Some items of note while enjoying our first weekend of spring…

I’ve seen their comments out on the Yahoo! sports blogs, but only idiots would wish worse on Tiger Woods’s back condition and not hope his bulging disc condition will improve with some rest and PT. You don’t have to like the man or his past personal struggles, but you cannot deny that having a healthy Tiger Woods competing in professional golf tournaments isn’t a good thing for everyone. His condition may not require surgery at this time, but a bad back is no joke, and until Tiger proves he’s healthy enough to play practice rounds and walk and play four consecutive rounds of golf without issue he’s not going to be a favorite in any tournament he plays, never mind the majors.

I hope the PGA Tour fines Bubba Watson some serious dough-re-mi for withdrawing from Arnie’s tournament at Bay Hill complaining of allergies (not coincidentally after completing a round that featured an 11 and three balls in the water on a single hole). Listen, Bubba, folks pay good money to come out and see golfers like you and help support the charities the PGA Tour supports. While no one is doubting just how difficult golf can be when you’re not feeling 100% – hey, try playing Wynn Golf Club with an intestinal bug – the fact is, golf is not digging ditches and you, Bubba, ought to be able to man up and fight your way through the tournament as best you can. All you’re doing is perpetuating the image of professional golfers as privileged pretty-boy wusses who don’t know how good they’ve got it.

So Jimmy Carter says Barack Obama doesn’t call him for advice. Who would know the difference?

This is what happens when the political elite in Washington don’t have a clue as to what it means to run a business.

Frankly, I’m surprised that this kind of thing doesn’t happen more often. After all, you’ve got someone with bat only 60′ 6″ away from you with the potential of sending a projectile in your general direction on every pitch. My concern for Chapman’s recovery would be more psychological than physical. I know I’d think twice about pitching again after this.

Leave it to the Democrats to celebrate the release from prison of someone convicted of voter fraud. My ownly question is, why should this be a surprise? After all, in Pennsylvania there’s a huge scandal brewing over the state Attorney General killing an investigation into Democratic politician accepting money for political favors, and the AG’s response is that the charges are – you guessed it! – racism. Heck, I must be a racist for even bringing this kind of thing up.