Happy 80th Birthday, Arnold Palmer!
by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 10, 2009 9:38 AM EDT
9 comments
Arnold Palmer turns 80 today. Today is really the culmination of several months' worth of remembering the life and career of one of this sport's all-time great competitors and people.
Jay Busbee's site has been running a nice series of posts about the King in anticipation of today. The USGA has been trying to collect well wishes from fans at their site dedicated to Palmer. The Pittsburgh Pirates celebrated their 17th consecutive losing season by having Palmer throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Tuesday.
The man won seven major titles, including four Masters jackets. He took home just one US Open, but practically saved the Open Championship from irrelevance by making the trip to play there in 1960. The Claret Jug has been his twice. Never winning the PGA Championship may well have helped to define the modern Grand Slam - the one Palmer needed to complete the set.
He is still active competitively today because he loves playing golf. Friends and colleagues say he still plays everyday. He splits time between Orlando - home of the Golf Channel, which he founded - and Latrobe, PA - where he owns his father's club in town.
The man is a legend in his own time. He even has a drink named after him. I'll be drinking a few half & half lemonade-iced teas today in his honor.
Pro golfers emulate him, not only for his aggressive style, but his manner off of the course. Palmer loves people and this sport in a way that few others can even comprehend. Jack Nicklaus has repeatedly said he doesn't love golf quite as much as Arnie. Tiger doesn't really like to play much golf when he isn't competing. Perhaps the only man to compare to Arnie is Gary Player - the other component of the Big Three that teamed with Nicklaus, as well, to take the game to the masses through exhibitions and television.
Our sport is fortunate to have men like Palmer. He is an honorable man from humble roots who continues to shape golf by making a connection between his past career and this generation of players and courses.
Happy birthday, Arnie!
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I really have nothing
to say but I wanted to beat courtgolf to the punch.
Anyway. When JFK died, Ted Kennedy eulogized his brother by saying, “Don’t make him bigger in death than he was in life”. Same with Arnold. Don’t make him bigger at 80, than he was at 60, 40 or so. Football and baseball brought TV to sports, it would have found someone, if not Arnie. They threw a tickertape parade for Hogan when he took a ship overseas to win the OPEN and Sam Snead went over and won it right after the war. (The cannons were still warm)
Any bets in a year or two, he ‘retires’ from teeing off at the Masters and does a ‘Favre’ and comes back again…
...from the land of pleasant living, Baltimore.
by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Sep 10, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Let me ask you, Vince — who of Palmer’s contemporaries would TV “have found?” Was there a big enough personality to draw the eyes? If there was one, I can’t think of him.
In a lot of ways, Phil Mickelson reminds me of Arnold Palmer…in the way that he has the same go-for-broke golf game, the way that he can command and work a crowd, and the way that he is accommodating almost to a fault of his fans. No, he is not the dominating player Palmer could be, but when Phil is on — rare as that is lately — he certainly brings back memories.
by Old Man Par on Sep 10, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t understand the vitriol against Palmer. He was a dominant golfer with the personality, looks, and charm – not to mention a boatload of humility and appreciation for the fans – to make golf on TV something to watch. TV wasn’t really around for Hogan and Snead. People listened on radio or watched shorts at the movie theatre.
To this day, when he walks through the lobby at Bay Hill, he stops to greet the people who are coming to stay or play golf. He doesn’t hide behind walls.
How big a personality do you have to have to be the good guy who faced off with the greatest golfer of his day and possibly of all time – Jack Nicklaus ? People hated Nicklaus because he could beat Palmer.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Sep 10, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. Palmer was a sports hero in a time when a sports hero could be a role model.
No Charles Barkley was he — Mr. Palmer knew his role in the eyes of his fans, and he not only lived up to it then, he has continued to do so his entire life. It was easier for him – living in the public can never be called easy – because he was just being himself.
Now then, I do not pretend that Arnold Palmer walked upon water. He did, however, provide the image of America that Americans like to believe that we are: bold, daring, successful, hard-working, friendly and humble.
by Old Man Par on Sep 10, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ryan, the 'Arnold Palmer' drink was
invented by Yogi Berra. It’s half iced-tea, half lemonade and half vodka. They used to serve it at Yogi’s favorite restaurant, but Yogi says nobody goes to that restaurant anymore because it is always too crowded…
...from the land of pleasant living, Baltimore.
by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Sep 10, 2009 9:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And if any of you have never taken the time to read Yogi Berra’s books, I would start with “The Wit and Wisdom of Yogi Berra” by Phil Pepe and Whitey Ford. You will probably laugh until your gut hurts.
by Old Man Par on Sep 10, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I second that call – one of the funniest books of all time
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Sep 10, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
CB, trust me, TV would have 'found' someone...
There was a guy who won a couple U.S. Amateurs and a U.S. Open as his first PGA tour win. He was chubby with a funny hat, but he could play and he did not need an army to keep throwing his ball back in play for him. Another guy named Champagne Tony Lema had plenty game AND had the press and the TV guys hopping and Doug Sanders got a lot air time with both his game and his wardrobe. You guys make it sound like we would still be listening to golf on our crystal radios late at night from WOWO, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, if Arnold had not deigned to be coronated.
And everybody forgets it is Arnold’s fault Bob Drum’s name and bulldog boozy face was known outside of Pittsburgh.
Am I not allowed to prefer a bunch of other golfers to Palmer? Is it okay if I personally feel he is NOT the 2nd or 3rd in the Holy Trinity? Arnie is great. Was great. I just do not think he was all THAT great…
Now, do you wanna hear why I think Oscar Robertson would have beaten Jordan one-on-one 7 out of 10 times?
...from the land of pleasant living, Baltimore.
by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Sep 10, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think anybody said you can’t like who you want to like – we’re just amazed that you choose his birthday to start thowing eggs.
Hmm – Big O vs Air Jordan one-on-one…wouldn’t THAT be a lot of fun to see ? Add in some Larry Bird and Magic Johnson and have a little tournament.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Sep 10, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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