The Funny Thing About Talent

I followed Fred Couples yesterday. I was there in '83 when he won his first event in a five man playoff (TC Chen, Barry Jaeckel, Scott Simpson and Gil Morgan)

His then wife wearing a skimpy sun dress straddling him after he sunk the winning putt. Good times!

You are right, Kim is a stud. Can't wait to see him on the Ryder Cup team.

Bank on Charlie Wi winning Tiger's tourney next year.

How can he even think about not maximizing is potential you ask? Because he is human and tiger is an alien. Most people have lives and live them. Tiger sacrifices everything he is more machine than man now. (Seems like I heard that before in star wars) Honestly Steve it kind of reminds me of the old Berry Sanders vs emmit debate - could Berry have smoked Emmitt in total yards had he only stayed in? Well he didn't - you have to have everything: Talent, Longevity and heart or desire if you will.

I had a great time with my dad at Congo on Saturday (it was his Father's Day gift) and followed Kim from 10 through 16. He was great to watch even if he was having a bit of an off round and I wish that I could have been there to watch him finish yesterday.

My most vivid memory, however, came from the asshats following Steve Marino and how Jeff Maggert lost it with them on 16. Twice during Maggert's backswing on 16 Marino's "idiot in chief" (Wisemiller?) yelled out when Marion got on or near the 15th green. Maggert eventually sent his drive way left and he flung his driver away before taking off with his caddy to have some words with Marino's posse. I don't know if security followed through on the request to have these knuckleheads tossed, but they should have been based on what I heard along the course.

I know that these guys are professionals and should be somewhat immune to distractions, but Marino's band of looped-up frat boys is tiring and I was happy to see him fade over the final two rounds.

If you're very good at something, anything, with less effort than other people have to put in to be half as good, it can be really fun for a while. How long do you think that entertainment lasts, though? The whole reason most of us golf is because it's a constant struggle just to hit the damn ball in the fairway....

Another factor is that talent comes with a gauge that other people don't have. I'd lay money that some of these wunderkind can see their limitations, realize that they'll never be the absolute best of all time, and decide to do something else with their lives that doesn't require endless hours and isolation.

Finally, the work ethic you develop as a youngster is often inversely proportional to how talented you are.... Talent is enough to get you to a certain level, but if you didn't "earn it" you won't know how to move to the highest levels.

Plus, this particular dude is 23... Have you ever met a 23-year-old that wouldn't be tempted to coast and enjoy the ride after being handed a few 100k?

With regards to your question about the two different types of talent.. (IMHO)

Gifted - Is what you labeled as natural talent. Where a person instinctively has the ability that excels beyond the average joe. While it does surpass at times even someone who has practiced it is uncultivated and has limitations.

Talented - Is when someone who is gifted works hard at refining their ability. In the end, exceeding beyond those who don't have that natural gift but have excellent work/practice ethics.

The question I come up with is what would you call someone who doesn't have natural ability, but has achieved a decent level of expertise?

The biggest trap as you have mentioned is when someone who is gifted and then works to a degree to become talented. Then when they explode on the scene, they start slacking with their work ethics thinking they can maintain at a high level. You see this happening all the time.

Czabe, what can I say... you're right. All we needed to do was give the new format a little time... Well, you can now officially count me in as being on board.
A fresh post to the blog every 4th day is just what the doctor ordered. As a matter of fact, why not slow it down a little and put up one post per week? That, along with toning down the snickies and burying them on page 2 should get the advertisers flocking to the site.
Good stuff, Czabe... keep up the good work.

Say it with me.... Czabe 2.0 = good
Say it with me.... Czabe 3.0 = bad

LOL Lumox -- Couldn't have said it better myself.

TK

Here's in town now and the posting is slow, just wait until he's on vacation.

There really isn't a whole lot going on unless you want to rap about the Erin Andrews-Jen Sterger cat fight. Sterger is the scantily clad skank who was caught by ABC cameras and Brent Musberger called out all horny college age males to apply to FSU. Her 15 should have been up two years ago.

Click the link for more...

http://thetrolls.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2434

I meant he's (Steve) in town now and a warning: If you click on the link I posted above there is nudity.