BILL’S IRELAND OBSERVATIONS
It's Saturday night and the USA is heading into tomorrow's singles
matches facing a 10-6 deficit. It will take a herculean effort to bring
the cup back to the states because a 9-point day is unlikely given the
way the top US players have been performing. In fact, if someone could
please put out a missing person's report perhaps we could locate the
Mickelson/DiMarco team. They have been invisible during these matches,
while Sergio and Darren Clarke have been routing opponents with great
regularity.
Aside
from the golf - and who knows? Perhaps that memorable Brookline
comeback can be matched tomorrow - this part of the world is absoutely
stunning. Below you find a list of observations and ramblings I shared
on the air during the season finale of MGL Radio earlier today.
10) Of all the places in the world to enact this rule, would
you believe the pubs and restaurants have gone totally smoke-free, with instant
$3,000 Euro fines against the establishment for a first offense? See, Michigan?
It CAN be done!
9) On your first trip to Europe, do not attempt to drive. It
will ruin your day and may take your life. Hire a driver, budget for taxis, buy
good walking shoes – whatever it takes. Let someone else do the driving.
8) A bit of media “insider” insight. In every press box in
America rules are posted that forbid cheering of any sort among the media,
under threat of having your credentials revoked. Not so in Europe – as
demonstrated by a rousing cheer that rose from the home press corps when Monty
drilled a big putt yesterday. I like it! Anything that can remove the sterile,
lifeless atmosphere of a major media center is welcome to this boy who still
thinks it’s OK to enjoy competition, even when covering it is part of a job.
7) I’ve never seen anywhere in the world where the weather
is cartoonishly changing. From bright sunlight to intense rain, and back again
within a span of 40 seconds is not at all unusual. You think Michigan weather
is fickle? Welcome to Dublin!
6) For all of his talent and competitive skills, this
setting brings out the most annoying tendencies and traits of Sergio Garcia.
His gestures and enthusiasm are wonderful for Euro fans, but sentiments of
“grow up!” are being shared by many of the Americans here.
5) Life inside Dublin is quaint, but still city-like with
the traffic congestion and grit. But move 30 minutes out to the countryside and
your breath will be taken away like no place I have ever visited. All those
travel videos and movie scenes you remember spring to life right before your
eyes. It’s another reason to hire a drive – so you can take in the scenery,
pull over and take a picture with both camera and mind.
4) The roads here are ridiculous! Your driveway is much
wider and every car that passes on a country road causes passengers to death
grip the seatbelt. Don’t hang your arm out the window because it may be gone at
the next curve. It’s no surprise that Ireland is the 2nd most
dangerous place to drive in a Europe, leading in per capita traffic deaths.
Hey, Ireland – cars are wider now than they were in 1400.
3) If there was one accent I could somehow adopt and call
upon whenever I wanted, it would easily be the lilt of the Irish. Even when
they are upset and trying to win an argument, it sounds pleasant… not that I’ve
been arguing with anyone.
2) Don’t like Johnny Miller? The you’ll love the Euro
broadcasters. I just heard one team refer to Stewart Cink and JJ Henry as
stupid, stupid players because they decided to putt out of order. That comment
was also followed up with “they are in terrible shape both mentally and
physically.” Huh? I didn’t think the pubs opened that early, but somebody has
been enjoying the Guinness at a quite early hour. Speaking of Miller, in the
media center we have access to the raw audio feed from NBC. During a commercial
break, Johnny and Dan Hicks were chatting – while eating chips in my ear! – and
Johnny said “Phil is playing like crap, just like he did at Oakland Hills.”
Don’t know what you’ll hear him say on the air in a few hours – but now you
know Johnny’s unvarnished thoughts.
1) What an amazing way to close out season 7 of MGL!
| 
