April 8, 2010
The Masters starts today. I don’t know much about golf. I’ve always enjoyed playing the video game versions of it, but when it comes to the real thing, a famous quote from Mark Twain pretty much sums up my feelings. “Eh.”
All the talk will be of Tiger, of course, and it will be impossible to avoid coworkers and pals peddling one-liners about his “putts” and his “holes in one,” not to mention Aristocrat-esque jokes involving the green jacket. I won’t go down that road. What I will do, however, is highlight the deeds of another duffer, the oft-maligned Phil Mickelson.
Now, I don’t know enough about the PGA to know how oft Mr. Mickelson is really maligned, but for a matter of perspective, consider this. The phrase “I Hate Phil Mickelson” returns almost 500 results on Google, while “I Hate Fred Funk” returns only one. Either the Funk PR Machine is working overtime, or my man Mickelson has an image problem. I suspect the latter. Thus, the following headline (which may or may not be a pun?) hit the wire a few days back:
An Easter Thank You: Phil Mickelson Turns to Houston’s Swing Doctor
If you don’t want to read the article, I’ll give you the gist of it. Both Mickelson’s wife and his mother were diagnosed with cancer last year. A Houston doctor has been treating them, and Mickelson was so thankful that he let the man caddie for him during a recent tournament. Mickelson was out of contention at that point, and it was only supposed to be for one hole, and the man had actually done some semi-professional caddying before, so it wasn’t exactly like Jeff Gordon letting his dental hygienist hold the wheel. Still, the good doctor handed him the right clubs and employed his depth perception and it resulted in a birdie, so Mickelson kept him on for two more holes. Hearts were warmed. Jesus wept.
Did Tiger sin so much that this is considered a saintly act? I know, I know. Golf enthusiasts would jump at the chance to caddy in a major tournament. But wouldn’t they also jump at the chance to actually golf with the best, rather than lug the bag. Imagine if the roles were reversed. Had Mickelson helped this doctor’s son with his swing, would he have been rewarded with a midnight shift at the ER changing bedpans? I doubt it.
My proposal is this. If Mickelson really wants to show his appreciation, he should reserve a tee time for the doctor and himself at one of the country’s most exclusive courses. After all, this guy is trying to call in some medical miracles for the golfer’s mother and wife. The opportunity to towel the dimples of a golf ball hardly seems like reciprocity. I’ll give Mickelson the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe he’s golfed with the doctor countless times on countless legendary courses. But if he hasn’t, then add me to Google results. “I Hate Phil Mickelson!”
1 Comment | Posted by Aaron under Sports | Bookmark or Share
April 6, 2010
A lot of people pity Zac Efron. They assume his mother must have smoked during pregnancy, maybe even taken a headlong dive into a vat of DDT. Because the man is a hideous spectacle. Disney has foisted him upon us as an example of equal opportunity run amuck and what saddens people most is that soon, someone will have to explain to Efron that his career is essentially a cruel joke played one of Earth’s most deformed human beings. The only thing that might serve to comfort him is the knowledge that there are at least a few other creatures in the world that are uglier than him. Unbelievable, but true, and some of these beasts have even starred in movies!
WARTHOG
Pumbaa, the singing warthog from The Lion King, has proven that a furry hunk of ham is a bigger box-office draw than Efron, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the species is more attractive. It’s difficult, but pull your gaze back from those bedroom eyes and you’ll notice something a little unconventional about the warthog. Tusks. Last time I checked, Efron didn’t have tusks. While tusks can be extremely useful for opening bottles of wine, they don’t do much in the heartthrob department. And you can’t exactly hakuna matata your way out of any manslaughter raps that result from the combination of overly enthusiastic necking and razor sharp cheek appendages.
BATHYNOMUS GIGANTEUS
Not many people know about this isopod, because it lives on the floor of the ocean. I’m sure that Efron has encountered his share of bottom-feeders in the music industry, but what makes the bathynomus unique is its slavish devotion to sunglasses. Yeah, shades are rock-and-roll, but even Corey Hart and the guys from Timbuk3 set them on the nightstand when they hit the hay. This crustacean, he has them fused to his skull, wears them 24-7, which means he obviously has something to hide. My guess? Pink-eye. Good thing Efron has access to antibiotics.
BLIND MOLE-RAT
In defense of the blind-mole rat, it has no way of knowing how ugly it is. Even if it miraculously gained the ability to see, it lives in complete darkness, and couldn’t possibly afford a decent mirror. Beauty pageants don’t make exceptions for poor girls who live in dimly lit homes, and I won’t make exceptions here. Some orthodonture and a trip to St. Croix might change my opinion, but for now, I’m saying Zac Efron looks better than a blind mole-rat.
THE KRAKEN
Not the one from the new Clash of the Titans. That Kraken is a smoldering bad boy who may not win the battle of strength with Sam Worthington, but certainly wins the battle of snarling sexiness. I’m talking about Harry Hamlin’s nemesis in the 1981 affair. It’s not that he’s awful looking. He has a gilled sophistication and a chest you could do skateboard tricks on. It’s his herky-jerky movements that put him a rung below Efron. Blame animation if you will, but I have my suspicions that Efron might just be a clever bit of computer graphics. At least he doesn’t act like he’s constantly suffering from delerium tremens.
STEVE BUSCEMI
I know what you’re thinking. Trees Lounge Steve Buscemi? Airheads Steve Buscemi? But he was so hot in the Lord of the Rings! Everyone’s entitled to an opinion and Buscemi may seem to some a modern day Peter Lorre, and as every fan of rap knows, Ladies Love Peter Lorre. But let’s be honest. Zac Efron beat him out for the lead role in High School Musical. That counts for something. If only barely.
23 Comments | Posted by Aaron under BEST OF, Celebrity, Movies, Parody | Bookmark or Share
