Mike Cullity

"Invictus" falls short of expectations

My wife and I snuck out last night to see "Invictus," the new Clint Eastwood-directed film about Nelson Mandela, South African rugby and the healing power of sport. Since seeing the previews, I had been eagerly anticipating this movie, which stars Morgan Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar, captain of the South African Springboks rugby squad.

The film chronicles South African president Mandela's mission to spur the Springboks to victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup as a way to help rebuild a nation fractured by decades of apartheid. Although the movie is entertaining, with Freeman and Damon turning in solid performances, I left the theatre mildly disappointed.

At the outset, Eastwood portrays the Springboks as a ragtag bunch of losers who stand little chance of contending for a world rugby title despite being revered by South Africa's white minority. Enter Mandela, the newly elected black president who served 27 years in the Robben Island prison under the apartheid regime. "Madiba," as his intimates call him, envisions a Springbok World Cup victory on South African soil uniting the country's races.

Mandela summons Pienaar to his office for a pep talk and instructs the mostly white team to conduct rugby clinics for black children in South Africa's forlorn townships. In the meantime, the Springboks mysteriously coalesce into winners and earn their way to the World Cup final against the fearsome All Blacks of New Zealand.

Before the big match, Mandela arrives at Springbok practice via chopper to wish the team luck and hands Pienaar a handwritten copy of "Invictus," the William Ernest Henley poem whose well-known last lines read: "I am the master of my fate/I am the captain of my soul." Mandela, the viewer has learned, looked to the poem for spiritual sustenance during his long incarceration. The Springboks also visit Robben Island before the final; inside Mandela's tiny cell, Eastwood portrays Pienaar recognizing the greater implications of the Springboks' on-field quest.

Predictably, the Springboks prevail, with their captain issuing the requisite "This is our destiny!" huddle speech. Although it's an inspiring true story based on John Carlin's 2008 book "Playing the Enemy," the film version does little to delve beneath the surface of the tale. I'd like to have seen more about the team's development from doormats to champions, and I had trouble suspending my disbelief that Mandela would be so consumed with rugby. And while Pienaar is a likable character, I wish Eastwood would have explored him more deeply. I'd also have appreciated a greater acknowledgement that, despite its power to inspire, sport itself cannot solve deep social divides.

Although it fell somewhat short of my expectations, "Invictus" is still worth seeing. Judging from its performance at the box office - it raked in $4.2 million nationwide last weekend, almost $6 million less than "The Blind Side," another inspirational sports drama - it may not be in theatres much longer, so if you prefer the big screen to home viewing I'd get out and see it soon.  

Prediction: Tiger's "break" won't be long

There's been a lot reported in recent days about how Tiger Woods'  "indefinite break" from professional golf will affect the business of the game. In this week's Sports Illustrated, Alan Shipnuck observes that Tiger's absence figures to depress PGA Tour TV ratings, which won't help the Tour attract sponsors in an already tenuous economic climate and will weaken its position in negotiating its next TV deal with the networks. Meanwhile yesterday's Boston Globe reported that Tiger's leave has left many golf-related businesses "worried about the future of a sport that has already been hurt by the recession."

I agree with the notion that a Tiger sabbatical, if extended, will exact a financial toll on the golf industry. But I also have a sneaking suspicion that golf's No. 1 player won't be gone long. In yesterday's Globe article, sports marketer Marc Ganis is quoted as saying, "Golf needs Tiger Woods more than Tiger Woods needs golf." While this may be true in a business sense, in an emotional sense Tiger may need golf now more than ever.

With speculation swirling that Tiger's wife, Elin Nordegren, will seek a divorce following revelations of her husband's rampant infidelity - ABCNews.com yesterday quoted a source close to Nordegren as saying the "divorce is 100 percent on" - Tiger's best escape from the personal turmoil that will no doubt accompany divorce proceedings will be between the ropes, the inevitable hecklers aside.

And let's face it - Tiger's now-revealed behavior behind closed doors tells us he's looking out for No. 1. His lifelong mission has been to eclipse Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 professional major titles. With 14 under his belt, he has to be licking his chops over this year's major lineup, which includes Augusta National (Masters), Pebble Beach (U.S. Open), and St. Andrews (British Open). He's won four times at Augusta, and he romped by 15 and eight shots, respectively, at Pebble Beach and St. Andrews in 2000.

The damage Tiger has caused at home is likely irreparable. Sitting on the sidelines won't change that. My prediction: After a few months away to tend to the personal and financial mess his actions have wrought, Tiger will re-emerge on the golf scene - possibly in March at Bay Hill, where he's the two-time defending champ and has won six times - in time to hone his game for the Masters. And instead of worry, the PGA Tour will likely have a TV ratings bonanza on its hands, especially if Tiger works his Augusta magic (see video).

Colorful Kaprielian a recession casualty

I was saddened to read yesterday that the recession has taken yet another casualty, wacky weatherman Al Kaprielian. For 26 years, Kaprielian has been a staple on MyTV, a Derry, N.H., cable station formerly known as WNDS (Channel 50). Kaprielian's job, along with those of five other employees, will be eliminated come year's end.

Kaprielian carved out a following with his squeaky "Good eeeeevening!" greeting and perpetual enthusiasm. He was far from polished, but he won over viewers with his quirky but earnest manner. He was also active in the community, often speaking about meteorology at local schools. A few years into his career, in fact, he spoke to my junior-high class. 

Though some dismissed him as a goofball, Kaprielian brought color to the airwaves and will be missed. Here's hoping he lands on his feet.

Tiger scores double bogey with "transgressions"

It's been an interesting week for Tiger Woods, to say the least. From his bizarre, middle-of-the night car accident to tabloid reports of his alleged marital infidelities to his Internet mea culpa copping to unspecified "transgressions," America has emerged with a new picture of the world's No. 1 golfer that tarnishes his previously squeaky-clean image.

While nothing has been proven, Tiger's apology certainly leads us to believe that the reports of his alleged indiscretions contain some truth. Should we be surprised? No. Tiger would not be the first (nor would he be the last) all-world athlete to commit adultery. We should know enough by now not to hold our sports heroes up as paragons of moral virtue.

Should we be disappointed? Absolutely. Sure, Tiger is entitled to a personal life. And the tabloid culture of our country, frankly, turns my stomach. But whether he likes it or not, Tiger is a role model. He positioned himself as such when he established the Tiger Woods Foundation to inspire youth through, among other things, "character-development programs."

"Transgressions" such as cheating on your wife run counter to everything Tiger's foundation stands for. And they betray the spirit of golf, a game that calls upon players to abide by rules and show integrity.  

I think Jesper Parnevik, the Swedish PGA Tour player who along with his wife introduced Woods to his future wife, Elin Nordegren, summed it up best in an interview with the Golf Channel. "We probably thought he was a better guy than he is," Parnevik said of Woods. "It's a private thing, of course, but when you are the guy he is, the world's best athlete, you should think more before you do stuff, and maybe not 'just do it' like [Woods sponsor] Nike says."

Amen, Jesper.