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The great World US 2008 Euro College Open Series thread
2008-06-16 12:08
by Bob Timmermann

Thanks to some fortuitous scheduling at work, I have today off. I wish to thank the person who made that schedule. Hey, that was me! Why do I have today off? I had to work Sunday.

So on this day, which was originally reserved for doing laundry and going to the dry cleaners and has been turned into the Day of Guilt-Free Daytime Sports TV watching. This day may go down as the second best day in my life, behind only this day.

Starting at 9 am PT will be the US Open 18 hole playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines. Golf is one of the few sports where it seems that fans don't root for the underdog. Go figure.

Then at 11 am PT, Miami and Florida State play each other and the loser will unexpectedly be the first team to go home from the College World Series. The loser will be, as the locals say, "Oh and two and barbecue."

At 11:45 am PT, there are a pair of Group B games in Euro 2008. Croatia, which has clinched first place and will play Turkey in the quarterfinals, plays Poland in Klagenfurt, Austria. Germany will play Austria at the same time in Vienna. Germany moves on to the second round with a draw unless Poland beats Croatia by four goals (or enough to make up the goal difference edge that Austria has). Austria would likely move on to the next round if they can do a reverse Anschluss or if a helpful nun takes the starter out of the German team bus. I will not be wearing the checkerboard shirt today as I want to save that for the knockout round.

Then at 4 pm PT, the two winners from the first day of the College World Series, Georgia and Stanford face off. The winner of that game then has to win just one more game to make it to the championship series.

So feel free to chime in on whatever grabs your interest. I'll be keeping you updated on the status of my laundry throughout the day. And the possibility of going to the dry cleaners AND the post office AND the supermarket. ALL IN THE SAME DAY!!! That was the little known 13th Labor of Hercules, which he did on his off day.

Comments (120)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-06-16 07:32:22
1.   Johan
Turkey won that game? I had to leave for brunch just before half with the Czechs up 1-0. I was hoping I would only miss a boring second half.

You can tell how riveted I was that I didn't bother to check the result.

I think with Tiger's knee progressively getting worse, and Mediate not being as good as he's played the last 4 days, we could see a +4 round defeating a +5 round for the US Open.

2008-06-16 07:51:42
2.   Ember Nickel
It was 2-0 Czech Republic, then wound up 3-2.

Tuncay was already the in-joke du jour in a chat room I frequent /before/ the match and has only grown in mythical proportions since.

2008-06-16 09:30:56
3.   Eric Stephen
Mediate narrowly missed a hole in one on #3.
2008-06-16 09:33:57
4.   Bob Timmermann
3
Congratulations on finding the thread amidst the Juiciness of the sidebar!
2008-06-16 09:35:20
5.   Jacob L
I was guessing this was the US Open Playoff thread. For all of you who complain about baseball (and other games) being scheduled for television, this is your big day! Hope I managed to get my DVR set correctly.
2008-06-16 09:36:32
6.   Bob Timmermann
5
I'm afraid we can't maintain radio silence for you.
2008-06-16 09:37:23
7.   Jacob L
2 shot swing on the third hole. I birdied that hole with a chip in from off the back (circa approx 2001) Rocco by 1.

Will Rocco co-star in the most exciting playoff since Constantino Rocca?

2008-06-16 09:38:37
8.   Bob Timmermann
There's lot of guys taking swings and then making faces like I do after every shot.
2008-06-16 09:42:13
9.   Eric Stephen
I must say, the picture quality from usopen.com is pretty good.
2008-06-16 09:43:52
10.   Bob Timmermann
The picture quality is pretty good on my TV too.
2008-06-16 09:46:45
11.   Eric Stephen
10
Zing!!!

Plus your TV presumably doesn't freeze every other hole or so.

2008-06-16 09:47:54
12.   Bob Timmermann
11
ESPN didn't have any sound for an interview between Jimmy Roberts and Rocco Mediate at first. Then they replayed it with the sound.

That was not worth the wait.

In other news, the clothes are in the washer.

2008-06-16 09:50:07
13.   Jacob L
Did they ask about whether the players needed extra clothes for a Monday playoff? I was actually wondering about that.

Tiger, I'm sure could get a new outfit sent from Beaverton by super-sonic jet to his hotel room. Rocco could, presumably, pick something up with a Torrey Pines logo at the pro shop.

2008-06-16 09:53:47
14.   Bob Timmermann
The USGA wants me to remember to play balls that land on tree roots. The rules are there to help me!

Not that I've ever played with anyone who insisted I take stroke and distance for a tee shot out of bounds.

Because they want to finish!

So, how long should two guys take to play this course with nobody else on it?

2008-06-16 09:55:11
15.   Eric Stephen
13
A friend of someone at my work apparently rents out their house in Del Mar every summer, and this summer happen to be renting to Jeff Oglivy. I guess these homeowners are a nice older couple and always write a bunch of notes around the house explaining where things are, etc.

Anyway, apparently they left a note saying to their tenant (I'm not sure they knew he was a pro golfer) he could borrow their set of (old) golf clubs if needed.

I thought that story was charming.

2008-06-16 09:55:43
16.   Eric Stephen
14
I'm guessing a little over 3 hours.
2008-06-16 09:56:56
17.   Bob Timmermann
Two cart paths on one shot!
2008-06-16 09:57:48
18.   Eric Stephen
17
I wouldn't know; I'm in freeze up mode. I retract my earlier praise of usopen.com.
2008-06-16 09:57:49
19.   Jacob L
It should take about 3.5 hours, but I'm pretty sure they'll go over 4. There's a lot on the line.

It'd be more fun if they squeezed the playoff in between five-somes and took some singles off the waiting list.

2008-06-16 09:58:52
20.   Eric Stephen
19
I would love to see the beer cart stroll by around the 6th hole or so.
2008-06-16 09:59:02
21.   Jacob L
And just as I make the obligatory "US Open at a muni joke," Rocco gets the ridiculous cart path bounce. Somebody call for the beer girl!
2008-06-16 09:59:13
22.   Bob Timmermann
19
"Timmermann"

"Timmermann"

"Please report to the starter."

"Timmermann"

2008-06-16 10:04:38
23.   Eric Stephen
A friend of mine asked yesterday why the players don't take the time to line up for make up putts. I didn't have an answer, other than anger and laziness.
2008-06-16 10:08:54
24.   Jacob L
O.K., I've got to go to a meeting. Keep it close for me, guys.
2008-06-16 10:10:52
25.   Bob Timmermann
I'll be having to take my clothes out of the dryer at the next commercial break.
2008-06-16 10:29:29
26.   Bob Timmermann
Clothes into the dryer.

40 minutes to the Promised Land!

2008-06-16 10:54:00
27.   Eric Stephen
Jack Nickluas through his age 32 season (1972) had 11 majors:

4 Masters
3 US Open
2 British Open
2 PGA

Tiger is sitting on 13 during his age 32 season:

4 Masters
2 US Open (and counting)
3 British Open (coming up July 17-20)
4 PGA (August 7-10)

2008-06-16 10:58:11
28.   Bob Timmermann
The British Open will be at Carnoustie! Woo hoo!

The PGA will be at Oakland Hills.

2008-06-16 10:59:32
29.   Eric Stephen
28
I like the British Open because by the time I wake up Sunday they're already on the back 9. It's quite convenient.
2008-06-16 11:03:05
30.   bhsportsguy
On the internet feed, you could hear Bob Costas giving direction to how they would open the broadcast.

28 If Tiger could win at Carnoustie, he would have quite a threesome of course that he has won the Open Championship, St. Andrews, Muirfield and Carnoustie.

2008-06-16 11:03:45
31.   Bob Timmermann
The Open Championship features players teeing off shortly after midnight PT.

It also has the starter who reads off every name and never takes a break to go to the bathroom.

I believe the Open Championship is the only major tournament where all the golfers start on #1.

2008-06-16 11:06:25
32.   Eric Stephen
30
I always enjoy hearing the "inside" feed. At least there were no F-bombs.
2008-06-16 11:07:28
33.   bhsportsguy
28 Bob, the 2007 Open Championship was at Carnoustie, the 2008 is at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England.
2008-06-16 11:11:18
34.   Bob Timmermann
33
That'll teach me to click on the link instead of just looking at the summary in Google.
2008-06-16 11:13:13
35.   Bob Timmermann
I just hope this doesn't turn into Zoeller vs. Norman.
2008-06-16 11:17:28
36.   Eric Stephen
35
Wasn't that Faldo v. Norman?
2008-06-16 11:21:47
37.   Bob Timmermann
Faldo vs. Norman was the Masters collapse. Zoeller vs. Norman was a U.S. Open playoff.

Or at least I thought it was.

2008-06-16 11:25:23
38.   underdog
So while I'm not off from work today, I am working at home to nurse my smashed toe. Which means I, too, can watch some of the Euro (while, ahem, working). Woo hoo!

Did we get an answer yet to Bob's question about whether the Turkish keeper has to sit today? I assume he does, with the red card.

2008-06-16 11:25:36
39.   Bob Timmermann
The laundry is done. Now it's time to train my cat to fold it and put it away.

Go to it Casey!

Casey, I said "Fold the laundry."

No, don't sit there staring at a bug in the window.

Fold the laundry.

Stupid cat.

2008-06-16 11:27:32
40.   Bob Timmermann
38
The Turkish keeper is out for the Croatia match, according to my brother, America's foremost soccer expert.

Or at least the foremost one I can get in touch with easily.

The yellow cards from the first round won't carry over.

If Turkey had lost, the keeper would have been disqualified for the team's next international, which would have been a World Cup qualifier.

I have a blue Team Croatia t-shirt on today.

2008-06-16 11:28:55
41.   Eric Stephen
37
To quote Johnny Carson, "I did not know that." Ouch though, Zoeller shot 67; Norman 75 in 1984. Norman wasn't the best finisher ever.
2008-06-16 11:31:04
42.   Eric Stephen
Apparently more people are online watching the US Open than normally vote in a Chicago election.
2008-06-16 11:33:46
43.   underdog
40 Ah, yes, it's correct. Confirmation:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKL166187220080616

39 - I've trained my cat to sit on freshly laundered and folded clothing still warm from the dryer, in order to keep it nicely pressed and warm. If a bit furrier. He's very good at it.

2008-06-16 11:40:09
44.   Eric Stephen
1 stroke difference with 6 to play!
2008-06-16 11:41:35
45.   Bob Timmermann
The laundry! It's done!

The next task on the agenda: balancing the checkbook.

2008-06-16 11:43:49
46.   Bob Timmermann
The Croatians are wearing the blue kit today.

I guess they're saving the full checkerboard for a more important game.

2008-06-16 11:45:19
47.   Bob Timmermann
I never knew that the golf course was named after an actual tree called "a Torrey pine"

http://www.torreypine.org/parks/torrey-pine.html

2008-06-16 11:52:04
48.   TellMeTheScoreRickMonday
Bob, if you're stopping by the cleaners, could you please pick up my shirts? And I need a half-gallon of organic milk from the supermarket.

Also, I tried to ask the DT crew this once but I probably should have asked you...what is the average number of pitches per inning? Whenever they talk about pitch counts, short of knowing that ~100 = time for a starter to rest, I have no idea whether "## through three innings" is good or bad or what. If you know and can help me understand this better, I would sincerely appreciate it. Thanks.

2008-06-16 11:52:30
49.   Bob Timmermann
I count Germany's record against Austria as 20-8-6 alltime. That uses West Germany instead of East Germany for the appropriate time period.

The Austrians haven't beaten the Germans since 1985.

2008-06-16 11:56:27
50.   underdog
Ouch. That looks painful.

So I am one-quarter Polish. Does that mean I should root for Poland here? Knowing my family I probably have Croatian in there somewhere.

How's Latvia faring so far? (I'm 1/4 that, too.)

Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-06-16 11:56:44
51.   Bob Timmermann
48
The last figures I found said the average number of pitches in a game was 285 for both sides. So if you divide that by say 17.5, you can get a rough estimate of about 16 pitches per inning.
2008-06-16 11:57:22
52.   Bob Timmermann
50
The Latvian-Croatian-Polish trifecta is hard to pull off.
2008-06-16 12:01:45
53.   Bob Timmermann
Germany and Austria are responsible for the practice of having the final group play games being played at the same time.

That was after the debacle in the 1982 World Cup in Spain when the Austrians, who had already clinched a spot in the second round, pretty much let Germany beat them 1-0 and eliminate Algeria.

The 1982 World Cup is when I became a soccer fan. You could only watch the matches on Spanish language TV. And I learned a lot of Spanish.

The France-Germany semifinal that year was intense.

2008-06-16 12:04:40
54.   Bob Timmermann
Four hole playoff!
2008-06-16 12:15:26
55.   Penarol1916
I'd say that so far, this Euro is one of the better international tournaments since the '82 and '86 World Cups.
2008-06-16 12:18:22
56.   Bob Timmermann
The U.S. Open playoff is losing its NL West vibe.
2008-06-16 12:19:57
57.   Bob Timmermann
Amazon.com is asking me to write a product review for something I bought.

It was a cellphone battery.

What am I supposed to say?
"Unlike the old one, this one works."

2008-06-16 12:20:54
58.   Jacob L
I'm back. What did I miss?
2008-06-16 12:22:40
59.   Bob Timmermann
58
Woods in rough and bunkers. Mediate on fairways and greens.

You do the math.

2008-06-16 12:26:33
60.   Jacob L
I have to do math?
2008-06-16 12:26:37
61.   Bob Timmermann
Both coaches get red carded in Vienna!

I've never seen that before.

2008-06-16 12:27:13
62.   Bob Timmermann
60
Yes, and you have to perform some grim calculus.
2008-06-16 12:28:38
63.   Bob Timmermann
The ESPN.com commentary said that the Austria and Germany coaches were "having a bit of a ding-dong."
2008-06-16 12:31:46
64.   Jacob L
Oh, come on!
2008-06-16 12:33:43
65.   Bob Timmermann
I would think that if Mediate is only up by one going to 18, there will be sudden death.

I assume the first sudden death hole would be 18.

2008-06-16 12:37:20
66.   Jacob L
65 It would be more fun if they played 18 more on Tuesday.

Ordinarily, you take Tiger in a par 5 contest to decide it, but he's definitely grinding. Ordinarily you take Tiger in any sort of contest on a golf course.

2008-06-16 12:37:34
67.   Bob Timmermann
I've noticed that the base coaches in college ball don't wear helmets. And they're standing next to guys swinging aluminum bats.
2008-06-16 12:38:34
68.   bobsbrother
That Germany-Austria game in '82 included about 80 minutes of teams passing the ball around in their own end.

I think you've got to be rooting for Mediate at this point. He could be the first U.S. Open champ whose name is a verb since Tom Kite in 1992. Unless you count Corey Pavin. Which you would have to spell Pavin'.

2008-06-16 12:39:31
69.   Bob Timmermann
66
Or they could just go back to the 36-hole playoff!

It was good enough for Francis Ouimet!

2008-06-16 12:40:49
70.   Bob Timmermann
"Jones" is a verb.
2008-06-16 12:41:02
71.   Jacob L
The streaming video is really choppy just now. I'm guessing there are few people watching online.
2008-06-16 12:42:25
72.   Bob Timmermann
I am surprised that the crowd seems to backing Mediate more than Woods.

And the NBC announcers aren't fawning over Woods like they normally do.

2008-06-16 12:43:41
73.   Bob Timmermann
Are coaches who are red carded suspended from their team's next match?
2008-06-16 12:43:44
74.   bobsbrother
As a noun or verb, Jones is considered slang. This is golf, for heaven's sake.
2008-06-16 12:46:02
75.   bobsbrother
One of them will be enjoying the quarterfinal from the press box, armed with a walkie-talkie.
2008-06-16 12:47:18
76.   Bob Timmermann
You can read the ESPN.com commentary for the Euro matches in four languages. I can only read two of them.

The Spanish language guy has no sense of humor.

2008-06-16 12:49:00
77.   Bob Timmermann
I've played 18 at Torrey Pines on a computer many times.

That lake in front of the green is my nemesis.

That said, I doubt either guy will go in the water on this hole.

2008-06-16 12:51:15
78.   Bob Timmermann
Over in Omaha, Miami leads Florida State 4-2 in the 4th in an elimination game.
2008-06-16 12:53:57
79.   Jacob L
I don't believe I've found the pond in 4 real life tries. On a computer, its not even in play. 3 and 18 are my best holes at Torrey.
2008-06-16 12:54:57
80.   Bob Timmermann
I figured out eventually how to avoid the water on 18.
2008-06-16 12:55:26
81.   Bob Timmermann
Germany up 1-0.
2008-06-16 12:55:39
82.   Jacob L
They just replayed Tiger's birdie putt from yesterday. He may be the worst high-fiver in he history of sports. Either that or Stevie's always moving his hand away on the receiving end.
2008-06-16 12:57:26
83.   Bob Timmermann
So, from the fairway it's an "up and in" but from a bunker it's "up and down?"
2008-06-16 12:57:31
84.   bobsbrother
Heck of a free kick by the Germans.
2008-06-16 12:58:05
85.   Bob Timmermann
The checkerboards strike!

Poland is going home.

2008-06-16 12:59:18
86.   Bob Timmermann
I don't think NBC was planning on going to a commercial there.
2008-06-16 13:00:01
87.   underdog
Nice revenge goal there for the Croatian player after he was taken down on the same sequence. Nice!

--

So coaches can not only be booted for "constant bickering" but red carded and held out of their next games as well? Crazy.

2008-06-16 13:02:42
88.   Bob Timmermann
Woods was determined not to leave his eagle putt short.
2008-06-16 13:04:47
89.   TellMeTheScoreRickMonday
51 Thanks Bob, I really appreciate it.
2008-06-16 13:07:29
90.   Bob Timmermann
Free golf in San Diego!
2008-06-16 13:09:18
91.   Jacob L
What's the format for extra holes?
2008-06-16 13:11:12
92.   Bob Timmermann
7, 8, and 18 in a cycle.
2008-06-16 13:13:03
93.   Jon Weisman
90 - Free-er golf!
2008-06-16 13:15:39
94.   Bob Timmermann
Although it's sudden death, they don't start over. Woods had the honor because of his birdie on 18. There was no drawing of lots.
2008-06-16 13:18:15
95.   Jacob L
The internet feed has basically given out on me. Anyone care to do play by play?
2008-06-16 13:18:54
96.   Bob Timmermann
Woods in the fairway. Mediate in a fairway bunker, although with a decent lie.
2008-06-16 13:20:15
97.   Bob Timmermann
Mediate hits the cart path and then bounces it off the grandstand next to the green. He was 183 from the hole.

He looks to be between the grandstand and the cart path.

2008-06-16 13:21:41
98.   Bob Timmermann
Woods from 145 hits it below the hole at the edge of the green. Probably about a 25' putt for birdie.
2008-06-16 13:23:08
99.   Bob Timmermann
Mediate gets a free drop.
2008-06-16 13:23:42
100.   Jacob L
Thanks a ton, Bob. I do have the feed back now, though its like one of those animation flip books we used to make in 2nd grade.
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2008-06-16 13:24:00
101.   Bob Timmermann
I think this was the first David Fay appearance for today. I wonder if he wears the bow tie all the time.
2008-06-16 13:24:42
102.   Bob Timmermann
Mediate pitches it to about 20 feet past the hole.
2008-06-16 13:25:07
103.   Jacob L
Mediate's going to need something special to get this up and down and stay alive.
2008-06-16 13:26:00
104.   Bob Timmermann
Or Woods will have to three putt from 25 feet.

I could do that.

2008-06-16 13:27:32
105.   Jacob L
I'm not hanging my hat on Tiger 3 putting. Of course the words "one putt to win" could flash through his head.
2008-06-16 13:28:46
106.   Bob Timmermann
Mediate gave it a ride. At least he didn't leave it short.

Well done by both men.

2008-06-16 13:29:07
107.   Jacob L
As someone who is more-or-less rooting for Tiger, let me say this: "Make it, Rocco."
2008-06-16 13:29:59
108.   Jacob L
Too late, huh? I told you that internet feed was choppy.
2008-06-16 13:33:46
109.   Jon Weisman
This was better than Tin Cup!
2008-06-16 13:34:10
110.   Bob Timmermann
I didn't think Mediate's putt had a chance of going in once he struck it. He was expecting a left to right break that never came.
2008-06-16 13:34:45
111.   Bob Timmermann
109
That's true on so many levels.
2008-06-16 13:42:21
112.   underdog
And the Croats hang on for a 1-0 win, despite a few spirited moments for Poland later in 2nd half.
2008-06-16 13:43:51
113.   Bob Timmermann
And now it will be Croatia vs Turkey and Germany vs Portugal.

Croatia and Turkey were on the same side in World War I.

I'd rather not talk about Croatia in World War II.

2008-06-16 14:53:44
114.   Bob Timmermann
Miami survives 7-5 over Florida State.

The Seminoles strand a CWS record tying 17 runners in 9 innings.

2008-06-16 16:47:25
115.   Jon Weisman
Stanford leads!
2008-06-16 16:59:45
116.   Bob Timmermann
Jason Castro can hit the ball very far.
2008-06-16 17:59:45
117.   MC Safety
113 Looking forward to seeing the Germans pound Portugal.
2008-06-16 18:23:27
118.   Bob Timmermann
Austin Yount works out of the jam for Stanford.
2008-06-16 18:54:51
119.   Bob Timmermann
The ball was indeed foul.
2008-06-16 19:28:52
120.   Bob Timmermann
No joy in Stanford tonight. Georgia wins it 4-3.

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