Too Much To Blog -- Sunday, March 13, 2021

The sports page: the PGA. So much to write about. Top story in sports today.

The sports page: Gregg Popovich -- winningest coach in the NBA. Won several NBA championships but no one is gonna surpass Phil Jackson. One "Popovich" data point. A legend spanning generations. Why he is one of the greatest ever.

Mideast: with things heating up in Mideast on at least three fronts, Biden is being tested. Next up: North Korea. Watching: China.

Russia: Russia's own finance minister now says half of its financial reserves are not accessible. Link here.

Russia: could start using chemical weapons -- White House. What this tells me.

Channel stuffing: Tesla.

Investing: Mitch and Nancy doing incredibly well. Returns so far this year:

• Mitch: 67%.
• Nancy: 56%.
• Ray Dalio: 8%.

Oil: so many stories here, can't keep up.

US ports: there is evidence that the backlog situation has been resolved.

Investors: could be a huge, huge year for investoors. Sure, a recession is likely but it's all relative .... and, recessions have always ended. 

So, we'll get to all these stories and more today. 

Stay tuned.

*****************************
PGA: The Champions

Tom Hoge: leading early in the second round. Born Statesville, North Carolina. Calls Fargo, ND, his home, where he grew up. Played at Texas Christian University.

Cyclone bomb: freezing weather in Florida. Long delays. Will be lucky to finish tournament by Monday night; could go into Tuesday.

Weather is the big story. 

Sunday a.m.: starting second round for most of the players. Just above freezing, felt like 29°F.  

Best quote:

"What a beautiful day .... for North Dakota." -- Tom Hoge. LOL. Tom Hoge is from North Dakota.

Tom Hoge: leading the Champions Tournament right now. 

One commentator mentioned he was ranked #1 in worldwide rankings, even ahead of Tommy Fleetwood, ranked #2. Misspoke? Jon Rahm, in fact, is ranked #1 globally. Globally, Hoge, #37; Tommy Fleetwood, #49. Official world golf rankings. Mickelson, #45. I wonder how a) not playing; and, b) being ostracized by PGA affects one’s rankings. Tea leaves: he won’t play at the Master’s this year.

Hole #17: one commentator made himself look like an idiot. More on that later. Tom Hoge having no trouble with hole #17. One leader actually birdied the toughest hole on the course, the hole that will determine the champion, birdied it not once, but twice, both round 1 and round 2. 

Biggest peeve: folks complaining from day 1 that tournament would be delay, not get finished on time. Oh, give me a break. This should be great news. Enjoy the tournament. Carpe diem. Chill. 

Phil Mickelson: not mentioned once. Greg Norman not mentioned. Clearly commentators giving their "marching orders."

Patrick Reed: not mentioned either, but that's different.  

Just now: Harold Varner III, #2 in second round. Hole #17. In the water twice. Finally on the green in five strokes but in the high grass off the green. Will be lucky to get out with quadruple bogie, seven strokes on a par 3 hole.

More later.