i really enjoyed every hole..... it was great TV
Yes it was , the wife had some ideas of socializing on Sunday outside away from a TV. Saturday night I told her that I would be inside watching golf from roughly 3 to 7 . If Mickelson wasn't in it ? I am not sitting inside from 3 to 7 lol. Too good a story and a potentially historical happening. Also, a fan of Lefty. Good lesson in perseverance for people of all ages. He had a couple years of futility. He was out of the top 20 in many consecutive tourneys. He pressed on with enthusiasm and kept working at it . Remade his body at 50 . Looks in much better shape than he was in his late 30's. Still cranking it long down fairways. More flexible now. Looks great . All the work culminated in his winning a major on an audacious track that was as long as a day living in Reseda .
Phil like many of the greats is a 'Gym rat", a grinder . Guys like Michael Jordan , Larry Bird and in the more modern era Steph Curry are notorious 'gym rats" to name just a few . He purposefully trained by playing practice rounds of 36 holes or more to make 18 seem like a short casual Friday. He controlled his breathing and moved around the course in a measured slowness that conserved every ounce of energy that he may need later. His shot from the shorter rough on the edge of the fairway was that last shot he had to make to ensure a sure two putt to win it . He executed that shot flawlessly and then he and Brooks got a little more familiar with the crowd. Surreal . Had never seen a crowd get that close to a golfer as he walked up that last fairway to the 18th green to win a tourney . Chills.
Also was watching some College lacrosse as the quarterfinals were being played at Notre Dame . Two former Coffman players and leaders from that great 2019 group that won a state title were playing in the games . Both guys teams lost by a goal one in OT dashing the hopes of their teams meeting in the final 4. Evan James was a force for Loyola MD. in their OT loss to Duke and Nick Harris played for Notre Dame in their narrow loss to Maryland. What a great team that was. Speaking of Lacrosse , this year's team just beat Liberty to advance to the state quarterfinals . Big win as they had lost to them in the regular season by 4 goals, I believe . 11-10 nail biter with Liberty gamely coming back from 5 down , but couldn't get over the hump. Great Job by the Rocks .
Every so often I go to you tube and watch parts of an old football game from say the 70's 80's or 90's and it is always a bit jarring to see just how far advanced the Quarterbacks are now . Completion percentages were often in the 40's back then. Lower TD- INT ratios . Footwork , polish and accuracy was nothing like it is today. Of course, like anything else , it's all about the reps. There weren't 7 on 7's, as many quarterback camps and so called 'guru's and private teachers. Different world . Release points , quickness in the release , weight transfer , you name it , many QB's were lacking in these fundamentals. Accuracy suffered obviously. Kids simply put a lot more time into it now at younger ages. More is available to them. Weight training has evolved. Speed and agility coaches exist now. Receivers can be tutored and learn nuance in High school.
Kids are bigger obviously now as all of us in their 40's 50's and beyond know. But the level of instruction or personal training that is available is so much greater. Kids do develop 'Earlier", but do they 'Peak" earlier? It is a complex dynamic to be sure. Of course, doing some good work , and being taught by good coaches is invaluable. Learning fundamentals is a must for attaining future success.
Getting stronger and a bit bigger is going to help performance obviously. But at what point are kids overtraining ? How many hours should 14–17-year olds be putting in ? How fanatical should they be? How specialized should they become and at what age? Of course, at the college level there is a notion that some Alabama guys 'Peak" and every ounce of ability and potential has bene tapped into and what you see at 22 is kind of what you are going to get at the next level? Happens sometimes . Sometimes not. Some HS kids are training like Ivan Drago.
Pushing themselves { Or being pushed to } beyond the normal limits. I am not trying to say that kids shouldn't put some serious time into their activities . But the early specialization, the quitting of a second sport so they can lift and train for their main sort more manically can be counterproductive IMO. I have seen kids burn out in soccer, quit football to play fall lacrosse , basketball and baseball.
Some Kids are working so hard and for so many hours that they are losing their enthusiasm BEFORE they get to college . Every kid is wired differently of course and have different motivation levels. The earlier skill development , the added resources and coaching improvements and advances is a good thing . Don't misunderstand , but it must be said that there is a tipping point. Having sports become a 'Job" at 15- 16 years old can be counterproductive to success and enthusiasm for that sport down the road. Putting in the work is a good thing . Focused improvement is key to greater success. Life is about getting reps, growing , learning from mistakes and experience and improving. But it must be kept in mind that there has to be some fun involved, some room for added enthusiasm and focus down the road. Having an all-consuming maniacal approach as a younger teen can lead to a lack of passion and enthusiasm later on . The process seems to be rushed now, how early you develop is seen as some kind of goal and victory . It's often misguided. Kids need to be kids at some level. There is a tipping point .