"TV ratings have flattened out, and Internet upstarts are luring away young sports fans who grew up with ESPN as part of the sports establishment."

/

Go figure. With the likes of YouTube and Deadspin coming along, Adam Thompson in the WSJ says that one reason ESPN is coughing up $2 million a year for Rick Reilly and hiring away quality journalists is to break news and in general, deliver a higher quality, gulp, product.

The brand ESPN created was a fun, irreverent locker room, driven by the highlights and hijinks of "SportsCenter," which it aired several times a day, updating all the while. But as video begins to explode on the Internet, the highlight formula is showing signs of plateauing: Sports fans can go elsewhere to catch up on the day's games -- and especially to indulge their local-team loyalties. TV ratings have flattened out, and Internet upstarts are luring away young sports fans who grew up with ESPN as part of the sports establishment.

 

And....

So to remain the self-proclaimed "Worldwide Leader in Sports," the network is bulking up on content that is harder to duplicate. Rather than just introducing game video, the idea is to serve up breaking news and expert analysis, aggressively blanketing TV, the Internet, the magazine and even cellphones. In the new Internet-fed landscape, a two-minute video can be just as important. And the ESPN brand isn't enough -- it needs individual go-to names like Mr. Reilly, or ESPN's existing Web star, "Sports Guy" columnist Bill Simmons.

Good news for the PGA Tour and it's 14-years-to-go partner Golf Channel: even ESPN's ratings are down. 

ESPN's cable-TV operation is still a juggernaut. It charges cable operators more than $3.26 per subscriber per month, an industry high that will jump to $3.65 in 2008, according to Derek Baine, senior analyst at SNL Kagan. Mr. Baine values ESPN at close to $30 billion.

But the network's year-to-date ratings are down from a year ago. The average number of households tuned into ESPN in 2007 declined 10.2% in prime time and 5% for the full day through last week, after climbing over a similar period between 2005 and 2006, according to Nielsen Media Research. Some of its brand extensions have failed: A much-touted mobile-phone service went bust last year (the ring tone was the SportsCenter theme song, but the other features weren't compelling).

USGA Alters Handicap System: Moronic CEO's Rejoice

/
Looks like the USGA has made it tougher for intrepid reporters to catch stupid CEO's who play golf when their company stock price is headed down the drain:
The most significant revision clarifies the definition of “peer review” to specify the information that must be provided in connection with a scoring record. As a result of these changes, peer review will become more sensitive to privacy-related concerns.

The new definition of “peer review” mandates two types of scoring records – a general scoring record that provides basic information to those involved in peer review; and a complete scoring record that provides more detailed information to a club’s handicap committee, fellow club members and officials in charge of any outside competition where a golfer plans to compete.

General scoring records will not show the date (day) and course on which a round of golf was played. The name of the course where a round was played is only recommended as part of the complete scoring record. For both types of records, however, the six most recent revisions to a player’s Handicap Index® are required.
“Certain portions of the scoring record are essential for peer review to flourish, and we have painstakingly worked to determine what is necessary in various situations,” said USGA President-elect Jim Vernon, who brought this topic to the attention of the Handicap Committee for review in 2005 in his role as committee chair.

"The tournaments on our Tours have vividly demonstrated that giving back is the heart of the PGA TOUR"

/
Tim Finchem announced $123 million in in contributions, up from $114 mill. Maybe we could spend a little on getting him a better press release quote maker-upper? Then again, he is giving nearly all of the credit to the people who do the hard work, which is admirable.
“Once again this year, the tournaments on our Tours have vividly demonstrated that giving back is the heart of the PGA TOUR,” Finchem said. “This tremendous accomplishment underscores the vital roles that our tournaments play in their communities.  Our players, sponsors, tournament organizations, and volunteers and fans can all take pride in their role in ensuring that ours is a sport that leaves each of our communities better off for the presence of one of our events.

“The important thing about this effort is that it helps people,” Finchem said.  “We also take note of the total impact, and when we surpassed the $1 billion mark in all-time charitable giving in 2005, we noted that that it had taken 67 years to reach that total and that we could reasonably expect to achieve the second billion in only 10 years. It’s extremely gratifying to find out that we are well ahead of that pace, and now expect to achieve it within only seven or eight years.”
These tallies are most impressive:
Among other significant developments was the new record established by The Presidents Cup, which reached a high mark of $4.2 million in donations from the biennial event.

On the Nationwide Tour, both the Albertsons Boise Open presented by First Health and the BMW Charity Pro-Am generated more than $2 million. Numerous Champions Tour events exceeded previous high levels of charitable giving, led by contributions of approximately $1.3 million from both the Toshiba Classic and the 3M Championship. In total, both the Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour achieved charitable giving records.

Wie Opting To Leave Men's Tours Alone For Now...Maybe

/

Lewine Mair breaks the news but does note she may play in a men's event in Japan later in the year. Steve Elling reports the same news with extensive quotes from David Leadbetter. Elling notes actual news with word that Wie is taking the spring semester off at Stanford to focus on her game even though she currently is not exempt for any women's majors.

Somewhere Earl Woods is shaking his head.

"You still have adrenaline flowing in your body, but you don't feel that adrenaline rush so you're not distracted by your own nervousness"

/
Karen Kaplan and Denise Gellene of Los Angeles Times consider the use and benefits of cognitive enhancers like Adderall and Provigil for those in high stress positions. Of course, golfers call penalties on themselves and Nick Price tried beta blockers during the Reagan administration years and found them to be useless, so why I'm even linking this is a mystery...
Philips, the poker player, started using Adderall after he was diagnosed with ADHD five years ago and later got a prescription for Provigil to further improve his focus. ADHD drugs work by increasing the level of the brain chemical dopamine, which is thought to improve attention. Provigil's mechanism of action is not well understood, but boosting the effect of dopamine is thought to be part of it.

The drugs improved his concentration during high-stakes tournaments, he said, allowing him to better track all the action at his table.

"Poker is the sort of game that a lot of people can play well sporadically, but tournaments are mostly won by people who can play close to their best at all times," he said. "It requires significant mental effort to play in top form for 12 hours a day, five days in a row."

In the world of classical music, beta blockers such as Inderal have become nearly as commonplace as metronomes.

The drugs block adrenaline receptors in the heart and blood vessels, helping to control arrhythmias and high blood pressure. They also block adrenaline receptors in the brain.

"You still have adrenaline flowing in your body, but you don't feel that adrenaline rush so you're not distracted by your own nervousness," said Dr. Bernd F. Remler, a neurologist at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

That's why Sarah Tuck, a veteran flutist with the San Diego Symphony, takes them to stave off the jitters that musicians refer to as "rubber fingers."

"When your heart is racing and your hands are shaking and you have difficulty breathing, it is difficult to perform," said Tuck, 41, who discovered them when she began performing professionally 15 years ago.

A survey she conducted a decade ago revealed one-quarter of flutists used the pills before some or all of their performances or in high-pressure situations like auditions. She believes use is now more widespread and estimates that three-quarters of musicians she knows use the drugs at least occasionally.

Prescriptions for Inderal and other beta blockers can be readily obtained from physicians. Tuck said some doctors had told her they used the drugs themselves to calm their own nerves before making presentations at medical meetings. Musicians say their drug use is all aboveboard.

"It's not like we're sending our clubhouse attendants to BALCO to get us our Inderal," said double bassist Bruce Ridge, 44, referring to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative that allegedly provided slugger Barry Bonds and other athletes with performance-enhancing drugs.
That's right, because it is made by a publicly traded company, it must be A-okay!

LPGA = Meshpokha

/
From AP:
The LPGA Tour finally worked out the details for its new tournament in South Florida, announcing Tuesday that the Stanford International Pro-Am will be played April 24-27 at Turnberry Isle Resort & Club in Aventura, Fla.
And in case you forgot...
The new event was held up by a scheduling conflict at Turnberry Isle.

The resort already had been booked that week by Presidential Holidays Southeast, which was hosting a Passover event for more than 500 Orthodox Jews. The Sun-Sentinel reported last week that Presidential Holidays received a financial settlement from the resort, and the Passover event will go somewhere else.
And I was so looking forward to the depositions.

The Next OnStar Ad?

/

I am not a member of the striking Writer's Guild, and here is why.

It occurred to me that when Rory Sabbatini may have run off with his Buick Enclave after WD'ing from Tiger's event at Sherwood, the inability to locate his courtesy car should have been solved by GM's OnStar system. If you've seen any of Tiger's OnStar ads, you would know this.

Since I'm always looking to turn a negative into a negative, I thought it would be wise to pitch this as the next Tiger Woods OnStar commercial. Here's what I've got so far, but your suggestions are always welcome. Unless you are a member of the Writer's Guild:

FADE IN: INT. SHERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB CLUBHOUSE
Target World Challenge Tournament Director Greg McLaughlin is conferencing with Tiger Woods in the Men's Locker Room. Both men look gravely concerned, and we faintly here Woods ask, "What about OnStar?"


CUT TO: McLaughlin seated, talking to imaginary interviewer in hip, reality show format

GREG McLAUGLIN
Rory Sabbatini withdrew from the final round of our tournament and left for Los Angeles International Airport in one of course Buick Enclave. As tournament director, I didn't know what to do because we had to have the vehicle back immediately.

CUT TO: Woods seated, talking to imaginary interviewer.

TIGER WOODS
I said to Greg, "Rory Sabbatini is precisely why they invented OnStar." Their Stolen Vehicle Assistance will locate the car.


CUT TO: Woods in Sherwood Country Club parking lot, talking to female, under 30, hot sounding OnStar representative.


TIGER WOODS
Hello OnStar? We've got this moron who ran off with one of our courtesy cars.

ONSTAR REPRESENTATIVE
I have the Target World Challenge field list right here. Is it Rory Sabbatini?


TIGER WOODS
How did you know?


ONSTAR REPRESENTATIVE
We know everything. We'll get the location to you right away.


CUT TO: Ext. McLaughlin and Woods are driving in a Buick Enclave and pull into a parking lot near LAX with Woods on phone to OnStar representative. They spot Sabbatini's missing courtesy car, give each other a high five and Woods speaks.

TIGER WOODS
Thanks OnStar. We'll remember to use Stolen Vehicle Assistance next year when we invite John Daly.


CUT TO: On Screen OnStar graphic and voiceover.

FADE OUT.

"Zach Johnson wins the Masters. Not a highlight exactly..."

/

Lawrence Donegan posts a year-in-review and player watch for 2008, with this item catching my eye:

2) Zach Johnson wins the Masters. Not a highlight exactly, more of a vindication for those who argue the changes made to the Augusta National golf course in an attempt to meet the challenges of modern golf technology have diminished Alistair MacKenzie's classic course to the extent that average players such as Johnson can now prevail at major championships.

It is fascinating that only a few years ago, any criticism of Augusta National would have been highly unusual (unless it was me mouthing off). Now it's rather commonplace.

Surely the club must notice this trend? 

 

"Unless Rory has a death wish, he better donate that money to Woods' charity, the tournament beneficiary."

/
Steve Elling and Ross Devonport debate the issues, with both agreeing that Rory Sabbatini needs to give back his Target World Challenge winnings.

Speaking of which, does anyone else find it odd that in our little 24/7 world, Rory's agent has not made sure to let every golf writer know that his client has decided to turn his winnings over to the foundation?  Here we are several days removed from his WD and the ensuing fallout, and not a word on his web site.

Does this mean he's sticking to his shin splits defense?

You have to figure if there is no gesture on Sabbatini's part soon, he will be the focus of media coverage at Kapalua. And that won't be pretty if he makes it into the interview room.

Royal Melbourne Deals With Severe Drought

/
0,,5806772,00.jpgThanks to reader Mark for this Bruce Matthews story on the extreme measures taken at Royal Melbourne to help get through a drought.
A convoy of tankers will cart water to Royal Melbourne to keep the world-famous golf course alive over summer.

It will cost the club an estimated $100,000 each week to buy the recycled water from Melbourne Water's western treatment plant at Werribee.
And...
"We are unable to water fairways at all with our current water allocations and we can only rely on rain," club captain Peter Sutherland said in last month's club newsletter.

"If the situation worsens, the (club's) council may need to reduce traffic on the courses to prevent long-term damage."

Events on the club's calendar this month, such as the Victorian amateur championship starting today, will go ahead at this stage.

"We don't back away from the fact there are areas of the fairways that are particularly dry and obviously lacking good (grass) coverage. But it's something you have to accept in these conditions, that they will take a while to recover," Richardson said.

What Is The Sports Rights Owners Coalition Up To?

/

Looks like The Brand Lady was ahead of her time as the "Sports Rights Owners Coalition" (gee, I wonder what they are after) is, according to Doreen Carvajal in the International Herald Tribune....

"seeking international treaties to "protect and promote the special nature of sport" and its intellectual property rights in a fast-changing digital world.
In other words, they may want to get their hands on photos and the rights or even money made from shots taken at sporting events. I believe the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour are part of the coalition and as you may recall, the LPGA Tour rather ridiculously attempted to gain control of images in 2006, leading to an embarrassing media boycott and resolution.

 

"He had to go to the pro shop to buy golf balls before the playoff"

/
Doug Ferguson's weekly notes column features a fun bit on Tiger seeking and getting only his second autographed piece of memorabilia from Dodgers great Sandy Koufax, and these anecdotes from Open Championship winner Padraig Harrington's new book:
He used three drivers during the British Open, going from a 9-degree loft in practice to a 7.5-degree loft in the first two rounds to an 8.5-degree loft on the weekend. The latter, which he used to drive into the Barry Burn on the 72nd hole, is still in his bag.

He had to go to the pro shop to buy golf balls before the playoff because he couldn't find the extra balls he had set aside, although he located them moments before he teed off against Sergio Garcia.

41's Bobby Jones Award Win Overshadowed By Buddy Bill

/
George H.W. Bush wins the Bobby Jones Award, and as AP noted, "It was only the second time the award was given to a non-golfer. The USGA recognized Bing Crosy [SP] and Bob Hope in 1978."

However, the onslaught of media coverage that would have ensued--Today Show, Nightline, etc...--will be overshadowed by Bill Clinton's bizarre campaign gaffe.