Hockey fans flex their pathetically low IQs with furor over Tiger Woods' supposed Stanley Cup Finals slight
Add commentsHockey fans like to think they understand the joys of a game that no one else can get, when in reality they’re mostly just dumber than a box of rocks. Put your average hockey fan in front of a test pattern and he’d get a kick out of that too. Who do you think watches Two and a Half Men anyway?
So it’s really no surprise that hockey’s savants have gotten their missing teeth in a bunch over Tiger Woods’ supposed slight of the Stanley Cup Finals.
I say supposed because I was on the PGA Championship media day conference call where many Internet sites have Tiger going medieval on hockey and in reality the comments were so benign that it’s hard to believe anyone has gotten worked up over them. Until you remember we’re talking hockey fans.
When Tiger wants to rip on a loser sport, he really rips on it. See his hilarious soccer riff.
What happened on the PGA Championship call was more of an off-handed observation.
The call’s moderator tried to do that seemingly mandatory appeal-to-the-locals bit by asking Tiger, “Detroit or Pittsburgh tonight? In the Stanley Cup Finals.” (The Stanley Cup Finals appeared to be added on the good chance that Tiger would have no clue what the heck this guy was talking about).
“That’s good,” Woods said after a long, long pause, one in which he probably thought to himself, did this guy just ask me about freaking hockey? “I don’t really care. I follow the Dodgers.”
Then the PGA of America communications guru broke in with, “Poltically correct as always …”
Which caused Tiger to rightly point out that he wasn’t being poltically correct just honest. “I don’t think anybody really watches hockey anymore,” Woods said, though when I heard it live, I thought he said “I don’t really watch hockey anymore,” but I obviously wasn’t paying close enough attention to possible Canadian slights.
For the resulting transcript triggered stories in every Canadian newspaper you can think of. Hockey fans are actually getting indignant that a golfer took a supposed swipe at their beloved snooze-a-thon.
To which I say … step away from the coloring books.
Yes, hockey had a good ratings number (for it, David Stern would lock himself in a room and fire two dozen interns if his finals every drew just a 4.3) off last night’s endless Game 5. But often it’s around a 1.0.
It’s not like an LPGA star - which collects ratings hockey can usually relate to and sometimes even make fun of - dissed hockey. This is Tiger Woods, someone with a proven track record of drawing viewers. If he wants to point out the truth, I say swing away.
Comment feed for this post
The Accidental Golfer:
Brandon Tucker:
Mark Nessmith:
Jason Scott Deegan:
Instead, I'll just leave a link to a sweet glove save I made in college. Tell me this isn't beautiful, Baldwin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf8Ege8hzf8#GU5U2spHI_4
hockey is SO much better than golf and i bet if u put any major golf fan in front of u and they r probably the most boring and un human people on the planet.
I would rather watch the pain olympics or two girls one cup rather than a golf game
wow ur stupid
Signed,
A hockey fan who;
-has all of her teeth
-thinks the real box of rocks is sitting on top of your shoulders and neck
-doesn't even need to finish her undergrad in Psychology to determine that you clearly weren't loved enough as a child and are screaming for attention
You're pathetic.
You sound like a shrill little man, beaten by bullies of some sort for most of your life. Hence the reason you attack anything with the hint of Alph-male involved.
Your defense of Tiger Woods is laughable at best. He said what he said, so why sugar coat.
Good luck with the golf bloging, I'm sure it's paying the bills by the looks of this place. Enjoy your 15 seconds.
Admittedly, I watch the Masters on TV because I LOVE the course and would give anything to play there some day, but that's about it. Also, if given the choice, I'll take my Synergy and Vapor skates and head to the rink anyday of the week over my golf clubs. Golfers who haven't played hockey (I'm assuming Mr. Woods hasn't) just can't even fathom how much more demanding hockey is and the rush you get when playing it. While I recognize that Woods is in phenomenal shape, he will never experience how hard it is to go through an 82 game season in the league we call the NHL.
I respect woods and everything he has accomplished.. He's going to go down as an all-time great, but he's way off base here. He should go to an NHL game before he throws out unsupported statements like "I don't think anyone watches hockey anymore." Or Mr Woods could simply look at the ratings for last night's game.
Quite simply, this is one of the worst written articles I've ever seen. Just glancing at Mr Baldwin, it's easy to see he wouldnt last 5 minutes in a hockey game. Nice try sir.
Have you ever played hockey? If the answer is yes, then I am going to go ahead and assume that your bell was rung one too many times and thus caused you to write this pathetic excuse for an article. If the answer is no, which it most likely is, then I am going to attribute your lack of respect for the world's most difficult game to the fact that you are closed minded and, as others called you, elitist. First off, golf, like tennis (where tiger supports his boy roger) are strictly individual sports. Sure, individual sports take hard work, but to work as a team is something entirely different in and of itself. In individual sports, there are no egos to suppress and it is not necessary to create any sort of chemistry outside of individual and MAYBE his coach/caddy. Even at that, the individual can easily just fire his coach/caddy whenever it pleases him. Second, where does one like yourself come off talking about HOCKEY as BORING? This is a game that takes all of the athleticism necessary to play every other sport (hand eye coordination, speed, size, toughness, agility) and PUTS IT ON ICE, where an entirely different skill set is needed. I play D2 hockey in college (fairly high level) and I am a 4 handicap. I love both sports, but to be honest, golf should not be mentioned in the same athletic sentence as hockey.
If you get to the Detroit area to cover the PGA tournament at Oakland Hills this year, be sure to look up a club member there named Steve Yzerman and let him know your thoughts on hockey fans.
Regards,
Pavlov
I have all my teeth. I have a college degree, plus graduate work. I know how to spell desoxyribonucleicacid, otherwise known as DNA. Of which you are obviously lacking some chromosomes.
I have no idea what Tiger said about hockey, but he's entitled to express his thoughts any way he wants to, especially if asked. I sincerely and fervently doubt that he's watched enough of it to know what the hell's he's talking about, though.
But you, sir, are an over-simplifying, self-serving, shallow, provincial cretin if you think watching golf on TV takes more brain cells than watching hockey.
This may come as a shock to you, but then again you'll never bother to check it out anyway...but hockey is no longer the knock-down drag-out sport it used to be. More and more, it's a game of finesse, power and grace, puck possession and positioning.
But you probably couldn't follow the puck anyway, because you would of course, make the choice to listen to golf announcers drone on about the wind conditions, back swing problems, and the height of the grass.
You and your verbal posturing are nothing but laughable.
PS - One of my clients is the president of the hair club for men - do you want me to put him in touch with you? (I AM SAYING YOU ARE BALD)
PPS - Please don't ever confuse yourself into thinking Golf is a sport - it is a geriatric game - always was - always will be.
You are a pompous idiot who knows nothing about hockey or the people who enjoy the game- So what if hockey fans dont appreciate Tiger's comments? It doesnt show a lack of IQ, in fact, it shows that fans love their sport. Enjoy the attention Mr. Baldy.
You desperately need it. A word of advice, from a golf fan, try to write something a tad more meaningful, you might get more fulfillment out of your pathetic excuse for a job.
You are an idiot.
Love,
Chris @ The Resting Bird
Your Untruly,
Dom from My Too Sense
I wrote this tidbit on my blog, about an idiot who writes from travelgolf.com ... Oh wait, that's you.
http://www.therestingbird.org/?p=24
You rock man. You are awesome. Keep telling yourself that.
skill and athletic ability to play hockey than it does to whack a ball with a stick. Not to mention the mental and physical ability to play three 20 minute period followed by two and half over time periods, like game 5 on Saturday night. I'd love to see you on the ice paisan, looking for your putter.
As for the IQ thing, that's just a lame attempt to rile people up. You succeeded there.
Keep on blogging about a "sport" that real athletes play when they're bored.
So you've proven one thing Mr. BALDwin.. you are a douchebag.
Frist off, Grow some more hair.
Judging by your article, you sound like you re in the 60-70 range. A hockey fan with a lower IQ than you is a rare breed my balding isecure friend. You re a lost cause bud. Good luck.
Obviously research is not a pre-req in golf reporting. Rating are much higher then you indicated showing you lack of investigative reporting (1.0)? I could go on about golf's problems or your's as a writer but hey I am far too stupid right?
You seem to have no respect for one of the oldest leagues North America and you "assumption" make you look like a hack.
But you should have no worries, no one watches/reads about golf anymore.
Every person reading this blog is now dumber for having read it
I hope you make a trip north of the border and say that. You moron.
The average joe only watches golf because of Tiger, that's it! When there is nothing else to do on a Sunday afternoon why not watch a bit of golf... no.... Tiger. He is the only top player in the world that is actually fit, what does that say about your sport.
To see a top flight athelete take a shot at a sport while they are in the biggest moment in a decade shows no class. I'll admit the popularity of hockey is at a low in the USA but this is the dream matchup in the Finals. The NHL is looking at this to spark interest and it has done that. Tiger can think whatever he wants but to take a swipe at hockey in a pivitol moment is ridiculous.
And who are you to call hockey fans dumb? That's basically taking a shot at Canadians in general... IDIOT!!!
F.Y.I. "Poltically" should be spelled "Politically"
Shhh......be quiet.....the vaunted "athlete" Tiger needs to concentrate....please.
And, as a pair of golf fans, let's not kid ourselves. Were it not for the very man that uttered these words the PGA would barely be outdrawing hockey audiences, and only for majors. If you are too dim-witted to follow why don't you take a gander at television ratings for any tournament where Tiger falls from contention. I can tell you without watching the tournament and by looking at the ratings alone when Tiger played and how well he did, you will see decent ratings to start, but the very second Tiger is not going to win the ratings plummet to near-abysmal levels.
So thanks for reminding us all that in the world of new media it requires neither journalistic prowess nor the slightest understanding of tact or professionalism to get your putrid works published.
men is skirts.
nuff said
Second of all, to the posters who made comments completely living up to the stereotype, congratulations on your inability to grasp basic arguments. Calling someone a sissy is not advanced argumentation, no matter what the schoolyard taught you.
Third, Mr. Baldwin, you are WAY offbase about hockey. I was never very athletic and given that I have a body that would make Hal Sparks look like Andre the Giant, there was never really much hope for me to ever play, although I do play the odd game of road hockey with friends.
What makes golf great is its accessibility, it shouldn't be knocked for this. But at the same time, it's worth noting (as many posters here already have) that golf is a "sport" that other athletes play when their seasons end. Why is this?
Well, quite frankly, it's because golf isn't physically demanding enough to require an offseason. And that's coming from someone who enjoys playing it and even watching it from time-to-time. Golf is about precision more than it is athleticism. That doesn't make it bad (like a lot of neo-macho posters here are trying to make it out to be) but it definitely makes it more "game" than "sport," especially when compared to hockey.
If you want to talk low IQ, Mr. Baldwin, let's return to you. I hate to be the bearer of bad news for you. Coming from someone who's watched both sports, hockey DOES possess complexity, far more than golf does. It's a team game that encompasses a variety of physical qualities-- balance, toughness, size, speed, dexterity-- while also incorporating a variety x's and o's-- special teams, linematching and different philosophical approaches ranging from wide-open hockey to the trap. Not to argue golf isn't complex-- in fact, it possesses a great many subtleties in its own right-- but you sound like a sad man who doesn't want to admit that sports he dislikes could somehow be more athletic or complex than the one he loves. Sad indeed.
Oh, and by the way, if you measure "loser sport" by acceptance, then labelling the most popular sport in the world (soccer) one reeks of either ignorance or bullheaded "only the sports that Americans find popular counts" thinking. I don't watch soccer much either, but I'd be the last to call it a loser sport when millions upon millions upon millions upon millions more watch that over either golf or hockey.
Please.....You need to be athletic to play hockey, I would not expect a golfer to like or understand hockey.
If you honestly think that golf is a more worthwhile or healthy activity than hockey, then, I encourage you to visit a doctor who is willing to remove your head from your ass. I would continue to spell out your failure as a human being, but I sincerely doubt you can actually read. On the off chance I am wrong and you do know that t makes the "ta" sound, I will leave you with one piece of advice I encourage you to live by: rededicate your life back trying to reclaim your anal virginity because writing just isn't working.
You want to talk about being "dumber than a box of rocks"? GOTTEN is not a word.
2008-06-04 @ 11:31
Uh, actually, J, it is. It is a past participle of "get." E.G., "Baldwin had gotten rid of most of his hair, and brain cells, by beating himself over the head with a nine iron."
Journalists don't write things like that. You must be a blogger. Anyway, since I'm an engineer (not the train kind) and a hockey fan, I think my IQ is fine where its at.
Usually when a comment by a "journalist" denigrates a group of persons based on a common background that calls for an apology of some sort. This not being journalism though and being just another blog, it has a lower standard. It is such low quality though and probably best ignored.
At least there is the disclaimer:
"Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management."
Management should get a classier writer.
I take some offense to your rather prolonged bashing of hockey fans as uneducated. I grew up playing, watching and loving hockey. You want to compare educations? I have a BS and MS from Johns Hopkins, and am currently a medical student. You want to throw down and compare SAT scores or IQ tests or some other mundane 'intelligence' tests? Or do you just want to talk about the intellectual difficulty of 'trying to get a ball in a hole in under three hits.'
Oh, and I used to write articles for newspapers in San Francisco, none of which resorted to bashing to draw attention. Cool.
Back to studying for my finals, which im sure my hockey-loving uneducated self will fail.
what a waste of digital space.
I'd rather watch Alex Ovechkin take a nap, than watch golf.
"Put your average hockey fan in front of a test pattern and he’d get a kick out of that too."
Journalists don't write things like that. You must be a blogger.
----
Actually Lorne, even halfway decent bloggers don't write that sort of blindly generalizing insult. But I suppose nobody accused Baldwin of being halfway decent.
Baldie's man-crush on Tiger is so apparent it's a bit awkward to read his post. Regardless, yes, the question was a non sequitur that threw Woods off for a second, though it's a pretty common question asked of other athletes during championships/playoffs (e.g., Final Four).
Woods' comment, while stupid and going for the cheap laugh (something, one would think, is below the Great and Powerful Woods), wasn't a big deal but was pretty stupid. Perhaps Woods was too enthralled by a test pattern one one of the cameras for his brain to function properly. That sure seems the case with Baldwin.
What a "great" article by a butthead who plays
golf -- the most boring game in the world next
to baseball. As you "putter patter" around
the golf course, why don't you take your irons
and shove them up where the sun don't shine?
As a matter of fact, don't take just the irons,
take your (Tiger) woods as well. Maybe he can
sink your hole in one!
Your ignorance is outstanding, and yet you preach a sermon on how hockey fans have supposedly low IQs.
I find myself staring at this screen, struggling to find a way to express how truly disgusted I am after reading this pitifully embarrassing excuse for a sports article. I mean, I can understand this headline coming from either a 12 year old or a dim-witted internet trolling blog commenter. However, you are a hired "journalist" (I apologize to all genuine sports writers for using that term so loosely). The fact that you use such an absurd generalization as the premise of your article is an insult to your profession.
This also speaks volumes about TravelGolf.com. Is there not someone who proofreads articles for, say, purpose, insight, or coherence? Are they that desperate for writers?
Regardless, you should be ashamed and abashed. Good luck in the future with your desperate attempts for attention.
Congratulations to the Detroit Red Wings on a classy run to The Cup.
I went ahead and sent a message through the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the site. I encourage other readers to do the same if they don't want garbage like this to appear on the blog.
Alex USMC 1969-73
i'm sorry that you don't have a life. i'm sorry that you turned out the way you did. but don't blame the rest of the world for your idiocy. this is one of the more brutal blogs i've read over the last number of years. what are your credentials?
Bloggers often use this strategy. Say outlandish things to rile people up, get the link sent around and generate massive hits for their employers via hate. Nice "original" strategy Chris.
What you failed to consider was that tomorrow no one will give a $h!t about you any more and you'll be right back at your crappy blogging job. Thats your job!?! I can't believe you get paid to blog on MySpace and generate hate to make money. You know who else generated hate to make money? Thats right... Hitler.
You must've been hating life when you had to cover the Stanley Cup huh? Did some mean Canadian give you a wedgie? Awwww poor baby, now that you're all big and grown up you have to use the tiny bit of talent you do contain to try and make them feel bad? Awwwww, somebody needs a huge.
Poorly conceived, very amateurish. Looks as though you are attemptng to mimmick the writing style of other much more accomplished writers. You missed the mark on just about every level. In the future you need to understand the underlying importance of a storyline -and get accurate supporting numbers and facts- as opposed to writing to simply get a response. If your article was submitted in journalism or cre-comm class I'm afraid it would rate an F.
Insulting a group of people probably won't get you very far unless of course you have mastered the art see; Don Rickles. Sports writers, especially golf writers are not all that worldly and probably can't carry an audience for any length of time. Only exception is David Feherty, but then again in every sport there are stars; and there are lots of them in hockey. Check it out.
Or my personal favorite, the puck losers who give their academic credentials and write things like "I graduated from university", like it's the most amazing accomplishment in the world. Which, come to think of it, it is if you're a hockey nut.
There's been no need to respond. These comments are an endless, entertaining thread proving my point. To love hockey you have to be dumber than a box of rocks.
I probably should apologize to rocks everywhere.
Nice look lol!
Apparently this is the only way you can get people to read your columns. That's too bad.
Maybe if you actually learned how to play the game of senior citizens and overweight duffers, you could drop a few playing hints and get an audience.