Tiger, Vijay, Phil, .. at Bethpage 2009 US Open
Archive for Sports
US Open 2009 @ Bethpage
We were lucky to have gone yesterday: on a perfect 10 out of 10 day for golf. I went to food shopping after dropping off the kids few hours ago, and stepped in a poddle of water that was to my calf in the parking lot. The next few days look like more rain drops than sun rays.
We parked at Jones Beach and took the coach to the Park. It’s about 20 minutes righe, painless, except the dust. As soon as I got off the bus, I found the first piece of garbage on the ground.
Michael dropped his sunglasses as we were watching the Tiger roaring. Ben Crane the slowmo came to pick it up. Ben is renowned for his slowness, once his partner walked off without him.
“Keep it.” I joked.
Michael took off his cap. Meaning you can have this if you want.
But Mr. Celebrity is so used to autograph seekers, he thought Michael was one of them.
He signed it without asking.
Guess everyone had their mind and eye on Tiger, no one was handing their stuff out for signature for Mr. Crane.
Well, no worry.
There is always an Irene.
Without knowing who he was, I handed him my cap.
I didn’t want to see him standing there, waiting.
An older gentle stood to me left, joked
“He’s just a ground crew.”
Early we chatted briefly. He posed a question or comment on Tiger, then waited for my reply. I looked at him blankly, confessing that I knew nothing about the game.
“Then why are you here?” He laughed.
“Oh, I was kidnapped.” 🙂 I pointed to DQ to my right.
He wanted to be kidnapped too.
The check points at Jones Beach by the coach were through, like in an airport: empty your pockets and gone through a beeping arch.
No cell phone
No food
No water
No camera case, camera is ok
They provided the phone booth.
It’s kind of cool, for the younger generation who grow up on computers and cell phones.
Dad and Mom used to live this way, make a call from a big machine that’s moored to the ground. Oh, needed to have quarters to make the call.
The famous Nathan Frankfurter, hot dog cost $5
The beer $6
I sneaked in a Trader Joe’s strawberry bar. I must have a tendency to challenge the authority.
A born rebel, I reckon?
There was this huge shopping mall
A gleaming white tent.
Merchandise Pavilion
Gift shops are Americans’ tradition. They need to have their dose of shopping crave filled. Everywhere.
DQ was trying on hat
James Dodson, the author of A Son of the Game was on hand signing his books.
I left my purse in the car, had to borrow money for my shopping spree.
Love the idea that they decorated the mall with orchards.
The mall was packed, humming with activities. It was only a practice day.
Well, golfers are better paid than tennis players.
Even every one can pick up a game of golf.
Count how many pro-am/celebrity golf tournaments are out there, vs tennis?
And pro golfers have much longer shelf live.
Their careers last longer than any other athletes.
The golf pros and tennis pros charge similar fee per hour. But tennis pro most likely has to sweat out the entire hour.
NY Times‘ take on New York fans are on the money. The older gentle on my left was yelling out tips to Tiger on how to swing.
These two cuties were at the middle of the 18th hole, waiting for Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh.
I sneezed.
“Excuse me.” I said to no one in particular.
“God bless you.” One of them said.
After thanking him, I asked
“Why are you on wheels?”
They both stood as the balls dropped.
“We’re disabled.” They replied curtly.
Mind your own business, will you pls Irene?
Nathan Tyler has an Asian girl friend -> right.
Behind her were the sponsors – corporate white tents. The big boys would rent a house or a tent or both, to entertain their clients and enjoying the game themselves. Golfer never has worried where to park
or how much a beer cost 🙂
I had just as much fun as anyone would. Thanks DQ.
I’ve heard that I’m slated for the July Girls’ game in Pennsylvania, LPGA.
You got to know the right people 🙂
A tiger in the woods @ US Open 2009
We stopped at the driving range first. It’s somewhat empty. After lingering for a few minutes, as we were about to leave, we heard some shifting and here came the Tiger. His coach in the dark blue sweater and caddy in white were in toe. More pix on FB
After the driving range, he walked over to the club house when the spectators began to call out
“Tiger … ”
“Tiger … ”
I laughed and yelled: cheetah! and took this picture.
It’s pretty comical: Mr. Woods was walking briskly in an quarantined area for players and milling crowds pulled down the soft green fences that were more than 5 feet tall to take a peek or picture of the famous tiger, plus the tranquility that was found nowhere else in the park, zoo came to mind.
Phil Mickelson
Phil’s a nickname, brain because he wins a lot of money from gambling. He always looks ill dressed. But he’s popular because he smiles a lot, all the time and likes to chat with fans. Oh .. few have been complaining that his boobs are bit too large 🙂
A long time ago an interview on him, the reporter wrote his pretty wife few times when referring to her. I don’t know she should feel offended as if there wasn’t any other suitable adjective? The reporter was too lazy or she’s an airhead? I think it’s the former and hope so.
His wife Amy has breast cancer. Few pros at the park were wearing the pins in support of the family.
Vijay Singh at 2009 Bethpage US Open
My g/f was bit in shock upon hearing my going to the US Open today. She thought that I’m finally converted or defected to golf.
No no no …
I was being kidnapped.
DQ herd the 5 of us there … her golf coach Jerry, her golfing buddy Michael G …
We had to park at Jones Beach and took the coach to Bethpage State Park. We used to go there with the kids biking, then had brunch at the club over looking the black tee off and the 18th hole.
The future US Opens
The PGA plans its future US Open Championships well into 2015 and beyond … seen at the 2009 Open (golf) at Bethpage
Parking All Night at Bethpage, Hoping to Drive
Are the golf players nuttier than tennis players? Waiting all night for the chance to play the pristine course that Tiger would trudge the following day?
Tiger Woods freshly off his last win at Memorial yesterday and he’s out there at the Bethpage black today. Talking about work ethic. Billy Schwafel, a Long Island local caddied for him.
Many golfers have commented that the Bethpage black is the most magnificent course out there.
And it’s a public course.
How cool and neat.
Only in New York.
I’ll be dragged out there next Wednesday: DQ invited eight of us to go. Golfer couldn’t. Not sure DQ gets this: What does she think Golfer picks up golf in the first place? … To get away from his wife … ha ha ha ha…
Thank lord Golfer isn’t coming. He just made me watched part of 2002 championship.
and said that
“I’ll make you walk the entire 18 holes.” IF he were to go.
Lord, please don’t go 🙂 I hate walk.
I’m reading on the golf etiquette so I won’t be an embarrassment to my gangs out there.
Lectured The Met Golfer:
… Cheering and clapping: definitely. Heckling (even of Sergio): don’t do it.
ha ha ha ha…
China plans Mount Everest cleanup in 2009
BEIJING (AP) — With the debris of more than 50 years of climbing — oxygen canisters, tents, backpacks and even some bodies — Mount Everest has been called the world’s highest garbage dump.
In the last seven years, climbers from Japan and Nepal have completed five garbage-collecting excursions on Mt. Everest in a mission to clean up the world’s tallest mountain.
Oh well ..
1st of two men’s semi at Roland Garros
Robin Soderling is play Fernando Gonzalez. Gonzalez is from Santiago, Chile; plays single hand back hand and is the oldest one among the 4 semi men, 29. Guess I’ll root for him for the simple reason one-handed backhand … but he grunts … but his form is prettier than Soderling’s (his forehhand likes a street fighter) although I like Soderling’s relaxed manner. A lot of long rallies already. A fair game.
Oddly engouh, I can’t fine the live feed of the French Open, don’t tell me that NBC bought out all of the operators. That’s sicking.
OK .. it’s 11:10am, Soderling edges out Gonzalez … 6:3, 7:5, 5:7, 4:6 and 6:4. And NBC is still showing the game at 4:3 third set. Sickening. What other important sport that they have to show on a weekday early morning?
Gonzalez was up 4:1 in the 5th and was up 30:15 on Soderling’s serve …
Feliciano Lopez is the best looking man on the tour. He’s from Toledo, a little town not far from Madrid. A very distant memory of one of my Europass summers there :). Lopez plays one-handed backhand. He turned pro in 1997, with only one singles and one doubles titles (both in 2004), his earning over the course of 12 years is $4 mil.
From Russia with Love
The two ladies semis produced the predictable result: Samantha Stosur lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova in 3 sets and Dominika Cibulkova lost to Dinara Safina in 2 sets, yielded a Russian final @ French Open this Saturday.
The Aussie Stosur looks cool and composed. The Slovakia Cibulkova who’s only 5’3” is small, but pretty, especially her eyes. Watching her trading hard fought and often long rallies with Safina was just amazing. The two losers played marvelously.
Dinara reminds me of Lindsay Davenport.
