Sports

Vac’s Tuesday Whacks, on Tiger’s temper, Ben’s behavior and Met misery

Here’s a question I have for Tiger Woods, who not only reverted to his prior quick-trigger behavior with minimal provocation over the weekend, but also gave Peter Kostis an earful and a staredown when the CBS announcer called him on it Sunday:

Why is it that every other athlete of significance in any sport is allowed to accept failure with a modicum of grace … except you?

Forget the fact that Woods wasn’t about to credit Phil Mickelson with a win for the ages; those two have never been frat brothers, never will be, and so that was expected. But Tiger’s ridiculous response to Kostis calling Tiger on his on-course cursing, and agitated responses, was most telling. Essentially Woods said: what do you expect me to do, smile when I shank? Look delighted when I duck-hook?

No, Tiger, you don’t have to be happy. But does anyone ever remember Michael Jordan having a public fit? Wayne Gretzky? Roger Federer? Jack Nicklaus? Who has had more public gaffes than Mickelson, and the worst you’ve ever seen from him is a horrified look, an “Oh, No!” or his hands holding his head in horror.

Despite beliefs to the contrary, Tiger is human. It might behoove him to start acting the part soon.

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Your move, Commissioner: Roger Goodell has never faced quite the sticky situation as he faces now. Ben Roethlosberger has probably done enough to warrant a suspension anyway, but Goodell needs to come down hard on this white superstar if he doesn’t want to risk alienating every African-American in his league.

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Hoo boy: You think if the Mets could pick a place to resuscitate their season they’d have picked Coors Field? No, probably not.