Tagged: Tiger Woods

Tired of Tiger? How about some Hot Stove?

I can’t stand the Tiger Woods stuff anymore. Really, I can’t. It was a strange, bizarre accident/incident nearly a week ago and the initial reports — that his injuries were “serious” — were alarming.

And then a few details emerged and you figured there had to be more to this story. (Who would have guessed how much more?) And I think everyone suspected the kind of stuff Tiger and his wife were, uh, discussing on Thanksgiving night.

And now it has become a media obsession that will not die. Talk show hosts who swear they aren’t interested in gossip won’t stop dissecting it. Tabloids have hit the lottery. And it is such a tired topic. Enough already.

So, if you need a diversion, we have “Hot Stove” tonight on YES — 6:30 and 10 p.m. — which includes an interview with Derek Jeter, just after he was presented as SI‘s Sportsman of the Year on Tuesday night.

And there’s always “This Week in Football,” for which I must make my picks. For better or worse. Usually worse, considering last week’s 1-2 effort. (Thank you, Saints.)

I’ll take the Jets over the Bills and look forward — as everyone does — to Revis vs. Owens. If Rogers Centre is indeed sold out, it should be a sight to see. The Blue Jays never see it full, that’s for sure.

I can’t pick the Giants again until they show something that resembles quality football. So I’ll go with the Cowboys in a game the G-men absolutely have to have.

And my third pick is Vikings over Cardinals in what should be a fun game to watch Sunday night. The MVP debate is going to heat up soon: Who’s it going to be? Peyton, Favre or Brees?

Gardner-Bruney battle continues

Gardner is in trouble. With Bruney.

The two are obsessed with the Tiger Woods videogame. They play against each other all time. To the winner goes custody of a Tiger figurine.

When Bruney triumphs, he paints Tiger’s cap, shirt and shoes red. When Gardner prevails, he paints the cap, shirt and shoes green.

Yesterday, Gardner jumped the shark. He painted the entire figurine green. And he put thought into it — he asked a clubbie in Texas to purchase bright green paint and a small paintbrush. Then, he temporarily hid the mini-Tiger from Bruney.

By this morning, Bruney had seen it.

“He painted it like a two year old,” Bruney seethed. “Why did he have to paint the whole thing green? I’m done.”

With the videogame?

“No, with Gardner and the figurine,” Bruney said. “Ask him why he did it.”

Gardner was busy with the Big Buck Hunter Pro arcade game — our apologies for getting the name of the game wrong yesterday — when we were in the clubhouse, so Gardner’s comment on this controversy will have to come postgame or tomorrow.

By the way, sources indicate that Farnsworth owns a Big Buck Hunter Pro and keeps it at his home in Georgia. That’s perfect.

jeter300_053109.jpgDouble time for Jeter: 14-game hitting streak for the Captain and he didn’t waste any time. Jinx this!

Menu musings: Kay just asked the runner to go the concession stand for a slice of pizza. He talked Flaherty into ordering one, too. (Yesterday Kay went with his other staple, chicken fingers and fries.) Kay bought. The slices are huge! Kay usually will eat only the cheese. Today, he’s eating the entire slice. “I feel like treating myself,” he explained.

We ate room-service oatmeal at the hotel for breakfast, so we declined the pizza offer and also will skip The Hal Lebovitz Press Dining Room today.

Yes, to answer your questions, we pay for meals at every ballpark. Tampa is $6. Yankee Stadium and Toronto are $11. Texas and Cleveland are $10. All receipts wind up on expense reports.

In the NFL, teams don’t charge the media for food on gamedays. At least we don’t think any of them do. In fact, some — the Steelers, for sure — allow reporters to eat in the cafeteria during the week, alongside Dan Rooney.

A.J. the tutor: A.J. takes great interest in his teammates and how they’re doing, especially the pitchers. He has developed a particular fondness for Wang, and the two were in the outfield just before noon, getting some throwing in on flat ground.

A.J. finished first and stayed to watch Wang throw. Then, he stepped behind Wang and offered what appeared to be mechanical suggestions. He and Wang were discussing Wang’s grip on the sinker.

We’ll ask A.J. for more details, probably tomorrow.

Melky to return: Girardi expects Melky to be in the lineup tomorrow, after missing four games with the bruised shoulder. It might be Damon who gets a day off; he’s been sore since colliding with the wall/fence in Texas.