Sports Commentary | The Daily Courier

Gunby: Don’t let winter weather deter you from a day at the golf course

Tee It Up

We will continue our discussion with winter practice suggestions to get the most out of your golf game during inclement weather days.

Howard: It begins again – 2019’s tennis season and the Aussie Open

My Point

The Australian Open kicks off the “real” beginning of tennis season for fans of the game even though there have been a few warm up events held in that area to let the players acclimate to the conditions and prepare for battle as best they can already.

Johnson: Lost and alone in the wilderness

Hiking Arizona

Hiking through the wild and wooly Mazatzal Wilderness in January involved a number of challenges, not the least of which was route finding. When you hike off the beaten path, it comes as no surprise, really, when you lose the trail.

Kobritz: Accountability problem with NFL coaches’ firings

Beyond the Lines

Black Monday, the day following the last whistle of the 2018 NFL regular season, saw five head coaches walk the plank. With three in-season terminations, the firings left eight teams - one-quarter of the league – searching for a new coach.

Gunby: Work on your short-game aim in the winter months – with a metal yardstick

Tee It Up

We are in the midst of our cold-weather golf season. In the next few columns, we will discuss what I suggest to get the most out of the days when we cannot play. In the winter, even if it is cold outside and the course is closed, you can develop better mechanics and improve your golf game without striking a single ball.

Kobritz: The biggest sports story of 2019 is … sports betting

Beyond the Lines

This is the time of year when I usually do something I shouldn’t: make predictions! My crystal ball isn’t any more reliable than yours, but sports columnists are expected to go out on a limb and pretend they know something no one else does. It’s a hazard of the profession. But this year I’m determined to make it a risk - free exercise.

Tennis New Year predictions and resolutions

My Point

It’s that time of year again where you put the previous year to bed and gear up for what the new one will bring. Setting new goals to be achieved, or at least projected for and while most like to set the bar higher than the year before - that’s not always possible to reach.

Johnson: Hiking resolutions for the New Year

Hiking Arizona

Made any New Year’s resolutions in the context of hiking? Looking back over 2018, see anything to celebrate related to hiking? How about something you’d wish was better from 2018 and you have resolved to make a change to see that improvement become a reality in 2019?

Kobritz: MLB & Cuba sign historic deal on Cuban players

Beyond the Lines

Major League Baseball (MLB) and the players’ union (MLBPA) have reached an agreement with the Cuban Baseball Federation (CBF) that would legalize the transfer of baseball players from the Caribbean island to MLB.

AP Column: Winners, losers heading into last week of NFL season

NFL

Winners and Losers. The big winners in Week 16 were the Saints , Patriots, Cowboys , Seahawks and Ravens. The big losers were the Steelers, Dolphins, Chiefs and Texans.

Howard: Tennis wishes for Christmas

My Point

Santa is arriving soon and hopefully if you wanted something bad enough and expressed it in a pleasing manner it appeared.

Kobritz: Food at sports arenas, not as safe as you may think

Beyond the Lines

A live mouse in your Cracker Jack. Mouse droppings in a bag of cookies. Cockroaches in food storage rooms. Welcome to Coors Field in Denver, home of the Colorado Rockies.

Howard: A thankful year of tennis and trying to keep up with life

My Point

You know life has been pretty dog gone good to you when you get near Christmas and you’re asked what you’d like and you really don’t need or really want anything. Well, maybe it’d be fun to be 22 years old and be one of the top tennis players in the world, but that was only a dream then just like it still is today.

Johnson: Solo encounter with escaped convict on Mt. Graham (conclusion)

Hiking Arizona

After a fitful night’s sleep, we discussed our options.

Kobritz: Lance Armstrong laments his life and to no surprise, he’s unhappy

Beyond the Lines

Cue the violins and pass the hankies, Lance Armstrong is unhappy with his life.

Gunby: Improving pace of play on the golf course with 4 rules

TEE IT UP

As we prepare for the new 2019 Rules of Golf, I want to discuss four rules with you. The first one, I consider a negative, while the last three, if enforced by the PGA and LPGA Tours will, I am sure, lead to their improved pace of play.

Kobritz: NHL settles paltry $18.9M concussion lawsuit

Beyond the Lines

A second sports league has settled a concussion lawsuit brought by retired players, but that won’t end the litigation or the discussion of health- related issues associated with concussions.

Howard: The proverbial excuse – as well as a few rants and raves

My Point

How many of you tennis players have made it through a whole tennis match and not said something that sounded like an excuse?

Johnson: An unexpected solo encounter with a convict on Mount Graham (Part 1)

Hiking Arizona

I suppose, if you had no idea that an escaped convict was on the loose where you were planning to hike alone for four days, you might just be considered unlucky when he walked into your wilderness camp. But knowing it and going on as originally planned, makes words like dumb come to mind.

Johnson: Mt. Graham: Solo Encounter - Escaped Convict

Hiking Arizona

“Warning, warning, escaped convict ahead. Danger, danger, do not proceed. Do not pack, do not collect your gear.”

Kobritz: NASCAR facing challenges on, off the track

Beyond the Lines

NASCAR wrapped up its 71st season last week and although series winner Joey Logano had reason to celebrate, the same can’t be said for the governing.

Howard: Reaching for excellence in the game of tennis

My Point

What makes a Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams, Steffi Graf? An Agassi, Sampras, Evert or Navratilova - all exceptional champions in the world of tennis.

Gunby: What goes into golf’s ‘ball drop’ and how to manage the relief area

Tee It Up

In 2019, there will be a new procedure for dropping a ball. Your ball must be let go from knee height and fall through the air without touching any part of your body or equipment before it hits the ground.

Ferguson: The real measure of Tiger vs. Phil is how many watch

The winner between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson might be the least relevant aspect of their Friday night match in Las Vegas.

Kobritz: Are MLB players replaceable?

Beyond the Lines

Bill James, often referred to as the father of analytics, has made significant contributions to baseball over a period of four decades. Now a senior advisor to the Boston Red Sox, James recently created a Twitter firestorm by saying, “If the players all retired tomorrow, we would replace them, the game would go on; in three years it would make no difference whatsoever. The players are NOT the game, any more than the beer vendors are.”