Things Less Awkward Than The FedExCup Trophy Presentation

by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 28, 2009 12:10 PM EDT

After Phil Mickelson had won the Tour Championship and quipped to Mark Rolfing that he deserved the $10 million, the NBC Sports crew cut over to Dan Hicks, Tim Finche, and Tiger Woods for the made-for-TV presentation of the FedExCup.

I don't know if they did this because they thought it would look better, but it definitely did not work - on any level.

First, it looked like they were presenting the trophy to Woods from in back of one of the corporate skyboxes. I'm pretty certain that the 18th hole at East Lake is much more picturesque.

Then, Tim Finchem presents the FedExCup trophy to Woods in his normal monotone-ish voice. Tim, you have to let the people out there know that you LOVE the FedExCup. Channel Billy Mays (or Jimmy Football) and deliver that 20 second speech with some vigor!

Of course, Woods doesn't kiss the FedExCup upon reception because (a) he doesn't want to and (b) no one is there to see it.

Hicks proceeds to ask some cursory questions about the Cup format and season to Woods, who politely answers them without slamming the concept - but also without really strongly endorsing it. At this point, we know Tiger can pretty much take it or leave it.

Then, someone at NBC Sports thought it was a great idea to remove Commissioner Finchem and insert Johnny Miller for about sixty seconds of inquisition that must rival the awkwardness of Jack Bauer going off on some terrorist on 24, or it happening in reality at Guantanamo Bay.

On the unintentional comedy scale, this has to be a 12 out of 10. Johnny smiles all goofy and awkwardly to Tiger like the bully that is about to get bullied by the bigger, older, better kid. Johnny will reserve his negativity for when he's in the booth, but kiss up to Woods when he is in front of him.

The whole production made me think about things that could be plausibly less awkward than that two minutes of television. My list includes:

Telling your wife that you gave her herpes - by having sex with a hooker
Having your credit card declined at a McDonald's for a Big Mac meal
Listening to Glenn Beck accuse our African-American President of being a racist
Sitting in the media center on Mexican food day featuring refried beans (thanks Sobel, I noticed it also)

So, tell me: what would you find less awkward than that presentation?

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Comments

That’s good stuff, RB – and another good reason to skip these awards ceremonies ! (although the Glen Beck comment that Obama being a “racist” was actually very funny in context)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Sep 28, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

You know, if a photo surfaced tomorrow of Tiger’s children sitting side-by-side eating cereal out of Tiger’s two FedEx Cups, it would be a) unsurprising, b) not at all inappropriate, and c) awesome.

Immediately after the play itself was completed yesterday, off went the television and on went a John Coltrane record. Judging by your description of events, Ryan, I reckon I made the right call.

"Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into a even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." - Winston Churchill

by turnover on Sep 28, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions