Some quick hits and fast questions from a scan of the recent sports headlines and developments:
NATHAN BROWN STOCK: Contrary to the regular stock market, the University of Central Arkansas quarterback's stock is rising among NFL scouts and observers. They recognize his leadership and see his intangibles. He's now rated, along with Purdue's Curtis Painter, Clemson's Cullen Harper and Louisville's Hunter Cantwell, as the top senior quarterbacks available for the 2009 race. How high can he go?
PARK, LEWIS, LECUYER AND MAGGIO: Sounds like an accounting firm, but it represents a new wave of women's golfers. Inbee Park, at age 19, won the U.S. Women's Open, the youngest champion ever. Stacy Lewis, fresh out of the University of Arkansas, led going into the final round and finished third in her first professional event. Christina Lecuyer, one of the best UCA women's golfers in history, finished a respectable fourth in The Golf Channel's Big Break Kaanapali. And Conway's Mary Michael Maggio continues to solidify herself as one of the top junior golfers in the country.
What's this with teenage girls and golf and an onslaught of very good international players? Is it the result of greater skill because more teenage girls have grown up playing golf? Is it better instruction? Are they are more athletic? Is it they've had better opportunities to develop at a young age? All of the above?
And what's happened to one of the original teen-age female phenoms, Michelle Wie, who didn't make the cut at the Open? Overhyped and too much too soon?
BEST FINISH: Playing in possibly her final Open, Annika Sorenstam holed out from 199 yards on the 18th hole. What a way to go out!
RUNNING WITH THE WIN: Former University of Arkansas track star Tyson Gay ran an all-time best of 9.68 in the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials. It does not count as a world record because it came with a 4.1 meters per second wind at his back, 2.1 above the allowable. Wind or no wind, that's smoking. I remembered when breaking 10 seconds was considered awesome. Someone figure out and project the math. How fast can a person physically be able to go over 100 meters?
IN THE SHADOW OF A LEGEND: It will be interesting to see what develops with UA track. Chris Bucknam of Northern Iowa, who has won a mere 35 conference titles and 33 Coach of the Year honors, has been named new head track coach for the Razorbacks, succeeding John McDonnell, who finished with 42 national titles and 83 conference titles. How tough will it be to succeed that kind of legend? If Bucknam doesn't win about 20 straight conference track or cross country titles and run off about 10 national titles in rapid-fire succession, will he be considered substandard? When one succeeds John McDonnell, what constitutes failure?
RECONNECTION TIME: Monday marked the completion of the UA's buyout/severance contract with former basketball coach Nolan Richardson, who led the Hogs to a national championship in 1994. Monday also marked the final official day as chancellor for John White, a major player in Richardson's removal at UA coach. Now that both White and Frank Broyles, the other primary catalyst in Richardson's firing, will there be more of a reconciliation with Richardson? With Jeff Long (the UA's new athletic director who commendably seems to be dedicated to plowing his own path) and basketball coach John Pelphrey (who has always seemed to have been on good terms with Richardson) will the Razorbacks be better able to connect with their basketball past?
(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or david.mccollum@thecabin.net)
