Pitarresi: Lucas deserved to win, Rivera irreplaceable

 

I’ve been out of touch, having spent eight days in Wyoming.

 

Wyoming is a long way from a lot of places, but it is beautiful, and believe it or not, they have newspapers and television sets there. So, I was able to keep up with the national sports scene when I wasn’t fishing, trying to find a place to fish, sightseeing, dining lavishly at my sister’s house, or trying to make a fortune in the casinos.

 

 I watched the final round of the U.S. Open and felt good for Lucas Glover. He was able to hold it together – the way poor Ricky Barnes didn’t – and deserved to win. Seems like a good guy, and that’s a plus.

 

I felt bad for Barnes, who fell apart, but his talent showed. We might hear more from him soon. The hat killed me, though. Was that really a painter’s cap?

 

It would have been nice if Phil Mickelson had won, but I’m almost glad he didn’t. I think his wife’s  battle with breast cancer might have been turned into a maudlin soap opera, more of a story device than anything else.  

 

The guy I was pulling for was David Duval. He has been nowhere for years, but he just keeps plugging. If he never is a top player again, he proved he has some guts.

 

I did not see Mariano Rivera earn his 500th save. Quite a landmark. It seems strange to say that a relief pitcher could be at team’s most important player over 15 years, but, really, where would the Yankees have been without Rivera since 1995?