Steff

Daly Walks Tall Again After Nine Turbulent Years Mon Feb 16, 7:16 AM ET Add Sports - Reuters to My Yahoo! By Alex Miceli SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - John Daly (news) overcame personal demons and nearly nine years of turmoil Sunday to stand again as a PGA Tour winner. Daly's playoff victory in the $4.5 million Buick Invitational tasted all the sweeter as the larger-than-life golfer savored a first win on the tour since the 1995 British Open, his second major championship. "There's been a lot of ups and downs in those years," said the 37-year-old American whose turbulent career has been overshadowed by multiple divorce and problems with alcohol and gambling. Just six months ago, his fourth wife was indicted on federal drug and gambling charges only days after giving birth to his first son. "Geez, this is sweet," said Daly, as the tears welled. "I've never doubted. I knew I could win again. I've worked too hard not to." The victory added another twist to what is already an extraordinary life. In 1991, his was a fun-loving, feel-good story as he became one of the most unlikely major winners of all time. Daly's success at the PGA Championship (news - web sites) at Crooked Stick in 1991 came after he secured the ninth and final spot as an alternate when Nick Price (news) withdrew. Driving all night through Indiana, the big-hitting 25-year-old arrived to play a course he had never seen and beat the best in the world. DALY TURMOIL Daly went on to win the 1992 B.C. Open and the 1994 BellSouth Classic. But he was still living up to his nickname of "Wild Thing" after an arrest for assault on his second wife, treatment for addiction and a six-month suspension from the PGA Tour due to conduct at the Kapalua International. Winning his second major at St. Andrews, with his third wife on his arm, Daly was still a man in turmoil. Eventually it turned violent when he wrecked a hotel room during the 1997 Players Championship. Only his good friend and fellow professional Fuzzy Zoeller (news) could calm him down enough to get him to the hospital and medical attention. Four days later, Daly checked into the Betty Ford Clinic and weeks later filed for divorce. Over the next seven years, Daly's life changed little and his game had not returned to the pinnacle of 1991. He never earned more than $828,914 in a single season and through 13 years on the PGA Tour, Daly's total earnings were $4,493,189 through 2003. Sunday's win netted him $864,000. Last year he played in 22 events, missed the cut, withdrew or was disqualified 16 times and finished in the top 10 once with a tie for seventh at the Houston Open. Daly played some of his worst golf in 2003, missing the weekend in the last seven tour events. However he went to Korea and won and followed that up with victory at a non-tour event at Pebble Beach. "Any time you win a professional tournament these days, you get confidence and it carried over into this year a little bit," Daly said of the two wins. Coming into 2004, Daly believed he could win. While his final round Sunday did not show the best of his game with a double bogey, two bogeys and only one birdie, it did show that he could handle the pressure. "I wouldn't keep teeing it up on tour events if I didn't think I could win," Daly said. "I wish it would come easier. Your nerves don't react quite as well as when you're younger. I made some crucial putts coming down the stretch for pars." The unanswered question now is whether he can also win in the game of life. "Everybody has problems," he said. "It's just trying to deal with them in the right way. "I'm just going to enjoy this win. The hard work has paid off, especially at the end of last year when I won Korea. I got that boost and I played here pretty good the first two weeks. I'll keep working at it."

Selig's OK Awaited on Rodriguez Trade 45 minutes ago By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer NEW YORK - The Yankees and Texas Rangers (news) finalized the terms of their shocking Alex Rodriguez trade Sunday, and the players' association approved the deal for the American League (news) MVP. All that remained was for baseball commissioner Bud Selig to give his OK, which the teams expected Monday. "I was just as surprised as the Yankee fans and the Boston Red Sox (news) fans when I opened up my paper today," President Bush (news - web sites), the Rangers' former owner, told NBC at the Daytona 500. "It, obviously, is a big deal. ... A-Rod's a great player and the Yanks are going to be a heck of a team with him in the infield." Texas will pay $67 million of the $179 million left on Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract, the biggest transfer in a baseball deal, and will get All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named. Rodriguez will move from shortstop, a position at which he's been a seven-time All-Star, to third base, where he will replace injured Aaron Boone. The Yankees will keep their captain, Derek Jeter, at shortstop. "I don't think he ever thought about playing another position until the concept came up," said Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras. "He decided it didn't make a difference — shortstop, third base, center field. He wanted the opportunity to play on a competitive team." The Rangers will wind up paying $140 million for three seasons with Rodriguez, an average of $46.7 million annually for three last-place finishes in the AL West. The Yankees will owe him $112 million over seven years. Baseball's biggest spenders will raise their payroll to about $190 million. "The disparity is not healthy for the sport," Arizona Diamondbacks (news) owner Jerry Colangelo said. "But everyone runs their team the way they see fit, and they did it by the rules." Boras said the possibility of a trade first came up last Monday while he was talking to the Yankees about another player. Boras then called Rodriguez. "I said, `There may be an opportunity. We have to talk about your goals, about winning,'" Boras recalled telling his client. "He called me back Tuesday and discussed it further and said, `Why don't you call (Texas owner) Tom Hicks and let him know we're ready to do that,'" Boras said. Trade talks began the following day, and the sides reached the agreement Sunday. Under the deal, the Yankees will pay Rodriguez $15 million in each of the next three seasons, $16 million each in 2007 and 2008, $17 million in 2009 and $18 million in 2010, according to contract information obtained by the AP from player and management sources. In each of the first four years, $1 million would be deferred without interest, to be paid in 2011. The trade calls for Texas to pay $43 million of Rodriguez's salary over the remaining seven years: $3 million in 2004, $6 million each in 2005, 2006 and 2010, $7 million apiece in 2007 and 2009 and $8 million in 2008. In addition, the Rangers will pay the $24 million remaining in deferred money from the original contract, with the interest rate lowered from 3 percent to 1.75 percent. All the deferred money owed by Texas — $36 million, including salaries from 2001-03 — will be converted to an assignment bonus, which makes the money guaranteed against a strike or lockout. The payout schedule will be pushed back to 2016-25 from 2011-20. In exchange for the alterations, which devalue the present-day value of the contract by $5 million, Rodriguez will receive a hotel suite on road trips, have the right to link his Web site to the Yankees' site and get a guarantee that the deferred money won't be wiped out by a work stoppage. Boras said that as part of the deal, the Rangers will buy Rodriguez's home in Texas and his luxury suites at The Ballpark in Arlington and American Airlines Arena. While the Rangers appointed Rodriguez team captain on Jan. 25, Boras said that once Texas decided to go with younger players, it became apparent a change was needed. "Because of the change in direction in payroll in Texas, we didn't think Alex was the fit there he was before," Boras said. "This trade was a situation that would benefit everybody."

At work...

Can I get an "Amen"...

The only way he's forced is by the idiots who sign the checks. No sign of them growning a pair in the near future. I've never been so ho-hum about a season starting. I honestly have no interest. Yea, we'll go like we always do. It's what we do in the summer. But no excitment at all at this point. I feel worse for Baltimore fans. At least we have a shot at our division. They are basically screwed before the season even starts. :headshake

Excellent point badger... if someone goes down they are in a bind.. however, they solve their binds by buying more talent. The pocketbook is too deep.. :headshake

IMO, even if they have to pay more tax it doesn't hurt them due to the extra revenues made from the playoff and series shows.

Sometimes flying into Pheonix and driving is cheaper. Did you check that out?

Don't the Yankees have like 8 of the top 12 paid players on their payroll now..?

Howard Stern

Maybe Brando was the alien....?

Gotta agree. 18 (19?) errors in the past couple years by Alex... the defense is way better, IMO. But DJ's the capt of that team.. George definitely isn't going to upset him.

Did you.. cause I didn't get anything from you.

:dips***

Is that my boyfriend Kobe...?? :puke :puke :puke

No mods told me about PM's.. it's there plain as day to see when someone is sending a PM on the member list board. And it's a shame this became what it did, I agree. I have ignored it for the past week and that appeared to be working out.. but alas... a differing opinion, mine, got attacked WITHOUT provocation. I disagreed with three different people in this thread other than the instigator and those disagreements were met with "yea.. ok" and it was dropped. I did not go after anyone, and I did not shoot back until shot at. And I'm getting sick and tired of the "waa, waa... Steff's picking on me" s***. This place was FINALLY nice and calm. A gentle ribbing amongst friends has never before not been acceptable. We all pretty much know eachothers posting styles.. I don't think we need a board cop telling us (me) what is or is not "mean" or when to stay on topic. I take back nor apologize for nothing. The kid is nothing but argumenative and hostile. If you're gonna dish it.. be prepared to take it. I find it real interesting that since day 1 this is how this member has behaved. Also interesting that none of the rest of us have issues with eachother anything like this.

GMTA!

Eh... that sucks.

And I responded to Brando with my point.. he got it. You're gonna leave...no?!?! How on earth will the mods get through the day without anymore of your PM's.. :headshake

It's not an insult... it's clear that YOU are nothing but an argumentative person. I've explained myself TWICE and you keep baiting. What's the problem? NO ONE else had trouble understanding my point.. just you. Surprise, surprise.. Back to the way things were... obviously you are lacking skills in the "move on" department.

Your poor parents.... :headshake

SSI.. why don't you worry about YOUR posts and posts to YOU and let others take care of their posts themselves. I'm sure while they'd love it.... the mod crew here doesn't appear to need your assistance

Yes, I did. And you qouted it to boot. Innings pitched.. what's the problem? I-n-n-i-n-g-s- p-i-t-c-h-e-d.. that has nothing to do with ERA, SO, BB's, HR's given up.. etc, etc, etc... I posted stats on INNINGS PITCHED. My argument has been based on INNINGS PITCHED. Why do you keep trying to debate anything other than INNINGS PITCHED with me when I was ONLY discussing INNINGS PITCHED.

Hope you get double lovin today..