HOLYCOAST SPORTS PAGE

While Rick is traveling in New York City with his daughter's high school orchestra, HolyCoast Dad is pinch hitting.
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1. A Bunch Of Angels
The "Los Angeles" Angels of Anaheim are on a streak! They are six games ahead in their Division and have just beaten the Los Angeles Dodgers two of three games this past weekend in inter-league play. Sunday's game was 10-4 in favor of the Angels. This excites me because this coming Friday evening, I am attending the Angels-Pittsburgh game in Anaheim Stadium with HolyCoast Son (my grandson). Just hope the Angels can keep the streak going through Friday night.

2. An Angel And A Tiger
I spent much of Sunday afternoon watching the U.S. Open major golf tournament. I, and almost everyone else, expected Tiger Woods to pull off a miracle comeback and win his 13th major but came up one stroke short which would have forced a playoff. A fairly unknown from Argentina won the hard fought tournament by one stroke over Woods and Furyk. Incidentally, Jim Furyk also came in second last year. Once a bridesmaid ---. The winner was Angel Cabrera who took home a check for $1,260,000 for playing four rounds of golf. How do you get to have a job like that? Practice, practice, practice.

If Tiger is within striking distance, he usually wins. He is not the number one golfer in the world for nothing! He had to settle for a split of 2nd and 3rd place money which came out to $611,336. Pocket change for the number three highest money earner in the entertainment business last year. He made $100 million in 2006 with his winnings, investments, and endorsements. Kind of makes you feel sorry for him, doesn't it?

I'm a Tiger fan. One of these superstars don't come around very often and I'd like to see how many tournaments and majors he can win. No one else would match him I'm sure. Too many good players out there right now.

Speaking of golf, I have a picture hanging on my office wall at home of HolyCoast, HolyCoast Dad, and some guy named Gary Player taken at the Toshiba Golf Classic in Newport Beach on March 14, 1998. We decided to follow Mr. Player around that day. Gary had 162 career victories worldwide including all four Grand Slam events (Masters, British Open, U.S. Open, and the PGA). When he was walking up to one of the tees, there was a boy about 11 years old sitting there. Mr. Player asked him how he was doing and the boy said "fine". Gary wanted to give him an object lesson stating that he needed to say more than "fine" when someone asked him. He said "I don't know who this man is but I want you to observe our meeting -- Hi, I'm Gary Player and I'm glad to meet you". He extended his hand and I responded appropriately. Gary said -- "That is the way you respond when someone talks to you"! On the way to the green, Mr. Player came over to Rick and I and we talked all the way to the green. A Hoag Hospital (sponsor of the tournament) photographer captured our picture and I was able to get a copy. Gary Player signed his picture in the program which I included in the frame with a couple of pictures of the event.

3. Another Baseball Record About To Fall
Barry Bonds hit number 748 recently which is seven (7) home runs away from Hank Aaron's record. However, when it happens, there may be an (*) next to it because of the controversy concerning drug usage that Barry denies. You have to admire him for hitting so many but hope that he would have done it anyway had there not been a question about possible usage of drugs to enhance his chances. We may never know the truth.

4. Drag Racing Exhibition Takes 6 Lives
This happened at a "Cars for Kids" charity event in Selmer, Tennessee. A pro drag racer was doing an "exhibition burnout" which happens when a driver spins his tires to make them smoke. It spun out of control and hit unprotected spectators lined up next to the strip. Six died and 18 others were injured. The driver suffered minor injuries. I've been to the local drag strip to watch "The Mongoose" do his thing years ago and I've never been in a louder, scarier event in my life. Speeds of well over 200 miles per hour in a quarter mile is hard to describe. I've never gone back.

OTHER NEWS
Oh yeah, Paris Hilton is still in jail. The LA County Sheriff's Department can actually follow the judge's order! Imagine the book and movie rights! Who do you think will play Paris? Brittany? She has all the experience!