A Country for Geezer Athletes

This was the news over the weekend, plus one more from the Olympics:

• Lance Armstrong - age 37 - 2nd so far in Tour de France -
• Tom Watson - age 59 - 2nd at British Open
• Dara Torres - age 41 - Olympic swimming gold medal

My only complaint about the coverage of Tom Watson's run at the British Open Championship over the weekend is simple. The story became that he lost. He became a "loser" because he didn't make it a win. If he had won he would have been the oldest ever to win a major championship by 11 or 12 years.

I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like losing to me. At age 59 he placed 2nd in the tough British Open field that - get this - Tiger Woods didn't make.

As an older American myself, but 13 months older that Watson, that sure sounds like resounding win to me!

Congratulations, Tom.

Note: Tom Peters, management guru, agrees with my take. Link. Here's what he said:

I really hope Tom Watson inspired other baby boomers as well. This is the time we must use our experience, our will, and some unflappable persistence to turn this thing around and get one more win before the end of our careers. Our experience should help us remember it was hard work, real labor, that sustained the economy. Our will should be strengthened by a determination to leave a better economy for our children. And our persistence should help us remember we win this thing shot by shot, never wavering, playing the conditions dealt us, and knowing that we can still win this thing. Tom Watson didn't show up in Scotland to be a ceremonial icon ... he went to win! Thanks Tom! And damn it, I really wished that putt had fallen!