"Ultimate gesture players can make is living like Arnie"
The timing is bold but the topic has been on the minds of many who follow pro golf: too many of today's lavishly paid stars act in sharp contrast to Arnold Palmer in character, actions and passion for the game.
Ryan Lavner at GolfChannel.com says the passing of Mr. Palmer puts the onus "on the players to decide for themselves how to honor his legacy."
That’s why these days, weeks and months ahead are an important period of reflection for the current pros.
There is an ever-widening divide between fans and the stars of our game, the mega-millionaires who are safe in their cocoon, protected by managers and publicists and image specialists. The money has never been greater – Rory McIlroy deposited $11.44 million Sunday; Palmer made $1.86 million in his career – and the lifestyles never more different. Each year, it seems, they only drift further away, the connection becoming more tenuous.
And so, moving forward, will our stars use their fame, their fortune and their status to shield themselves from the public, from the fans that enriched their fabulous lives? Or will they stay grounded and humble and relatable – will they stay connected – the way Palmer did?
The Olympic Zika virus fiasco this summer opened the door to this discussion and while the debate is not something that should overshadow the remembrances of The King, but throwing the point out seems fair as we hear from the players over the next few days about how they view Palmer's legacy and their places in the game.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 01:37 AM 21 Comments | in Arnold Palmer, PGA Tour, Players, State of the Game
Reader Comments (21)
I never had an opportunity to meet him, but I've seen video of the scene that would follow the man wherever he went. It seems there are few known to history with greater charisma or a more richly deserved group of fans.
On this post, I think emulating Arnie would be the single greatest way to grow the game imaginable. The chance to meet a star athlete in such intimate surroundings as a golf tournament affords would hugely encourage people to bring their children, and the rest would follow naturally.
A quick aside about the "What's My Line?" video: watch the eyes of the panel following Arnie as he exited the stage. More specifically, the eyes of the two women on the panel. A small but telling testament to the personal charisma Mr. Palmer wielded so effortlessly.
And may Arnie continue to inspire and mentor the golf community.
So to ask players to behave more like Arnie...they probably risk too much. As was stated by Peter Alliss, Palmer was a man's man and behaved accordingly. I believe that there are one or two persons who comment on this board have tales of AP's behaviour as a young man that are less than 'Kingly'.
Players are not going to open up to the media, Geoff. Not when they get slammed for doing so on social media. Rory McIlroy is not going to open up to the media after the hammering he took over Wozniacki and his Olympics comments. Tiger isn't going to open up post-hydrant and porn addiction boot camp. And Fowler, Spieth and Thomas ain't going to open up after getting a shoeing for what was known as #SB2K16. The age of social media, smartphone cameras and media head-hunting rules the day.
Love the comments being open though. Why were they closed offf?
We must have been thinking the same thing at the same time. Cheers.
Back in 2000, the Senior US Open was hosted at Saucon Valley in Northeast, PA. I had nothing going on that Friday and decided to go up to catch the 2nd round.
I'd been there a few hours, was getting thirsty. I decided to find a vendor tent to get a bottle of water. On my way, I just casually look up and see Roger Maltbie walking straight toward me, his headset was draped around his neck and he was chugging a bottle of water. I just smiled as I passed him and said, "Hey, huge fan of the NBC Golf crew. Keep up the great work!" He looked me dead in the eyes, said nothing, kept right on walking like he didn't even hear me. Oh well... whatever. I guess he had a rough night last night.
So an hour later, I'm looking to follow a few different players. I look over and I see this sudden rush of people racing to the near tee box. Then I see Arnie, shuffling along the roped-off path up to the tee box. Wow... no way I can squeeze in there, so I'll head down in the fairway and maybe see him hit his approach. So I race down there, standing under a huge oak tree. Two tee balls were hit, both fairly long and straight, one more guy to tee off. I couldn't see the tee box from where I was, but I assumed Arnie was hitting last. Then I hear "Fore Right!" and no sooner than I heard that, a ball comes whizzing by overhead and hits the very tree I'm standing under. The ball caroms off a few limbs, lands a mere 15 feet away. Horrible lie, deep rough, another tree about 40 yards ahead obstructing a clear shot to the green. We're talking stymieville.
Sure enough, it was Arnie's ball that nearly took my head off! LOL... within about 90 seconds, I'm suddenly surrounded by 75 or so people in the gallery. Arnie finally makes his way up to the ball, fetches a club out of his bag, looks at the lie, looks at the tree straight ahead. He's got nothing.
I'll never forget watching him place his hands on the grip of that club. These huge hands, that just seemed like they were designed for the sole purpose to grip a golf club... so comfortably, so perfectly... and he leisurely made a few practice swings, looking at the tree, then he stopped long enough to grab another club and talk to his caddie about the yardage to the front of the green. As he's about to address the ball, he suddenly stops, looking straight at me. I thought for a second that maybe I'd distracted him somehow. But that wasn't it.
Looking straight at me, a smile breaks out on his face. "So tell me, young man... if this were you, what might you do?" The gallery laughed along with me. Without missing a beat, I said, "Mr. Palmer, with all these people watching me - I've no doubt that I'd completely whiff it!" He started laughing, the gallery burst out laughing, it was just one of those moments you never forget. Then Arnie replied, "Well... I must say that that wasn't the image I was hoping for, but at least you're honest!" He smiled and gave me a wink.
I'll never forget that day. Ever.
On the way home that evening, I thought about two contrasting situations I encountered that day. The first was a situation when a former touring pro-turned on-course golf analyst, whose career wouldn't qualify as a mere footnote in the annals of golf history, decided to not even acknowledge a kind compliment. And then, of course, what happened that one hole an hour later, with the one and only legend - Arnold Palmer - allowing me to become a part of his enormous life for those 30 seconds.
Do you have any idea how special that made me feel? That Arnold Palmer, of all people, singled me out and wanted to interact with me?!
Arnie had every reason to be frustrated and upset that day. He would go on to bogey the hole, he would eventually shoot an 82 and miss the cut. But despite how he was playing, he still took the time and found it important enough to acknowledge the presence of a fan.
Arnie was more than just an all-time great golfer. He was a truly wonderful human being who never once took for granted his lot in life.
RIP, King. You may be gone, but everything you did, everything you meant to the game and your fans - that stuff will live forever.
Kg, cheers
I found myself unexpectedly moved by the excellent coverage by Golf Channel of Arnold's passing on Sunday, even though I never got to meet the man. I did come close, though, and wrote about it here:
https://gregbeau.wordpress.com/2016/09/26/how-i-didnt-get-to-meet-arnold-palmer/
Not as good a story as yours.
I watched the series they aired about Arnie, with Tom Selleck narrating... thought it was wonderful.
Long live the King