Every time I flew out of Latrobe to Vegas I always drank an Arnold Palmer, next to the Arnold Palmer statue, at the Arnold Palmer airport. I tell people it's free parking there, he doesn't want your money.
This is the guy who got me and probably a million others interested in golf. A true gentleman and legend! RIP Arnie.
My profession affords me many special opportunities and experiences, but nothing ranks higher than the times I spoke with Mr. Palmer.
Yup, a true class act and someone that will be missed. Unlike some of the players nowadays that don't want to interact with the crowd and other than a wave they want to get away from the crowd as fast as they can (Adam Scott is one of them). But there are still a few players like Phil Mickelson that appreciate the fans and will take the time to be with the fans. Too bad, many of our "heroes" are getting older and we will be seeing their passing in the next decade or two or three.
Because of my dad, I've met a lot of golfers over the years and Arnold Palmer made a real impression on a very young me. He was not only a legendary golfer, but also a truly wonderful human being. He lived a long life, but he still will be missed. He was one of the good ones.
I damn near, ran over Arnie !...... It was SO close ! * Circa 1976 ?...'77 ? I worked at Phoenix Country Club, AZ and back then, PGA had the "Phoenix Open" at the club. I worked the tennis courts. * It was dark out.....everyone had left ( I thought ?) and I was riding my bike home. There is a tunnel / breezeway under the club structure. It allows easy access from a parking lot to the clubhouse ( and golf shop ). But it was pitch dark, no lights,...........and a 90 degree corner. I was gliding around the corner - cutting it close. Right at the corner - a guy was walking real fast at me -- I swerved off + nearly lost control of my bike. The guy just stopped immediately ! Neither one of us had time to speak or yell...or react. As I got control of my wobbly bike - ( I looked over my shoulder at the figure -- with a sigh of relief - that neither one of us crashed into each other ! ) - there was Arnie Palmer staring at me ! I had no time to say anything....and he just bolted around the corner. * My literal - "Brush With Fame" moment - with Arnie ! 87 years ?.............I'd sign up for that. RIP
Welcome to the world as, insert I'm-now-that-old-guy voice, social and cultural graces crash in the face of the Me/Mine Society. How many idiot showboats have dropped the football before actually getting into the house after just a few weeks of play? Or the guy who thought it cool to try to casually flip the kickoff to the ref in the end zone ... oops, six for the kicking team when they fell on it. And that's just college football. How "classy" do the pros play it across their leagues? So-called Olympians? But a big thing to remember: Those we have put on a pedestal also performed at their peak years with a fraction of the media coverage and no internet, and in an era where reporters often looked the other way if it didn't happen between the lines of play, or at least they didn't go out of their way to see what was going on outside the lines of play. A couple golfing greats come to mind whose public images were greatly distorted by that ethos: "Happy" Lee Trevino, who could be a snarling cur when he knew the camera was off, and "Grumpy" Jack, whose in-play intensity was replaced outside by a true humor and a caring sense. P.S. It is nice seeing some of the younger guys who get it. Fowler and Spieth certainly are two who do. What happened with you relative to Scott as he is one of the consummate nice guys on tour?
Nah, nothing big. I was at the Sony Open a few years ago. As usual there was a line of people waiting to see Scott since he normally is a crowd favorite. I was coming up from the side so he and his entourage didn't see me. He was making comments about hating the crowd and he was going to ditch this place after signing one or two autographs. Because he was going the other way he never saw me overhearing his conversation. He did go over to the crowd, signed one autograph and walked away. Ever since then I notice that he seems to try to get away from the crowds after he comes out of the scoring tent. Or maybe he only does that in Hawaii. As you mentioned, when the cameras are off you see and hear another side of the person. I do know about Trevino's temper, especially when he wasn't playing well. Jack (when he was younger, or so I heard) was a competitor and not in a good mood when he wasn't winning. I kind of like Phil who will take the time to connect with the crowd even when he wasn't playing well. He reminds me of someone like Arnie.
Wow, an amazing story, makiki. Thanks for sharing. One I've never heard nor seen. David Simms revisited! I've seen the not-so-merry Mex lash out many times, and when I finally decided it was just his fatal flaw it was during a Silly Season, totally irrelevant, hit-and-giggle event in the desert where he just ripped into a young gal for, well, essentially nothing in a nothing event. I've had a number of players with whom I've played pro-ams come over to the ropes during the live event and chat. Not just a wave or an acknowledgement, but an effort to reach out and be human, while they are competing. Good folks those folks. Don't expect it on the Grumps Tour ... ingrates. Phil's a complex character, to say the least. I always wanted to be a fly on the wall when talk turned to all that Billy Walters stuff, the gambling, the insider stuff and the code of conduct. After what the tour did to Vijay kinda hard to think that would just slip by, but it is Phil not Vijay. Best story with Mr. Palmer: I'm interviewing him maybe 10 years ago, and as usually was the case, his wingman, Doc Giffin, was right there by the phone. We finish the business stuff, and we chat a bit about the Coachella Valley, where he obviously had a great history and for which he had a great affinity. Right at the end he says, "Say, Ken, why don't I just give you my cell number." And Doc starts a little mumbly objection, and Mr. Palmer just intones, "I think we can trust Ken, can't we Ken?" I'm just goo. Uh uh uh of course, Mr. Palmer. I still started every subsequent interview request with Doc.