Odds and Sods

PGA also-ran Tripp Isenhour has been charged with animal cruelty after intentionally killing an endangered hawk with a golf ball.

Isenhour - while shooting a segment of “Shoot Like a Pro” - became annoyed with the red-shouldered hawk for making noise and continuously ruining takes.

He attempted to shoot balls at the bird initially from 300 yards away, but gave up. When the bird moved to within 75 yards, Isenhour reportedly said “I’ll get him now” and aimed at the hawk again. He “became excited” after his sixth shot came near the birds head and hit the bird a few shots later, sending it spiraling to the ground while bleeding from it’s nostrils.  The bird presumably died on impact or shortly after.

The bird was buried at the golf course and later dug up by a crack team of Florida investigators.

Isenhour’s charge carries the potential of 14 months in prison and $1,500 in fines.

No one condones cruelty to animals, but can we get some sanity here?  The meaning behind wildlife conversation is clear, but what message is charging this man supposed to send? Do we need a crack down on crazed professional golfers hitting endangered birds with golf balls?  Should Isenhour have used binoculars and consulted his ornithological manual before proceeding?

Is it really worth it to spend thousands of dollars in state money?  Are there no greater concerns where that money can be used?

Isenhour was an idiot, but facing the prospect of trying not to drop the soap with Michael Vick hardly seems commensurate with his crimes.

The English Premier League was on top of the world, or at least Europe, on Wednesday. Arsenal became the first English club to defeat defending champion A.C. Milan at home. Manchester United outfoxed French side Lyon. Chelsea throttled Olympiacos 3-0. Liverpool looks likely to go through with a 2-0 advantage over Inter.

Assuming that Liverpool held their lead to Inter, that would mean all four English clubs would have made the quarterfinals of the Champions League. With only two out of the seven Spanish and Italian clubs making it that far, it seemed a strong statement that the Premier League was the best league in Europe.

However, this sentiment was short lived.

Vicariously buoyed by their brethren, the overconfident English cubs received reality on Thursday.

Tottenham’s Carling-caused hangover continued as Jefferson Farfan stole a 1-0 lead for PSV, after the first leg at White Hart Lane, muddling Ramos’ stated mission to win two cups this season.

Fiorentina shocked high-flying Everton at home, taking a 2-0 advantage into the second leg. The loss would have been even worse had Tim Howard not put in a man-of-the-match performance.

Bolton as well got an unfortunate result, drawing Sporting Lisbon 1-1 at home. Desperately needing to exit the competition and focus on the relegation battle, they now stand a reasonable chance of advancing.

English success in the Champions League may supplement Sky’s hype material, but, as the UEFA Cup shows, Premier League quality is not quite so disparate.

Real Madrid 1 - Roma 2 (2-4 agg)

The match had a frightful, frenetic flow. If Arsenal-A.C. Milan was Hemingway, then Real Madrid-Roma was a Ken Kesey novel. The bold, battering pace perfectly played in Roma’s favor. Had Madrid come out conservatively, they could have exploited their advantage in both physicality and individual talent. The hysterical style often left them caught out forward, vulnerable to the counter-attack. Raul was heroic to level the score a mere minute after Taddei’s goal. But his hurried example hindered their struggle for a second.

Chelsea 3 - Olympiacos 0 (3-0 agg)

Chelsea’s performance epitomized the team expected coming in to last season. A healthy Michael Ballack being a force at both ends of the pitch. Frank Lampard picking apart defenses with his technical ability. John Terry heading balls away with abandon. Ashley Cole wheeling down the wing. Their effort was vintage Mourinho, size supplemented by skill and a ghastly amount of gratuitous whinging.