Time to get a thread up for the Fall 2009 Big Break Disney



Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Fla. Play takes place on the resort's Magnolia and Palm courses.
Premiere date: Oct. 13, 2009
Airtimes: Original episodes air at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesdays
Hosts: Vince Cellini and Stephanie Sparks


The Big Prize: The winner of "Big Break Disney Golf" receives an exemption to play in the 2010 PGA Tour Children's Miracle Network Classic.
The winner also receives his entry fees paid into 2010 PGA Tour Q-School by SkyCaddie; $10,000 shopping spree at Dick's Sporting Goods; free golf for a year from GolfNow.com; an endorsement deal and $10,000

Here are the contestants, with text provide by the Golf Channel:

-Andrew Giuliani (New York, N.Y.) – Son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Donna Hanover, Andrew is looking to make a name for himself in the game of golf.

-Gipper Finau (Lehl, Utah) – Joins Tony as the first brother duo to play in the same Big Break series. Blessed with the long ball, Gipper, who turned professional at 16, once drove a 520-yard par 5.

-Tony Finau (Lehl, Utah) – Hits the tee ball longer than his brother – or at least that is what he says in the spirit of sibling rivalry. Finau turned professional when he was 17 and made a cut on the PGA TOUR the same year.

-Mike Perez (Scottsdale, Ariz.) – After playing the Nationwide Tour, Perez is looking for the chance to join brother Pat on the PGA Tour.

-Kevin Erdman (Arcadia, Calif.) – Husband of Big Break Kaanapali alum Courtney Erdman, is it his time to shine on the Big Break stage?

-Blake Moore (Monrovia, Calif.) – Friend of former Big Break competitor and PGA TOUR rookie James Nitties, Moore is a threat to win Big Break Disney Golf if he can control his inner demons.



ELIMINATED

-Ed Moses (Hollywood, Calif.) – A gold and silver medal winner as a member of the United States swim team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Moses' goal is now the PGA TOUR. A member at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla., he once shot 64 on the course that hosts the Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational.

-Andreas Huber (Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Actress Susan Lucci's son, the former Wall Street broker left the color of money to seek his fortune on the green.

-Kevan Maxwell (Charleston, S.C.) – Aspiring golf professional by day, pizza delivery man by night, “K-Max” will do whatever it takes to play on the PGA Tour.

-Sean Kalin (Delray Beach, Fla.) – A junior standout who gave up golf for 20 years after being kidnapped, he is looking for a second chance in the game.

-J.R. Reyes (Omaha, Neb.) – With tattoos covering each arm, Reyes is not your typical golfer. While not looking the part, he has the talent to fit in on the PGA Tour.

-Vincent Johnson (Portland, Ore.) – Received the Charlie Sifford exemption to play in the 2009 Northern Trust Open where he flirted with making the cut in his first PGA Tour start.

Looking forward to this one. Love how its in Disney and there seems to be some good characters. Boohya! They should have brought in Don D to host too.

Looks like an interesting mix of personalities and backgrounds. Is Stina still hosting the show?

EDIT: I just saw the Stephanie will be hosting.. bummer I like Stina.

Personally I'm glad that Vince and Stephanie are back. Stina didn't know much about golf in my opinion and Charlie was too "okie dokie" for me. Nice guy, but didn't like his commentary much. I like Vince's wit and Stephanie's golf knowledge of shots; when they left, BB got a little boring.

That being said, this is going to be the best one yet! These guys can play, have had experience on various tours and some exposure to media in some fashion. They're probably used to the cameras on them, but this is going to be a whole 'nother level. I'm sure K. Erdman got an earful from his wife on what to expect and so did B. Moore from Nitties. I'm really looking forward to this.

I realize nerves come into play and it was the first shot of the competition, but come on. 15-30 feet for all but 3-4 of the guys is terrible from 10 yards of the green. Like I said I'm sure jitters come into play so hopefully this season will prove to be better than the 10 handicaps from seasons past. And whats with all the semi-famous people? Does the Juiliani kid need a big break? What about Susan Lucci's kid? They have the money to play and practice and go to q-school if they wanted. The Finau brothers, seriously? They already play here and there on the nationwide tour. And the Perez guy has had his chance. He doesn't need a big break, he needs to practice his short game. I'm really pulling for the tatoo kid that waits tables and the k-max guy, they look like they are good people that really work hard at it and deserve a chance.

Right on the money! nice post

thanks I was expecting to get ripped for it, I'm glad someone else feels the same way.

No ripping from me, this was exactly my thought too!

Amen...

I used to never miss a second of the big break, until the golf channel uk pulled the plug, so i'm sad i'm missing this one it looks full of characters.

The chip shots were nervous, virtually everyone woefully short. Plenty of stabs. I thought Lucci's son had the worst form on that shot, then he surprised with an excellent iron in the second round, stiff to the pin.

Pathetic macho yardage selection in that second challenge of 100-200 yards. Guiliani made a sensible gamble from the opening yardage of 100 then no one else chose less than 162 and the bulk were 192+.

I expected Kevin to be eliminated but Ed's facial expressions were never positive, and his comments not exactly brilliant. He hit the birdie putt very well on the first elimination hole and that unlucky lip out changed the course of events.

I thought the editing gave away two shot outcomes:

1) On the first elimination hole, Ed was in the greenside rough and Kevin nearby in the bunker. They teased leading into the commercial, with Ed saying something like he wanted to get it close and put the pressure on. Then you see a ball settling next to the hole, coming from that angle, and the bench cheered. Well, if you've watched Big Break often enough you know damn well it's never the obvious result. In other words, that ball snug to the hole will be Kevin's, not Ed's. Sure enough.

2) On the second tee, with Kevin and Mike a shot ahead of Ed, the two leaders hit the fairway, placing the pressure on Ed. Once again they play a clip of Ed saying something innocuous, this time in the third person, "Ed can do it," or something like that. They cut to the commercial after showing Ed's backswing, but not the rest of the swing or the result of the shot. That can only mean it's going to be a poor result, and the producers are desperate to save a bit of suspense beyond the commercial. It went into the right rough.

Overall the caliber of golf in the elimination round was good, certainly better than I expected after the opening chip and bunker shots. Kevin and Mike ended up -1.

Other than listing the prizes, did Stephanie or Vince say anything? That has to be the least analysis I've ever heard from Big Break hosts.

Look at the stories. Guiliani's kid, Susan Lucci's kid, the olympic swimmer, Pat Perez's brother, the kid who got kidnapped by his mom who forced him to play.

Let's see if they can play. It almost seems like these guys were picked based on their stories, not necessarily because they were the best players they could get. I have to think that if they picked the absolute best players they could, they would get a bunch of boring guys who played college golf and didn't make it on tour.

Call me a skeptic. Let's see if they prove me wrong. Should be entertaining, at least.

Was I the only one who noticed Giuliani's Duke Lacrosse shirt in the interviews? I'm glad that I'm not the only one who is wondering why some of these guys need the big break.

nocal - call you a skeptic? no disrespect intended, but i'll call you captain obvious. of course the back stories of the players figured into their selection. that's why they send in tapes with details of their lives as part of the audition process. to analogize, think of it like sponsor's exemptions for a tourney. a sponsor might pick a john daly instead of someone much more deserving (and in need) for a spot in the field because JD puts fannies in the seats. BB is hardly purely need/merit based selection process.....there's obviously a "fannies in the seats" component. it's reality/entertainment based tv.....it's ratings driven.

I was glad to see Ed get eliminated, especially after he said the nerves couldn't get to him and referred to himself as "One of the greatest athletes of all time". Gotta go for J.R. or K-Max.

I was pretty underwhelmed with the shot making I saw last night. I thought these guys are supposed to be "the best yet"? I miss Stina and Charlie. The only two BBs I've seen were the last two so I'm also missing the ladies. I'll continue to watch to see what see happens.

I guess when I apply for next years show I'll make up some extravagant back story and somehow be related to someone famous. Maybe then I'll get on the show. I'm almost pretty shocked that 3 of the people on there actually need this show to make the money to have a "Big Break". For about half of the contestants it should be called "Big Second Chance".

The Big Break Mesquite had much better players. There are more tools on this current BB than in aisle 6 at Lowes. Hard to find anybody without an ego or attitude like they are the greatest golfers in the world on this show. Vincent seems to be the most down to earth guy, but he's already been given an exemption. I wanted to pull for Ed, thought it would be cool to see a guy from another sport win, but that ended when he started talking. The Finau brothers and Mike Perez could have been on that show Growing Up Gotti. I had a friend tryout and he said Giuliani was impossible to be around. Although, I do have to say it was pretty funny watching him as a little kid at his dad's speech. K-Max? Gimmie a break. I think I'll just pull for the kidnapped guy. Hope the shows get better than last night's, not many good shots.

Earlier this year, I saw J.R. practicing in Omaha and he's got game. He also seems like a nice, down to earth kind of guy. Out of the group, I think he's the guy to pull for.

Am I the only one that noticed the poor decisions by the last few golfers to go in the 100-200 yard challenge? They knew there were only 9 golfers in that challenge and they knew that the 6 longest shots that hit the green were immune. After they saw the 3rd guy miss the green, they should have known that any yardage would have gotten them immune. Gipper went last and hit the green from 200yds, but he would have gotten the same immunity if he hit from 101yds.

Regardless of what he's accomplished as an Olympic swimmer, Ed was in way over his head. One of the interesting things about watching the BB is these guys always trying to talk themselves into having game. Sort of a pop psychology theory that if you say it enough, you'll believe it, and if you believe it, you can do it.

bullxxxx.

Golf is really, really good at revealing bullxxxx.

Yeah, how has that worked out for MJ on the golf course?

I thought that too at first, but maybe the rules were that you had to choose a distance greater than the longest successful distance up to that point? Otherwise the last few guys to hit their shots would have an enormous advantage. I must have been snoozing on the rules explanation.

I was confused about the rules on that challenge as well. Why is this BB on at 10:00 EDT?

I already want to smack that Giuliani kid upside the head.

+1

They didn't explain it very well, but I think that they had to pick their distances "anonymously" before anyone even took a shot and they were stuck with them regardless of what the other folks did. Kind of like the first challenge where they knew who had hit from the various areas but it seemed like they had no idea what the distance to beat was.

I have a feeling that's happened to him plenty of times.

That has to be the explanation, assuming that they then sorted the order based on the distance chosen. That makes the challenge fair as well. Thanks!

Well, there's you, his golf coach at Duke (whom he sued), some of his teammates at Duke (suspended for chucking an apple at a teammate), and all those who lived in New York at the time he acted like a spoiled jerk of a kid during his father's speeches who were appalled that his father gave him airtime to be that way. Count me among the latter group.

Susan Lucci's son seems like a nice enough person, but IMO, rich people's children have absolutely no need of a Big Break of any sort. They got theirs at birth, as long as they are healthy.

Glad to hear Ed got eliminated. I believe anyone who refers to themselves in the third person deserves to go in le sh!tcanne, as the French say.

Whenever I saw Blake on screen, I heard Beavis inside my head saying, "Break it! BREAK IT!!!"

Kevin Erdman seems like a nice guy, but I don't think he has enough game to stick around very long.

"K-MAX"?!? Please, follow Kevin Spacey back to K-PAX. And stay there.

Mike Perez and the Finau brothers have game, but they shouldn't be fast-tracked. They have already had and continue to have opportunities, as others have stated. I think that Vincent Johnson can get there on his own, too. He played well off the Sifford exemption in the spotlight's glare. I think we'll hear more from him, regardless of the outcome of BB Disney.

I'm pulling for J.R. to make a good showing. He could use the lift. I like Sean, too -- he's had to overcome a lot at an early age.

Way too many commercials, how many times are we going to hear about the Timberlake event..Also how many times did the contestants have to introduce themselves..I couldn't stand watching it..

I think K Max is using MP60s. Did anybody else catch that. ?

I agree with most of what has been said here...I would like to see Guliani get grilled about the whole Suing Duke for cutting him from the Golf Team thing...

I'll take "Rich Kids I'd Like To B!tch-Slap" for $500, Alex...

What I'd like to see is one left-handed golfer on this show. I can't remember one. It might be due to camera angles and whatnot, but I can't believe that a lefty can't get on this show?

True, true!

This one should have been called Big Break/Tool Edition.

I also agree with the stupid teases, they give away too much. We are already watching you production interns! I have to watch it on DVR as there are way too many commercials.

Despite all of this I can't turn away!

Is it me or does Kevin Erdman look like Frank Zappa?

A little bit!

I agree completely!

I think he looks like a backstreet boy.

He reminds me of Syndrome from The Incredibles.

Anyone else notice how weirdly Giuliani claps?

Served
I don't like K-Max. He's like so many dead end caddies out there. They live with their parents at age 40 and beg for loops from the caddy master and cry about being poor and smoke women's cigarettes because they last longer and are cheaper. Bunch of headcases... Any caddy that thinks that highly of himself should take the PAT and work their way into the pro shop. Then work on up to be a club pro. I liked the swimmer dude. Giuliani is so annoying, I'd be throwing punches on that show, Finau brothers had and will continue to have their shots...focus on your short games! Susan Lucci's kid isn't too bad. Mike Perez annoys me also, you're not PGA royalty dude, your just a better than average golfer and only that because your brother's been dragging your a** around.

Still, it's all entertaining which is it's purpose.

I dont know about yall but im pullin for Sean Kalin, i mean damn his mom paid guys to kidnap him seriously, who could do that. whos everyone pulling for??

Bingo! I knew I'd seen him somewhere, but just couldn't place him.

"Billy was a mountain, Ethel was a tree, standing on Billy's shoulder." LOL

Next line? LOL!

I was shocked to see Kevin in the Line up , he's our starter at Altadena golf Course. Its a 9 hole flat course , but has challenges those of you in the Pasadena,Ca know of this. Anyways good luck Kevin. O and Kev I didnt realize that was your wife on the range, and I apologize if I kept staring at her............

I agree guiliani's kid does look like Syndrome

He's a starter at a 9 hole course? How funny. On the show last night under his name they said he was a teaching pro.

My wife said he looks like Lord Licorice from the Candyland board game.

Well yea hes also a teaching pro , but 99% that hes not teaching hes at the starter counter sending people out or managing the shop/ Giving tokens for the range etc.. anywayz if you guys remember that Infomercial about the Purespin Wedge the Pro on there John use to work with him......