Finchem's Final Presser: Samples Some B-Speak Classics, Declares Tiger The Greatest Ever

He's revving the engine, kicking up a dust storm and not going quietly! Even though Tim Finchem has asked Jack Nicklaus for no shortage of favors, has been holding back the B-Speak of late, the Commish let out a shocker: Tiger is the greatest player ever!

Steve DiMeglio on Finchem's farewell Tour Championship press conference where the B-speak was flowing, including a surprise unfurling a new nautical-themed aphorism!

“I'm proudest about the quality of our team and the interface with the players,” Finchem said.

Interface, oh how I missed you.

Finchem admitted to feeling a little sad to leave at a time with much upside. (I know, I know, upside is so 1995.)

“The only negative about stepping aside is the fact that it's a really, really exciting time for the sport. There's so much potential out there, more than ever. The global (nature) of the sport that we just saw manifested in the Olympics is out there in front of us to take advantage of. The quality of the young players coming up today is so much different than 20 years ago in terms of, not just their capability of playing, but their unbelievable focus on reaching fans, communicating. They handle themselves so well. It just creates more value for the business model, and that's happening around the globe really. So the next 25 years are going to be awesome.”

As for the Tiger declaration, I know Jack Nicklaus won't care a bit about this, but it's still a surprising thing to say-shocking?-from someone who is generally very sensitive to diplomacy. And who will be bugging Nicklaus to help with some First Tee fundraiser in the near future.

“Well, he's the only living player to win 79 times, and only one player has ever won more. He's the only active player to have won 14 majors, and only one player has won more. I love Jack Nicklaus beyond belief, but I have to put Tiger down as probably the greatest player to ever play, and the way he did it and his domination at a time when you're bringing more and more good players along, is incredible. It lifted all boats,” Finchem said.

According to Wikipedia...

The aphorism "a rising tide lifts all boats" is associated with the idea that improvements in the general economy will benefit all participants in that economy, and that economic policy, particularly government economic policy, should therefore focus on the general macroeconomic environment first and foremost.

Works for me! Though there is something particularly first-world about nautical and tidal references. Then again, this is golf.

Here's the video from GolfChannel.com related to the Tiger mention.

On international expansion, this unbylined Reuters story suggests Finchem laments not getting accelerating the PGA Tour overseas.

"We've done a lot of great things globally. I would have liked to have seen a little bit more acceleration there but ... there were other factors at work that impacted that situation globally."

Rex Hoggard used the opportunity presented by what sounds like a Commissioner winding down quickly, to review the Finchem reign. And there was this:

Never much for jokes, Finchem wrapped up his final formal press conference with a similarly out-of-character smile, “It's time for the organization to continue to morph. That's more important.”