Excerpt from The Plane Game

“Funny story actually. I was working as a fitness trainer in Los Angeles where I happened to meet this producer from ABC who approached me after class because he really liked my energy. Wow, can you believe we got the exit row?! You can’t beat this! It’s practically first class! In fact, I call this second first class. Know what I mean?! Anyway, so he tells me about this new reality show… something about life-size chess pieces… and says I should audition to host it. I say you’re crazy, but I’ll do it! Haha. Oh my gosh, I need a Ginger Ale. I absolutely love Ginger Ale! Who doesn’t though, am I right? Anyway, I audition for the part and here I am. The show is called Check Mate, by the way. Airs in November. For sweeps week, obviously. These seats recline! What kind of work do you do?”

The Plane Game!

My friend Clint and I play a game when we fly… where we assign each other a profession and personality quirk to take onto the airplane. Comedian who laughs wildly at his own jokes, treasure hunter who ends sentences in a questioning tone, magician who apologizes too much… you get the idea.

The only rule is that you go out of your way to make conversation.

Today I’m headed back to Nebraska so I just emailed him for my assignment. If you’re flying, be on the lookout for a game show host who gets super excited about everything.

U.S. Open Pool Results: Day 4

Monday. And it’s finally over. I think the wheels came off for a couple guys today, but at least it was a fun finish to watch. I’d like to congratulate Kevin (aka kevinroyden) on championing the second of four pools for the 2009 golf majors. Your prize, kind sir, is an Official Souvenir Program from the 2009 U.S. Open. And I shall be in touch with you soon to arrange it’s delivery.

Thanks again, all twelve of you, for playing. See you guys again in mid-July for the British Open.

One last look at our leaderboard…

1 kevinroyden +4 (Woods, Mickelson, Cink, Slocum)
2 gooneruk +5 (Garcia, Stenson, Rose, Ames)
T3 billgalusha +9 (Woods, Furky, Clark, Ames)
T3 tylerriewer +9 (Woods, Furyk, Weir, Jimenez)
5 The DA +11 (Villegas, Furyk, Weir, Ames)
6 benharms +12 (Woods, Mickelson, Cabrera, Van Pelt)
T7 kristywilke +15 (Mickelson, Stricker, Sabbatini, Mediate)
T7 whytluda +15 (Woods, Goosen, Romero, Weekley)
9 rubyriewer +16 (Mickelson, Ogilvy, Singh, Jimenez)
10 jimmyjimmyjimmy +17 (Woods, Casey, Westwood, Mediate)
——
MC menstrom (Woods, Harrington, Poulter, Crane)
MC dhill (Woods, Mickelson, Appleby, Jimenez)

U.S. Open Pool Results: Day 3

Round three update in the middle of day four… it’s bizarre, but what can you do. And fortunately, Barnes and Glove running away with the lead has little impact on this group here. Should be a tight finish. Results tomorrow.

Here’s the leaderboard going into the final round…

1 kevinroyden +1 (Woods, Mickelson, Cink, Slocum)
2 The DA +2 (Villegas, Furyk, Weir, Ames)
3 tylerriewer +4 (Woods, Furyk, Weir, Jimenez)
4 gooneruk +5 (Garcia, Stenson, Rose, Ames)
5 billgalusha +6 (Woods, Furky, Clark, Ames)
6 benharms +7 (Woods, Mickelson, Cabrera, Van Pelt)
7 kristywilke +9 (Mickelson, Stricker, Sabbatini, Mediate)
8 whytluda +10 (Woods, Goosen, Romero, Weekley)
9 rubyriewer +12 (Mickelson, Ogilvy, Singh, Jimenez)
10 jimmyjimmyjimmy +13 (Woods, Casey, Westwood, Mediate)
——
MC menstrom (Woods, Harrington, Poulter, Crane)
MC dhill (Woods, Mickelson, Appleby, Jimenez)

U.S. Open Pool Results: Day 2

Thursday’s rain delay has really made a mess of things, but here’s an update after the first two rounds. Remember, your score is made up of your three lowest player scores, so you need three guys to make the cut to stay alive. Sorry, menstrom and dhill.

Here’s the leaderboard…

1 The DA -5 (Villegas, Furyk, Weir, Ames)
2 tylerriewer -2 (Woods, Furyk, Weir, Jimenez)
3 kristywilke -1 (Mickelson, Stricker, Sabbatini, Mediate)
4 jimmyjimmyjimmy +2 (Woods, Casey, Westwood, Mediate)
T5 gooneruk +3 (Garcia, Stenson, Rose, Ames)
T5 rubyriewer +3 (Mickelson, Ogilvy, Singh, Jimenez)
T7 kevinroyden +4 (Woods, Mickelson, Cink, Slocum)
T7 billgalusha +4 (Woods, Furky, Clark, Ames)
9 benharms +5 (Woods, Mickelson, Cabrera, Van Pelt)
10 whytluda +7 (Woods, Goosen, Romero, Weekley)
——
MC menstrom (Woods, Harrington, Poulter, Crane)
MC dhill (Woods, Mickelson, Appleby, Jimenez)

Impromptu U.S. Open Pool?!

Remember how much fun we all had with the Masters pool a few months ago? Well we’re doing it again for the monster that is Bethpage Black. It works the same way… pick four players from the fields below (two from Group A, one from Group B, and one from Group C). This will be your team for the tournament. Submit that 4-person team in the answer box - along with your prediction for the winning score as a tie-breaker (example: -8 or 280).

Your best three scores will make up your total (which means three of your players must make the cut). And the lowest 3-person total wins. It’s easy!

Teams must be submitted before Thursday morning’s tee-off. Winner, once again, will receive some kind of golf-related prize from me. Email tylerriewer [at] gmail with questions.

Good luck!

GROUP A
T. Woods, P. Mickelson, G. Ogilvy, P. Harrington, P. Casey, R. Goosen, J. Furyk, H. Stenson, S. Garcia, S. O’Hair, K. Perry, E. Els, A. Kim, C. Villegas, D. Johnson, S. Stricker, R. McIlory, Z. Johnson, B. Gay, L. Donald

GROUP B
V. Singh, A. Cabrera, J. Mahan, A. Scott, L. Westwood, I. Poulter, S. Cink, R. Sabbatini, M. Weir, J. Leonard, J. Rose, D. Toms, N. Watney, K.J. Choi, T. Clark, A. Romero, R. Allenby, S. Appleby, R. Pampling, B. Curtis

GROUP C
G. McDowell, B. Weekley, R. Fisher, M. Jimenez, M. Kaymer, S. Ames, R. Imada, B. Snedeker, C. Campbell, C. Wi, L. Glover, R. Mediate, J. Mallinger, S. Kjeldsen, S. Hansen, B. Crane, J.M. Singh, J. Edfors, B. Van Pelt, B. Baird, C. Schwartzel, D.J. Trahan, M. Kuchar, J.B. Holmes, K. Sutherland, F. Funk, B. Watson, F. Molinari, H. Slocum, R. Moore