It's the Year of the Rat.
That's right, the year of the rat officially begins February 7, 2008, and goes through January 25 of next year. This Year of the Rat cycle kicked off with a wonderful tribute to the strength of the modern rat during the Super Bowl, which was a super showing indeed, garnering a viewing audience of nearly 100 million, second only to the MASH series finale of 1983, which had approximately 103 million viewers.
The tribute came in the form of a Doritos commercial, in which a mafia looking guy sets a rat trap and the rat jumps through the wall and starts beating the crap out of him. What a wonderful way to welcome in the Year of the Rat.The Rat, after all, is supposed to symbolize strength.
Strength, in addition to passion and charisma. Those born in the Year of the Rat are supposed to be leaders, pioneers and conquerors. While Doritos' tribute to the Rat's strength and passion was playing during the Super Bowl, another story was making headlines that outlines the conquering and pioneering and aspect of the Rat.
In South America, the fossilised skull of a prehistoric rat the size of a modern automobile was recently unearthed. This pioneer rodent is thought to have been about 10 feet long weighing more than 2000 lbs., comparable to a modern day hippopotamus. It's rat-fangs were estimated to be more than a foot long. And as a matter of historical record, the prehistoric rat used the colossal fangs strictly for ass-kicking and devouring prey, not as compensation for anything else.
Giving tribute to the charisma and natural-born-leader aspect of the Rat in this Year of the Rat will be the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in this year's 80th Annual Academy Awards. All set to run away with the award for Animated Feature Film is Ratatouille, the story of Remy, a young rat-chef in the French countryside. Remy, no doubt, is hoping the Writers Guild of America strike will be settled soon, and we’ll actually have an Academy Award telecast in this year. This rat is begging the producers to cave in already and give the writers their percentage of hypothetical internet money so that we as a nation are spared the dismal spectacle of Ryan Seacrest reading off the names of the Oscar winners on C-Span.
And speaking of this Rat, we know he has to give tribute to some aspect of the Rat in the Year of the Rat. So what will the Desert Rat be paying homage to for the next year or so? Well, it's not all positivity in the wardrobe of rat-characteristics. According to Wikipedia.org, "Behind the smiles and charm, rats can be terribly obstinate and controlling, insisting on having things their way no matter what the cost. These people tend to have immense control of their emotions, which they may use as a tool to manipulate and exploit others, both emotionally and mentally. Rats are masters of mind games and can be very dangerous, calculative and downright cruel if the need arises. Quick-tempered and aggressive, they will not think twice about exacting revenge on those that hurt them in any way."
Paying tribute to the quick-tempered, calculative, and revenge-exacting aspect of the rat in this Year of the Rat will be the Desert Rat of the Desert Post Weekly. Known for his poignant zingers, always directed at those who have crossed him in one way or another, the Desert Rat is most recently known for calling California's February primary a "fifty million dollar waste of money that just so happens to fall in the midsts of a budget crisis."
Now if only curmudgeon Congressman Ron Paul could have won more delegates on Super Tuesday as a tribute the unique aesthetic aspect of the rat. A Ron Paul nomination would have been quite an homage to the rat's singular look in this 2008 Year of the Rat.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Taking the “Walk”-ing out of the Walk of Stars
From yesterday's Desert Post Weekly
Founded in 1992, The Palm Springs Walk of Stars honors area men and women who were significant in contributing to the recognition of Greater Palm Springs. There are currently 298 stars in the following categories: Show Business, Literary, Pioneers/Civic, Humanitarian, Sports, and Military.
The newest inductee to the walk of fame is a man who’s done his part to make walking a thing of the past.
Bobby Thomas spent his childhood growing up in Indio with his mother, father, and two brothers. He got his start in the golf business at Thunderbird Country Club some 50 years ago. Bobby was a pioneer in the golf car business, and a pioneer businessman in what was then the small village of Rancho Mirage. If a country club or golf course needed to buy, sell, or rent golf cars, Bobby Thomas, “cart man” was the person to talk to. Bob Thomas was also known as a charitable man who grabbed every opportunity to help struggling young golf professionals, or anyone acquainted with him who was in need.
Some would feel that Thomas made it possible for people to play golf that ordinarily wouldn’t be able to by providing them with the ability to ride a golf course, rather than walk. This might be true for some, but for most foursomes, Thomas has aided them in their pursuit towards laziness by turning a vessel for exercise into what some might consider slothful activity for overweight men on Sunday mornings.
What the Rat would like to know is, is Thomas whom we have to thank for these ridiculous new golf cars? You know, the ones with five star rims, beverage coolers and DVD players on board? Most of these new golf carts are worth more than the ratmobile. (Albeit that’s not saying much.)
Founded in 1992, The Palm Springs Walk of Stars honors area men and women who were significant in contributing to the recognition of Greater Palm Springs. There are currently 298 stars in the following categories: Show Business, Literary, Pioneers/Civic, Humanitarian, Sports, and Military.
The newest inductee to the walk of fame is a man who’s done his part to make walking a thing of the past.
Bobby Thomas spent his childhood growing up in Indio with his mother, father, and two brothers. He got his start in the golf business at Thunderbird Country Club some 50 years ago. Bobby was a pioneer in the golf car business, and a pioneer businessman in what was then the small village of Rancho Mirage. If a country club or golf course needed to buy, sell, or rent golf cars, Bobby Thomas, “cart man” was the person to talk to. Bob Thomas was also known as a charitable man who grabbed every opportunity to help struggling young golf professionals, or anyone acquainted with him who was in need.
Some would feel that Thomas made it possible for people to play golf that ordinarily wouldn’t be able to by providing them with the ability to ride a golf course, rather than walk. This might be true for some, but for most foursomes, Thomas has aided them in their pursuit towards laziness by turning a vessel for exercise into what some might consider slothful activity for overweight men on Sunday mornings.
What the Rat would like to know is, is Thomas whom we have to thank for these ridiculous new golf cars? You know, the ones with five star rims, beverage coolers and DVD players on board? Most of these new golf carts are worth more than the ratmobile. (Albeit that’s not saying much.)
Thomas also had a life long feud with traditionalist Ian MacCallister that few were aware of. You might recognize Ian from Titleist’s recent NXT golf ball commercials as the aggravated spokesman against the NXT for being too long.
Will MacCallister be at the walk, protesting Thomas’ induction? Probably not, but the Rat may just be there on his behalf. I’ll be one with a wheel of cheese in one hand and a sign that says “Golf carts made me fat” in the other.
Monday, October 1, 2007
The harvest season may be fast upon us, but it's probably by pure coincidence that the medical marijuana issue has been really lighting up lately. Between the closing of Cannahelp, the Palm Desert Pot Dispensary that had been staying open for years in legal limbo; and the Garry Silva court case, in which a Sky Valley man was arrested by the feds for growing medical marijuana; the issue is once again a blazing bowl of controversy here in the desert.
Two Sundays ago 60 Minutes ran a segment on medical marijuana in California, and Palm Springs made a little cameo appearance. The Rat has captured the image below.
The segment was criticized for being negative and superficial, but 60 Minutes had obviously been working on it for some time because this Palm Springs dispensary has been long shut down. The Rat enjoyed the piece but agrees it was a little negative--Morley Safer seems to approach the topic from the standpoint that being able to legally get high is somehow a bad thing.
Complaints ranged from CBS's failure to get response from the legislators who put in place the laws 60 Minutes has deemed flawed, to Safer's dismissal of some of the medical conditions doctors were giving prescriptions for as nonsense. (As if pain from high heels is somehow not real pain). The Rat's main beef is they didn't spend any time focusing on some of the good things the current system has created, other than the obvious "helping sick people" thing which we've all heard a million times.
One thing The Rat would've liked to see more focus on in the 13 minute piece would've been the money these pot dispensaries have been able to spread around the state. And not just from the shops that actually are charging and paying in appropriate sales taxes, but from the dispensary owners and workers themselves. These guys are raking in money gram over lid, and where do you think that money's going? Right back into the communities. The pizza parlors, video rental places, all night convenience stores, and not to mention advertising outlets.
The fact that these dispensaries have to operate under the banner of a non-profit has created a profitable situation for many of the people/businesses associated with them. The extra money has to go somewhere, so where does it go?
The employees get paid more, the dispensary takes it upon itself to repave the parking lot pleasing the landlord, the cable company is happy when the shop sets up a wireless internet and on-demand television network, the hardware store is pleased to sell them all the best lights and scales and whatever else, we could go on all night. And there's still a lot of money left over for advertising, which has never upset anyone in the free newspaper business. Especially free newspapers that have a third of a color page under an extremely recognizable and well read column available for purchase. (Those were good times, Alternative Care Consultants)
So yo, CBS and Morley Safer, sounds like you need to just lay off and take a chill pill, for real. And if that doesn't work, try a bongload of the purple Afghani Indica. Claim work related anxiety from all this focus on the negative. Then we'll see how ugly of a picture you'll want to paint of this wonderful system we have here in California.
Friday, September 28, 2007
From the August 2 Desert Post Weekly . . .
Updated and reprinted with a sort of implied permission
A few months ago The Rat mentioned we might see the controversial tribal gaming compacts put to a referendum this February, despite the fact that they were approved by the legislature and signed into law. Under normal circumstances, that would have been enough to make it official.
But the casino workers' union and the horse racing industry have been total crybabies about the gaming expansion compact, which would bring another casino and a bunch of new slot machines to the valley, and late last week representatives from each filed paperwork with the attorney general's office to get the referendum process started.
The funny thing is, neither the hotel/casino workers union nor the owners of the racetracks are actually against the gambling part of the compact. You would think there would be groves of people lining up saying how gambling corrupts the soul and we shouldn't be making efforts to expand it and ruin more lives, but that doesn't seem to be the argument.
The union says the workers who keep the casinos in business won't have significant rights as the casinos exercise their newly appointed right to expand, and the racetracks say they want some slot machines of their own, because the casinos keep luring their gamblers away like a slot machine luring away your paycheck for the week.
Either way, this referendum could turn into a high stakes horse race of its own, as the California Tribal Business Alliance has predicted each side could spend $30 to $40 million trying to convince the voters to join their side.
The spending really began this week (September 24) as the four tribes affected by the compact launched a television ad campaign to garner support for the compacts. The commercials focus on how the compacts will bring billions into the state without having to raise taxes, and are airing in all the major markets including the Coachella Valley.
The timing of these commercials is curious for several reasons. Reason one is the ads are a bit of a preemptive strike at this point. The measure isn't even guaranteed to be headed for referendum as of yet; opponents haven't gathered enough signatures to see that happen. They have until October 8 to do so. The second reason the timing is odd is because this week marked the start of Native American Week in America. Did these tribes actually time these ads to coincide with the press the Indian community is already getting for their week of recognition? Could running these pro-casino expansion ads be their way of celebrating Native American Week?
The Rat's not a gambling man, but he'd be willing to bet the odds of that being true are better than you're likely to find at any of the local casino slot machines.
Updated and reprinted with a sort of implied permission
A few months ago The Rat mentioned we might see the controversial tribal gaming compacts put to a referendum this February, despite the fact that they were approved by the legislature and signed into law. Under normal circumstances, that would have been enough to make it official.
But the casino workers' union and the horse racing industry have been total crybabies about the gaming expansion compact, which would bring another casino and a bunch of new slot machines to the valley, and late last week representatives from each filed paperwork with the attorney general's office to get the referendum process started.
The funny thing is, neither the hotel/casino workers union nor the owners of the racetracks are actually against the gambling part of the compact. You would think there would be groves of people lining up saying how gambling corrupts the soul and we shouldn't be making efforts to expand it and ruin more lives, but that doesn't seem to be the argument.
The union says the workers who keep the casinos in business won't have significant rights as the casinos exercise their newly appointed right to expand, and the racetracks say they want some slot machines of their own, because the casinos keep luring their gamblers away like a slot machine luring away your paycheck for the week.
Either way, this referendum could turn into a high stakes horse race of its own, as the California Tribal Business Alliance has predicted each side could spend $30 to $40 million trying to convince the voters to join their side.
The spending really began this week (September 24) as the four tribes affected by the compact launched a television ad campaign to garner support for the compacts. The commercials focus on how the compacts will bring billions into the state without having to raise taxes, and are airing in all the major markets including the Coachella Valley.
The timing of these commercials is curious for several reasons. Reason one is the ads are a bit of a preemptive strike at this point. The measure isn't even guaranteed to be headed for referendum as of yet; opponents haven't gathered enough signatures to see that happen. They have until October 8 to do so. The second reason the timing is odd is because this week marked the start of Native American Week in America. Did these tribes actually time these ads to coincide with the press the Indian community is already getting for their week of recognition? Could running these pro-casino expansion ads be their way of celebrating Native American Week?
The Rat's not a gambling man, but he'd be willing to bet the odds of that being true are better than you're likely to find at any of the local casino slot machines.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
From today's Desert Post Weekly . . .
Reprinted with a sort of implied permission
Can we still find peace and quiet in October?
If there's one thing The Rat has learned after years of living in the Coachella Valley, it's to really get out and enjoy the month of October. For us full-time desert rats this is the one window, when everyone else is in transition, that we can go out and enjoy the majestic desert as though it were all ours. Without getting scorched alive, I mean.
It's a great month. People are slowly starting to come out again, like the San Jacinto black bear after a winter's hibernation. We finally get a month with no holidays, major golf or tennis tournaments, or huge film and music festivals. The kids are back in school, and only a fraction of the snowbirds have nestled into their their winter resorts for the season.
But about those snowbirds. Not to get all statistical, but does it seem like the season's mode (occurring the most often) nesting point keeps occurring earlier and earlier?
Now don't get this rat wrong, he appreciates the added snowbird revenue as much as anyone else. Snowbird taxes help fund some of the things we take for granted here, like nice roads. Nice roads for the snowbirds to continuously clog up.
I mean seriously, 45 minutes from Palm Springs to LaQuinta? It's like 12 miles!
And that's just behind the wheel. Then once you get to your destination, count on waiting in line longer than you had to a month ago. I don't care if it's drinks at the Beer Hunter or toothpaste from Ralph's, (or beer flavored toothpaste from the novelty store), the lines definitely lengthen with the coming of fall. As a word to the wise, you may want to consider familiarizing yourself with those new "self-checkout" kiosks at grocery and department stores. If you can brave the modernized technology they will certainly cut down on your newly extended wait times.
But don't expect any brakes on the prices while you're there. Those also left with the 110 degree temps. The "summer specials" we full timers have come to enjoy won't be back for another nine months, so get used to it. But keep reading the Desert Post Weekly for coupons redeemable at your favorite stores.
The early snowbirds aren't all that might ruin The Rat's peaceful October, however. The other October-spoiler is kind of like a recurring summer hangover. Thankfully it only lasts a few days. And much like an actual hangover, it's usually accompanied by irritability and a splitting headache.
The Rat's talking about lawn scalping
That's right, scalping season is upon us, leaving many people irritable and downright irate about the ridiculous practice. Any day now we can start to expect an obscene amount of pollen, dust and mold to permeate our desert air, leaving tears, runny noses and headaches in its wake.
Despite the fact that we live in a desert, the people here like to see lush lawns in front of their homes, much like the lawns they're used to seeing in Washington or Minnesota or Canada for that matter. (This illegal immigrant problem is getting way out of hand.) But the same grass can't survive 110 degree temps in the summer and overnight lows of 40 degrees in the winter, so what's a lawn lover to do?
Act like an opportunist with an extra pair of Coachella tickets and start scalping. That means grind that summer Bermuda grass down to within an inch of the ground and start spreading the winter rye.
In the process, however, even the mildest of allergy sufferers come in to work in the morning looking like they were up all night watching Terms of Endearment. It's enough to make a grown rat cry. Or at least give the impression that he's been crying with his watery eyes and runny nose.
But there is a happy medium, and that is the turf lawn. Face it people, astroturf is the wave of the future! It requires no mowing, weed-wacking, and it won't give the kids grass stains on their new clothes. So come on people, why can't we all just get a lawn? A turf lawn that is. There's no sense crying over scalped grass.
Reprinted with a sort of implied permission
Can we still find peace and quiet in October?
If there's one thing The Rat has learned after years of living in the Coachella Valley, it's to really get out and enjoy the month of October. For us full-time desert rats this is the one window, when everyone else is in transition, that we can go out and enjoy the majestic desert as though it were all ours. Without getting scorched alive, I mean.
It's a great month. People are slowly starting to come out again, like the San Jacinto black bear after a winter's hibernation. We finally get a month with no holidays, major golf or tennis tournaments, or huge film and music festivals. The kids are back in school, and only a fraction of the snowbirds have nestled into their their winter resorts for the season.
But about those snowbirds. Not to get all statistical, but does it seem like the season's mode (occurring the most often) nesting point keeps occurring earlier and earlier?
Now don't get this rat wrong, he appreciates the added snowbird revenue as much as anyone else. Snowbird taxes help fund some of the things we take for granted here, like nice roads. Nice roads for the snowbirds to continuously clog up.
I mean seriously, 45 minutes from Palm Springs to LaQuinta? It's like 12 miles!
And that's just behind the wheel. Then once you get to your destination, count on waiting in line longer than you had to a month ago. I don't care if it's drinks at the Beer Hunter or toothpaste from Ralph's, (or beer flavored toothpaste from the novelty store), the lines definitely lengthen with the coming of fall. As a word to the wise, you may want to consider familiarizing yourself with those new "self-checkout" kiosks at grocery and department stores. If you can brave the modernized technology they will certainly cut down on your newly extended wait times.
But don't expect any brakes on the prices while you're there. Those also left with the 110 degree temps. The "summer specials" we full timers have come to enjoy won't be back for another nine months, so get used to it. But keep reading the Desert Post Weekly for coupons redeemable at your favorite stores.
The early snowbirds aren't all that might ruin The Rat's peaceful October, however. The other October-spoiler is kind of like a recurring summer hangover. Thankfully it only lasts a few days. And much like an actual hangover, it's usually accompanied by irritability and a splitting headache.
The Rat's talking about lawn scalping
That's right, scalping season is upon us, leaving many people irritable and downright irate about the ridiculous practice. Any day now we can start to expect an obscene amount of pollen, dust and mold to permeate our desert air, leaving tears, runny noses and headaches in its wake.
Despite the fact that we live in a desert, the people here like to see lush lawns in front of their homes, much like the lawns they're used to seeing in Washington or Minnesota or Canada for that matter. (This illegal immigrant problem is getting way out of hand.) But the same grass can't survive 110 degree temps in the summer and overnight lows of 40 degrees in the winter, so what's a lawn lover to do?
Act like an opportunist with an extra pair of Coachella tickets and start scalping. That means grind that summer Bermuda grass down to within an inch of the ground and start spreading the winter rye.
In the process, however, even the mildest of allergy sufferers come in to work in the morning looking like they were up all night watching Terms of Endearment. It's enough to make a grown rat cry. Or at least give the impression that he's been crying with his watery eyes and runny nose.
But there is a happy medium, and that is the turf lawn. Face it people, astroturf is the wave of the future! It requires no mowing, weed-wacking, and it won't give the kids grass stains on their new clothes. So come on people, why can't we all just get a lawn? A turf lawn that is. There's no sense crying over scalped grass.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
From the August 23 Desert Post Weekly . . .
Reprinted with a sort of implied permission
The Skins Game - Give it up already
The 25th annual LG Skins Game will be held in Indian Wells November 23 – 25; tickets went on sale the week of September 3. No word yet on how ticket sales are coming along, but LG and Indian Wells Golf Resort may want to hire some temps to hustle tickets on the street because The Rat is sure this will be the weakest fan turnout yet.
The Skins Game has been a fun-filled Coachella valley tradition since 1986, an off-season event not unlike the NFL's pro bowl. The event is held this year at Indian Wells Golf Resort, and is like a professional version of a Sunday morning foursome. You don't have to be a golfer to look forward to hearing who will be on that elite list every year. Will it be Tiger Woods? Annika Sorenstam? Phil Mickelson?
This year it's Stephen Ames, Zach Johnson, Fred Couples, and Brett Wetterrich, setting up the weakest four some in Skins Game history. Upon hearing this year's lineup, many non-golfers will respond by saying, "I've heard of Freddie, but who the hack are those other guys?"
Reprinted with a sort of implied permission
The Skins Game - Give it up already
The 25th annual LG Skins Game will be held in Indian Wells November 23 – 25; tickets went on sale the week of September 3. No word yet on how ticket sales are coming along, but LG and Indian Wells Golf Resort may want to hire some temps to hustle tickets on the street because The Rat is sure this will be the weakest fan turnout yet.
The Skins Game has been a fun-filled Coachella valley tradition since 1986, an off-season event not unlike the NFL's pro bowl. The event is held this year at Indian Wells Golf Resort, and is like a professional version of a Sunday morning foursome. You don't have to be a golfer to look forward to hearing who will be on that elite list every year. Will it be Tiger Woods? Annika Sorenstam? Phil Mickelson?
This year it's Stephen Ames, Zach Johnson, Fred Couples, and Brett Wetterrich, setting up the weakest four some in Skins Game history. Upon hearing this year's lineup, many non-golfers will respond by saying, "I've heard of Freddie, but who the hack are those other guys?"
Last but not least to get selected was the long hitting yet short recognized Brett Wetterrich. Wetterrich was selected after the nine golfers in front of him on last year's mvp list, otherwise known as the PGA Tour money list, declined the invitation. If Brett would have turned it down, they would have been forced to go out of the top ten to fill the spot. The fun atmosphere of The Skins Game is part of the reason fans come out to watch, but fans would much rather see Tiger and Phil having fun than Stephen Ames and Brett Wetterich.
And by "fun," we really mean "a lack of the tournament etiquette we're used to seeing at other events," as players continuously yuck it up with the gallery and their playing partners. It's commonplace to see some playful trash-talking and pros gunning for laughs as hard as they gun for birdies. It seems that fans get more enjoyment from the golfers' one-liners than golfers' one-putts, and cheer more for great punch lines than great punch shots. Who can forget Fred Funk donning a pink skirt after being out driven by Annika Soremstam in 2004 (from the same tees)?
Over the last few years The Skins Game has been falling down the slippery slope towards failure like a drunken greens keeper losing his footing on a wet fairway. In fact, that subject this year has been beaten-up worse than the last time Skins Game defending champion Stephen Ames squared off against the Tiger Woods at the Accenture Match Play Championship. (A humbled Stephen Ames: "I got my ass pummeled.")
You don't have to read past the title of this Desert Rat blog entry to see The Rat is obviously on par with the idea that The Skins Game has lost its clout. But I'd like to take it one step further by saying enough already! Let's just end it. At the pace The Skins Game is on they'll soon be extending invitations to the top dogs on the Nationwide Tour. Also, let's not forget that the good people of Indian Wells paid $1.4 million this year for the rights to The Skins Game. Now, we all know this is pocket change in Indian wells, but will they even sell enough tickets to hit the breakeven point? The venue was certainly aware Tiger would turn down the chance to play, but The Rat is certain they didn't think they would have to go as far as the relatively unknown Brett Wetterrich to fill the spot.
The committee has exercised a number of ideas to restore interest in the event. One of which was the idea to make the event women only. This was developed around the notion that "it might be better to have the best women in the world rather than a crop of mediocre men." It was also suggested that players put up their own money to raise the purse, which some of the gamblers on tour would have probably jumped at. This idea was shut down because of gambling regulations, but if passed it would have rid the event of the lackadaisical, at-times annoying (translation: fun) atmosphere that has become part of The Skins Game culture.
By failing to do something drastic to revive interest in The Skins Game, The Rat believes the committee agrees with him--They had a good run, but it's over. This is a two-day event over a holiday weekend with a meager one million dollar purse. The only thing that has kept the game's best coming back before the last few years is the tradition factor, but this tradition is fast diminishing as no names keep popping up in the pairing.
The original Skins Game in 1983 included of golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. Maybe they should have those four come back in 2009 for what The Rat thinks will be the final Skins Game. If they can't have the best, at least they can go out with a little showmanship.
And by "fun," we really mean "a lack of the tournament etiquette we're used to seeing at other events," as players continuously yuck it up with the gallery and their playing partners. It's commonplace to see some playful trash-talking and pros gunning for laughs as hard as they gun for birdies. It seems that fans get more enjoyment from the golfers' one-liners than golfers' one-putts, and cheer more for great punch lines than great punch shots. Who can forget Fred Funk donning a pink skirt after being out driven by Annika Soremstam in 2004 (from the same tees)?
Over the last few years The Skins Game has been falling down the slippery slope towards failure like a drunken greens keeper losing his footing on a wet fairway. In fact, that subject this year has been beaten-up worse than the last time Skins Game defending champion Stephen Ames squared off against the Tiger Woods at the Accenture Match Play Championship. (A humbled Stephen Ames: "I got my ass pummeled.")
You don't have to read past the title of this Desert Rat blog entry to see The Rat is obviously on par with the idea that The Skins Game has lost its clout. But I'd like to take it one step further by saying enough already! Let's just end it. At the pace The Skins Game is on they'll soon be extending invitations to the top dogs on the Nationwide Tour. Also, let's not forget that the good people of Indian Wells paid $1.4 million this year for the rights to The Skins Game. Now, we all know this is pocket change in Indian wells, but will they even sell enough tickets to hit the breakeven point? The venue was certainly aware Tiger would turn down the chance to play, but The Rat is certain they didn't think they would have to go as far as the relatively unknown Brett Wetterrich to fill the spot.
The committee has exercised a number of ideas to restore interest in the event. One of which was the idea to make the event women only. This was developed around the notion that "it might be better to have the best women in the world rather than a crop of mediocre men." It was also suggested that players put up their own money to raise the purse, which some of the gamblers on tour would have probably jumped at. This idea was shut down because of gambling regulations, but if passed it would have rid the event of the lackadaisical, at-times annoying (translation: fun) atmosphere that has become part of The Skins Game culture.
By failing to do something drastic to revive interest in The Skins Game, The Rat believes the committee agrees with him--They had a good run, but it's over. This is a two-day event over a holiday weekend with a meager one million dollar purse. The only thing that has kept the game's best coming back before the last few years is the tradition factor, but this tradition is fast diminishing as no names keep popping up in the pairing.
The original Skins Game in 1983 included of golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. Maybe they should have those four come back in 2009 for what The Rat thinks will be the final Skins Game. If they can't have the best, at least they can go out with a little showmanship.
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