Yes, yes, yes I already know what you are going to say... "Head Nut, you are getting mighty cynical lately!"

As true as that may be, and we'll discuss that another day, this is really dumb. I was thumbing through a "junk mail" catalog yesterday. We seem to get way more than our share of these and I seem to "thumb through" a lot of them...even the non-golf ones. I will admit that Victoria's Secret is an eye-popper but I do digress. This particular catalog had nothing remarkable to offer. Just as I was about to toss it, I found the following monument to dumb stuff...

 I know that the copy with the picture is hard to read so I'll help you out... For the low, low price of $29.50 (Was $39.50) you can practice your golf swing with an instrument that accomodates a tennis ball, is shaped like a driver and is to be used to play "fetch" with Fido! Is it just me or is this contraption the sure way to teach yourself a hook?

Head Nut #0001

Well now… It seems that I struck a nerve or two with my comments about “The Haney Project” on The Golf Channel. So, in fairness, I watched it again this morning. The Golf Channel makes it easy to do that since their content repeats within 12 hours or less and often back-to-back. Case in point; “Golf Central” is a half-hour show that runs 3 consecutive times most mornings.

In my second viewing of episode #1, I did realize that I had been a little hard on Charles Barkley. The truth is that he doesn’t actually speak “painfully slow.” Barkley just speaks with a unique pattern that makes him seem slow (no pun intended.) Otherwise, there was little else I would change about yesterday’s blog.

I do feel compelled to explain the undercurrent of disdain for The Golf Channel that must have been evident in my musing. I’ve been a viewer, if not a fan, since the network began in 1995. Lately the content is extremely unappealing (with a few bright spots.) The decision making on programming, content concepts, talent has been pretty lame. Sure, the live (and not so live…see repeated every 12 hours or less) and expanded broadcasts of the PGA Tour have increased and that’s nice…nice but not nearly enough.

Here are just a few of my personal “beefs” with The Golf Channel:

The 50^th Anniversary Bob Hope Chrysler Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer was wire-to-wire coverage by The Golf Channel. There were monster possibilities for some amazing stories and great content. The coverage was OK but the entire week ended with a resounding “THUD.” Shortly after Pat Perez drained his eagle putt on the 72^nd hole (oh yeah…an eagle, when a par would win the tournament… that boy’s got big stones) and raised his arms in his first victory, The Golf Channel cut away to Kelly “…hang him in an alley” Tillghman and about 5 minutes of meaningless banter. OK, no problem, the network needs to fill time so the Player can take care of business at the scorer’s trailer as arrangements are made for Mr. Palmer to present the winner’s trophy. Surely, after the commercial break, viewers would be taken back to the Hope to watch the King present the trophy. Nope! The Golf Channel went directly to coverage of the Champions Tour. Come on, would it have been a problem for anyone if we missed seeing Jeff Sluman making a routine par on an easy par-4?  Sluman…Palmer, Sluman…Palmer, amazing, and Rodney Dangerfield believed that HE got no respect!

Can you see why I may be a bit Harsh?

Then we have the “talent” on The Golf Channel. A quick recap; Rich Lerner is so incredibly full of himself that he leaves little room for anyone else on the small screen. Kelly Tilghman READS WELL but the last original thought she conceived was so awful that it almost got her fired! Frank Nobilo somehow just makes it hard to like him and I really don’t know why.  The talent isn’t ALL bad, Stephanie Parks HAS GAME and, when allowed to be spontaneous she is stellar. Oh, wait a minute; is she even on The Golf Channel anymore? Brandel Chamblee is by far the most entertaining, insightful, informative and easily understood of the bunch. There are some other bright spots as well but mostly the “talent” is pretty vanilla.

Not an inspiring bunch overall. But here’s where my shorts knot up…the “entertainment” programming.

In the interest of time, mine and yours, I’m only going to talk about the worst show EVER… it is called “The Approach.” In this ridiculous program PGA Tour journeyman, Andrew Magee and some guy named Alex Miceli, argue various golf questions. The answers to these questions are either “solid” or “Shank”… how very cute, huh? The host is Kraig Kann, and the “match” is decided by whomever good old Kraig agrees with on the subject. That’s right, this dude Kraig Kann, who has hosted almost every show aired on The Golf Channel since 1995, decides who answers correctly. Why does HE get to decide? What’s his handicap anyway? Why not let golfers decide? Maybe an “expert panel” that has been pre-surveyed could determine who is right? You know, like “Family Feud” except about golf! “And the survey says…” Honestly, I’d rather swing by my local muni and get into a debate with a bartender, an Assistant Pro and a 16-Handicap dentist!!!

There you have it, my explanation. Thanks for all the calls, e-mails and instant-messages, they were way more entertaining than “The Haney Project.” Please…keep ‘em coming!

Head Nut #0001

I tried to look away. Watching was painful but I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. It seemed impossible. Nothing could be worse than the disaster on the screen. It scared me. It shocked me. It nearly made me physically ill. "It" was CHARLES BARKLEY'S GOLF SWING!

Honestly, The Golf Channel has, once again, over-hyped a mediocre show. "The Hank Haney Project" premiered last night after weeks of lead-in, hype and window dressing. Candidly, I was not surprised to be disappointed. For those of you who long ago gave up on The Golf Channel, the "project" in this new SIX MONTH LONG series is the horrific golf swing of retired NBA Superstar Charles Barkley. The premise is to take one of the best and currently one of the most famous, swing instructors, Hank Haney, and have him "fix" the most broken swing in golf, Sir Charles.

Before I pass judgment on the entire series I feel the need to be fair... last night was the first episode, so I guess I could allow a mulligan. The trouble I'm having is that the first show is just as exciting, innovative and compelling as a manual typewriter. How many times can one watch Charles Barkley make the same three or four swings, which were the examples of the "before" level of Barkley's game? The answer isn't clear to me because I'm still counting the number of times the Golf Channel has used those same swings...over and over and over and over. Making matters worse, the show "Golf's Amazing Videos" uses one of the same clips, please...shoot something NEW! Barkley, as the subject, doesn't really inspire one to keep watching. He speaks painfully slow and often comments from three-point range when he should be slam dunking. I really wish the producers gave we viewers a reason to root for the underdog but they didn't. Maybe Charles Barkley just doesn't inspire us to hope, or even care, if he fixes his swing.  

Admittedly, Hank Haney had some interesting moments... there were just too few of them. Most of the time viewers got to watch Haney roll his eyes, furrow his brow or laugh out loud. I could only guess that Haney's contract was specific that he would be the "striaght-man" to Barkley. It is a given that Haney knows his stuff. He coaches the #1 Golfer on the planet. So, let him show the world how he does it! More Haney and less Charles would be pleasant. Perhaps the next shows will improve? 

I intend to try to watch next week's episode. The badness of the show isn't Haney's fault. The badness of the show certainly isn't Barkley's fault. Anyone who would endure his painfully awful swing for as long as he has must be mentally strong. Allowing the entire world to watch the game of golf bring Barkley to his knees and then be "saved" by Haney might have seemed like heady stuff in the boardroom. The first episode only left me sitting in the "bored" room.

Mulligan granted... reluctantly.

Head Nut #0001

YECH!

Since I returned from the Golf Channel "Duel In The Desert," which was actually over a week ago, I've been really negligent about posting to my blog and updating www.golfnuts.com. I'm going to blame the cold, wet, miserable weather here in Vegas for being such a "slug." The worst part is that I've got so much to tell you all about.

The last part of my blog was about the 50th Anniversary of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic! Since then, I've journeyed to Florida and visited the Villages, a HUGE retirement Community North of Orlando. I attended the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, where I found the good...the bad...and the UGLY of what's new in golf for 2009. Then I jammed to Sarasota, Florida and played in the Jim McMahon Swang N Super Bowl Bash! This was a particularly inspiring experience, not to mention tons of fun!

Even since my return from Mesquite, Nevada and the "Duel," I've had some incredible experiences that I really want to tell you. Call me lazy, unmotivated or it could be the dang flu (which I brought home with me from Mesquite and managed to spread around my entire family) whatever it is...I'm ok now and over the next few days I will bring you up-to-speed on everything...including announcing The 2008 Golf Nut of the Year and the details for the 2008 Golf Nut of the Year Cup!

Right now, however, I'm wrapping up in a warm blanket by the fire and I'm going to read awhile!

Until Tomorrow...

The Head Nut #0001