The Odd Stat(s) of the Week

Issue: Does that mean we are getting more than one crazy stat?

Short Answer: It sure does.

Reasoning: June can often be a boring time for some sports fans.  The NBA is over (thank goodness), as is the NHL (who plays hockey in June anyway?).  Also, the NFL is still a few months off (or, in 2011, maybe a few years off?).  Major League Baseball and the PGA Tour pretty much dominate the major sports landscape.  Just as it should be.  Shockingly enough, the second week in June is one of my favorite sports weeks of the year.  The U.S. Open is the second best golf tournament of the year (next to the Masters) and the College World Series (something I never got to play in) is in full swing.  Plus, the Cincinnati Reds are on my TV or radio (two words for you: Marty. Brennaman.) every single day.  So, I thought I would use this time of year to spurn on my "Odd Stat of the Week" post.  Here goes:

1. Here is an odd enough stat about the U.S. Open that Rory McIlroy just dominated: the last two Open Champions both hail from tiny Northern Ireland (2010 winner was Graeme McDowell).  The population of Northern Ireland, in 2009, was 1.789 million people - that's bigger than Philadelphia, but smaller than Houston.  It covers 5,459 square miles - just slightly bigger than Connecticut.  Yet, that country has produced two golfers who have been able to win the most difficult championship in the world, in back-to-back years.  Maybe there is something in the water - or the Guinness.
2. How about some more about Rory McIlroy?  U.S. Open records that he set or tied last week: 1) Fewest holes to reach double digits under par (26); 2) Lowest first 36 holes (131); 3) Most strokes under par through 36 holes (-11 - remember, he double-bogied his 18th hole on Friday); 4) Largest 36 hole lead (6 - tied record); 5) Lowest first 54 holes (199); 6) Most strokes under par through 54 holes (-14); 7) Lowest 72 hole total (268); 8) Most strokes under par through 72 holes (-16).  Anyone see all that coming?  I thought not.
3. Now, that all sounds impressive, but, let us take a step back and realize how easy Congressional was playing in terms of a U.S. Open.  Going into last week there had only been 4 players EVER to shoot four rounds under par in a U.S. Open: Lee Trevino (1968), Tony Jacklin (1970), Lee Janzen (1993), and Curtis Strange (1994 - he didn't even win).  So, in 111 years of U.S. Opens, only 4 competitors shot four rounds under par.  In 2011, two players managed to accomplish this feat - McIlroy (duh) and Robert Garrigus (-6).  On top of that, Y.E. Yang shot three rounds under par and an even par round of 71.  Sergio Garcia also shot three rounds under par and an even par 71.  So, it is obvious the course wasn't a typical U.S. Open course, but, what McIlroy did was exceptional anyway.
4. Enough golf, let's move to college baseball.  Sort of.  Alright, this stat has nothing to do with baseball, but, the only reason I know the stat is because I saw it when I was watching the College World Series, so I think it counts.  Almost unbelievably (or absolutely believable, I still haven't decided), out of the 120 schools in the Bowl Subdivision (or, Division I for people who like to make sense, unlike the NCAA), only 17 of them have never been found guilty of a major violation in any sport.  That is about 14%.  And, it gets worse.  Only 4 of those 17 schools are from Automatic Qualifying conferences (SEC, ACC, Big 12, Big 10, Big East, Pac 10).  The four schools are: Boston College, Northwestern, Stanford, and Penn State.  What makes it even worse is the fact that between these four schools they have exactly two National Championships in the three major sports (football, basketball, baseball) - Penn State football in 1982 and Penn State football in 1986.  Of course, most students choose to go to the other three school because of their academic prowess, but it seems if a school doesn't cheat today, a National Championship is out of reach.  Maybe we should just pay athletes so cheating can't happen.  Then there would be no need for the NCAA, so, I bet that won't happen any time soon.
5. Vanderbilt University is making its first appearance at the College World Series ever.  This is odd only because they have been so good over the past decade or so.  They are attempting to become the first team to reach the finals of the World Series, in their first trip there, since...the 1994 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets led by Jason Varitek, Nomar Garciaparra, and Jay Payton.  This is only odd because I'm sure most readers are surprised that I played baseball at a school that produced quality major leaguers.  It still surprises me too.

That's all for this week's edition of the Odd Stat of the Week.  On a side note, I had mentioned here earlier that I was writing for examiner.com as the Cincinnati Reds Examiner.  Well, I quit.  Mostly because I put a lot of effort into writing my articles and I got paid about 8 cents.  Seriously.  I'd rather write for free on my blog than write for 8 cents.  At least this way I get to express my own opinion.  Farewell, Examiner (thank goodness).