obsession: a compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion.
validation: authenticate, verify, prove.

In the Boise media market much attention is given on what "former" athletes are doing in their respective sports. We all do it. "The former (fill in the blank athlete)" or the "(name the school) grad" are things you hear on KTIK, see on TV sportscasts and read in the Idaho Statesman. Because of some stats I posted on Twitter over the weekend, Caves and Prater alleged that I obsess over Graham DeLaet. The golfer who graduated from Boise State in 2006 is making his mark on the PGA Tour, having the best season of his career. 

Obsession is the wrong word. Validation would be more accurate. If I was posting stats about Kellen Moore no one would think twice about what they read. Last week when Moore went 9-12 and threw two touchdowns in a pre-season NFL game my Twitter feed was filled with comments from people validating his performance and status as a potential NFL quarterback. Are these people obsessed with Kellen Moore? I doubt it. But they want to see him succeed at the highest level.

I am a golf fan who finds Graham DeLaet's success on the PGA Tour significant for a local player. I have always said that there are more stories than just Tiger Woods and his quest to beat the records of Jack Nicklaus. 

Since the first time Idaho Sports Talk interviewed DeLaet he has gone from the Canadian Tour to a contender on the PGA Tour. Now he is over $2 million in earnings on the season. This week DeLaet sits at number seven in the FedEx Cup playoffs only behind players like Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson. He is positioning himself to make the International Presidents Cup team and play in all of next seasons majors. 

Am I obsessed with DeLaet? No. Am I trying to validate my opinion that he is becoming one of the best golfers on the PGA Tour. Yes.