjoyed in some time. The email itself certainly wasn't funny. It was a "letter" detailing all of the things that Kagen and Tommy Thompson "agree" upon in politics (obviously an attempt to discredit Thompson with anyone even slightly right of Kagen's far left position). The big laugh came as I got ready to send the email to the giant circular file in space and I noticed the "signature" at the bottom.
Kagen sent the email signed:
Steven Kagen MD
Member of Congress (Retired)
Wisconsin
Now maybe I missed something while I was busy in the 2010 elections--but I am pretty sure that Steve Kagen did not "Retire" from Congress. I think it would be more factually accurate to say that Steve Kagen was "Fired" from Congress. His bosses in the Eighth District got together and said "Steve, it's just not working out and I think you should seek employment somewhere else." Herb Kohl will have the right to put "Retired" on his emails after next year--because he is not running for re-election. I'm thinking about fowarding the email on to Donald Trump so that in the next season of "The Apprentice" he can point to whatever celebrity is getting the boot and say "You're Retired!"
Furthermore, Kagen has been trying to inject himself into the conversation about who will run for his old seat and for Kohl's seat in the Senate next year--so I guess he's not really done "working" on getting back to Washington. The Doctor's weekly conference calls with reporters were always good for a few chuckles--and now I guess he's making comedy house calls as well.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
What Do You Want Him To Say?
If you have been waiting for verbal bouquets to be thrown in Tommy Thompson's direction now that he has "unofficially" entered the race for the US Senate, you are looking in the wrong place. As Ricky used to tell Lucy all the time: "Tommy, you got some 'splainin' to do."
The Club For Growth is already on the attack--running TV and Internet ads that call out Thompson's support for "ObamaCare". They feature a smiling President Obama touting the so-called "moderates" and "Republicans" who were jumping on-board with the budget-crushing program. In response, Tommy has given us the Jackie Gleason "Hama-nuh-hama-nuh" reaction of a child caught with his full arm in the cookie jar and no good explanation.
You know what I would like to hear? How about: "Like a majority of Americans, I was overcome by temporary insanity in my support for anything President Obama has proposed. As a slick politician myself, I was star-struck by his smooth-talking, smartest man in the room persona--and before I could come to my senses I was saying 'That sounds like a great idea, Mr President. Count on my support.' But now that I have left the gas chamber of Washington DC, I realize what a horrible idea it really is and just how much Kool-Aid I drank."
In fact, Tommy should give us straight answers on a bunch of Wisconsin-related issues as well. For instance, all of the Wisconsin Works programs that are costing us an arm and a leg now. He could start by saying: "You know what, all of that paid babysitting and stuff that we could easily afford when unemployment was three or four percent, really is a back-breaker when the jobless rate is doubled. Perhaps we should have considered that before starting the programs. And, yes, I should have realized that people would figure out ways to cheat the system and cost taxpayers millions."
On SeniorCare: "When I first floated this idea--and my successor Scott McCallum got it passed in an election year--I swear we all said it was a temporary program until Medicare started picking up the cost of prescription drugs. I have no idea why the State keeps paying for it."
And on union worker contracts: "I certainly realized that the private sector was seeing its workers pick up a greater share of their health and retirement benefits and that we should probably expect our employees to do the same--but you didn't see me ever getting recalled, did you?"
Would Tommy Thompson be the worst Senate candidate the Republican Party ever nominated? No. But in supporting him, we who believe in fiscal responsibility have to place a lot of faith in the hope that he has learned some lessons from past mistakes we can't afford to make again.
The Club For Growth is already on the attack--running TV and Internet ads that call out Thompson's support for "ObamaCare". They feature a smiling President Obama touting the so-called "moderates" and "Republicans" who were jumping on-board with the budget-crushing program. In response, Tommy has given us the Jackie Gleason "Hama-nuh-hama-nuh" reaction of a child caught with his full arm in the cookie jar and no good explanation.
You know what I would like to hear? How about: "Like a majority of Americans, I was overcome by temporary insanity in my support for anything President Obama has proposed. As a slick politician myself, I was star-struck by his smooth-talking, smartest man in the room persona--and before I could come to my senses I was saying 'That sounds like a great idea, Mr President. Count on my support.' But now that I have left the gas chamber of Washington DC, I realize what a horrible idea it really is and just how much Kool-Aid I drank."
In fact, Tommy should give us straight answers on a bunch of Wisconsin-related issues as well. For instance, all of the Wisconsin Works programs that are costing us an arm and a leg now. He could start by saying: "You know what, all of that paid babysitting and stuff that we could easily afford when unemployment was three or four percent, really is a back-breaker when the jobless rate is doubled. Perhaps we should have considered that before starting the programs. And, yes, I should have realized that people would figure out ways to cheat the system and cost taxpayers millions."
On SeniorCare: "When I first floated this idea--and my successor Scott McCallum got it passed in an election year--I swear we all said it was a temporary program until Medicare started picking up the cost of prescription drugs. I have no idea why the State keeps paying for it."
And on union worker contracts: "I certainly realized that the private sector was seeing its workers pick up a greater share of their health and retirement benefits and that we should probably expect our employees to do the same--but you didn't see me ever getting recalled, did you?"
Would Tommy Thompson be the worst Senate candidate the Republican Party ever nominated? No. But in supporting him, we who believe in fiscal responsibility have to place a lot of faith in the hope that he has learned some lessons from past mistakes we can't afford to make again.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The Post-Tiger Era Starts Here
As a golf fan I hear all the time how the game is in serious danger if Tiger Woods can't return to the Superhero level of play that he maintained for so long before his amazing fall from grace almost two years ago. Well, an event being held this week right here in Wisconsin is giving me plenty of hope that the future of the game is in really good shape.
I'm talking about the US Amateur Championship being contested at Erin Hills Golf Club in Washington County. The 315 best unpaid (for now) golfers in the world are right in our back yard, playing for our oldest national championship--on a course that in six years will host the US Open. The Am is actually a refreshing return to the kind of golf tournament we saw before Tiger came along and turned it into a giant circus. There are few ropes keeping fans a "safe distance" away from the players. There aren't a lot of bleachers--so you can plop down a chair and watch a few groups come through--or walk alongside the fairways to keep an eye on certain players for more than one hole. There aren't giant corporate tents, there are no PUBLIC NOT ALLOWED signs, and there are just a few, downsized sponsorships banners and logos.
And I should mention admission and parking are all free!
Please don't think that just because most of these guys have their college logo on their bags instead of a sponsor that they aren't any good. Defending Champion Peter Uelien was born to be a golfer. His father has been running Titleist for the past few decades--so you know he got top of the line instruction growing up. The number one ranked amateur in the world--Patrick Cantlay, a freshman at UCLA--shot a 60 at a PGA Tour event earlier this year. And Harris English beat an entire field of professionals to win a Nationwide Tour event just last month.
Even if the names don't hold star power for you--the course at Erin Hills can be the star. It looks like someone took a Scottish links course and dropped it in the middle of Wisconsin farmland. And it is unbelievably long--playing at 77-hundred yards this week. That is the longest USGA championship course in history. Of course, these young guys this week are making it look as short at the corner muni with their 320-yard drives and 200-yard 7-irons. (In case you are wondering, the USGA could stretch out Erin Hills to 8200 YARDS for the Open).
And did I mention that admission and parking are free?
So why not take a day or two this week to check out the guys who will be replacing--and maybe making us forget Tiger?--someday. Getting there is easy. Take 41 south to the Holy Hill exit. Head west and just follow the signs to Erin Hills. Take the kids too. We need more new golfers joining the game.
I'm talking about the US Amateur Championship being contested at Erin Hills Golf Club in Washington County. The 315 best unpaid (for now) golfers in the world are right in our back yard, playing for our oldest national championship--on a course that in six years will host the US Open. The Am is actually a refreshing return to the kind of golf tournament we saw before Tiger came along and turned it into a giant circus. There are few ropes keeping fans a "safe distance" away from the players. There aren't a lot of bleachers--so you can plop down a chair and watch a few groups come through--or walk alongside the fairways to keep an eye on certain players for more than one hole. There aren't giant corporate tents, there are no PUBLIC NOT ALLOWED signs, and there are just a few, downsized sponsorships banners and logos.
And I should mention admission and parking are all free!
Please don't think that just because most of these guys have their college logo on their bags instead of a sponsor that they aren't any good. Defending Champion Peter Uelien was born to be a golfer. His father has been running Titleist for the past few decades--so you know he got top of the line instruction growing up. The number one ranked amateur in the world--Patrick Cantlay, a freshman at UCLA--shot a 60 at a PGA Tour event earlier this year. And Harris English beat an entire field of professionals to win a Nationwide Tour event just last month.
Even if the names don't hold star power for you--the course at Erin Hills can be the star. It looks like someone took a Scottish links course and dropped it in the middle of Wisconsin farmland. And it is unbelievably long--playing at 77-hundred yards this week. That is the longest USGA championship course in history. Of course, these young guys this week are making it look as short at the corner muni with their 320-yard drives and 200-yard 7-irons. (In case you are wondering, the USGA could stretch out Erin Hills to 8200 YARDS for the Open).
And did I mention that admission and parking are free?
So why not take a day or two this week to check out the guys who will be replacing--and maybe making us forget Tiger?--someday. Getting there is easy. Take 41 south to the Holy Hill exit. Head west and just follow the signs to Erin Hills. Take the kids too. We need more new golfers joining the game.
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