O.T. Phil Mickelson on International Politics and Human Rights

[A.G._Crockett]

History has taught us never to underestimate the ability of them to come after you next.

Who is “them”?

[John Kavanaugh]

We all choose our own thems. That’s how they get us.

[Kalen Braley]

John,

I appreciate this latest round of stirring up the muck, its been very amusing.

But go read AG's last post again.  He super-nailed it!!

P.S.  I can't figure out if your jealous or glad that you don't have Phil's level of fame.  Sure it has tons of upside, but also a large burden to carry.

[John Kavanaugh]

Was “jealous” an edit?

[David_Tepper]

Don't worry John. We know who the "little bitch" is on this chatboard.

And speaking of Sports Illustrated:

https://www.si.com/golf/news/the-engaging-addictive-phil-fills-the-void-that-phil-mickelson-himself-created

"A human being. Flawed and idolized, despised and lionized. Shipnuck does a terrific job of shaping these complexities into a compelling, 249-page read that has already become central to the biggest golf story in 2022."

[A.G._Crockett]

We all choose our own thems. That’s how they get us.

No, John; when “they” come after groups, “they” pick the group, not the other way around.  And you’re a well-to-do white guy, so nobody is coming for you AT ALL.


Maybe when Shipnuck’s book actually comes out, there will be fact checking done to see if PM has been misrepresented or defamed in some way. So far, I haven’t heard a thing about that book that hasn’t been more or less known about PM for decades now, which is part of the reason I have little interest in reading the book, much less paying for it.  Phil Mickelson has a gambling problem? Wow! Who knew?  Phil Mickelson is for sale to the highest bidder? Glad I was sitting down for THAT news flash!


Up until now, PM has done nothing but promote the book by his statements and actions. As in several US Opens, he’s been his own worst enemy, and in this case, Shipnuck’s unpaid publicist.  PM doesn’t have to worry about “them” coming for him; he’s already cut his own throat.  (And made Alan Shipnuck a boatload of money in the process.)

[John Kavanaugh]

We all choose our own thems. That’s how they get us.

No, John; when “they” come after groups, “they” pick the group, not the other way around.  And you’re a well-to-do white guy, so nobody is coming for you AT ALL

What exactly is Phil?

[A.G._Crockett]

We all choose our own thems. That’s how they get us.

No, John; when “they” come after groups, “they” pick the group, not the other way around.  And you’re a well-to-do white guy, so nobody is coming for you AT ALL

What exactly is Phil?

His own worst enemy, which was true long before any of us ever heard of Alan Shipnuck.

[John Kavanaugh]

Like I’m not.

[A.G._Crockett]

Like I’m not.

Point taken, John.
But I think there's a better than even chance that Alan Shipnuck won't make you his next subject.

[Rob Marshall]

Phil's sponsors prominently displayed must be so excited about this picture...........


https://www.golfwrx.com/676935/how-mickelson-gambled-during-tournaments-with-announcer-who-was-throwing-wadded-up-twenties-out-of-tower/?utm_source=Front&utm_medium=Blogroll_Home&utm_campaign=GolfWRX_OnSite&utm_content=unused

[David_Tepper]

There is more than one new book out about Phil:

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/05/04/tiger-phil-the-book-reviewed-bob-harig/

"It's a pretty big fall"

https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/33916213/pretty-big-fall-how-everything-changed-phil-mickelson-just-one-year

[Steve Lapper]

Phil's sponsors prominently displayed must be so excited about this picture...........


https://www.golfwrx.com/676935/how-mickelson-gambled-during-tournaments-with-announcer-who-was-throwing-wadded-up-twenties-out-of-tower/?utm_source=Front&utm_medium=Blogroll_Home&utm_campaign=GolfWRX_OnSite&utm_content=unused

Those phots were taken in the locker room of Shadow Creek after his victory in his silly The Match game v. Tiger in 2018. I'm sure his sponsors actually enjoyed seeing that one :`).

[Jason Topp]

I finished the book.  It actually is much more positive about Phil than the released excerpts suggest and provides little related to the gambling that has not already been released. 


I am not sure whether it made me think more positively or more negatively of the guy.  I will always admire his career - particularly his longevity and his ability to come back from losses of the type that typically crush others.  I also have always admired how he makes the game fun.


Nonetheless, he is a strange guy.  Maybe one needs to be strange to compete at that level for 30 years.

[A.G._Crockett]

Nonetheless, he is a strange guy.  Maybe one needs to be strange to compete at that level for 30 years.

The “strangeness” of elite athletes in general, and those with extremely long careers in particular, is their ability to drive themselves to stay motivated, and to compartmentalize their lives. Guys like Brady and Jordan and Nolan Ryan are great examples of this. I think the general public is perhaps blinded by their talent, and doesn’t fully understand the work ethic of guys like that. Maintaining that work ethic into your 30’s and beyond, when your body is beginning to rebel and you have all the money in the world is really “strange”, if you will, and most just can’t do it.




Mickelson has all of that, but a large dose of additional strangeness all his own, and it’s shown up a bunch of different ways over the years.  In that regard, the best comparison I can think of might be Pete Rose. In addition to the obvious gambling parallels/questions, both men have shown a remarkable ability NOT to just shut up at moments when that was clearly the thing to do. 




Fwiw, I am usually not bothered when I find out an athlete gambles, even a lot and for big dollars. They are hyper-competitive people with a lot of money, so no surprise there. That said, Rose and Mickelson seem to have had other things going on where they couldn’t successfully compartmentalize their gambling. Just my take…

[cary lichtenstein]

I finished the book.  It actually is much more positive about Phil than the released excerpts suggest and provides little related to the gambling that has not already been released. 


I am not sure whether it made me think more positively or more negatively of the guy.  I will always admire his career - particularly his longevity and his ability to come back from losses of the type that typically crush others.  I also have always admired how he makes the game fun.


I just started the book, so far it is ok.


Nonetheless, he is a strange guy.  Maybe one needs to be strange to compete at that level for 30 years.

[Carl Johnson]

I had planned to buy Shipnuck's book, but I read the "look inside" pages on Amazon and decided it wouldn't be worth it.  Take a look and decide for yourself, of course.

[Mike_Trenham]

I have read the book.  I give Shipnuck a ton of credit, he handled some salacious items with class and made those who apparently started the rumors the ones to be reviled.


From a golf perspective it’s amazing the number of doubles or series of bogeys Phil made when winning or just coming up short in majors.

[John Kavanaugh]

Is the word sex ever used in the book?

[Mike_Trenham]

Is the word sex ever used in the book?

Don’t think so.

[John Kavanaugh]

Is the word sex ever used in the book?

Don’t think so.

That must be heartbreaking for the purchaser. Is reading a library book the moral equivalent to purchasing one? We do pay for the privilege through taxation.

[Kalen Braley]

Mike,

I was curious along with Barney.  'Salacious' denotes Phil perhaps did a Tiger with sexual improprieties and such...

[John Kavanaugh]

After you write a book like this do you have to cite anything you learned from Wikipedia?

[Steve Salmen]

What did Phil say or do that put him in this position?  I think it had to do with Saudi Arabia and the PGA Tour but cannot connect the two from what I've read. Thanks

[Steve Lang]

   Hold it... No Sex? any drugs or rock & roll?  How much for fun or profit can this book be?