Phil the Thrill Shows Good Sportsmanship

If I may take a break from my constant criticizing of today's media...

A minor story, but I liked it... (and in future I'll endeavor to share more of these stories, as a counterpoint).

Phil Mickelson was partnered with Scott Verplank at the Houston Open today. Phil wears metal spikes, which leave holes in the greens.

So, on the 16th or 17th hole, both his ball and Verplank's ball are very close to each other. Verplank has picked up his ball and put down a marker. Phil because he hits left handed, would have had to stand close to Verplank's marker and might accidently touch it.

So he called Scott over, and according to the announcers, at least, suggested that Scott go first. But Scott, being right handed, would have had to stand near Phil's marker, so he told Phil to go first.

So Phil stands there, and he actually shifts his feet to an akward stance to make sure he didn't knock Scott's marker.

The announcers were quite impressed with his good sportsmanship.

Of course, Phil might have thought he'd get a penalty if he disturbed Scott's marker, and was careful on that account, but I prefer to believe he did it because he's an inherently nice guy!

And even as I type this, I'm watching the news coverage of the animals in Afghanistan, burning Bibles I assume and beating on effigies...all thanks to that idiot priest in Florida who just had to not only burn a Koran but also broadcast it with Arabic subtitels to the Middle East!

A lot of people have died because of that. Yeah - the Afghanis are animals, and they prove that every day, but it nevertheless is Jones' fault because if you're trying to civilize people, that's not the way to go about it! He's only turned them more against civilization.