Sergio Garcia apologized to Tiger Woods for saying he would have “fried chicken” at dinner with his rival, a comment that Woods described as hurtful and inappropriate. “I want to send an unreserved apology.This time, it’s for good, or so he says.
After announcing his retirement from professional volleyball last year and then unretiring, Lloy Ball, the Woodburn native and four-time Olympian, said this retirement will be the final one.
“Last year I thought I was done,” said Ball, who played in the Mad Anthonys Charity Classic for Children on Monday. “Had the bad knee, (but) I ended up with a great year (in Russia). I got the knee fixed, I got an offer I couldn’t refuse, and still had a little fuel left in the tank. But this year’s different, altogether. I left the court healthy. Another good season. Won my last game. Served an ace on match point. Walked off and never felt happier about it.
“It’s the right time. I turned 40 in February and retired with two young kids who are going to eat up all my time every day, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Ex-Luers star to give LPGA a try
Former Bishop Luers and IUPUI standout Kristi O’Brien, the reigning Indiana Women’s Amateur champion and two-time defending Women’s City champion, says her next step is to qualify for the LPGA Tour.
“Raising money is the biggest thing right now. We have to do that to get out there,” O’Brien said at Sycamore Hills Golf Club. “In September will be the first day of Q (qualifying) school.”
O’Brien said she didn’t want to be a nuisance to the other LPGA golfers who participated in the two-day tournament that ended Monday.
“I don’t want to bother them much, so it’s more like having small talk and talking about the greens and stuff like that,” O’Brien said.
Tourney coordinator stepping down
It was the end of an era for the Mad Anthonys, as Jan Van Til stepped down as tournament coordinator after 35 years.
Van Til has been responsible for doing everything from arranging for the pros and celebrities to tracking down sponsors, running the tournament out of her home.
Pro-am results
Aside from the pro tournament, won by Belén Mozo with a two-day total of 4-under 140 (74-66), there were two best-ball pro-ams. Winning the tournament Monday was the team of pro Vicki Hurst, Rich Brady, Scott Hosford and Aaron Busse. They shot 20-under. In second at 19-under were pro Amanda Blumenherst, Bobby Simpson, Jerry Fox and Mark Hesterman.
Another Ball
IPFW men’s volleyball coach Arnie Ball, Lloy Ball’s father, recently was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and will be inducted Dec. 13 in Louisville, Ky.
“Obviously it’s a great honor,” Ball said. “Everybody says the same thing: this kind of recognition is all about the kids you’ve had over the years, and that’s true. As I tell everybody, it just means you’ve been doing it a long time and you’ve had a little bit of success and have kids go on to be very successful in their lives, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Premature announcement
Just before his opening tee shot, former East Noble and Purdue standout Brad Miller was introduced as a “former NBA” player.
“Right now there’s nothing official,” said Miller, who has played 14 seasons in the NBA, the most recent with Minnesota. “We’ll wait on that.”
And who does he like in the NBA Finals between Oklahoma City and Miami?
“I didn’t see (Sunday night’s) game, really. It all starts with Game 5.”
