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New Blog Post: Open Thred Thursday | 11/19/09 https://pickinsplinters.com/2009/11/19/open-thred-thursday-111909/
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Open Thread Thursday | 11/19/09 https://bit.ly/3ueVkv
Huge news for Rochester.. The LPGA and Wegman’s have agreed on turning the annual LPGA event into the 2nd major of the 2010. The move eliminates the McDonald’s Classic , but once again makes Rochester a major player in the golf world.
My only thoughts surround the 1 year contract. Could be one of two things:
1. The LPGA is going to begin moving this major around from city to city. Since Rochester has hosted a LPGA event for the past 34 years, we are rewarded by being the first city selected.
2. The contract is for a trial period to see how Rochester handles a major tournament. If this year is successful, the LPGA could be on board for signing a long term contract. Considering that Rochester has stepped up big time for the PGA’s U.S. Open, PGA Championship and Ryder Cup – I think we will certainly rise to the challenge.
Personally, I think it is the second..I am sure the LPGA wants to see of viability of a small city hosting a major tournament. Since Rochester is such an extremely strong golfing community – I think the response is going to be overwhelming.
Indeed, this is great news. If the contract is only for one year, then so be it. Here’s hoping Locust Hill (I’m assuming the tournament would stay there) puts on a good show.
The name of the tournament is changing this year to the LPGA Championship.. If they don’t renew the contract, the tournament would return to the Wegman’s LPGA.
And I agree with you – if we have it for one year, let’s put on a good show. Make Rochester proud!!
Will the tournament definitely take place at Locust Hill?
Yep.. At Locust Hill
On another note? Has anyone seen this infamous goal between France and Ireland?
Is something wrong in the world when the “hand” of God doesn’t help the Irish?
The New York Times is calling Henry the new villain of sports – https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/sports/20leading.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nyt%2Frss%2FSports+%28NYT+%3E+Sports%29&utm_content=Twitter&src=twt&twt=nytimessports
I suppose no one is going to talk about the Bills’ coach being shown the door, but I will say the game this weekend should be the best they play – either the players want to impress the head coach, or, unleashed, play as they should have. Oh sure, there will be mediocrity in spades, but I can only hope the first quarter is all passing to Evans and TO, and that the game is not motivation to sleep on the couch on Sunday. And yes, I’ve been drinking.
Bill
I’m glad you brought it up. I don’t know what is more sleep-inducing – watching the Bills play or listening to Jauron talk. My goodness. I can’t imagine what it was like to listen to him in the locker room. And yes, beer brings on sleep more than the Bills or Jauron – I’m not drunk: the piano is.
Well, Smitty, funny you should mention that … something has indeed been very wrong with the world since about ’96 cuz the “hand of God” certainly hasn’t been helping The Fightin’ Irish in South Bend. 🙁
For Bills fans – they have to be encouraged by recent comments from Ralph Wilson when he said , ” we need to overhaul everything, because it is not working”. He also went on about that it isn’t about the money.. Good to hear Ralph!! You are 91 years old and you can’t take it with you buddy..
Spend the $$ and bring a high profile coach like Mike Shanahan.. Also take a step back, look at the Steinbrenner plan and remove yourself from player decisions. Get a GM and sit in the owner’s box.
I wish the Bears would take a cue from the Bills and overhaul everything … but unfortunately with the Bears it is ALWAYS about the money … the McCaskey’s family portrait is in the dictionary next to “cheapskate”.
I still don’t think Wilson will pull the trigger on any high dollar coach. I think he half thinks he can take it with him, and is trying to win on the cheap.
Changing topics again – there is alot to talk about this week – or it could be that I finally have free time again. We have Performances of the Week, but not Careers of the Week – so here is to Brendan Shanahan who called it quits this week after 21 year career in the NHL.
Shanahan has to be one of the toughest offensive players (if there is such a thing) in the history of the NHL. 656 goals, 698 assists and 2,545 penalty minutes.
Easily a first time entry into the NHL Hall of Fame.
Does anyone really give a s—- about the LPGA or the Bills ? Seriously…
Why do some hockey fans/writers often discuss penalty minutes as a “good thing”??? Wonder how many costly power play goals were scored during his time in the box. Subtract those goals from his 656 above and you’ll get his actual “net goals” …. and a better measure of his worth.
Crash —
Evidently there are a few, especially when that golf tournament might be the biggest economic engine in that region. Heck … after my recent football fan stretch (Bears, Irish), the LPGA is starting to look attractive 😉 But if I EVER become as NASCAR geek, PLEASE SHOOT ME!!
Wally,
OK…I forgot, we are talking about Rochester…But LPGA and WNBA they go “hand in hand” sort of speak …Unwatchable ! NASCAR is even harder to watch…Go fast, turn left, hit the wall…For 3 1/2 hours ? Are you kidding me ???
Painful !
Crash,
I’m thinking of a line from Hoosiers: ” Look, mister, there’s… two kinds of dumb, uh… guy that gets naked and runs out in the snow and barks at the moon, and, uh, guy who does the same thing in my living room. First one don’t matter, the second one you’re kinda forced to deal with.”
I’d kinda like to see you get out on the driving range with the ladies.
Casey,
You’d for sure get a good laugh seeing me on the driving range…Just ask Wally…I didn’t say I was good only that I cannot watch it…
G-O-L-F = “Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden”
Anyone,
What is a “Hoosier” ? And please don’t tell me it’s someone from Indiana…There has to be a better answer…Cornhusker, Trojan, Horned Frog,
Leprechaun er Fighting Irish, Gamecock, Aztec, I get it…But Hoosier ? Don’t get it…
Dag Gum Bubba J I got git NASCAR qualifyin’s on TV ! Say ya !
You gotta understand.. we are small town folk and not much happens around here in Rochester. In fact we just got that Deeeeeeerect TV everyone has been talking about.
Fact is – for as much snow as we get – we are very much a golfing community. Hooper – he is sitting next to me and he loves to hit the white ball. Here in Rochester, we appreciate – men or women – anyone that hit that small ball long and far. We got some great courses – Twin Hills, Locust Hill, Oak Hill, Mill Creek and many other… Hmmm. a lot of places named after Hills actually..
Now the LPGA events here are a hootenanny. Everyone gets dressed up in their Sunday whites – for four days straight ( it gets smelly on Sunday) and follows thoses ladies around. It is alot of fun to watch in person and as someone who has worked in the tournament the last couple of years – it is a blast. Rumor has it that we are removing the L in 2013 and getting the PGA Championship to come up here. Tiger and Co. is going to love it up here…Now that is going to be a real peach!!
As for the Bills….well I remember the good ol’ days when everyone wanted to be a Bills fan. Now I know we have fallen on hard times, but I believe we will turn this thing around. If anything has taught me in my old age – it is everything comes around full circle. Some day everyone is going to want to be a Bills fan again – just you wait. But we still go on Sundays to watch our boys play.. .after we get 18 in of course. But it is a chance for Ma to show off her homemade BBQ sauce. And the pickled eggs are deee-licous as well. Just don’t jump up and cheer too much if you know what I mean..
As for NASCAR.. No sir.. Anything that is going to make me sit there for 4 hours,make me dizzy and then I have to pee? No thank you sir!! Those boys.. and girls drive way to fast for me.
Well, I gotta go.. I hear Ma calling me.. Gotta go fill out the paperwork to work at the LPGA.. FORE!! Just kidding..
***** Meant in total jest ******
Clyde,
Were you on hand in 1980 when Jack won the PGA at Oak Hill? How about in ’89 when Strange took the Open? Or ’95 for the Ryder? The 2003 PGA? Geez, that sho is a whole lot of major stuff in this here hillybilly town. Hey Clyde! Did you retire from the Big Yellow Mother yet? Kodak, that is, to all you big timers outside of WNY. Y’all from Hollywood probably know a thing or two about Kodak. We is the place that supplied the film for Hollywood movies since they have been making them movies. Aw shoot, don’t get me started. Just ask The Boss. He’s only been here three times in the last seven years. Heck, he’s even closing his world wide tour in Buffalo on Sunday.
Rust Belt … who ya kiddin, Casey? Kodak is like the Baltimore Colts … once great, but now a distant memory. Hmmm … kinda like ND football 🙁
You are missing the point …again!!!!
“Hoosier” is tough to pin down, since there is no clear idea what it refers to or where it comes from. About the closest thing you’ll find is a reference to hill or highlands from the word “hooze,” but unfortunately the truth is still out there, waiting to be found. Of course, it makes it even more annoying. You can, however, trace the word “yankee” back to the early days of New York, and my favorite explanation is a derogatory term through the use of “John cheese,” a cheese eating reference to the Dutch via the Brits. Cheese eaters, I like that.
HELMET STICKER!!!!!
Wally,
It is safe to say that we could take steel wool and a stiff wire brush to the entire country. Rochester is representative of that. Yes, Kodak is an example of our changing landscape. The photo giant once employed over 60,000 Rochestarians. Now, somewhere around 8,000 pass through the gates. While I do not have actual evidence, I think Hollywood movies still use Kodak film. It might not be made in Rochester, but it started here.
Thing is, like Clyde said – LPGA major here next year. PGA major in a couple of years. Oak Hill is annually rated as one of the top ten courses in the country. Next March, the HSBC in Buffalo will host the first two rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the third time. Last year, two rounds were played in Syracuse. Also, in March we will once again host the Atlantic Conference tournament.
Gee, Mitch Albom saw this rust belt area important enough to visit on his recent book tour. Speaking of book tours, your former first lady is in town today. Have you heard of the Rochester Jazz Festival?
Yeah, Kodak’s active role has decreased. Their legacy (good or bad) has not.
Enough for now.
I gotta go sweep the rust off my driveway.
“Lay down your money, and you’ll play your part…”
“Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away”
Rochester is kind of like the Bills this season – you can see great potential, but somehow in real life it doesn’t pan out. I suppose it’s that unrealized potential that keeps me here too, hoping someday to feel like DiCaprio on the bow of the Titanic, when something, anything, goes right around here. Sadly film will be done soon, time marches on, and if you need more evidence of that, try finding a cassette deck someplace. Wait, did I digress? Excuse me.
Awwww Casey and Bill, you guys are making me laugh so hard my bottom on my long johns popped off. Howlin’ at the moon. One time Hank and I did that and we were having a good ol’ time – until something started howlin’ back.. Boy did we ever run back into the cabin.
Casey – you were right.. I did work at the yellow box.. Ahh, those were good times. Work all week, go across the street for a couple of “pops” (that is beer for you outsiders) and then go see the Chinchillas.. Whatever happened to that group? Ma’ loves to shake her beeeeeee-hind to them.
From what I have seen of things, Rochester has been going through a change the last 10 years. Kinda re-inventing itself if you know what I mean. RIT is a Division I powerhouse in NCAA hockey (both men and women). Pssst – let me tell you – those girls can play. And they are tough too.. Saw one pick up a car the other day, scout’s honor.
As Oak Hill….. I dream about playing there, but probably never will in my old age. But I got to see Jack win it all here and Curtis too.. Had a pop with Curtis over at the local tavern ( for you California people that would be that “Bistro” you use to fancy it up) and I asked him what his secret was.. ” hit ’em straight” he said.. Man, is he smart.
I was there for the Ryder Cup too… I remember reading in the paper from Chicago, that a columnist was there and he was shocked at how many people were there. He even asked if any of us worked in Rochester.. Oh we do – we just appreciate it when something special comes around..
And the Jazzfest? Man, that is some great music… My cousins up in Canada come down for it and there are people all over the world that come in for it.. Did you know Bernie Williams is playing here next year? If that don’t beat all.. a baseball player playing the guitar.. I can’t wait.
Casey, you forgot to mention all the vineyards going up around here. Some of the vineyards are starting to produce better stuff then the vineyards out in California.. He, he, he…… And Wegman’s – well they are growing too big for their britches.. They are opening up grocery stores all up and down the East Coast. Can you believe that? I see Danny all the time at the liqour store..real friendly guy.
Well, I gotta get going.. It is getting late for me.. My memory isn’t so good, so I forget – how is the NFL team doing in Los Angeles? Isn’t Pete Carroll coaching them?
One more thing — boy Ma is going to be mad. I think they call us the Rust Belt because we use so much salt during the winter to keep our road clean… It causes our cars to get a little rusty.. So what? We gotta get around and the snow can pile up..
At least we can see the sun..
for the record, I went to an Amerks game last night, and they have a ton of talent this year. should be a great season.
On another note, when the open was at Oak Hill back in ’89 or whenever, I was working in a garage, and got to tow a car off a side street. That tourist was pissed off when he came to get his car. Thought he had a rockin’ park job on a side street, and it cost him more than his golf ticket and hotel room. heh heh.