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A couple of contrasting stories from the sports world that would have been almost incomprehensible about two years ago.
- It was just over two years back that Michael Vick was getting out of prison, disgraced and heavily in debt. He then had to basically grovel to the NFL which dictated that he take a job as the 3rd-string QB w/Philly (and away from possible starting jobs elsewhere) who then proceeded to rarely use him that first year in anything other than 'wildcat' or other novelty-type situations.
- and about that same time, Tiger Woods was in the midst of something like year 12 at the top of the golf rankings - and although he was laid up at the time with an injury there was little hint that his extraordinary run had anything but years left on it.
Now, as of late yesterday/early today, come announcements that:
- Vick has signed a $100 million dollar deal w/the Eagles ($40 mil guaranteed) just a few months after Philly dealt away the supposed heir-apparent to the job leaving essentially no competition on the horizon for him
- and that Tiger, now winless in two seasons and no longer even in the top-30 in the world rankings, has agreed to play in something called the 'Frys.com Open' in northern California next month, saying; "I always enjoy competing in my home state, and this tournament fits my schedule perfectly ... I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends."
Yeah right. Winning Tiger was like the super-model once quoted as saying "I don't get out of bed for less than 20K a day". He wouldn't have anything to do with a tourney that: a) wasn't a major; b) wasn't sponsored by one of his one-time sponsors (Buick, ATT), c) wasn't in his backyard (Palmer's invitational at Bay Hill); or d) had a big enough purse to make it worth traveling to, and he never played anything in the fall season that wasn't a non-tour event (usually overseas) where he could command a huge appearance fee just for teeing it up.
But now he wants us to think he's jetting from Florida to Northern CA in order to play in some low-rent, off-season shindig not because Fred Couples won't pick him for the President's Cup team unless he plays somewhere first or that it'll be a weak field where he'll have a decent chance to make the leader-board, but that it's an enticing field at a good locale. Not buying it dude.
These two guys were at the virtual opposite ends of the sports spectrum two years back. How quickly and radically things change.
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