Today's Big Winner: Adam Scott
"Come on, Aussie!!!"
Adam Scott's 30-foot putt on 18, followed by his justifiable histrionics, was arguably the single-greatest moment in the history of Australian sports -- certainly the single-greatest moment for Americans about Australian sports.
The putt itself didn't win Scott the green jacket -- there was no reason Angel Cabrera couldn't have topped Scott during the playoff holes and totally changed today's narrative.
But the remarkable shot -- and Scott's thrilling primal scream when it went in -- was obviously redemption for Scott's final-round implosion at last year's British Open.
And even bigger, it felt like an exorcism of Greg Norman's epic all-time chokery at the 1987 Masters, which up until last night had been the defining moment of Australian sports in the U.S.
Watching excellence is, by itself, always fun. Watching redemption on multiple levels -- personal, historical, national -- is even more compelling... the most compelling kind of result sports offers.
Perhaps most impressive of all, Scott -- along with Cabrera -- eclipsed the wearying Tiger Woods "drop" sub-plot, a good reminder that the sport at its best is still bigger than its uber-star.
In so many ways, Tiger doesn't make it easy to root for him. In that one thrilling drizzly twilight moment on 18 that re-defined both his career and the sports history of a nation, Adam Scott made it so easy to cheer wildly right along with him.
More of today's big winners:
L.A. Lakers: Without Kobe, beat the Spurs to put themselves one win over the Rockets in the regular-season finale (or a Jazz loss either tonight or Wednesday) from the playoffs.
The Kobe injury was more than tough luck for a gritty star; it robs the NBA Playoffs of its most compelling storyline, other than the Heat somehow choking away a repeat title. (They won't.)
Tweet of the Day: ""Whew!! Well done my dudes. Well done. UNO MAS! #playoffs" (Kobe)
Atlanta Braves: Sweep division-rival Nationals in D.C. for 9th win in a row and clear-cut claim to title of "best team in baseball (so far)." Distant 2nd: Cardinals. (Third: Wait... the Mets?!)
Eddie Jordan: Next coach at Rutgers? Need a clean break from Rice/Pernetti Era, and he provides it.
Trey Burke: Leaving early for the NBA. He should be one of the Top 5 most productive players from this draft class. He is a little small, but clearly can score. (Alex Len? Meh.)
James Harrison: Reportedly close to signing with the Bengals, who have never ever had a problem with erratic personalities.
Football vs. Brain injury: Keep an eye on lawsuit outcomes like this one from Colorado. It's not just the top-down pressure on the NFL, but the grassroots pressure at the high school level.
Wrigley Field: Here's hoping that the team's just-approved $500 million renovation doesn't ruin the quirky rooftop view -- hard to imagine that the new electronic scoreboard won't simultaneously enhance the in-stadium experience while eroding what makes Wrigley amazing.
Guan Tianlang: Entirely remarkable Masters finish when you remember he is only just 14. He was the low amateur for this year's tournament, the youngest player ever to earn that honor.
WNBA: Best draft in league history? Brittney Griner -- the greatest women's college basketball player ever -- will go 1st overall to Phoenix. After that, Chicago and Tulsa will pick Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins and Delaware's Elena Delle Donne, two more legendary college talents.
RIP Frosty Westerling, via SportsOnEarth.com's Chuck Culpepper.
SOURCE : http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/15/masters-adam-scott-angel-cabrera-australia-win/2083625/
"Come on, Aussie!!!"
Adam Scott's 30-foot putt on 18, followed by his justifiable histrionics, was arguably the single-greatest moment in the history of Australian sports -- certainly the single-greatest moment for Americans about Australian sports.
The putt itself didn't win Scott the green jacket -- there was no reason Angel Cabrera couldn't have topped Scott during the playoff holes and totally changed today's narrative.
But the remarkable shot -- and Scott's thrilling primal scream when it went in -- was obviously redemption for Scott's final-round implosion at last year's British Open.
And even bigger, it felt like an exorcism of Greg Norman's epic all-time chokery at the 1987 Masters, which up until last night had been the defining moment of Australian sports in the U.S.
Watching excellence is, by itself, always fun. Watching redemption on multiple levels -- personal, historical, national -- is even more compelling... the most compelling kind of result sports offers.
Perhaps most impressive of all, Scott -- along with Cabrera -- eclipsed the wearying Tiger Woods "drop" sub-plot, a good reminder that the sport at its best is still bigger than its uber-star.
In so many ways, Tiger doesn't make it easy to root for him. In that one thrilling drizzly twilight moment on 18 that re-defined both his career and the sports history of a nation, Adam Scott made it so easy to cheer wildly right along with him.
More of today's big winners:
L.A. Lakers: Without Kobe, beat the Spurs to put themselves one win over the Rockets in the regular-season finale (or a Jazz loss either tonight or Wednesday) from the playoffs.
The Kobe injury was more than tough luck for a gritty star; it robs the NBA Playoffs of its most compelling storyline, other than the Heat somehow choking away a repeat title. (They won't.)
Tweet of the Day: ""Whew!! Well done my dudes. Well done. UNO MAS! #playoffs" (Kobe)
Atlanta Braves: Sweep division-rival Nationals in D.C. for 9th win in a row and clear-cut claim to title of "best team in baseball (so far)." Distant 2nd: Cardinals. (Third: Wait... the Mets?!)
Eddie Jordan: Next coach at Rutgers? Need a clean break from Rice/Pernetti Era, and he provides it.
Trey Burke: Leaving early for the NBA. He should be one of the Top 5 most productive players from this draft class. He is a little small, but clearly can score. (Alex Len? Meh.)
James Harrison: Reportedly close to signing with the Bengals, who have never ever had a problem with erratic personalities.
Football vs. Brain injury: Keep an eye on lawsuit outcomes like this one from Colorado. It's not just the top-down pressure on the NFL, but the grassroots pressure at the high school level.
Wrigley Field: Here's hoping that the team's just-approved $500 million renovation doesn't ruin the quirky rooftop view -- hard to imagine that the new electronic scoreboard won't simultaneously enhance the in-stadium experience while eroding what makes Wrigley amazing.
Guan Tianlang: Entirely remarkable Masters finish when you remember he is only just 14. He was the low amateur for this year's tournament, the youngest player ever to earn that honor.
WNBA: Best draft in league history? Brittney Griner -- the greatest women's college basketball player ever -- will go 1st overall to Phoenix. After that, Chicago and Tulsa will pick Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins and Delaware's Elena Delle Donne, two more legendary college talents.
RIP Frosty Westerling, via SportsOnEarth.com's Chuck Culpepper.
SOURCE : http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/15/masters-adam-scott-angel-cabrera-australia-win/2083625/
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