Fun, Untold Stories from the 2009 US Open

Any time that you can come to a major championship, it is a special experience.  Any time that you can come to New York City, it is also a special experience.  Put the two together and I had a very memorable time here at 109th US Open.  If you'll allow me, I'd like to share some of the short anecdotes from the week that had nothing to do with action on the course.

About the Pants...

I was exhausted when this photo was taken.

When I arrived here on Thursday, I came with my Loudmouth Golf pants in style.  The looks I drew throughout the media center were hilarious.  Keep in mind that most people in the media are not under the age of 30.  Most are 40 or over.  So, for them to see someone sporting pants that were popular when they were younger must either take them back to a better place or scare the life out of them that their father's fashion is en vogue again.

The cries were of horror.  "Oh no."  "You mean I have to sit next to that all week?!"  "Those things were my style, but I wouldn't dare wear them now."

The younger people loved them.  One girl was manning access to one of the areas of Bethpage.  She saw my pants on Thursday and said, "Nice pants."  I came back the next day in some pretty benign shorts.  When I passed her, she looked at me all said and asked, "No wacky pants today?"  When I told her that I would have a pair for her on Saturday, she seems happy and relieved.

More after the jump.

A Friend of My Cousin's Mother

I was walking out to the course on Saturday - past the lady who was hoping for my pants - and was behind Bob Costas.  Coming our way was Jimmy Roberts, who I guess was done writing his essay for the NBC Sports essay contest with he and Tim Rosaforte.

Nisha Sadekar & Blair O'Neal from Play Golf Designs

Costas looks as Jimmy and says, "Jimmy."  Jimmy looks at Costas and says, "Bobby."  I guess the NBC Sports guys like the Tiger Woods system of nicknames.  Johnny Miller already goes by his.  So does Dottie Pepper.  You think Dan Hicks goes by Danny?

Anyway, after that, a New York fan shouted to Costas, "Hey Bobby!  Looking sharp!"

Costas turns around and looks at him, thanks him.  The New York fan then says, "I know someone who used to work with you."  Costas asked who it was.  The fan says, "She was a friend of my mother's cousin," or something absurd like that.

Costas responds, "Then we should practically be best friends!"

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

Yesterday afternoon, Henrik Stenson was practicing very short chips at the putting green with his caddy, Fanny Sunneson.  He's hitting maybe 20 foot chips to the cup in batches of three.  He makes the first one and the onlookers yell, "One!"  Makes the second.  "Two!"  You could hear The Count from Sesame Street laugh after each make.  One the third, Stenson misses.  The groan from the crowd was like Mickelson had missed a putt to win the thing.

It Is Freakin' Freezing In Here

Media tents at major championships are usually these big outdoor tents that you might have a bull and oyster roast in when the media isn't using it.  Normally, they're decently air conditioned, but this week it has been terrible.  It has easily been as cool as 50 degrees in here at points.  Writers just kind of mutter out, "Jesus Christ!" or "Man, it's cold!" while they're pecking away at the keyboard.

In fact, they almost got me to go out to the merchandise tent and buy something.  FOrtunately, when I left and went outside, it was as though I went from Antarctica to a tanning bed.  It was instantly 20 degrees warmer.  I remembered that the sun could be my jacket.  Then again, I hadn't seen it all week so I was beginning to forget what it was like.

Dan Jenkins: The Man Everyone Wants

This is Dan Jenkins' 200th major championship.  That is fifty years' worth of majors.  This US Open is my second major.  Pitiful by comparison.  But, there was a big celebration to commemorate Jenkins' storied career.  I cannot tell you the number of times that Jenkins has been interviewed by some media outlet this weekend.  Dozens probably.  It's no wonder that Golf Digest got him onto Twitter.  140 characters is all he has time for right now.  But, even with that little bit of space to write, Jenkins is already a Twitter legend.