A rookie’s day at the Accenture Match Play Championship
by Matt Lewis on Feb. 22, 2012, under SportsBy Matt Lewis
Freelance Journalist
MARANA, Ariz. –– Life’s about a journey. We all know – or at least have an idea – about where we go when we die. My journey today woke me up at 7:30 a.m. Arizona time. I walked the dog with my fiancé and got excited about what the day would bring. My boss was gone at my “other” job, so I left early. I am only an intern at a company in downtown Tucson, so don’t worry about me. They told me my hours were flexible and I had finished my work for the day. Then I turned my car north and headed towards the Accenture Match Play Golf Tournament being held at The Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain Golf Club.
I got here late in the game, so to speak, and saw Tiger Woods on the screen putting. He was one up thru the first nine holes. The only reason I mention his name is not because he’s the world’s No. 1 golfer (which he was before his adulterous lifestyle was made public), but because all these other media outlets will be on him like bees on honey.
Aaron Baddley, moments later sunk his putt and wrapped up a 2&1 loss according to one official. Other matches are still in progress. Woods, last I checked was down 1 thru 13 holes. The board is constantly rotating between the brackets and I am having trouble keeping track of the “premier” players and how their matches went. If you want the scores, I’d suggest checking www.ESPN.go.com/golf/, a professional sports journalism website devoted to golf. I am a rookie (journalist), like so many on the PGA Tour these days.
This next paragraph is an open love-letter to iDevice companies everywhere. I have a Flip HD digital video camera and a Verizon Wireless Droid Razr smartphone. Now Flip cameras went out of business according to a report from the Los Angeles Times Business Blog. The article was titled “Cisco System to shutter Flip camcorder unit, cuts 550 jobs.” The story was published April 12, 2011 last year.
If you don’t like technology or open letters to large companies, then I suggest you skip this paragraph. For journalists the world over, and for personal videos and photo enthusiasts everywhere, the smaller our devices get the happier we become. Journalism once was an invasive procedure, akin to a colonoscopy; but now a journalist can take photos and video without the subject ever knowing. Creating some way better journalistic products.
Now for all you Chicken Littles out there who say well the sky is falling and the media is “spying” on us, just remember that is what we are paid to do (in a broad generic sense). We follow laws and must take journalism ethics courses to learn how not to violate your rights, but as we navigate these murky waters, we try our best to respect your privacy while doing our job. If you’ve got a beef with us, tell us to stop and take your concerns to your federal legislators who govern these sorts of matters.
Okay, rant complete.
Today has been exciting and hectic all blended together into one desert palm margarita, which tastes pretty good. I am not getting paid, nor am I drinking on the job. You can look, but no unprofessionalism is taking place here. However, I am 21 and since this is volunteer I could, but choose not to drink. I should be lauded for this since it is the desert and a cold one sure would be nice.
Today’s scores don’t really matter. They cut the field in half; big deal that happens every day until there is one winner, just like life. The winner gets a hefty purse and says “Ping! (Or their club does) Boom! (And…) Thank you PGA Tour for paying me to perform the most fun, easiest job in the world.”
