Heard from a few friends from Michigan who attended the U.S. Open how heavy handed the security was at Winged Foot. One of them - a grandfather who looks like a kindly grandfather complete with the gray hair, gray mustache and easy smile - recounted how a security lady stalked over and scolded him for not having his ticket badge “displayed properly.”
He had the badge around his neck. The wind blew it around, so it was backside up.
When he flipped it over and asked if he was in compliance now, the guard shot back something along the lines of, “You could be.” Then, she marched off, no doubt to keep the public safe from another 60-year-old in shorts.
There were so many rent-a-cops, real cops and Homeland Security types at Winged Foot that they made Phil Mickelson’s fan army look small by comparison. Meanwhile, the nearby ports, nuclear power plants and chemical factories galore had their usual tiny details - at best (how much do you want to bet some of those guys made it over to Winged Foot?)
Ah, you have to love the great terrorist fighting logic of it all.
Where’s al Qaeda going to strike? Surely, the spread out golf tournament in the middle of the outdoors with a bunch of corporate fat cats drinking out of plastic cups. Bin Laden was really pissed that Tiger Woods missed the cut.
Have to love that New York metro area logic. Having covered hundreds of games there in the first few years after Sept. 11, I was always struck by the misplaced priorities.
Snipers on the roofs of nearby buildings when Bush is throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium in a World Series game right after 9-11? Sure, definitely needed. But more state troopers than fans at some New Jersey Nets games? Now, there’s thinking.
I know the notoriously hotheaded Colin Montgomerie reportedly bumped into a state trooper after his final hole cough up and had some words. But this is one time I’ll give Monty the benefit of the doubt. There were so many guys in uniform at Winged Foot, it’s a wonder more players didn’t trip over them.
Really, how did one of Phil’s drives not bounce off a cop’s hat? They hit everything else.
The only surprise is that security lady didn’t frisk the 3-year-old that was with those two grandparent types from Michigan.
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Jason Scott Deegan:
The Accidental Golfer:
Katharine Dyson:
Kiel Christianson:
There are around 40,000 suicide bombers who joined a movement in Iran against the West. Young or old men and women included in the mix. If you extract 98 percent who might not follow thru with the act that still leaves over a thousand who will. Do you know where these zealots are Chris?
When Security Personnel are doing their job, I simply look them in the eye and say thank you to show some respect for their effort on our behalf. I respect people who place themselves in harms way to keep our families safe.
The main reason we haven't been hit again is the security wall we put up around large public venues since 9/11. It is not, as you may believe Chris, because of a lack of desire on the Islamists part. The Intel proves otherwise I can assure you.
Stick to Golf blogging and leave Security for Americans to the professionals.
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they didn't succeed however in making Phil's man boobs look small.
But take a look at what goes on daily in the Middle East. These terrorists bomb crowded outdoor places where people gather, they bomb buses and train stations. Similar to what nearly every fan at the US Open had to experience.
Take the government to task for their lack of security at the other places you mentioned, but lay off their effort to keep a high profile and globally televised event safe for the people who were in attendance.
I see your still at it....we already know that you don't know anything about sports,especially golf and now you're trying to be an expert on security...please give us a break!!! you must have been dropped on your head a lot as a baby or else you went to night school with the lights out because you really don;t have a clue about what you're supposed to be doing!!!!
eb3
Without mentioned Wie's name, you have nothing to write about.