Mandatory golf equipment

This is something that I will be trying to pick up. Beers just do not stay cold in the golf bag, but now our problems are solved! I can hear C9 calling in the order now. Great production quality here too:

2011 Masters Preview

For as long as I've been a fan of the game of golf, I think I've held The Masters as my favorite sporting event of the year. The purity, magnitude and tradition, along with the confirmation that Spring has arrived, make The Masters the greatest golf tournament in the world. The 75th playing of The Masters (and 26th year of Jim Nantz covering it) will undoubtedly be compelling as the green jacket and the #1 world golf ranking are both up for grabs. And while Spring could bring the rebirth of Tiger's winning ways, there are young careers that could blossom right before our eyes with a Masters win. Without further embarrassing myself with shitty puns, I'll give you my 2011 Masters contenders:

Favorites:

Phil Mickelson: Not a whole lot to say here. Clearly likes the course as evident by his 3 jackets. Hits the long and high drives, putts well and has perfected the "I appear carefree but am totally locked in and kind of a dickhead," look

Lee Westwood: "Westy" as his mates call him, has played very well in recent majors and has had success in Augusta with a runner up finish last year. Laser focus and a big game make him one of the favorites. Looks like Kevin Youkilis.

Nick Watney: This may come as a surprise to a few people but I truly think Watney can win his first major here. 5 top 10's this year along with two rounds in the 60's last year makes me feel good about his chances. Much better at his job than his cousin hers.

In the Hunt:

Matt Kuchar: Former Masters low amateur, Georgia native and overall chill dude, Kuchar has a great shot to be wearing Sunday green. I thought he was the best player on tour last year and he has 6 top 10s this year. One of my favorite players on tour, I'd love for Kuch to get loose out there.

Bubba Watson: Another one of the good guys, Watson absolutely blasts drives, has a nice putting touch and is confident to hit any type of shot. The lefty reminds me a lot of Phil, except Bubba seems like a genuinely nice guy.

Graeme McDowell: I'm not sure if G-Mac was player of the year last year but I hope to hell he was. Was truly impressive winning the US Open and made a crucial putt to win the 2010 Ryder Cup for the Europeans. An avid tweeter and pint swiller, G-Mac will be good for a few good twitpics regardless of the outcome.

Tiger Woods: Always a threat to win the tournament. No personality. His balls tend to stray in to hazards.

Sleepers

Freddie Couples: More of a legit contender, Freddie can easily shoot a round or two in the 60s. The major question: his back. The not-major question: his level of chillness. Best looking swing in the tournament.

Ryan Moore: Another dude from the Pac. Northwest, Moore has two top 15's in 3 starts at Augusta, a storied amateur career and sartorially pays tribute to Master's past. You can tell that he holds this event on a pedestal and would look great rocking a madras tie with his green jacket.

There you have it, friends. As always, feel free to share your take on the tournament. Enjoy the weekend whether you'll be watching or not.

Photo from masters.org

Michelob Light Really Gets The Competitive Juices Flowing

More from my Michelob Light commercial series. This time the winner of the mixed doubles match wins the Michelob Light! I feel like the next commercial is going to have to feature sailing.

1981 Michelob Light Commercial

Beer consumption

From the Economist. Can I just say that we really missed the boat with the metric system...how pleasing would measuring things in Hectoliters be?

Budweiser commercials through the years

Purposefully am not including any of the classics - well, only one - to show a little variety.

Revisionist History

Some "folks" in Texas are longing for the stoneage. A gaggle of ultra-conservative Evangelicals have gained control of the Texas Education Board and are looking to make some changes to the curriculum in the state public school system. What are these changes you ask? Welp, there will be plenty of discussion about god, guns and the benefits of McCarthyism with minimal focus on science, the civil rights movement and Thomas Jefferson - other than denouncing his idea of separation of church and state. The article says that liberals across the country are alarmed. Yeah, well, shouldn't everyone but these people be alarmed? This idea and these people seem pretty fuuuucked. Glad the Texas public school system is breeding tomorrow's American Taliban. Maybe this subject will be tackled in season 5 of Friday Night Lights with Joe McCoy leading the munson movement. I don't do this justice. Read the full article here.

Masters Update

Hello Friends, we've had an exceptional first two days of play. The fat has been trimmed and the contenders have separated themselves from the pretenders. For the record, TCD contender picks are 8 for 9 with Poulter and Westwood tied for the lead at -8. Casey never recovered from that gross triple he picked up (which I sniped online, at the office, utilizing ninja-like skills on the alt-tab function with a gross spreadsheet as backup) on the back yesterday and perhaps the injury that forced him to withdraw from Houston last week could be more serious.

To briefly summarize Thursday and Friday: Thursday was a scoring day with the consensus amongst players that the course was set up for throwing down a low number. Veterans like Freddie Couples and Tom Watson took advantage of the opportunity coming in at -6 and -5, respectively. Westwood and Mickelson shot 67's with Tiger and Poulter at 68. Tiger was scary with how well he played in his debut - he missed at least 3 easy puts to go way lower.

Friday was more of a survival day. Pins were tucked away and greens tightened up with the drier conditions. I have to say that Ian Poulter played the best golf of the day - he seemed to be in total control. Westwood was great as were Tiger, KJ Choi, Ricky Barnes and Anthony Kim. It feels like the whole field has positioned itself for a very dramatic weekend. Leaderboard

The weekend is chalk full of storylines: Tiger, past major winners, old guys, young guys, Ryder Cup studs - it just feels like if you're at even for the tournament, you have a shot. I see Poulter and Woods playing in the final group on Sunday. They both look like they're in total control. Phil can always get loose and rattle off a bunch of birdies to put himself as the leader. Tony Kim has totally legit game but you just wonder how much that thumb is bothering him. Freddie, Ricky, Kuch, KJ, Westwood, Yang, Mahan, Yes! Big time golfers, big time forum, stunning couse, at least 20 players in the hunt, 19 of them wear socks (Freddie!): Get excited, crack a Lachey, have a safety meeting, do whatever you need to do - Just be ready for a great golf weekend. TCD will be following it all the way.

TCD 2010 Masters Contenders

Well, its that time of year again - The Masters, a sure sign of Spring, begins Thursday. The Azaleas are in full bloom, the feminists are angry, and Jim Nantz is trading in his Final Four voice for his back of the throat Augusta soothe. Lets cut to the chase and present the contenders:

Horse for the Course:
Tiger Woods – Even after a Winter of zero competitive golf and stewing over his transgressions, it’s hard to bet against a guy with four jackets and still in his prime. Augusta will make him forget all about his past "bogeys."
Ernie Els – Arguably the hottest golfer on tour. Took 2 wins on the Florida swing and has been in the hunt here before. The Big Easy definitely wants to party in a Green Jacket Sunday night.
Retief Goosen – Another contender from South Africa, The Goose loves to get loose at Augusta. A very impressive track record (ex last year’s cut) and experience coupled with some good play this year could get The Goose in the green.

In the Hunt:
Paul Casey – The British Bulldog can go as low as anyone on tour and has gone low here before. Needs to put four consistent rounds together to be up there on Sunday. Hopefully he doesn't wear another Nike shirt with a hogan on the back. (See 2008 Masters)
Phil Mickelson - With all the talk about Tiger, people may be sleeping on Phil. Lefty has not played his best golf this year but thats is not to say he's played poorly: 7 for 7 on cuts and no public humiliation. Phil also has, like, infinity top 5's here so he's a great pick.
Lee Westwood - Lee should probably be a Horse for the Course but he has cost me in previous Masters betting sessions so I demoted him. Big time game. Plays well in majors. Model citizen.

Sleepers:
Mike Weir – He’s won here before and always seems to be lurking around on weekends like Crash in 2003. Leads the tour in putting average on a course where good putting is essential.

Matt Kuchar - Can't believe it was 12 years ago when he was the low amateur at Augusta. Matt hasn't played here since '99 but has two top 10s in his last two events and has played well all season. He's playing with Tiger the first two rounds. Seems like a sweet dude.

Ian Poulter – Could this be the year of the PoulterHeist? The outspoken Brit has great game and a "hit or miss" wardrobe selection. Would love to see a Green Jacket/pink pants combo in Butler Cabin. Also rocks an entertaining Twitter feed.

There ya have it, Lads and Lassies. Please feel free to comment or agree/disagree. Enjoy.

Photo courtesy of The AP

Bernie Carbo was Real Loose When he Hit that Home Run

The Boston Globe is currently running a series of stories of memorable Boston Sport’s figures and their 15 minutes of fame. From the Story:

Bernie Carbo launched the greatest pinch-hit home run in Red Sox history. He admitted he was high on drugs during the 1975 World Series.“I probably smoked two joints, drank about three or four beers, got to the ballpark, took some [amphetamines], took a pain pill, drank a cup of coffee, chewed some tobacco, had a cigarette, and got up to the plate and hit,’’ Carbo said.

I guess we can add Carbo to the ranks of Doc Ellis, David Wells and the ’86 Mets as great achievers in baseball while under the influence.

Carbo has since found Jesus and cleaned up his life. Side note: When I was younger, my parents went to some event and Carbo was there. My dad talked to him (said he was a really nice guy) and Bernie signed and wrote a fairly extensive message on a baseball for me and my brothers. The message was along the lines of those weird billboards you see in the South: Not so subtly promoting Jesus and possibly containing a quote from The Bible. I think we innocently played with that ball a few days later and lost it - likely to the beast when I ripped one of famous backyard home runs. Full story here.

Tebow Follow-up

Tim, you're a better and more accomplished man than me, but you also make yourself an easy target. We last told you about Tim's paltry Wonderlic Exam result, now we're getting some sweet intel from Pro Football Talk on Tim's pre-Wonderlic ritual. Check it here. Hilarious.

God Wants Tim Tebow to be a Bank Teller

Maybe? If Tim Tebow did not possess football skill worthy of being an NFL prospect, his natural trade according to his 22/50 score on the Wonderlic Exam, would be a bank teller (not that thats a bad thing, although getting 44% on anything usually indicates massive dumbass). Tebow, one of the more obnoxious athletes willing to drop a shameless plug for Jesus Christ at the sight of a microphone, received the worst score out of the top four NFL QB prospects in this year's draft. Douche #2 Jimmy Clausen edged out Tebow with a smooth 23/50 which might allow him to unload the Brink's truck if he snaps a femur.

Luckily for Tebow, the Wonderlic Exam really means a whole lot of nothing as an indication for what an NFL career will look like. 49ers QB Alex Smith scored a 40/50 and the rumor is that the Niners might be looking to replace him with Tebow. Accomplished QBs like Dan Marino, Jim Kelly and Donovan McNabb received 15,15, and 14, respectively. 10/50 means you can read.

I'll give Tebow some credit. Obviously he is a smart guy. Just look at his 3.66 GPA at The University of Florida in his double major of Economic Theory and Comparative Foreign Policy. Sorry. Typo. I meant his major in Family, Youth and community services.

Being John Daly

As I was watching some golf this weekend, The Golf Channel kept hyping their new reality program "Being John Daly." It chronicles Daly's rededication to his golf game and his lifestyle makeover. For those who don't follow golf, John Daly has won two majors, the 1991 PGA and 1995 British Open, hits bombs off the tee, but also has some booze/chic issues. I still contend that he has one of the prettiest golf swings ever, right up there with Freddie Couples. Totally talented but can get "distracted." Seems like a good guy though. I'll give this show a whirl, if not just to hear him go into further detail about his drunkest night ever (at least according to his book) which began in my hometown prior to a tournament at The Woodlands - a place where I have enjoyed many a nacho and poolside babe scoping session. The series premieres Tuesday night at 9pm on The Golf Channel.

Ron Burgundy Inspiration?

Thank you Jared McCarthy for bringing this to the attention of TCD.

Thank god this is happening in Europe and not here...

Budweiser Shortage Latest Hiccup for InBev's Anheuser-Busch

There was a bit of a bar fight in western Europe this week after Saint Louis-based brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev announced they were cutting 800 jobs-- about 10 percent of their workforce there. Laid-off workers in Belgium have barricaded the doors to their breweries and won't let other employees come to work. The result will likely be--no god no!--a country wide beer shortage if the dispute isn't settled soon.

Read the full piece here.

Favorite Outdoor Cocktail Spots

Knowing that lists are popular on this blog and inspired by Client9's take on the Northeast taco scene, I decided to create a list (somewhat) of my own.

While I enjoy a few elements of Winter, I always miss the ability to hang out (comfortably) outside. One of the great Spring/Summertime activities is the outdoor afternoon cocktail. Listed below, in no particular order, are a few of my favorite outdoor cocktail venues.

Apple's Bar and Grill - Sun Valley, ID: Located in Warm Springs Village at the base of Sun Valley's Bald Mountain, the back patio of Apple's is a great place to have a beer and a burger for lunch or kick off apres with a few pitchers. The afternoon sun absolutely drills this place and the goggles without the hat look is very acceptable here. Lots of laughs, locals and lagers. You won't want to leave but when the sun begins to set, you'll know its time to take your positive attitude to a new venue.

Jimmy Buffett Concert - Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI: About 2-3 hours away from Chicago in the middle of a cornfield, the Buffett concert is basically a front to participate in this epic tailgate session. Sunshine, ridiculous Buffett attire and ample Midwestern ale yields nothing but good times for usually 12+ hours. Its real easy to get lost at the tailgate but not to worry, everyone is giving out free food and drink. When people ask you about how the concert was, just say it was "really chill," and that Jimmy was wearing a teal shirt.

Beaver Creek Ritz - Avon, CO: Living beyond your means in college is not advised, which is why we had other people pay for our beers on the patio at the Beav Ritz. When you or members of your party ski down to the patio with a boom box and early 90s "loud" one-piece suits, you are usually rolling the dice at a place like this. Luckily the dice rolled in our favor. The patrons dug it and bought us a few rounds - so did our injured friend who spent the majority of his time there. Thanks Spoon. Solid rays/babe-scoping zone.

Falmouth Sea Grill Patio Bar - Falmouth, ME: Day can quickly turn to night at this neighborhood spot. Located at Handy Boat off of Falmouth Foreside, beautiful ocean views and familiar faces are abound. You'll head down there "for a few" but you're friends will keep showing up and the good times will flow. That, coupled with a friendly bar staff and a steady stream of 80s and reggae beats will have you leaving way later than anticipated. The menu is awesome, too.

Sequoia Outside Bar - Washington, DC: I stumbled upon this K Street establishment while in DC for a younger brother's graduation. It was that "dead time" between the actual graduation and the evening festivities. Fantastic place to sip on a few beers and enjoy the warmth of May in DC while catching up with friends. The close proximity to the Potomac offers great views and ample opportunity to make fun of hideous boat names. A bonus feature is the Swedish Embassy is across the street. Scandi Candi anyone?

There you have it. Please comment with your favorites!

New Year's Eve/Weekend Inspiration

Weekend Inspiration

PBR print ads over the years (1913-1958)

1913



1936



1945



1954



1958