Tiger vs. Sergio: A temporary ceasefire or "The Stink on the Links?"

Greg:


Greetings Rick! Are you as excited about the U.S. Open as I am? Should be a great tournament. Beautiful, tough Merion Golf Club outside of Philadelphia and lots of great story lines to boot. There's the continuing belly putter controversy, the state of Phil Mickelson's game and, uh, I guess that's about it. Oh yes, there's the alleged Sergio Garcia/Tiger Woods feud but that's old news, right? To recap, at the Player's Championship Sergio complained that Tiger played out of turn, Tiger denied it, a couple of marshals had differing opinions, Sergio said Tiger is not a nice person, Tiger said Sergio's a whiner, Sergio made an inappropriate fried chicken comment about Tiger, Sergio apologized and Tiger tweeted that everybody should move on.
Of course you know the media wants this to continue. There are those who would be positively giddy if someone built an Ultimate Fighting octagon around Merion's practice range and made Tiger vs. Sergio a pay-per-view event. If Muhammad Ali were still fighting, he’d call our nation’s oldest golf tournament "The Stink on the Links." Personally, I think everybody is going to be sorely disappointed. The U.S. Open is too important to both men; they'll go about their business and be gentlemen even if they get paired together. I'm sure you agree.

Rick:

Greg, what rock have you been living under? It’s going to easily be “The Stink on the Links.” Any story mentioning the name “Tiger Woods” is bound to be huge. This story has potential to go down in Philadelphia lore with infamous Philadelphia Eagles fans booing and chucking snowballs at Santa Claus incident of 1968.
There are numerous forces at work here. An overzealous media, yes. A polarizing figure, who has never won a golf major in Sergio Garcia, yes. An even more polarizing figure in Tiger Woods who has won 14 major titles, but not one in five years, yes again. Add in the fact that both of these players will be required to do press conferences leading up the beginning of play on Thursday, and they could say just about anything. Even without the comments Garcia made recently about “fried chicken” this would be shaping up to be the biggest sports story of 2013 to date.
Add in the “X Factor” which would be Philadelphia sports fans. These are the same fans who cheered when Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin sustained a career-ending injury at the Vet in the ‘90s. Remember how U.S. Open golf fans treated Colin Montgomerie when he was contending in recent decades? That was amateur hour compared to what Garcia will get in “The City of Brotherly Love.”
Greg, if you want to watch a quiet and friendly golf tournament Father’s Day weekend with rivals exchanging pleasantries over the course of 18 holes, I’m sure there is a public course or a country club near you where you could sneak on and get your fix. It’s only appropriate the U.S. Open at Merion ends on Father’s Day, since I have have a feeling Tiger might be asking Sergio, “Who’s your Daddy?”

Greg:

Rick, you’re comparing apples and oranges or, since we’re talking about Philadelphia, cheesesteaks and Italian Beef. I agree that the media will try and push both player’s buttons but, after what’s already happened, Sergio and Tiger are too smart to take the bait. Eventually the press will give up and go back to eating the free food that’s always available in the media tent.
Also, regarding Philadelphia fans, you are forgetting that these people quickly embraced the world’s most famous fighting pit bull trainer. All Michael Vick did was complete a few screen passes and fans were snapping up his jersey faster than you can say “get out of jail free.” So what if they booed Santa Claus? In 1971 the jolly red-suited guy left my house without delivering that air rifle I requested and I still haven’t forgiven him.
Finally, Merion isn’t Veterans Stadium. There are no beer vendors showing up every three seconds saying, “you guys ready?” At Merion fans won’t be seeing three flagsticks and, therefore, won’t be inclined to hoot and holler should Sergio suffer a devastating golf injury like a split fingernail. (By the way, I had one of those three years ago and I still think it affects my putting. ) I’ll let you have the last word, insignificant as it may be.

Rick:



Greg, let me wrap up by saying that your case has more holes in it than... well, a golf course. Whether they are intoxicated or not, Sergio is going to get an earful. Let me also say, as an upstanding member of the media, I’ve never complained about the free food in any media tent even though an unnamed tennis tournament once fed the media BBQ for 8 straight days.
They say you can’t teach an old dog, or maybe even a pitbull new tricks and it doesn’t get much older and loyal than Philadelphia sports fans. They’ve been bred to be this way. Couple that with having to watch the Eagles, Sixers, and Phillies the past few seasons and the cheesesteak lovers will be ripe to give Sergio a collective tongue lashing. I recently was emailed the list of items that fans cannot bring through the gates at Merion during U.S. Open week. The list includes signs, posters, pets, and ladders. There is nothing about leaving your big mouth at home, so I expect fireworks wherever Sergio goes. On the course and off.