Tiger Woods

As we progress in age, our youthful years are fondly remembered in sports with an individual we idolized and fantasies we have. And for today's younger generation, I am sure that you have your idol. We even go so far in the sports world having people we'd like to meet and actions we'd like to conquer. At least I still do. Growing up my idol was Rocky Colavito. He was a strapping outfield star of the Cleveland Indians. He was to be one of the main stars that would carry the Indians from their heydey years of the 1940s through and into the '60s.

"Meh-keel". Micheel. Sounds like the last name of someone who should be conducting a symphony orchestra. When I get done with this column, my spellcheck is going to highlight his last name all over the place as a mistake and tell me to change it to Michael. Nope. Shaun Micheel is the latest no-name golfer to play his own tune. Another first-time winner on the PGA Tour. And a major at that. Micheel just had to go and take some of the luster away from Ben Curtis as the probable top story of the year in sports.

kauffman@herald-mail.com It happened again Sunday, just like many, many previous Sundays over the past several years. One by one, golf aficionados - players, reporters and fans (or patrons, as known in Augusta) - rose in chorus to say: "Phil's time will come. " Usually, this chorus is reserved for major disappointments, as in, those sufferend at major tournaments - the kind Phil Mickelson has never won. This particular Sunday, the chorus resonated after the Buick Invitational, a well-known and well-respected PGA event for sure, but hardly a major.

Ask your average sports fan who the five most dominating athletes in sports today are, and you'll likely get a list looking something like this (no rhyme intended): Tiger is numero uno. Duh. Who doesn't know Tiger Woods is the most dominating athlete in sports today? Venus and Serena are two and three. They've faced each other in each of the last two grand slam finals (French, Wimbledon), and one of them has won four of the last five. Shaq and Kobe are four and five. They ARE the Lakers, no apologies to Robert Horry needed.

OCOEE, Fla. (AP) -- Tiger Woods' mother-in-law has been released from an Orlando-area hospital after being treated for stomach pains. Health Central Hospital spokesman Dan Yates said Barbro Holmberg was released Tuesday afternoon, about 11 hours after she was admitted. She went back to Woods' mansion. Emergency crews had been summoned to the home when someone there called 911 about 2:35 a.m. Tuesday. Holmberg, who arrived in the U.S. a few days ago, was taken by ambulance to Health Central.

I was impressed with Steve Williams when he caddied for Tiger Woods. He went about his business doing exactly what he was supposed to do. Carry the bag, hand the golfer his club of choice, make a suggestion if asked, help line up a putt when asked, clean the ball and clubs - all simple tasks at hand for a caddie. And Williams was paid handsomely by his boss. After all, 10 percent of Woods' winnings was nothing to sneeze at, let alone the endorsements Williams himself was reaping in his native New Zealand.

Perspective is like having a little sister or brother. They are all there all the time, but you tend not to notice them. It goes that way for the longest time and then, all of a sudden, someone or something comes along and reminds you of their importance. I have a sister and she'll probably tell you every word of that is true. Perspective, though, pops up in some of the least likely places. I found some long-lost perspective on Sunday. It hit like a lightning strike, and it hit at the oddest of times.

"When are our city and county officials going to wake up? I pay for my mistakes and every time one of our elected officials makes a mistake they think they can ease up a little tax or fee here or there, a little piece here, a little piece there and we always have to pay for their mistakes, too. Well, enough is enough. I'm tired of making up and for paying for all your mistakes city officials. Anymore tax increases, they're gone! Bye. " "This is in answer to Mr. Wade's letter in the paper.

Who says he's washed up at age 29? It was only fitting he won the Masters on Sunday. If he didn't, his improbable chip-in from the 16th fringe would have dominated the highlight reel more than anything. Whether you like him or not, Tiger Woods is back, and where else but the Masters can you get such drama in golf? Sure, he's won gazillions of dollars playing golf and made a bazillion through endorsements. Woods broke a four-year hiatus from winning majors with his birdie putt on the first playoff hole that rewarded him with his fourth Masters title, equaling that of the legendary Arnold Palmer.

Random rants from a World Cup-watching insomniac: -- If Major League Baseball suspends Roger Clemens for hitting Barry Bonds on his elbow pad, claiming it was premeditated, it will be the biggest bunch of baloney since ... since ... oh, who am I kidding? This is Major League Baseball, after all. Fact one: If Clemens had hit anyone other than Bonds (or Sammy Sosa, or perhaps A-Rod) in an area other than the head, a suspension wouldn't even be considered. Fact two: Throwing inside is part of the game.