ON THE MARK.

HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN.

It wasn't THAT long ago was it?  Serena Williams and Roger Federer were the best tennis players in the world.  Phil Mickelson was challenging Tiger Woods as the world's number one golfer.  The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers were the cream of the crop in the NBA, having won three straight NBA titles between them.  Those were the days, eh?  Well, those days are long gone.   This past weekend was a prime example.
   Both Serena and Roger are 31 years of age.  Both will defend their Wimbledon titles this year, but it's quite possible that neither will win another Major, and that would be a shame.  Federer was stymied in the semifinals at the Australian Open, while Serena only managed to make it to the quarterfinals before she was ousted.  Both could be passing the torch sooner than later as players like Djokovic and Andy Murray, who are younger and stronger, seemed to have surpassed Federer.   As for Serena, she's still the best female player on the planet, but injuries have taken their toll, and let's face it, she's been playing high level tennis for 15 years.  It's only a matter of time before Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and even American Sloane Stephens, who beat her in Australia, take over.
     Phil Mickelson is in a similar position.  His last Major was the 2010 Masters, but since then, the 42 year old has been rather average, especially when you compare him with Tiger.  Even though he won the 2012 AT&T at Pebble Beach, "Lefty" has finished tied for 36th, tied for 65th and missed the cut in his last 3 Majors.  With so many good young players out there (and Tiger), Phil had better pick his game up and fast.  He's got another 7 years before he's eligible for the Senior Tour.  Watching him play at Torrey Pines this week, it's pretty obvious that he's just not the same guy who won 3 Masters and a PGA Championship. 
   The real changing of the guard is taking place right before our very eyes in basketball.  The Boston Celtics won 5 straight Atlantic Division titles, thanks in large part to Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo.  This year, the Celts are floundering below the .500 mark.  Allen is gone (to Miami of all places) and Rondo is out for the year with a torn ACL (or is it the MCL, I can't remember).  There's talk of blowing the Celtics up and starting all over again because of the advanced ages of Pierce and Garnett.  Even though Boston beat Miami in double OT yesterday, they will NOT win the Atlantic Division, not the way the Knicks and Nets are playing.  Same goes for the Lakers, who, despite the presence of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, will likely NOT win the Pacific division this year (they've won it the last 5 years in a row).   Coach Mike D'Antoni did help figure out a way to beat OKC yesterday, but, like the Celtics, L.A. is just too old and too slow for today's NBA.   In fact, they're a better team when Kobe Bryant DOESN'T score 30 points a game.   He's had 14 assists in each of the past two games and the Lakers have won both.
     Why are the Leafs just now figuring out that Phil Kessel is not going to be their go-to guy?   He looked great for a while last year on a line with Joffrey Lupul and Tyler Bozak, but then Lupul got hurt and the rest of the season went for a dump.   This year, Kessel can't score, likely because Lupul only lasted a few games before going down with a broken arm.  This is the same problem the Leafs had when Mats Sundin was here.  They couldn't surround him with talented players, and he had to perform solo most of the time.  Kessel is a good player who can average a point a game PROVIDED he's got some help.   It'll be interesting to see what GM Dave Nonis does.   Should he trade Kessel or make a deal for someone who can complement him on the forward line?
       Finally, while the aforementioned athletes and teams start to slip from their lofty perch, let's all hail Tiger Woods, who's playing golf as if he's got Lindsey Vonn waiting for him at the nearest Waffle House.   His game is so much better than anyone elses, I would be shocked if he didn't win at least one Major this year.  The kind of shotmaking I witnessed this past weekend tells me that Tiger is, perhaps, a better player now than he was in his "prime".   Every shot, including his tee shots on par 3s, has a chance of going in the hole.   That, my friends, is scary good.  We may be witnessing the most dominant athlete of any sport in any era.  All he has to do is win the Masters in April, and he's on his way to immortality.