Monday, June 18, 2007
Kevin's Blog: Pavano and Mickelson
Phil Mickelson is out (of the Traveler's Championship) . Carl Pavano is in, with me. Lefty has a bad wrist. The Yankees righty has a bad elbow. But the pride of Southington replaces Mickelson, at least this week, as my "good guy" athlete of the week.
I met Carl Pavano Saturday night at Rentschler Field at the Fourth Annual Arthritis Foundation Randy Edsall Gridiron Gala. Carl could have been anywhere Saturday, but chose to help his old friend Scott Lebonte and a great cause. Carl could not have been any nicer.
Most of his injury problems have been out of his control. He was wearing a brace for his right elbow. Tommy John surgery will keep him out until 2009. But he will still be paid the 4 year 40 million jackpot deal he signed with the Yankees. When I told him I felt bad about the injury, he said not to feel sorry for him....that he was lucky. Yes, that is how he should feel. But how many athletes would have had that perspective?
Carl has been under the microscope in New York. And I'm sure, an evening out in Connecticut, made him feel that the world was no longer closing in on him. It was a reminder to me, that for all the money, all the fame and everything else in pro sports, guys like Carl Pavano are still in more ways than you think, just like you and me.
It's that approachable personality, plus a left handed swing that I can only dream of, that has always drawn me to Phil Mickelson. So, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed that he won't be playing in Cromwell this week. But I am not at all surprised.
You could see how much his wrist affected his game at the U.S. Open. Mickelson withdrawing today hurts the Traveler's Championship. Period. You can't spin it any other way. Phil Mickelson is that big a draw.
Fortunately, the field still includes Masters Champ Zach Johnson, Vijay Singh, Paddy Harrington, David Thoms, JJ Henry and more. So it will still be a great week.
My only hope is that I come away with the same good feelings about the PGA guys at the TPC at River Highlands this week as I did about Carl Pavano. A bad stint with the Yankees doesn't make Carl Pavano a bad guy.
I met Carl Pavano Saturday night at Rentschler Field at the Fourth Annual Arthritis Foundation Randy Edsall Gridiron Gala. Carl could have been anywhere Saturday, but chose to help his old friend Scott Lebonte and a great cause. Carl could not have been any nicer.
Most of his injury problems have been out of his control. He was wearing a brace for his right elbow. Tommy John surgery will keep him out until 2009. But he will still be paid the 4 year 40 million jackpot deal he signed with the Yankees. When I told him I felt bad about the injury, he said not to feel sorry for him....that he was lucky. Yes, that is how he should feel. But how many athletes would have had that perspective?
Carl has been under the microscope in New York. And I'm sure, an evening out in Connecticut, made him feel that the world was no longer closing in on him. It was a reminder to me, that for all the money, all the fame and everything else in pro sports, guys like Carl Pavano are still in more ways than you think, just like you and me.
It's that approachable personality, plus a left handed swing that I can only dream of, that has always drawn me to Phil Mickelson. So, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed that he won't be playing in Cromwell this week. But I am not at all surprised.
You could see how much his wrist affected his game at the U.S. Open. Mickelson withdrawing today hurts the Traveler's Championship. Period. You can't spin it any other way. Phil Mickelson is that big a draw.
Fortunately, the field still includes Masters Champ Zach Johnson, Vijay Singh, Paddy Harrington, David Thoms, JJ Henry and more. So it will still be a great week.
My only hope is that I come away with the same good feelings about the PGA guys at the TPC at River Highlands this week as I did about Carl Pavano. A bad stint with the Yankees doesn't make Carl Pavano a bad guy.
Posted at 8:23 PM by kevin
1 Comments:
Did you see this?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=pavano
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