Play with women – you can’t beat men, get over it

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090513/ap_on_sp_go_su/glf_lpga_sybase_classic;_ylt=Ah5UjFgaVr3cMV3R8jk_494LMxIF

AP – FILE – In this Feb. 14, 2009 file photo, Michelle Wie reacts during the final round of the LPGA SBS …

By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan, Ap Sports Writer – Wed May 13, 7:49 pm ET

CLIFTON, N.J. – Six years since gaining national attention as a 13-year-old golfing phenomenon, Michelle Wie still seeks that first win on the LPGA Tour and dreams of beating the boys on that other pro golf circuit.

A trip to Augusta also would be nice.

Wie raised a couple of eyebrows at a pre-tournament news conference for the LPGA Sybase Classic on Wednesday, when the 19-year-old matter-of-factly said that she hopes to win a PGA Tour tournament and play in the Masters.

Granted the questions were posed to the player who was anointed the next great female golfer while still in middle school, but she didn’t back off or even couch her answers by saying that would be something she would think about when she wins a couple of times against the best women.

Wie has not won a tournament since the 2003 USGA Women’s Public Links.

“You know, like I always say, dream high and stuff, set your goals up high, and I think it’s definitely — I’m not saying it’s an easy goal to achieve,” Wie said when asked about winning a men’s tournament. “I’m not going to be like, ‘Oh, I’m going to go out and win a men’s event.’ It’s not like that, but it’s one of those long-term goals where I see myself getting to. I see myself getting there, and it’s one of those goals that really motivates me and pushes me to be a stronger player, a better player.”

Wie captured plenty of attention in 2006 when she made it to the final round of qualifying for the U.S. Open. Her threesome at Canoe Brook in nearby Summit was mobbed and she excited the throng in the morning 18 with a chip-in for birdie on her final hole. She struggled in the afternoon and failed to make the men’s Open field.

“It was a lot of fun,” Wie said. “The U.S. Open means a lot to me, so just being able to do that, I gained a lot of experience, and it was a really nice golf course. I just remember it being a really long day, but it was definitely a fun experience.”

Unlike years past when Wie seemingly was a free agent contracting to any golf event, she is happy to be a member of the LPGA Tour. She earned her playing privileges at the qualifying school last year and has earned $171,829 in five events this year. Her best finish was second at the SBS Open in her native Hawaii in her first start.

After taking the next three events off, Wie has tied for 57th, tied for 67th, tied for 10th and tied for 15th last week at the Michelob Ultra Open in Virginia.

Officially an LPGA rookie even though she has played in 54 events in her career, Wie said her game is improving.

Winning is another topic.

“I’m going to try to keep playing the best I can,” Wie said. “Hopefully I am very close to a win. I feel like it’s going to come. I have faith.”

Wie, ranked No. 22 on the money earnings list, this week faces a field at Upper Montclair Country Club that includes three-time defending champion Lorena Ochoa and 27 of the top 30 players on tour.

Earle Combs – one of MLB’s most underrated players

More sick pictures from the Derby

Every year people cruise down Broadway in downtown Louisville. The results are always the same. Gangs fight. Drugs are sold. Women are half naked. Again, what a disgrace for to what Kentucky really stands for.

Easy debate to win – Sandy Koufax is not one of the top five pitchers of all time

Some dude named Allan Rosteing left a comment claiming I know nothing about baseball. He was upset that Sandy Koufax was left out of my all-time top pitchers. People who rate him in the top five are the ones who truly know nothing about baseball.

To prove Koufax is not in the top five off all time is well, easy. He was done by age 30. He only won 165 games. He is nowhere near the top in wins, career strikeouts or even ERA. How can we call him “one of the greatest”? The fact is, we can’t.

His first year was 1955. He was 2 and 2 with an ERA of 3.02. Okay, not note worthy at all. In 1956 he was 2 and 4 with an ERA of 4.91; a very bad year to say the least. In 1957 he was 5 and 4 and had an ERA of 3.88, also a joke. In 1958 he was 11 and 11 (at least he won ten games lol) and had another bad ERA of 4.48. In 1959 he was 8 and 6 with an ERA of 4.05, also bad. In 1960 he was 8 and 13 with an ERA of 3.91, another bad year. In 1961 he was 18 and 13 with an  ERA of 3.52; okay, not too bad of a year there. In 1962 he finally pitched good going 14 and 7 and led the NL with an ERA of 2.54. From 1963 through 1966, Koufax was the best pitcher in the Majors.

But again, how can we call him one of the best ever? He pitched 12 seasons and had a losing record twice. He had an ERA over 4.00 three times. He won less than 10 games in a season five times, almost half of his career. He had 6 good seasons in 12 years, meaning he was okay or terrible the other half. How can we truly call that greatness?

Compare him to Greg Maddux. Maddux won nearly 200 games more than Koufax. He also won 18 Gold Gloves for his defense. Maddux also won at least 15 games in a season 17 straight seasons. He only won less than 10 games three times in his 23 year career; two being his first two seasons in the majors and his last. Koufax did that 5 times in only 12 seasons.

I could sit here all day and show pitchers who had longer and much better careers than Koufax. Should Koufax be in the Hall? Of course. But he is still not near the top five of all time.

Even Hall of Fame voters agree. Koufax only got 86% of the vote when elected. The all time greats like Seaver, had over 98%. I will bet money that Maddux hall of fame votes will be at least 5% higher than Koufax’s.

Rip off Coin Website

http://www.goldeneaglecoin.com/ Is a joke. They sell coins for way more than they are worth. I found proof sets that book for $4 being sold for $7 and $8. I would never buy from these scammers.

Randy Johnson graded rookie card – 10.0 Gem Mint

You have a Picture Mail from mburks83@pm.sprint.com

Here is a Randy Johnson card I own in GEM mint (10.0 graded). Just like the day they cut if from the sheet.

Barry Sanders and Walter Payton Starting Line-up combo

I paid $50 for this piece. It’s in Gem Mint shape. The item has a book value of $90.

Favorite players to collect in baseball

Since I blog a lot about my baseball card collection, I should let the world know on my favorites to collect.

From age 5 to this present day, Cal Ripken Jr. has been my favorite player. He is also my favortie player to collect. I have between 250 and 400 different cards of his.

In 2nd place would be Nolan Ryan, who was pitching some 15 years before I was even born. He pitched for 27 years, 1966-1993. I have around 200 cards of his.

Third would be just about any former great from the Altanta Braves. I own dozens upon dozens of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Chipper Jones cards, many being rookies.

Lately I have been working on two sets I want. I am calling them sadly, “I love the 80’s” which is my hope to collect as many 1980 hall of fame players along with their rookies such as Tony Gywnn, Kirby Puckett, Wade Boggs and Ryan Sandberg.

I am also working on “I love the 70’s”. I have been working on getting some Eddie Murray rookies, Carlton Fisk and Jim Rice cards, among others.

Two of my graded baseball card rookies

Greg Maddux, sure Hall of Famer

Mark McGwire, graded a nine (mint)

Starting Lineup Figures

Seen above is three of my better Starting Lineup figures. Above is Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

All three figrues are in excellent condition. The Jordan one in mint, has been selling for $250 on websites. I could easily sell mine for $125. I have another Bird one in mint, which has been selling for $100 on sites. All of these came out in 1988, the first year Starting Lineup made figures.