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Kim Jong Il & Bill Clinton Both Cheat at Golf

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il has been prominent in the news this week because former President Clinton went to Pyongyang to arrange for the release of two American reporters that were captured on their border and sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp.

Observers say that Kim had instrcuted the journalists that if they were able to deliver Clinton to Pyongyang, then they could get their release.  In other words, Kim just wanted to the world to feel like he was on par with Slick Willy.

Well, the two men apparently are on par on the links.  They both cheat at golf.

In 1994, Pyongyang's first golf course was opened and Il was there to play.  State media reported that Il made 11 holes-in-one and scored 38 under par (17 eagles and a hole-in-one on a par 5).  I'm pretty sure Al Geiberger, Chip Beck, and David Duval would want to question his math.

As the Guardian retells, in 2000, New York Times reporter Don Van Natta Jr. played with Clinton.  Apparently Bill got a do-over or any of his bad shots.  Van Natta concluded that "[Clinton] followed the rules . . . for about a hole and a half."

Now, Time Magazine is reporting that President Barack Obama is taking time out of his busy job as global messiah to hit the links on the weekends.  And he is an honest player - not afraid to take an 11.  But he is a big trash-talker.

There's a great quote in the Time piece that really is true.

"You can really tell a person's personality by the way he plays golf," says Wellington Wilson, a longtime golf buddy.

For Clinton, his cheating and piss-poor game may go a long way in explaining Paula Jones, Gennifer Flowers, and Monica Lewsinky.

For Kim Jong Il, it may shed some light on his Napoleonic complex, how warped his mind is, and what he really wants from the global community - for no one to call his bluff.

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wow – could THAT discussion go in a lot of directions or what ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Aug 6, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

no doubt

i’ve heard of a loaded question, but that’s a loaded post. some comedian is up late chain smoking and working overtime trying to map that one out.

"Have a take and do not suck or you will get run." - Jim Rome

by jonny-yuma on Aug 7, 2009 2:38 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

In Korean as in Chinese the family name comes first, given name(s) second, so the North Korean dictator/Dear Leader is properly addressed as Mr Kim. The golfers who come to our shores (KJ Choi, YE Yang, Shanshan Feng & all of the Koreans of the LPGA) reverse them for our benefit, but Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian do not.

by IceCat on Aug 7, 2009 1:24 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

That’s my mistake there, should’ve caught that. (Where is sportsjournalism101? He could’ve gotten me on that one.)

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 7, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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