Straight Outta Miami

As a friend calls him, "living miracle" Erik Compton tied for 25th at the Northern Trust Open this past weekend. He also had the lowest round of the entire tournament on the final day. 64. You want to know how you shoot a 64? 8 birdies and only one bogey. And here I'd just like to break 80. This guy is so awesome. "Inspiring" is about the most mild adjective you could assign to someone who just refuses to give up his dream, while life throws him challenge after challenge. Not pretty awesome. Totally awesome.

Check out his scores here -

http://www.pgatour.com/players/02/44/94/scorecards/2011/r007.html

And the leaderboard here - 

http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r007/index.html

Some of the golfers you may have heard of whom he bested - 

Phil Mickelson

Matt Kuchar

Jim Furyk

Steve Stricker

Trevor Immelman

Stuart Cink

Rickie Fowler

Jeff Overton

Ok, that's enough. You get the point.

Back In Black

I've been wondering if these all-black Heat jerseys that are shown in billboards and on line would become available to buy. They haven't worn them in a game yet, have they? I suppose they're waiting for a special occasion, like the playoffs or, cross your fingers, the finals.

So awesome.

http://www.miamihoopsgear.com/miami/product.asp?s_id=0&prod_name=adidas+Revolution+30+Miami+HEAT+LeBron+James+Adult+Black+and+White+Swingman+Jersey&pf_id=PACIIDCJJEGOBCIL&dept_id=3092&mscssid=P56E92PX9P348MTQMXNXETF4XBFMAX6F

Florida Has a Gator Hunting Season

Too bad they don't mean UF alumni!

Gator huntin' season has officially begun. And to make it even more badass than you would ever imagine, you are not allowed to hunt them with a gun. You have to use a bow and arrow. Or, presumably, your fists.

Read all about it in the Miami Herald.

There Are a Lot Of Good-Looking Squash Players

I can't get enough of this clip -

¡Bienvenidos El-bron!

Open Wide For Some Soccer!!!!

Longest. Match. Ever.

At 59-59, in their fifth set of the first round match at Wimbledon, Isner and Mahut have been at it for 10 hours over the past 2 days. Play has been suspended for a second day due to the fading sunlight. They have both beaten the previous record for most aces in a match, 78, with almost 100 each.

One of the many reasons I love tennis so much is the fact that a match is never over until the last point has been completed. This is the case even if a tie-breaker is played, since you have to win by two points. Even on match point, down 0-6, 0-6, 0-5, Love-40, the match is not over.

These guys are showing incredible (preternatural?) mental and physical fitness. I only hope that the ending is not anti-climactic. Whoever wins is lucky that the match is delayed once again, since he will have a little more recovery time before the following one. I can't imagine one's body performing well after such wear and tear.

In any case, you may watch practically any important sporting event on ESPN3.com these days. Play resumes tomorrow at some point. I can't watch anymore. Let me know how it ends.

That Other Sporting Event Going On This Week

Local Miami hero, Erik Compton, a 30-year-old golfer who has undergone not one, but two heart transplants in his young life, has qualified for the U.S. Open. This year it's being held at Pebble Beach, one of the most beautiful places in the entire world.

Please join me in sending many positive thoughts and prayers, if you are so inclined, his way.

You may read a little bit about him in today's article in the Washington Post.

Nike Soccer Ad

There are several reasons that this ad and the world are totally awesome. Let's watch!

Steeeeee-rike!

This is the coolest thing I've seen a sitting president do. I cannot imagine the pressure he was under in throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game in front of a packed stadium and an entire country watching. At the end of the video, chants of "U-S-A" break out. Best...country...ever.

He's Baaaaack

This commercial is awesome -

Bushball

I was flabbergasted when I heard it myself, and NewsBusters has posted a clip of Kerri Walsh thanking President Bush after she and Misty May won the gold in Beijing. I thought it was awesome and it's nice to see the guy get a little public support.

Tennis on Grass

This is a wonderfully written article in Britain's Daily Telegraph about why tennis is so awesome -

Wimbledon Final: How We Fell in Love with a Beautiful Game

Federer and Nadal are such class acts. I read recently that Nadal had to drop out of the following tournament in which he was expected to play, so he flew to the tournament director to personally apologize for having to sit it out with an injury.

You don't see much of that character in hockey, where cheating and fighting (often among parents at their kids' games) are considered part of the fabric of the sport. In baseball, pitchers often throw pitches at batters heads. You get the idea.

Tennis, anyone?