Redemption of a Tiger

WAIT. YOU'RE STILL ALIVE?

The Daily Hat Trick--once a daily blog, true to its name--has been retired for nearly five years. In late 2017, scratched the itch to revive the blog, but never followed through. In many ways, this is like a preview of a possible reboot.

Rule 1 of blogging, for most people, is that the first phase of blogging is like talking into an empty room. With that said, I thought that I would memorialize my thoughts on Tiger Woods' remarkable comeback to the world of elite golfers.

CALL IT A COMEBACK

Tiger Woods reached the highest of highs and, after Michael Jordan's second retirement in 1998, was the biggest, most famous, most marketable, and successful athlete in the world, by any measurable, reasonable standard.

He brought himself to successive new rock bottoms, starting with his serial womanizing, the public collapse of his personal life, then his drug addiction caused by his deteriorating back, followed by the cops discovering him in a ditch in a pain-pill induced stupor, where he literally did not know where in the world he was.

The image of Woods winning the 1997 Masters is like that of a ghost. 1

NEW LOWS...ALL-TIME HIGH

Woods could not walk without assistance, let alone play golf, because of his back problems. Despite all of that...Woods could have walked away, still been the G.O.A.T. (that's "Greatest of All Time for you older readers), and never needed to earn another nickel in his lifetime.

To go through the rehabilitation, the training, and the work just to compete in the PGA...just to make the cut, let alone win the MASTERS.... Woods put himself in a huge hole that he never had to bother coming out of because of his past success and nobody would have questioned him. Instead he pulled himself out.


Sports are often a microcosm of life. Woods' self-made redemption is truly remarkable. It tells us that we can earn second chances, seemingly no matter how far we fall, if we're willing to make it happen.

It has been a long time coming. 2

1) Image from businessinsider.com.
2) Image from usatoday.com.

If You Don't Want Her Don't Waste Your Time

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson announced earlier this week that he is filing for divorce from his high school sweetheart and wife of two years, Ashton Wilson. Mrs. Wilson may best be known in pop culture for the "psycho face" that she made following her ecstatic reaction to Wilson receiving the news that he had been drafted.

What is Mr. Wilson leaving behind? Ashton Wilson is the subject of today's Chick Pic.

This is a very nice picture of them. What happens in between nice pictures can often be another story. 1

At least she was a team player. 2

And a selfie taker.... 3

Maybe she is more of a fan of ducks than Seahawks. She's making the face for it. 4

The camera seems to like her. 5

On the other hand...RUN RUSSELL! Run while you can! 6

1) Image from www.becauseiamfabulous.com
2) Image from www.sonsofsamhorn.net
3) Image from www.lipstickalley.com
4, 6) Imagse from www.mofopolitics.com
5) Image from http://es.redskins.com

Insanity

Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the essence of insanity. Five years ago, New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg while carrying an unregistered firearm into a New York City nightclub without a conceal carry permit. New York has the most restrictive and punitive gun laws in America. The end result was Burress spending close to two years in prison for shooting himself.

To quote a famous New York rapper, the late Biggie Smalls, “If you don’t know, now you know.” Anyone not familiar with the semi-Draconian punishments for gun crimes saw first-hand what the consequences are for ignorance and violation of those laws. Gun owners were on notice.

Plaxico Burress circa 2009. Nobody else would follow in his tracks after his ordeal, right? 1

Shame on Ray-Ray

New York Knicks guard Raymond Felton was arrested earlier this week on three felony gun possession charges. Felton allegedly threatened his wife, who he is in the process of divorcing, with a unregistered firearm classified under New York law as an assault rifle with an 18-round capacity magazine. The magazine capacity is over the limit allowed by the law and possession of assault rifles is prohibited. He now stands accused of assaulting someone with this weapon.

Felton is looking at some hard time. I’ve heard talk show hosts say that the situation may not be as serious as the Burress situation because the weapon was not discharged and because it was not brought out in public. However, based on my very limited understanding of New York law, threatening his wife with the gun would constitute a felony under the law and possession of the weapon (which appears to be illegal in and of itself in New York) while committing a felony would trigger some automatic time in prison.

Felton (left) and wife the former Ms. Ariane Raymondo. Things have clearly turned sour in Casa de Felton. 2

Third Time Is a Charm

If you live in New York, you probably would be better served by just getting rid of your gun. Otherwise, have every piece of paperwork under the sun at your disposal. Here is another tip: unless someone is trying to kill you, don’t touch your gun; don’t even think about your gun. The State of New York isn’t “playing” regarding gun possession. 

Athletes, wittingly or not, are role models. Burress and now Felton have set an excellent example to fans (and other pro athletes) of what not to do. They are public examples of how disregard for New York gun laws will ruin your life. I like guns; I own guns. But if I ever lived in New York, I would be gun free. The risks do not outweigh the rewards. If you feel otherwise, please start at the beginning of this posting.

I guess history does repeat itself. Ray, put a suit on the next time you're in court! 3

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls! 

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info. 

1) Image from www.nj.com

2) Image from www.blacksportsonline.com

3) Image from www.nytimes.com

Fast, Furious, and Free!

Scottish IndyCar driver Dario Franchitti and actress Ashley Judd are reportedly getting divorced after 11 years of marriage. Rumors have circulated that Judd, a Kentucky native, may run for the United States Senate now that she is single and free. Congress would become more pleasing to the eye.

While this is sad, it does give the Hat Trick an opportunity to branch into racing, which we rarely discuss. Well...sort of. It does give us a reason to make Ashley Judd the topic of today's Chick Pic!

1

I had no idea that Kentucky had a hockey team. 2

Pretty in pink (and any other color). 3

4

Eat your heart out, Mr. Franchiti; interpret that any way you like. 5

1) Image from www.impulsemagazine.net
2) Image from http://mbd.scout.com
3) Image from www.beermugsports.com
4) Image from www.celebritiesheight.com
5) Image from www.democraticunderground.com

Retweet of the Day - August 23, 2012

Today is Kobe Bryant's 34th birthday. His long time marriage to his wife, Vanessa, has had some very public ups and downs. Today's retweet, from Not Charles Barkley ‏(@NotChuckBarkley) captures the essence of Kobe's often embattled nuptials.


"Happy birthday to that knucklehead, Kobe Bryant. Any gifts that you give him, half of it is goin to Vanessa."

She's holding half of the trophies in this picture, and the bigger one at that!

Image from http://smokingsection.uproxx.com

Unwrapping Kobe's Birthday Gift

As I understand, Kobe Bryant, whose 34th birthday is today, and his lovely wife, Vanessa, are attempting a full reconciliation and no longer pursuing a divorce. Most of you old enough to drive are familiar with Kobe's story. He cheated, got in to a ton of legal trouble because he went "love 'em and leave 'em" on a psychotic (and slutty) teenage girl, gave his wife 4 million reasons to show how sorry he was, and then she recently filed for divorce anyway.

Kobe's marriage has enough twists and turns to make my head spin. His wife has curves nice enough to make any red blooded man's head spin. Vanessa Bryant is the subject of today's Chick Pic.

I didn't know Mrs. Bryant was so in touch with nature.

More greenery.... 2

She knows that Kobe has her back. 3





Happy birthday and good luck, Black Mamba! Try to keep the "little mamba" in its cage, alright? 5

1) Image from www.celestonnews.com
2) Image from www.clutchmagonline.com
3) Image from http://sports.popcrunch.com
5) Image from www.insidehoops.com