Philly cops have new plan to stop pole climbersPhilly cops have new plan to stop pole climbers
Philadelphia police think they’ve found something better than Crisco to keep Philadelphia fans from climbing light poles if the Eagles win the Super Bowl.
Day: January 30, 2018
Tom Hoge’s journey from Fargo to TOURTom Hoge’s journey from Fargo to TOUR
For the record, Tom Hoge has seen the movie. And let’s be real. Isn’t that what you want to ask him when you find out he’s from Fargo, North Dakota? Yes, that Fargo. The city where Hoge grew up is the setting for the darkly comic 1996 crime film written and directed by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. The quirky movie, which stars William H. Macy and Frances McDormand, who won an Academy Award for her role, has become something of a cult classic. And no matter where he goes – Hoge now lives in Fort Worth, Texas – when he tells someone where he’s from the scenario is the same. “The first reaction is usually the movie, yes,â€� Hoge says with a wry smile. “And then the second statement is that I’m the first person they’ve ever met from North Dakota. “So I’m kind of ready for those two all the time.â€� Of course, with former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz leading the Philadelphia Eagles into the Super Bowl on Sunday, the  sports landscape is changing a bit. But he grew up in Bismark and the only movie by that name is a 1940 film about the prime minister of Prussia. So, it’s just not the same. That said, “Fargoâ€� wasn’t filmed in North Dakota’s most populous city. The movie was actually shot around Minneapolis-St. Paul and in the town of Brainerd, Minnesota, which is about 90 minutes away from Fargo. “It’s kind of more out in the country than we would like to claim in Fargo,â€� Hoge said with a smile. “But it was pretty funny. A little different. Dark humor, for sure.â€� Fargo’s visitors center even has an exhibit that includes several of the original scripts, as well as few props. Among those is the wood chipper which the organization’s website calls the “most notorious prop in cinematic history.â€� Hoge actually was born in Statesville, North Carolina, but moved to Fargo when he was 6 months old. He lived in North Dakota full-time until 2007 when he went to Fort Worth to play golf at Texas Christian University. He’s lived there ever since. At its best, the golf season in Fargo – which was voted as “America’s Toughest Weather Cityâ€� in a 2011 poll on The Weather Channel — only runs from mid-April to mid-November. Hoge can remember high school tournaments as late as in May that were snowed out but he made the most of the days when Mother Nature cooperated. “I kind of laugh, frost delays in Phoenix and places like that when it’s 40 or 45 degrees,â€� Hoge says. “I remember days out playing golf when it was 25 degrees in Fargo. “The golf courses probably didn’t like it that much but I was always trying to get out there and play.â€� Hoge started playing golf when he was 3 years old. He and his brother Charlie would tag along, hitting a few shots here and there, when their parents went to Fargo Country Club. He was inspired by Tiger Woods’ first Masters win and by the time he was 10, Hoge could be found hanging out at the golf course whenever there wasn’t any snow on the ground. “It doesn’t sound like it, Fargo, North Dakota being a golf town, but our golf club had a par-three course where the holes were 60 to 125 yards long and kids could go play that as much as they wanted,â€� he says. “It really was a good spot to grow up and learn how to play.â€� In fact, Hoge estimates, he’s one of 5 or 10 golfers from Fargo who went on to play NCAA Division I golf despite being limited by the relatively short season. A couple played on the Nationwide Tour, as did Hoge, but he is the first to make it to the PGA TOUR full-time. “There were a few times in the winter where I’d be trying to go to play in tournaments in Arizona or somewhere and there’d be snow on the ground,â€� Hoge remembers. “But I’d just kind of shovel the snow away and hit a few balls. “On more than one occasion I would say I’d be the only person on the course every day. But I always wanted to play on the PGA TOUR so I’d use whatever opportunities I had to get better.â€� When the snow piled up – Fargo had to dig out from a record 117 inches of the white stuff during the winter of 1996-97 – Hoge did have another option. He could go to the Sports Bubble and hit off mats at the indoor driving range. While it may not have been satisfying seeing the ball just go 50 yards or so, it was a good place to work on the fundamentals of the game. And it was warm. “So there’s parts when I look back on it growing up in Fargo that were very beneficial to me,â€� Hoge says. “Obviously, you’re limited just not being able to practice and get the experience other guys would in Texas and Florida or other parts of the country. “But it was a good spot. You learn work ethic up there pretty good just because your time is so much shorter than everyone else.â€� Hoge, who is quick to point out that he doesn’t miss the snow or the winters in North Dakota, is currently in the midst of the best year of his TOUR career. He’s had two top-10s in eight starts, including a tie for third at the Sony Open in Hawaii where he held the third-round lead. The way Hoge sees it, weathering the brutal winters in a city that is just 160 miles from the Canadian border, builds character and that has helped him along the way. “If you’d look at kind of the way my career’s been there’s been a lot of times where I’d been struggling and kind of close to losing status,â€� Hoge says. “And going back to the Web.com Tour finals this year I had to birdie seven of the last 12 holes to get back out on the PGA TOUR. “And I think there’s some of that fight that growing up in North Dakota instilled in me.â€�
Jaromir Jagr’s long NHL career appears to be over. Should the #Penguins retire his number? Vote here:Jaromir Jagr’s long NHL career appears to be over. Should the #Penguins retire his number? Vote here:
PITTSBURGH — If you spent any time around a water cooler Tuesday, you probably heard Jaromir Jagr’s name thrown around at least once. Jagr, who will turn 46 in two weeks, was waived Sunday by the Calgary Flames. He cleared waivers and will return to his native Czech Republic to continue his playing
Featured groups: Waste Management Phoenix OpenFeatured groups: Waste Management Phoenix Open
Hideki Matsuyama chases his third consecutive Waste Management Phoenix Open title, with 131 other players determined to stand in his way this week. Among those are Matsuyama’s playing partners Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson, who know quite well the difficulties of trying to beat the young Japanese star at TPC Scottsdale. Tee times are set for the first two rounds, and golf fans can follow the action on a variety of platforms, including PGA TOUR LIVE. Broadcasts on the live stream will begin at 9:15 a.m. ET each day with featured groups, and then transition to featured hole coverage at 3 p.m. ET. Featured holes consist of the raucous par-3 16th as well as the par-4 17th. Saturday and Sunday coverage on PGA TOUR LIVE begins at 11:30 a.m. ET. PGA TOUR Radio’s coverage is 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET for the first two rounds, 2-7 p.m. ET on Saturday and 1-6 p.m. ET on Sunday. Golf Channel will carry live coverage for the first two rounds, with CBS carrying the bulk of the weekend coverage. Here’s a look at the featured groups for the two days (current FedExCup ranking in parentheses): Rickie Fowler (19), Hideki Matsuyama (32), Webb Simpson (55). Let’s see – Matsuyama beat Fowler in a playoff to win at TPC Scottsdale in 2016. Then last year, Matsuyama beat Simpson in a playoff to successfully defend his title. Maybe Fowler and Simpson will relish the opportunity to gain a little revenge. Tee times: Rd. 1 – 9:47 a.m. (7:47 a.m. local) off 10th tee; Rd. 2 – 2:02 p.m. ET (12:02 p.m. local) off 1st tee Jon Rahm (2), Xander Schauffele (42), Phil Mickelson (46). Mickelson graduated from nearby Arizona State in 1992 with a psychology degree. Rahm graduated from ASU in 2016 with a communications degree. And Schauffele graduated in 2015 with a social sciences degree (but not from ASU; he went to San Diego State). Why do we have a feeling there will be lots of trash talk and mind games in this group? Tee times: Rd. 1 – 9:56 a.m. (7:56 a.m. local) off 10th tee; Rd. 2 – 2:11 p.m. ET (12:11 p.m. local) off 1st tee Charley Hoffman (129), Matt Kuchar (144), Bubba Watson (193). Shocking to think about — if the regular season ended today, none of these three would qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs. Combined, they’ve made eight starts this season, with the best finish a T18 by Hoffman (a Waste Management ambassador) in Vegas last fall. Fortunately, they have a few more opportunities to get inside that top 125 in the standings — specifically, about seven months. So no need to panic … yet. Tee times: Rd. 1 – 2:02 p.m. ET (12:02 p.m. local) off 1st tee; Rd. 2 – 9:47 a.m. ET (7:47 a.m. local) off 10th tee Patton Kizzire (1), Justin Thomas (7), Jordan Spieth (88). The last two FedExCup champs along with the current FedExCup leader. Kizzire has two wins in his last eight starts. Thomas and Spieth have two wins in their last 13 combined starts. Not sure how significant that is; just food for thought. Tee times: Rd. 1 – 2:11 p.m. ET (12:11 p.m. local) off 1st tee; Rd. 2 – 9:56 a.m. ET (7:56 a.m. local) off 10th tee
Capitals eager for 2018 Winter Olympics despite no NHL presenceCapitals eager for 2018 Winter Olympics despite no NHL presence
Evgeny Kuznetsov has his setup ready. In his home, the Capitals center has already purchased the special device that allows him to stream Russian channels to his TV. So when the Winter Olympics start in less than two weeks, Kuznetsov — who likely would have been on Russia’s national hockey team —
Brady hopes Long goes easy on him SundayBrady hopes Long goes easy on him Sunday
Tom Brady said Tuesday that he hopes former teammate Chris Long “respects his elders a bit” and doesn’t hit Brady too hard if he gets a shot in Super Bowl LII.
The Masters lingers in his mind, but does Tiger Woods have time?The Masters lingers in his mind, but does Tiger Woods have time?
Woods says it’s too early to be thinking about Augusta, but he’s also dropping hints about the year’s first major — one that he won four times between 1997 and 2005. There’s a lot of work to do between now and April.
Strength of remaining schedule for all 31 NHL teamsStrength of remaining schedule for all 31 NHL teams
Still not on the Jets’ bandwagon yet? After we analyzed a series of factors on every NHL team’s remaining slate, Winnipeg is looking like the odds-on favorite to take the Central Division crown. Who else is helped (and hurt) disproportionately?
Sources: Pels, Bulls can’t complete Mirotic dealSources: Pels, Bulls can’t complete Mirotic deal
The New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls are unable to complete a trade for forward Nikola Mirotic because Mirotic is awaiting his $12.5 million team option for the 2018-19 season to be exercised, league sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
One-handed LB Griffin gets invite to combineOne-handed LB Griffin gets invite to combine
Shaquem Griffin said Tuesday in a video posted on Twitter that he has received a long-awaited invite to the NFL scouting combine.