Cambrian Ridge a scenic alternative

By Joe McAdory

Got a Robert Trent Jones Trail Card and want to play somewhere other than Grand National? Why not give Cambrian Ridge in Greenville a try? This RTJ course is nothing short of magnificent. It features three nine-hole championship-style layouts (Sherling, Canyon and Loblolly) and another nine-hole par three course.

Here are a couple of pictures from my recent trip.

‘Mentally tough’ Tiger still gets distracted

By Joe McAdory

Just watched the greatest golf tournament I’ve ever seen. Even better than Rick Reilly’s fictional Opelika Classic on the Hooters Tour.

This year’s U.S. Open was truly magical, from the winner on a bum knee, to the other winner who finished second in a playoff. Wow. Great drama. Almost as good as my back-to-back-to-back pars Saturday at Cambrian Ridge.

I understand that Tiger has fantastic mettle and has nerves of steel. To work through the pain over the weekend, he must. Besides, the constant commercials reminding us of how mentally tough Woods is hammers the point home.

But, I wonder, if Tiger is so impossible to distract or so mentally tough, why is he constantly griping at photographers (who must be silent or get kicked out) or angrily mumbling “Woodrow!“ to himself after a bad shot? Even the Snoopy blimp got to him Monday.

Maybe “mentally tough” means the ability to work through adversity. He did that masterfully. But shouldn’t it also apply to the way one initially reacts to adversity?

Yes, Tiger is mentally tough and is the greatest golfer in my lifetime, possibly ever. But if these “mentally tough” commercials keep airing, he needs to chill a bit and have more fun with the game. Then again, whatever he’s doing it’s been working for him. After all, who am I to make suggestions for Tiger? I do a freaky fist-pump after a par.

Boo Rick Reilly

By Joe McAdory

Shame on Rick Reilly.

The former Sports Illustrated columnist who took his incredible skills to ESPN took unnecessary stabs at people, a city and a small golf organization during Thursday evening’s U.S. Open coverage on the total sports network.

In an attempt to bring light-hearted commentary to the table, Reilly should not have poked fun at a first-round leaderboard that contained a handful of unfamiliar names. He suggested such players carry rental bags, then went on to say something like “this is not the Opelika Classic on the Hooters Tour.“ What did Opelika ever do to Reilly? Has he ever been to Grand National? And why bust on players who deserve credit for not only being near the top of the leaderboard, but earned their way into the Open? Give ‘em some props, dude.

And as for the Hooters Tour, which has made a few stops at Auburn Links, it’s pretty darn competitive. The community should be proud to host a professional event. We’ve had the NIKE Tour (now Nationwide) and LPGA Tour make stops at Grand National, not that Reilly made mention of that.

Reilly should keep his commentary tongue-in-cheek, because he’s really talented. But he needs to get off of his pedestal.

Free football camp at Opelika

By Joe McAdory

A handful of NFL and collegiate football stars, each from Opelika, will conduct a free football camp for kids entering the fourth through seventh grades June 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Opelika High School’s football stadium.

Former Opelika High football players Will Herring, Sajason Finley and Tommy Jackson are organizing the day, dubbed the Fourth Annual Back to the Doghouse Camp, which will teach campers a number of football techniques through a variety of drills.

Registration can be done at the Covington Center and Denson Road Recreation Center. Campers will be provided with lunch and t-shirts. Following the camp, the athletes will be available for pictures and autographs.

Herring played defensive back and linebacker at Auburn following his career at Opelika. He is now entering his second season with the Seattle Seahawks. Jackson, a former noseguard at Auburn and Opelika, plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Finley is a former running back at Opelika and Tuskegee.

A handful of other athletes from Opelika are expected to be on hand, including Auburn defensive linemen Zach Clayton and Tez Doolittle, defensive end Melvin Oliver of the San Francisco 49ers, quarterback Jonathan Chandler of Troy and defensive lineman Jacques McKissic of Clemson.

For further information, contact Tommie Agee with the Opelika Recreation Department at 705-5550.

Bowden’s got a new gig

By Joe McAdory

Remember Terry Bowden? You know, that guy who coached football at Auburn from 1993-1998. You know, that guy who is Auburn’s all-time winningest coach by percentage (excluding the ones who coached just one season). You know, the dude who left unceremoniously in the middle of the 1998 season.

Well, it looks like Terry has a new job. Since he didn’t get the gig at West Virginia, he’s become a sports columnist for Yahoo! Hmm… coaches can become columnists, but can columnists become coaches? That ain’t fair. Anyway, here’s Terry’s latest offering, where he talks up salaries, the SEC West and Bear Bryant:

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=tb-secwest061008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns