Final Four

Count Me Out: Final Four Feud, Masters Money Grab

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What a disheartening and frustrating Final Four weekend.

Instead of the women’s final basketball game, we’re talking about race. Is it appropriate for a white girl to taunt a black girl on a basketball court? Is it appropriate for a black girl to taunt a white girl on the court?

That’s not basketball. That’s skin color debate, double standards, and heated emotions. We all know what’s going on here.

Both girls taunted. But both should not have. It’s not classy and detracts from all the other players and performances. But I do think the LSU girl overdid it, for too long and with too much of an in-your-face approach at the wrong time.

The three people most relieved that this feud sent America into hysterics are the officials who called the game. They got this forgettable day off to a sour start by whistling fouls too often. The star players got in foul trouble and spent too much time on the bench. With a huge TV audience, don’t do that. Let the women play.

The outrage at the excessive foul-calling, and LSU’s dominant and impressive victory, have both been overshadowed by a sociological and moral national debate on whether it’s OK for people of different races to taunt each other after basketball games. Who wants to be talking about that?

The game was supposed to be a celebration of women’s basketball. It’s turned into a national online shouting matchmaking us all uncomfortable and feeling sad about our complicated world. I mean this is the Final Four after all, right?

This is not sports. This is a sign of the times we live in when race barges through the door and disrupts the calm and simplistic notion of putting a basketball in a hoop.

That final game felt like getting all excited to go to your senior prom and finding out it was canceled because a dozen kids puked on the dance floor and vandalized the ballroom, and a rancorous debate flared up about whether boys or girls started it and whether they were from one ethnic group or another.

Who wants that?

No one. Not me, at least.

Then last night we got dealt a disenchanting men’s Final game that everyone knew UConn would win because they’re overflowing with talent and could possibly win the NBA Title in June if they kept playing.

No drama, no intrigue, no story, and no reason to tune in. I didn’t watch any of it. I like the story of a small team rising up to beat the more talented team. It wasn’t going to happen. So the March Madness tournament that lifted our spirits with Princeton and Florida Atlanta a few weeks ago making thrilling runs ended with one gigantic yawn devoid of anything memorable except in Storrs, CT among UConn hoops fans. Great, good for them. Bummer for everyone else.

This week in sports won’t get any more enthralling. As the Masters Golf Tournament unfolds, there will be a bunch of 20-to-40-year-old men who are obviously greedy for money, yes I mean the ones who took the LIV Tour cash. Nothing wrong with making money if someone’s willing to offer it to you, but it doesn’t make me want to watch you play golf because you’ve shown me what you care about most: yourself and getting rich. Filling your pockets, securing your futures, you, yourself, and your ego and superego and id and psyche and testosterone are at the center of it all. What’s to like about that as a fan?

I admire the PGA guys for not falling for the money temptations of the LIV Tour. But let’s not be naïve. They’re money hounds, too. The PGA is now paying them a lot more to play golf and win because of LIV competition. They’re getting filthy rich, too.

So many of these golfers are mega-millionaires, which is fine, but it doesn’t make me want to watch you play golf this weekend.

Usually, I like watching the Masters. But in the past few years, pro golf has taken an unattractive turn towards greed at the highest levels. Are you guys interested in any of us fans watching you play? Or are you mostly interested in making sure you’re loaded with money for the rest of your lives so you can buy lavish things and huge mansions and fancy cars and boats and expensive clothes?

I think that’s shallow behavior and misguided prioritization, but that’s just me. Material possessions do not make you happy, ultimately, and all of you will find that out if you haven’t already. Read any book and you’ll learn that over and over. Or just live and it will become clear.

What I think means nothing to any of you, I’m sure, but I’m not going to turn on my TV this weekend to watch you play because you’re starting to mean less to me. I’m turned off by what you and your organizations stand for, both LIV Tour and PGA, how you act, why you play, what you say, how you snipe at each other.

You’re playing a pretty unimportant game when you really think about it. You’re not making serious contributions to the world to help advance and improve human lives, elevate thought, inspire people, or solve thorny problems. You’re turning us off – or at least me.

I admire you for becoming great at golf and you deserve to get paid. But I just honestly don’t care. You’ve all spoken with your actions. I’m speaking with mine.

You’re all about yourselves. So is pretty much everyone else.

But the honest truth is it’s actually not that interesting to watch you hit golf balls.

As human beings you’re not that interesting — nor impressive — either.

Sammy Sportface

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Sammy Sportface

Sammy Sportface, a sports blogger, galvanizes, inspires, and amuses The Baby Boomer Brotherhood. And you can learn about his vision and join this group's Facebook page here: Sammy Sportface Has a Vision -- Check It Out Sammy Sportface -- The Baby Boomer Brotherhood Blog -- Facebook Page
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Sammy Sportface
Sammy Sportface
Sammy Sportface, a sports blogger, galvanizes, inspires, and amuses The Baby Boomer Brotherhood. And you can learn about his vision and join this group's Facebook page here:

Sammy Sportface Has a Vision -- Check It Out

Sammy Sportface -- The Baby Boomer Brotherhood Blog -- Facebook Page

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