Hey kids! Gather round and let me tell you a story. Thirty years ago professional golf was played during a simpler and more fun era. The season would start softly in January with actors/celebrities hosting tournaments. They would invite their buddies, play a little golf, have some parties, etc. The Tour pros would show up and use these tournaments as a warm up for the Florida swing, which they considered the "real" season. Joe Garagiola, Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, Bing Crosby and, of course, Bob Hope all hosted events in 1978. The Hope tournament was so popular it consisted of five rounds. It was must-see TV.
Flash forward 30 years. Last time Glen Campbell made news it was because of a DWI and subsequent jail stint. Joe Garagiola is 81 and out of the spotlight. Hope and Crosby did their final “road movie" to the sky. Times have changed.
Unfortunately the folks managing the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic have not. They continue to wear their double-knits and pretend they have a great event. They don’t. It is a horrible event whose broadcast has been relegated to the Golf Channel.
There are several issues colluding to make the Hope Chrysler Classic a shadow of its former self. These issues are:
George Lopez: Words can’t describe the magnitude of the flawed decision-making involved in selecting Lopez as the host. He is a fool and is embarrassing to watch. Not only is Lopez not funny, he is offensive. In this month’s “Hot Seat”, Jason Sobel asks Lopez to tell him a joke. Lopez’ first words: “Guy bludgeons his wife. Hit her 27 times….” http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/story?columnist=sobel_jason&id=3198414 WTF? He has to go if the Hope wants to become a significant tournament again. The Classic Club: Mickelson finished the 2007 Hope after shooting a 78 and asks if the tournament will continue to be pla yed at the Classic Club. Yes, Larry Bohannan, the long-time golf writer of the Desert Sun, told him because they own it. Mickelson rolled his eyes, walked off and will not return for a long time. The players hate this desert course.Lack of Top Twenty Players: No top twenty players competed at 2008 Hope Chrysler Classic. At No. 24 in the world, Stewart Cink is the highest-ranked player in the field. The Hope has fallen from a first-tier event to a third-tier event, alongside the Reno-Tahoe Open and Frys.com Open. Pretend you’re a top player: Would you play a five day event, on shitty courses with B-list celebrities? I don't think so. Celebrities: Thirty years ago it was a novelty to watch celebrities play golf. These days, celebrities have their own tour. Over the last few years, I would tune in simply to observe the growth of Roger Clemens’ head. With Roger in hiding, there is no reason to watch these other "celebrities" play bogey golf.That's the story kids. Sorry, no happy ending here. Unless, the leaders of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic re-invent the entire event(sans Lopez) there will be no joy in the desert.
