Sports and Miami
More than a few random thoughts about what is happening in sports in Miami.
Tiger Woods will probably win the WGC Championship at Doral this weekend. With Tiger in the lead it is tough to play against him and the crowd that follows him. I'm not a fan of the format of this tournament. I liked the old Doral Eastern days. It was just a March stop on the PGA Tour, but the field was bigger and I liked following golfers who teed off early. They did not have big groups following them.
You might even talk to players like Dan Halvorson, a Canadian from Manitoba, who was my Dad's favorite. I liked Barry Jaeckel, son of an actor named Richard Jaeckel. If he made the cut his name was usually way down the list, but at least he cashed. One year when the tournament overlapped with the NCAA Basketball Tournament I heard him talking to his caddy, wishing that the guys in front of him would play a little faster because he wanted to have a beer and watch a team play. At the time I thought the comment was right on as that was my plan for later in the afternoon.
A few days ago I participated in a poll regarding public funding for improvements to Sunlife Stadium so that "we" would continue to get the Super Bowl. The owner of the team and the stadium wants $200 million from hotel taxes to help pay for about $400 million in improvements. A little more shade and protection from the elements and some additions to technology so people can have free Wifi while attending but not watching the game. Most people were against more money for the stadium. At this time of year the hotels are almost full and it costs about $180-$210 a night to stay at average hotels. The Boat Show and the Super Bowl on the same week would only encourage the hotels in the area to jack up their rates even higher and require minimum stays. I've attended a World Series game, I've attended a NCAA Football Championship, and more than a few Orange Bowl Games around New Years Day.
Attending big sporting events these days is kind of a weird proposition these days. You want to see the game like you are sitting at home. The normal stadium is a lot more exciting because of the crowd, but it is also a big pain in the ass and expensive. Tickets, parking, overpriced beer, food, and a foam finger or two prices out families from the events. It's completely understandable why there are more than a few vacant seats at professional games these days.
Finally, I am still amazed that UM has finally won a championship in the ACC. I thought we would have had at least a few championships in football by now but that hasn't happened. I never figured we would ever beat Duke and North Carolina in the same year let alone just about everyone else in the conference to win the regular season championship. I was just happy for any conference victories, period. I'm not sure how the Hurricanes will do in the NCAA tournament because a game where the ball doesn't go through the hoop can doom any team and I don't think there is a team strong enough beat a stretch of poor shooting.
Tiger Woods will probably win the WGC Championship at Doral this weekend. With Tiger in the lead it is tough to play against him and the crowd that follows him. I'm not a fan of the format of this tournament. I liked the old Doral Eastern days. It was just a March stop on the PGA Tour, but the field was bigger and I liked following golfers who teed off early. They did not have big groups following them.
You might even talk to players like Dan Halvorson, a Canadian from Manitoba, who was my Dad's favorite. I liked Barry Jaeckel, son of an actor named Richard Jaeckel. If he made the cut his name was usually way down the list, but at least he cashed. One year when the tournament overlapped with the NCAA Basketball Tournament I heard him talking to his caddy, wishing that the guys in front of him would play a little faster because he wanted to have a beer and watch a team play. At the time I thought the comment was right on as that was my plan for later in the afternoon.
A few days ago I participated in a poll regarding public funding for improvements to Sunlife Stadium so that "we" would continue to get the Super Bowl. The owner of the team and the stadium wants $200 million from hotel taxes to help pay for about $400 million in improvements. A little more shade and protection from the elements and some additions to technology so people can have free Wifi while attending but not watching the game. Most people were against more money for the stadium. At this time of year the hotels are almost full and it costs about $180-$210 a night to stay at average hotels. The Boat Show and the Super Bowl on the same week would only encourage the hotels in the area to jack up their rates even higher and require minimum stays. I've attended a World Series game, I've attended a NCAA Football Championship, and more than a few Orange Bowl Games around New Years Day.
Attending big sporting events these days is kind of a weird proposition these days. You want to see the game like you are sitting at home. The normal stadium is a lot more exciting because of the crowd, but it is also a big pain in the ass and expensive. Tickets, parking, overpriced beer, food, and a foam finger or two prices out families from the events. It's completely understandable why there are more than a few vacant seats at professional games these days.
Finally, I am still amazed that UM has finally won a championship in the ACC. I thought we would have had at least a few championships in football by now but that hasn't happened. I never figured we would ever beat Duke and North Carolina in the same year let alone just about everyone else in the conference to win the regular season championship. I was just happy for any conference victories, period. I'm not sure how the Hurricanes will do in the NCAA tournament because a game where the ball doesn't go through the hoop can doom any team and I don't think there is a team strong enough beat a stretch of poor shooting.
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