STARTING FIVE

Axis of Evil? Putin was in the same box as Sepp Blatter (L) and LeBron James just eight days ago…

1. What Now?

You’re the President of the United States and you need to address the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH 17. Even though it was not shot down over U.S. airspace. Even though it was not a U.S.-based carrier. Even though, at most, only one of the 298 victims was a U.S. citizen and that person had dual Dutch citizenship.

But you must address it. If you don’t, your enemies –and we know who they are –will taunt you for being cowardly. They want ACTION. Great. Do they want to send their sons –much less themselves– into conflict? Are they willing to sacrifice the lives of people they love over a Russian-backed civil war in a nation most of them have never been to or will ever visit?

Here’s a New York Times editorial on what Russian president Vladimir Putin is thinking. He’s been thinking this way for at least two decades.

What would you do? (Spoiler Alert: You’re going to get hammered no matter what you say.)

Oh, and then there’s that whole Gaza versus Israel deal. That’s the back burner crisis? Wow.

2. Up…and Down

After launching this ball into the gallery, McIroy underwent Tommy Armour surgery.

Rory McIlroy joins an exclusive list –Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods –of men who have won three major championships before their 26th birthday… while Tiger has his worst finish (69th) of his professional career, shooting a 294. And then Tiger’s weekend went from bad to gorse (!) when the 64 year-old captain of the Ryder Cup team, Tom Watson, shot a final round 68– seven better than Tiger.

Woods is still ranked 9th in the world –McIlroy is second, behind Adam Scott–but it’s curious how both have handled relationships and it begs asking if there’s any correlation. McIlroy dumps his fiancee, Carolyn Wozniacki, in not chivalrous fashion, but his play improves. Tiger is still winless in a major since the whole blow-up with Elin, who has since gone on to be her college’s valedictorian.

Does Woods, 38, have another major title in him? He’s certainly young enough. That’s not the issue.

3. Jim Rockford is Definitely Not In–Leave a Message

Hartley and Garner: an incredible ad team

R.I.P. to James Garner, one of the better manly men actors of his generation and arguably the best actor whose surname is a verb. “The Rockford Files” was standard at my home as a child, but partly because my dad somewhat resembled him. Great theme song.  The entire sequence of still images fit the mood of the show to a T. Very of its age (Styx meets Boz Scaggs.)

Also, in the Seventies, half the country thought Garner was married to the fetching Mariette Hartley, so convincing were the pair’s Polaroid ads. A Polaroid was a camera that also functioned as a camera. It was a long time ago.

Garner was known to an earlier generation as Bret Maverick before he became  Jim Rockford (same creator, or what we’d now call “showrunner,” for both: Roy Huggins). Also loved him in “The Great Escape”, but he also did comedy. It was almost as if Hollywood didn’t know whether to make him the next Rock Hudson or Robert Mitchum. Alan Sepinwall’s tribute… which describes Garner’s work as “relaxed genius,” which is perfect.

4. Bill Hader: Bibliophile

Hader is an anagram of “Read H.” Don’t know what the “H” I’m talking about.

Nice piece in the New York Times weekend edition in which SNL alum Bill Hader delves deeply into his love of books. Not bad for a guy who never attended college. I was hoping he’d go Stefon here (“New York’s hottest bookstore is….”), but it’s fun to read about a guy celebrity who’s so engaged in literature.

5. “To-ga! To-ga!”

Togashi takes it to the hole fearlessly.

Washington Wizards rookie Glen Rice, Jr., (25 ppg) was deservedly named MVP of the recently concluded NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, but maybe nobody (Jim) garner-ed more attention than five-foot-seven Yuki Togashi of the Dallas Mavericks. The spudly Japanese point guard, who is only 20 years old, scored 16 points in 30 total minutes of play.

Will he play for an NBA team this season? We’ll see.