The Bird Man from the US Open: Drunk Activist interrupts Webb Simpson at Olympic

[michaeljames92]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

He didn't. Costas did. Simpson was answering a question when BirdBrain Man did his thing. Simpson kept going, but Costas interrupted. That's when Simpson said 'Enjoy the jail cell, pal', which I thought was a great line.

I thought it was a terrible line. For a start, he didn't commit an offence. This makes me dislike Webb even more.

[Mr. Desmond]

Yeah, Webb should have said, "Thanks for your support."

It always works.

[TourSpoon]

He should have said, "Polly want a cracker?" and kept right on with his interview.

[dsc123]

I also thought the line didn't make sense because he probably wasn't going to jail.  But perhaps he was arrested for drunk and disorderly.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by michaeljames92

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipazoid

He didn't. Costas did. Simpson was answering a question when BirdBrain Man did his thing. Simpson kept going, but Costas interrupted. That's when Simpson said 'Enjoy the jail cell, pal', which I thought was a great line.

I thought it was a terrible line. For a start, he didn't commit an offence. This makes me dislike Webb even more.

Since you obviously disliked him as a person before, you're a little biased on this one, eh?

[zipazoid]

Sheesh. Give Webb a break. He's on cloud nine over winning the Open, he's accepting the trophy & being interviewed when this a-hole totally pisses on his moment for his own selfish reasons. In light of all that I thought Webb showed some creativity with his line. I interpret the line as 'You wanted to steal my spotlight? Well you did. Enjoy the consequences, pal.'

[iacas]

I think the line was fine. Seriously, people are criticizing WEBB SIMPSON for his reaction to this? Gimme a break. I don't care if he said "that was stupid" or just ignored it altogether. Unless he tackled the guy himself, or something like that, I see no point in discussing how WEBB reacted. Gee whiz.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by dsc123

I also thought the line didn't make sense because he probably wasn't going to jail.  But perhaps he was arrested for drunk and disorderly.

Webb said, "Enjoy the jail cell . . .". Maybe wherever Webb is from they still have some sort of "drunk tank" where people spend some time in a "jail cell" even if they're not formally charged. We do.

[Mr. Desmond]

I mean, who cares?

Webb won, and next year, that is what we will remember.

Not the bird man or his reaction to it - I mean, that was an uncomfortable moment for everyone, everyone except the bird.

But what player did the USGA identify?

Did Webb hit a lot of fairways, greens, putts? Was he #1 in any category? The leader board is what counts. But was it luck, toughness, just good enough? Just enough of no bad mistakes?

Is that it?

We identified the best player who did nothing horrible?

Is that what the Open is about?

[x129]

The problem is the guy really didn't look like a bird man. He looked like a drunk idiot who was going to spend a couple hours sleeping it off in a jail cell. He is like the streaker at sporting events.

Now given the Union Jack on the head maybe some crack about a Luke Donald supporter would have been funny but I can't come up with one off the top my head.

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

He should have said, "Polly want a cracker?" and kept right on with his interview.

Originally Posted by michaeljames92

I thought it was a terrible line. For a start, he didn't commit an offence. This makes me dislike Webb even more.

[sacm3bill]

Originally Posted by dsc123

I also thought the line didn't make sense because he probably wasn't going to jail.  But perhaps he was arrested for drunk and disorderly.

Drunk and disorderly was one possibility that would include jail time. Trespassing might have been another. (Turns out it's not trespassing to go behind the ropes, as long as you already have a grounds ticket, but point being it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that he would be arrested at the time Webb made the comment.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsc123

I also thought the line didn't make sense because he probably wasn't going to jail.  But perhaps he was arrested for drunk and disorderly.

Webb said, "Enjoy the jail cell . . .". Maybe wherever Webb is from they still have some sort of "drunk tank" where people spend some time in a "jail cell" even if they're not formally charged. We do.

Yep, and according to news reports, the drunk tank is exactly where the guy was held. Close enough to a jail cell for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

...But what player did the USGA identify?

Did Webb hit a lot of fairways, greens, putts? Was he #1 in any category? The leader board is what counts. But was it luck, toughness, just good enough? Just enough of no bad mistakes?

Is that it?

We identified the best player who did nothing horrible?

Is that what the Open is about?

The US Open is about determining the best golfer by figuring out who shot the lowest score over 4 days. Did Webb not do that, or am I missing your point?

Edit: Removed some but not all of the unnecessary sarcasm. :-)

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

Pretty sure the US Open is about determining the best golfer by figuring out who shot the lowest score over 4 days. Did Webb not do that, or am I missing your point somehow?

Said that in my post.

My questions were more rhetorical. I've heard something like the [USGA] tries to reward good shots and penalize bad shots to identify the best player that week under difficult conditions...

Really?

It seemed like good shots were penalized, too. Odd fairways where a good drive went bad, shaved areas off the green to trick things up, etc.  Oh, well, I guess it tests mental toughness and was a survival test, and ultimately, maybe that is what was tested - mental toughness and dealing with bad breaks, really bad breaks, and overcoming tough conditions. I mean, all these guys have great skills, but no one skill seemed to stand out last week.

But is that what one wants from a US Open?

Well, we certainly don't want a Congressional Birdie Fest, but I don't think we want what we saw last week either...

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Webb said, "Enjoy the jail cell . . .". Maybe wherever Webb is from they still have some sort of "drunk tank" where people spend some time in a "jail cell" even if they're not formally charged. We do.

I don't think that's why he assumed he was going to jail.  I think it has more to do with people that get held in the "drunk tank" or local cell when they storm football/baseball fields and basketball courts in order to disrupt the action and get on TV (think streakers, etc).  This felt a lot like that.

[sacm3bill]

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

It seemed like good shots were penalized, too. Odd fairways where a good drive went bad, shaved areas off the green to trick things up, etc.  Oh, well, I guess it tests mental toughness and was a survival test, and ultimately, maybe that is what was tested - mental toughness and dealing with bad breaks, really bad breaks, and overcoming tough conditions. I mean, all these guys have great skills, but no one skill seemed to stand out last week.

But is that what one wants from a US Open?

Well, we certainly don't want a Congressional Birdie Fest, but I don't think we want what we saw last week either...

FYI, I'm going to respond in the main US Open thread since this is off the Bird Man topic.

[dsc123]

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

I don't think that's why he assumed he was going to jail.  I think it has more to do with people that get held in the "drunk tank" or local cell when they storm football/baseball fields and basketball courts in order to disrupt the action and get on TV (think streakers, etc).  This felt a lot like that.

I'm pretty sure what Webb was thinking about was answering the question Costas posed. In fact, that's what he was doing when BirdBrain did his thing. Webb paused, chuckled, then continued to answer the question. It was only when Costas interjected about 'Always something to spice matters up' then put the mic in Webb's face did he actually respond to BirdBrain by saying 'Enjoy the jail cell, pal'. I thought Webb handled it great.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Webb said, "Enjoy the jail cell . . .". Maybe wherever Webb is from they still have some sort of "drunk tank" where people spend some time in a "jail cell" even if they're not formally charged. We do.

I don't think that's why he assumed he was going to jail.  I think it has more to do with people that get held in the "drunk tank" or local cell when they storm football/baseball fields and basketball courts in order to disrupt the action and get on TV (think streakers, etc).  This felt a lot like that.

You don't think he meant what I said, but more likely what you said, even though we said exactly the same thing? That sheds some light on things.

[Shorty]

I think Webb did well to say anything at all. I don't know what woud be more distracting, the Bird Man or Costas' rug.

Do Bob Costas pop up at all major sporting events?  Do you poor Americans have to listen to him at the Olympics, for example? Ergh!!! Give me Jim Nantz any day.

[VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YDlyKjJf5g[/VIDEO]