Burling:
Master’s: “Anytime there’s a good finish like that, and Tiger’s in the mix, you never know what’s going to happen. Just having Tiger there made it that much more enticing. It was a great showcase for golf fans to see where the sport is at with a lot of young guys coming up. It was unfortunate to see [Rory] McIlroy go out like he did, but he’ll be back, as he’s only 21. The way that [eventual winner] Charl Schwartzel finished was pretty amazing.”
NHL: “I like the Sharks this year. They made it to the Conference Finals last year, they’ve got a good team this year with a lot of experience, and hopefully they can make a run at it. I’d love to see them bring the Stanley Cup to San Jose. They definitely have one of the stronger teams.”
NCAA: “There’s a lot of gray area, though you hate to have that in the college game. College sports and academics are a full-time job, so it’s tough for some of those kids to support themselves when they’re so busy. I don’t think it’s out of the question that they shouldn’t be paid, but I’d like to see some type of movement towards the direction of some compensation. Hopefully they start cracking down some more on this type of thing.”
Busch:
NHL: “I’m stoked!! I was talking to [San Jose Sharks defensemen Jason] Demers yesterday and I can’t wait. The Sharks are going to win it all. My two reasons are: a) They’re scoring lots of goals right now, and b) Since Christmas, Antti [Niemi, Sharks goalie] has been playing the way he played last year for Chicago. They’re playing great, unselfish hockey as a team. My sleeper in the east to make the finals: the No. 8 seed New York Rangers. My two teams! I’m going to be very torn for the finals.”
Masters: “Nah, I don’t care about golf! Golf doesn’t do it for me. I’ve got a nice pair of clubs that I use maybe once a year, and that’s about it.”
NCAA: “You would think that compensation for players has got to be the next step. With the amount of money that’s made on football and basketball in college sports, you would think eventually that’s where it’s going get to. It seems like the next logical step.”
Ampai:
Masters: “I felt so bad for McIlroy. He’s young, but if he’d have just played like one of those days on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, he’d have won. It was the pressure, but he’s got plenty of time. I think having Tiger involved definitely helps. Everyone starts paying attention. People are looking forward to him really getting back to himself where he’s just dominating.”
NHL: “Since I’m in San Jose now, this is my new home and I am now a Sharks fan. Growing up I was a Dallas Stars fan, but now I’m with the Sharks. Stars were my team back in the day, when they had Mike Modano and some of those guys, but since he left, they haven’t been the same.”
NCAA: “Everyone kind of knows it’s out there. It’s a tough situation. It could happen at any school, but once you get caught that’s obviously going stick out. Once you start compensating players, who knows. The players play for the school and they’re there for their teammates, but there are people who take college sports to another level. It’s a business too. I think they just need to keep looking at it.”
