THE AIR BUZZED WITH THE kind of anticipation usually reserved for heavyweight championships, as Arturo Gatti climbed through the ropes to battle Leonard Dorin for the WBC super-lightweight championship at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall last Saturday night.
It was heavy with hype and excitement; the best of times in a sport that usually suffers from the worst of times. In the first round it looked like Dorin might be the kind of opponent who would be hard to hit and hard to fight for Gatti, using a peek-a-boo style and hiding his head behind his upraised gloves.
Then came the mother of all body shots ever thrown in the post-casino era in Atlantic City.
It was a short, crisp clean punch near the end of the second round that not only sucked the air out of Dorin, but the entire Boardwalk Hall as well. Nobody could breathe after this body shot; not even the spectators it seemed. As Dorin lay on the canvas trying to suck in air that wasn't there, the Hall erupted in a giant gasp.
Were they cheering for Gatti or simply trying to catch their own collective breath?
Another Saturday night, another Gatti fight.
But this one was different in that Gatti appeared to be the perfect fit for the new image of Atlantic City; hip, chic, young and unmarked after the fight. Kudos to Ken Condon and Caesars Entertainment for bringing in another mega event.
"It's nice to be here (at the post-fight press conference) and not at the Atlantic City Medical Center,'' Gatti said after his second-round triumph.
This time there was no broken hand; no post-fight trip to the emergency room.
This time there was more strategy from Gatti's trainer Buddy McGirt. Like the bunt in baseball; the body shot has become a lost art in boxing.
"I went back to the corner after the first round and Buddy told me to forget the head and go to the body,'' Gatti said. "So I set him up because he leaves the arms up and he has a good guard. I knew he would leave the body open.''
The sound of the punch as it hit Dorin's ribs cracked throughout the night in Boardwalk Hall. End of fight; beginning of a new image for Gatti.
No longer just a warrior who would sacrifice himself to win, Gatti has now become a skilled boxer with charisma. In fact, he just might be the hottest ticket in boxing right now.
Who out there can sell tickets like Gatti? Do you even know the names of the heavyweight contenders?
The crowd that filled the Boardwalk Hall Saturday night had fight written it all over it. They were boxing fans and they were upscale and they didn't feel cheated. That led to a great drop at the Caesars Entertainment properties Saturday night, in excess of $5 million at Bally's alone. The hold may have been a different story, but you take your chances on nights like this.
Breathe deep, please. After the Gatti body punch that ended the night for Dorin, it was not so easy to exhale.
Chuck Betson can be heard every Friday at 8:30am on ESPN 1450AM radio with a sports segment on the Hurley in the Morning show.
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Record Breaker
Gomez edges Saliba in dramatic 'Round the Island Swim finish
by Lori Hoffman
SUPERB CONDITIONS MADE for a record-breaking Around the Island Marathon Swim July 24. Stephane Gomez of France shattered the 6-hour, 54-minute mark recorded by fellow Frenchman Stephane Lecat in 2001 with a dramatic, neck-and-neck victory over Aussie Mark Saliba. After nearly seven hours in the water, Gomez and Saliba headed for the Gardner's Basin finish line stroke for stroke. Near the finish they bumped briefly, before Gomez had enough sprint left in him to nip Saliba by one second. The overcast skies, calm water and mild ocean temperature (76 degrees) made the trek around the 22.5 miles of Absecon Island ripe for a record. All told four competitors broke the record: Bulgaria's Petar Stoychev came in third at 6:44:03, and Gabriel Chaillou of Argentina was fourth at 6:50:16. Not one professional competitor failed to finish the race, an unofficial first for the grueling test that starts in the bay, moves to the ocean leg from Atlantic City to around the Longport jetty, then heads for the back bays.
On the distaff side, Germany's Angela Maurer, a longtime Island Swim competitor, earned her first victory in the race with a time of 7:00:41, besting fellow German Britta Kamrau (7:01:20), sixth overall. Defending champion Natalia Pankina of Russia was third (7:04:22). The victory also put Maurer in first place in the FINA Marathon World Cup Standings ahead of Kamrau. Gomez and Maurer each earned $5,000 for the win.
Next up for the marathoners is the Lac St. Jean swim July 31 in Quebec, Canada. The swimmers will return to Atlantic City for the FINA-sanctioned 10K For the USA Swim September 11, a mere 6.2 miles from the municipal pier at Washington and Amherst avenues in Margate to the ACHS crew house near the Albany Avenue Bridge in Atlantic City.
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On the Ball
Surf begins second half with 7-3 record
by Lori Hoffman
IT MIGHT BE PREMATURE, but I'm casting my vote right now for Jeff Ball as Manager of the Year in the Atlantic League. In his first season at the helm, Ball has got the Atlantic City Surf playing the right way. The consistently excellent play of the team is all the more remarkable when you consider the constant flux of his lineup, in the revolving door that is the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
The team has already lost eight players to affiliated ball call-ups, the latest being Ryan Minor right before the all-star break. You might think losing the league's leader in home runs, who was on a major tear, would deal a setback to the Surf. On top of that, winning the Southern Division first half title with a 38-24 record (that's 14 games over .500 Mr. Bowa) could have set the team up for a letdown.
Instead, the Surf has continued right where it left off, with a 7-3 record to start the second half. They are winning with homers. They are winning with solid starting pitching and good relief work. They are winning because they can play both small ball with stolen bases, timely bunts and sacrifice flies, and let-her-rip long ball.
Last week's sweep of the Long Island Ducks at home featured a 4-3 win with back-to-back-to-back homers by Raul Marval, Ozzie Timmons and Dario Delgado. This Surf team doesn't get rattled when the other team rallies. Against the Newark Bears, the team saw a 5-0 lead evaporate into a 5-5 tie, but fought back to win 7-5. This week the Surf broke up a rare 0-0 extra inning game on the road against Bridgeport with a demoralizing five-spot in the top of the eleventh highlighted by Ozzie Timmons' league-leading nineteenth homer.
I rest my case. Jeff Ball has to be the front-runner for Manager of the Year in the Atlantic League.
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Join the (Private) Club
Never thought you could afford to join a private country club? Greate Bay Golf Club may surprise you.
by Joe Gorman
GREATE BAY GOLF CLUB has seen many changes since its inception in 1923. The Lake family, founders of Ocean City, commissioned Willie Park, Jr., noted Scottish golfer and architect, to create a quality golf course. He built the course on a beautiful piece of land overlooking Great Egg Harbor Bay its surrounding salt marshes. It was an excellent location because the bay breezes help maintain moderate temperatures, even to this day, allowing a longer golf season.
The course has changed hands several times over the years. It was bought by Gene Gatti in the early '70s, who changed the name from Ocean City-Somers Point Golf Club to Greate Bay Country Club. He hired George Fazio and his nephew, Tom, who is now a famous golf course architect in his own right, to redesign it. It was open to the public for many years and hosted the ShopRite LPGA Classic for 10 years. Local entrepreneur Archie Struthers bought the course in 1998 and began renovations to restore some of Park's original design ideas and holes.
I wish he had changed the 12th hole; I still think it's one of the toughest par-4 holes in the area. A 25-yard waste area crosses the fairway in front of the forward tee; dense woods border the right side of the fairway for 250 yards and the fairway slopes to a lake that borders the left side. If you have a good tee shot to the end of the fairway, you still have a 200-yard dogleg left to go, over a creek and a large bunker to an elevated multi-level green.
The latest change in ownership involves Archie Struthers and a coalition of business associates which includes Michael Botte, Jack Thomas, Mark Benevento and former 76ers president, Pat Croce. In a recent interview, Struthers and General Manager Gary Massey assured this writer that improvement of the golf course is the primary goal of the group and the future of the golf course is not in jeopardy.
The restoration continues under the direction of Ken Thompson, superintendent of golf course operations. Thompson graduated with high honors from Penn State University; he holds a Turfgrass Membership Certificate and recently completed 15 years as superintendent of Stone Harbor Golf Club.
The greens and fairways are better this year than I have ever seen them. That's not just my opinion. A USGA Green Section Turf Advisory Service report completed last month stated: "The turf at Great Bay was in perfect shape and a number of major improvements have been made in the last year. The putting greens are healthier and their soils have been modified more effectively. Offending trees have been removed in a couple of areas, improving turf grass health and playability; however, the most improved areas of the course are the fairways -- bent grass was 50 percent more than last year in most areas, and some areas approached 70 percent. This is a remarkable achievement which has improved playability and reliability both; congratulations!"
The greens and fairways were very consistent and I played the whole course without losing any balls, a remarkable achievement for me. Private courses have more amenities than public courses. Private courses are usually in better condition than public courses because they get less traffic than public courses. Greate Bay offers all the golf amenities, including club storage facilities, men's and women's locker rooms, driving range and short-game practice facilities, well-stocked pro shop and lessons by trained professionals. Besides a full schedule of golf tournaments for club members and their families, Greate Bay has a calendar of social events for members including a gala New Year's Eve Party.
Members can make tee time reservations 14 days in advance and there is no waiting to tee off and nobody pressuring you to play faster. My partner and I played 18 holes in less than three and a half hours. The par 70 course is 6,037 yards from the white tees. The holes vary in length from the 112-yard par-3 third hole to the 525-yard par-5 6th and there are no tricky holes. There's a surprising variety of elevation changes (most seashore courses are flat) and no two holes are alike.
Another pleasant surprise is the cost; membership fees are lower than some of the public courses in the area. A full membership fee for one golfer is $2,650; $3,650 for member and spouse. This includes unlimited golf play (without green fees) at any time the course is open for play. An associate membership fee of $300 requires one to pay green fees and limits playing time. For complete details, call head golf professional Mike Carson at 927-0066.
One of the best improvements benefits golfers and non-golfers alike. The pro shop has been relocated behind the Pub & Grille, and the Park Room Restaurant is now in the former pro shop area. The more spacious Park Room (named for the club's architect) is under the direction of Certified Executive Chef Michael Carmody, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University. The Pub & Grille is open to the public daily, serving soups, salads, deli-style sandwiches ($5.95-$7.50), grilled sandwiches, burgers and chef's specials ($4.95-$10.95). The Park Room has a full menu of appetizers ($6.00-$9.50), soups and salads ($2.00 for a cup of clam chowder to $14.00 for broiled sea scallops over mixed greens). Entrees are priced from $14.00 for pasta primavera to $27.00 for filet mignon Oscar-style, and include a tempting array of beef, veal, poultry and seafood dishes.
The second floor of the Greate Bay clubhouse offers 4,100 square feet of meeting and banquet space overlooking the beautiful course, ideal for meetings, banquets and weddings for groups of 50 to 500.
More information about Greate Bay Golf Club, a private club located at 901 Mays Landing Road in Somers Point, NJ, is available on the club's website at greatebay.com or by calling 927-5071 (clubhouse) or 927-0066 (pro shop).
Good Golf Guide
Golf Course Listings compiled by Joe Gorman / jgorman@acweekly.com
Avalon Golf Club 1510 Route 9 N., Cape May Court House; 465-4653. 18 holes, well-kept with good variety of holes, one blind, not much water. Greens fees to September 6: $69 on weekdays until 11am, $59 11am-3pm and $39 after 3pm; $79 on weekends until 11am, $59 11am-3pm and $44 after 3pm. Avalongolfclub.net
Blue Heron Pines Golf Course (East & West courses, both 4Þ-star 18 holes) 550 W. Country Club Dr., Cologne, off Tilton Rd.; 965-1800. Greens fees to Sept. 6: $101 Mon.-Thurs., $73 after 3pm; $126 Fri.-Sun. & holidays, $73 after 3pm. blueheronpines.com
Links at Brigantine Beach 1075 North Shore Dr., Brigantine Beach; 266-1388. Authentic Scottish Links course, Free GPS on all carts. Greens fees through Sept. 5: Mon.-Thurs. $69, $44 after 1pm, $30 after 4pm; Fri.-Sun. $79, $54 after 1pm, $30 after 4pm. Senior and resident discounts. brigantinegolf.com
Buena Vista Country Club Rt. 40 & Country Club Ln., Buena; 856-697-3733. Long 18-hole course but easy walking. Well maintained. Greens fees: weekdays $27; Fri. $32; weekends $35. Ask about ride and play/twilight specials. allforeclub.com/bvcc
Green Tree Golf Course The John Gaffney Green Tree Golf Course, 1030 Somers Point-Mays Landing Rd. (Rt. 559), EHT; 625-9131. Easy walking, short but challenging county-owned course. Greens fees: weekdays $28, weekends $35. Discounts w/county golf ID card. Cart fee $12.
Harbor Pines Golf Club 550 St. Andrews Dr., (off Ocean Heights Ave.), EHT; 927-0006. Golf Digest rates the 18-hole course 4 stars. Greens fees through Sept. 6: $95 weekdays, $120 for weekends and holidays. No pull carts allowed. Go to harborpines.com for specials.
Hamilton Trails Golf Club 620 Harbor Ave., (at Ocean Heights Ave.), Mays Landing; 641-6824. The Jersey shore's only regulation-length, 9-hole course. No tee times required. Greens fees (for 9 holes) $14 weekdays, $17 weekends. $7 cart fee (optional). Hamiltontrails.com
Mays Landing Golf & Country Club 1855 Cates Rd., Mays Landing; 641-4411. Great value for this 18-hole course. Call for greens fees. mayslandinggolf.com
McCullough's Emerald Golf Links 3016 Ocean Heights Ave., EHT; 926-3900. 18 holes; The only area course to offer 100-ft. elevation changes. Greens fees through summer: $60 Mon.-Thurs., $45 after 2pm; $80 Fri.-Sun. & Hol., $60 after 2pm. Moonlight rates after 5pm daily, $25. Discounts for County residents w/ID. mcculloughsgolf.com
The Pines at Clermont 358 Kings Hwy., Clermont (Dennis Twp.); 624-0100. Surprisingly pretty and varied layout for a nine-hole course. Greens fees until Sept. 2 are $30 (am), $25 (12-4pm), $20 (after 4pm).
Sand Barrens Golf Club 1765 Route 9N., Swainton; 465-3555. This 27-hole course has been rated 4-star. Heavy bunkering as the name implies. July & August: $100, $115. sandbarrensgolf.com
Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa 401 S. New York Rd., Galloway; 652-1800. This world-class resort is the only AAA-rated 4-Diamond resort in New Jersey, features two 18-hole, par-71 courses: The Bay and Pines courses. Rates through Oct. 17: $99/$59 weekdays, $129/$69 weekends. seaviewmarriott.com
Shore Gate Golf Club 35 School House Ln., Ocean View; 624-TEES. Spectacular parkland-style 18-hole course. Greens fees through Sept. 2: $95 Mon.-Thurs; Fri.-Sun. $106. shoregategolfclub.com
Twisted Dune 2101 Ocean Heights Ave., EHT; 653-8019. Scottish links-style, 18-hole course with rolling dunes, lots of bunkers. Greens fees through August 31: Mon.-Thurs. $89, $75 after 1pm, $70 after 3pm; Fri.-Sun. $109, $85 after 1pm, $70 after 3pm. twisteddune.com
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