Michael Jordan got a new nickname from a certain city of San Francisco official on Thursday. "Spare the Air Jordan" was coined as the city of San Francisco sent a formal complaint to the PGA and threatened to levy a fine against the US Team's captain's assistant Michael Jordan. Why? Jordan was smoking a cigar. The monumental fine was only a $100 total, which Jordan could pay nearly a million times over, and the spectacle was used more as a political statement, that the hippies in San Francisco will enforce their anti-tobacco smoking rules to anyone, even a celebrity. Interestingly enough, the city of San Francisco threw a fit over Jordan's cigar on a golf course (not a totally unheard of concept), yet they play home to more "medical" marijuana shops than nearly any other city in the world. Apparently, smoking tobacco is a disgusting violation of rights, but smoking pot and getting stoned are well within the rights of a San Francisco resident. The entire scenario has further enhanced the perception that certain parties in San Francisco and California are becoming more and more controlling by legislating their own liberal opinions and becoming further out of touch with reality.
Meanwhile, some spectacular golf was being played, as the US team took an early 3.5 to 2.5 lead over the International team.
Tiger Woods and Wisconsin's own Steve Stricker teamed up for the day's most overwhelming victory, beating the International combo of Geoff Ogilvy and Ryo Ishikawa 6 and 4. Here is a complete rundown of the Thursday foursome matches:
Thursday Foursomes
| International Team | US Team | Status | ||
| Weir/Clark | Kim/Mickelson | USA wins 3 and 2 | ||
| Scott/Els | Mahan/O'Hair | INT wins 2 and 1 | ||
| Singh/Allenby | Glover/Cink | INT wins 1 up | ||
| Cabrera/Villegas | Perry/Johnson | USA wins 2 up | ||
| Ogilvy/Ishikawa | Woods/Stricker | USA wins 6 and 4 | ||
| Goosen/Yang | Furyk/Leonard | AS | ||
The Friday format will shift to Four-ball, and new team pairings will be announced shortly before the matches begin. With such a close race, Friday's action should be well worth the price of admission.
Comments
What a joke. So what if the guy smokes a cigar? It's a golf course, that's usually a good place for a guy to smoke one. They should leave MJ alone!
Jordan should just dunk on them all. The matches this year have been pretty good, unlike some other years. Fun stuff, good article.
You are absolutely right: the rich and famous operate by an entirely different set of rules! Damn those liberal hippies anyway!
Look, the ban was against smoking ON a golf course, NOT smoking in general. I don't know about you, but I'd really like a family-friendly place such as a golf course to be smoke-free.
Where is Eric Cartman when you need him?
Good job Michael! Tell them it's pot and they will bow down and worship you because that" a big joint you are toking on!!
Comparing a cigar to S.F's medical marijuana is just stupid.
MJ can't fire up a spliff on the course either.
San Francisco sux
Housing, sidewalks, and parks are off limits to smokers. What a drag!
Hopefully you have a car cause that is the only legal place you are allowed to smoke at.
Dont forget to pay the meter while tokin up or that too will cost you $100.
Any golfer knows that cigars have long been a popular choice on the golf course. This is why most top shelf courses offer them on the course for outrageous prices. San Francisco making this statement just looks overbearing and intrusive. Besides, the author is right, they have no problem with smoking weed, so why be so judgemental over this?
I was just at Harding Park watching the U.S. kick some foreign BUTT and I saw/smelled no less than 1 half dozen persons smoking as usual. In fact one guy told me he was smoking just to join in solidarity with Jordan. No one cares. Please make this story go away.
I don't smoke, but I think a man should be able to enjoy a cigar on the golf course if he wants to. We should be talking about the golf instead of celebrity gossip anyway! Another good read from the Milwaukee Golf Examiner!
I love to smoke the green stuff and the brown stuff. Let the guy smoke.
I agree with the author, stupid move by S.F... Hey Karl, how about some more golf instruction articles?
Don't get me wrong. I love MJ, golf and basketball. Having said that, why should he be exempt from the laws that every other person has to follow? Non-smoking ordinances are common all over the world (the civilized world) and it is unfair to talk about "hippies' (does anybody really use that word any more) when there are health and legal issues involved.
"The monumental fine was only a $100 total, which Jordan could pay nearly a million times over". He could pay it more then 5 million times over. Stupid rule whats next in San Fran people won't be allowed to drink alcohol in bars.
Boy are you a real wussy if you think someone smoking on a golf course is harmful the limp wrist leftys have really lost it!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!