There's been some mighty bizarre stuff going on in the world of sports lately.
And most of it has taken place off the field.
Sure, it's bad enough that the NFL and NBA are both in lockdown mode, although the NFL owners and players appear to have settled their differences.
But Tigers Woods decided it was time to can his caddie, Steve Williams, after a 12-year association that helped propel Woods to 13 major championships and a seat at the head of the table of the greatest golfers of all time.
With Woods again taking time off to try and heal his ailing knee, the timing of Williams' firing — it was officially announced a few days ago, though it actually occurred a couple of weeks ago — seems a bit odd.
But Tiger's problem isn't his caddie, and it isn't his knee or his ankle or his golf swing, either.
It's his head.
Yep, his real problem is between his ears. His best-of-all-time psyche has been irreparably damaged, and his once impenetrable mystique has been completely destroyed. He seems to have lost his fire and confidence, and he's no longer feared by his fellow Tour golfers. And unlike finding a new caddie or having another knee surgery, this problem won't be so easily fixed.
In fact, it might never be right again.
Ever since it was discovered that the world's greatest golfer with his classy image had been sleeping around like an unabashed slut, his entire world — marriage, personal life and golf game — have totally fallen apart.
He's gone through a divorce which was costly both financially and emotionally, and he has ruined his reputation beyond repair.
And the qualities that seemed to set him apart from all the rest — his mental toughness, fierce competitive desire and tenacious personality — seem to have deserted him.
Will he ever get it back? Will he ever again reign among the game's great players? Will he ever again challenge Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships, a feat that looked like a foregone conclusion for Tiger just a couple of years ago?
Don't ever count him out completely. But right now, it looks very doubtful.
And it may provide a shameful, disappointing conclusion to what was once one of pro sports' most brilliant careers.
Speaking of which, Roger Clemens' recent steroids fiasco was a bit of a farce, wasn't it?
One of the greatest baseball pitchers of all time wound up with a free pass after prosecutors botched his perjury case, resulting in a mistrial.
But until the judge allowed him to walk without the trial ever really getting started, Clemens looked mighty guilty of steroids use and of lying to a Congressional grand jury about it, too.
And although the big right-hander must be breathing a huge sigh of relief after avoiding possible jail time, at least for the time being, his lasting legacy — like that of Woods — has been tarnished forever.
Instead of his rightful place among the game's all-time greats, Clemens will be remembered as a combative guy who probably cheated when he really didn't need to — much like another one of baseball's steroids-era bad guys, Barry Bonds.
And when it comes to the ugly side of Major League Baseball, has there ever been a more dysfunctional, mismanaged mess of a franchise than the Los Angeles Dodgers?
First, a couple of their fans nearly beat a San Francisco Giants' fan to death in the Dodger Stadium parking lot after the season-opener.
Then the team's co-owner, Frank McCourt, fights with his estranged, now ex-wife Jamie over control of the team. Then he wages a battle with Commissioner Bud Selig over how to best resolve the bankrupt team's finances.
The Dodgers' franchise, long one of the proudest in all of baseball, is in a shambles, losing games on the field, losing fans in the stands and losing respect among the game's followers. There's been talk about the team not being able to make its payroll, and MLB may wind up taking over complete control of the franchise.
Unless, of course, McCourt can borrow back some his ex-wife's reported $650,000-a-month divorce settlement to pay the bills.
Yep, $650K a month — if nothing else, that'd sure buy a bunch of Dodger Dogs.
email: rhollis@desnews.com