Sports Commentary

Juan Bautista de Anza hiked from Tubac, AZ to San Francisco, CA in 1775. That’s quite a hike, especially back then. He followed stream courses such as the Santa Cruz and Gila Rivers, when possible.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The first green jacket was all about the future. The fifth green jacket Tiger Woods won Sunday at the Masters was more about the past, best measured by a powerful celebration and enormous popularity than by any ripple effect it might have in golf.

When fans make plans to attend a sporting event, they rarely contemplate the risk to life and limb that lurks within stadiums and arenas. Jennifer Harughty was one such fan, until she attended a Houston Astros game at Minute Maid Park on July 8, 2018.

When fans make plans to attend a sporting event, they rarely contemplate the risk to life and limb that lurks within stadiums and arenas. Jennifer Harughty was one such fan, until she attended a Houston Astros game at Minute Maid Park on July 8, 2018.

To make a long story short I went to the doctor the other day to see why my right hip has been bothering me so much lately. After a couple months of being two steps short of reaching balls on the court and a toothache pain that hurts more when I’m sitting than standing, it became more than I wanted to endure any longer.

The Masters Invitational at Augusta National Golf Club is being held this week. I want to share with you some history and interesting tidbits regarding the first golf major of the year.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods had the putting green pretty much to himself as storms approached Augusta National on Monday. As a handful of fans lingered to watch, he stroked the 5-footers that always seemed to go in during his prime.

Sometimes, rich people do things that don’t seem very smart. But one of the perks of being rich is you don’t always have to act in a financially responsible manner.

When players drop off the professional WTA tour where once their names were widely known to the point it’s unusual to hear anything about them I wonder what the next chapter in life for them was.

Charlie Ebersol was sure his new football league was different, even as it ventured into the dark hole that had swallowed up ventures like his before.

The speaker from Indiana said he had hiked extensively in Arizona but had yet to encounter a rattlesnake. Odd, I thought. I haven’t seen hundreds but I can’t imaging hiking across the Southwest and not seeing a rattlesnake from time to time.

Storming the court might seem like a harmless “tradition,” a fun and exciting way to celebrate a victory. It isn’t.

Spring has sprung and one of the challenges we face at this time of year is the wind. And in Prescott, the wind blows a lot.

If your favorite MLB team has recently signed a free agent or given a star player an extension, you may be concerned about the future price of tickets. Don’t be.

Charlie Pasarell said, “The bigger the challenge, the harder I try.” “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Arthur Ashe.

As the tour guide for my parents hiking into Havasupai Canyon, I wanted to get it right. My Mom had never backpacked and my Dad had not done so for many years.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal statute that limited state-sponsored sports betting to a handful of states. Since the ruling, seven states — Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia — have approved sports betting, with more to follow.

Learning sports in general teach each of us a world of life lessons, but the game of tennis even more-so due to the fact there are so many ups and downs during a match, and in a close match it ain’t over till the last ball’s been hit.

It was great to see the Tour players honoring Arnold Palmer this past week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The New York Mets’ hire of Brodie Van Wagenen as general manager last year was viewed as unconventional, an out-of-the-box move by a team desperate for change, on and off the field.

A small ATP charity fundraising event held in Tucson in 1975 moved to the Mission Hills Country Club in the Coachella Valley, California, in 1976 as a regular ATP tour event.

Trail confusion is annoying at best, dangerous at worst. Hiking out of Kartchner Caverns State Park into the Whetstone Mountains, I experienced significant trail confusion.

You can’t always get what you want,” said the Rolling Stones. Most people want money, but even when they get it, there’s no guarantee it will make them happy. Just ask NBA players.

Most of the time in this column I try to be upbeat, informative, knowledgeable, and progressive toward life - especially with the aspect of tennis in mind. That particular game has given me a lot of sanity in its own way as well as a living of sorts. It’s been there for me through some rough patches.

The new USGA Rules of Golf have been in effect for two months and there has been some consternation, discussions and changes. Watching some of the golf telecasts and listening to some of the commentators reinforces my laughable definition of an “expert” as a “person a long way from home.”