Steve Stricker Reminds Me a Lot of Dick Vermeil
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 8, 2010 11:10 AM EST
in Pro Golf
29 comments
All weekend long, I was rooting for Steve Stricker to take the title at Riviera. I had him in fantasy golf, he almost won this event last year, and I know that this guy really has worked hard to get his game to where it is. Opening up a six shot lead after 54 holes, it seemed almost inevitable that Strick would win.
As the contenders fell by the wayside, Stricker only had to face Luke Donald and JB Holmes in order to secure the win. In the end, he did just that and won the Northern Trust Open by a deuce.
In the interview right after, Stricker got emotional with Roger Maltbie about the win.
I know that Stricker has battled for a long time to get his game to this position, so I can really appreciate the emotion he has for each achievement. Sometimes, it's probably a bit too much, but it is genuine. No one can accuse Stricker of being fake, disingenuous, or less than thoughtful. He appears to approach every action as though he is soaking it all up and enjoying it.
In that regard, he reminds me a lot of Dick Vermeil in his second stint at coaching. Vermeil had a very successful tenure with the St. Louis Rams, including a Super Bowl win, and a decent run with the Kansas City Chiefs. When great stuff happened, Vermail shed a few tears. When poor things happened, Vermeil probably shed a few more tears.
It's easy to poke fun at him for crying so often - Vermeil would make fun of himself - but at least the guy was genuine. He was so appreciative of the second chance he had as an NFL head coach, after his run with the Philadelphia Eagles. Vermeil appeared to behave almost exactly the same behavior pattern as Stricker exhibits now.
Yeah, it's easy to make fun of, but it's also unique in a sport where so many of the personalities in the game are robotic in their on-course behavior and press room answers.
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Good analogy, but I'd say Strick is
a far cry from Vermeil. The latter would have to change his drenched shirt mid-interview.
have to agree with TX – one teary interview doesn’t add up to Dick “I’ll cry at the drop of a hat” Vermeil’s teary resume.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Good move by the announcer, though,
to cut the interview short. I love to see Mr. Stricker win, tiring of seeing Misty Stricker interview.
I've seen Stricker get emotional before.....
Lee Janzen is another one who is very emotional. I will tell you, the emotion is not only genuine, but it is something they can not control……it happens. I am the same way, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it, but try to stay out of situations where it might cause some embarrassment. If you don’t have that “problem” it is very hard to understand, or maybe seen as a put on. I have a friend who has to stand at the end of the field when his 8 year old grandson plays little league football, because he cries every-time the kid does something good……..and he’s a tough guy…….. And don’t ask me how many times I cried during the Super Bowl………lol
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Shouldn’t you be on the road to get to the parade tomorrrow ? (I’m hoping the locals will have Nantz and Sims strapped to the front of a float for the job they did) :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Too far for me, but I think my nephew is going.
The SB is in Dallas next year and if the Saints make it, we may try to go. We are much closer to Dallas than NO, but we hate the “cowgirls”.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
I'll say this,
I think Roger Maltbie could have started out the questioning with a little more taste of diplomacy, rather than bringing up Strickers poor performance and rankings and near collapse of years behind. He opened the interview referencing the past as it somehow related to yesterdays win, rather than the current or future positive side of things, hence the tears perhaps. JMHO. I’ve always found Maltbie to be a good on-course announcer, but needs to leave the interviews to someone else. jumpn/progolf
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
I forget which announcer repeatedly
says “Nicely done,” but too much of anything is no good. Learn a new term. Mix it up. Add some Hamburger Helper if necessary.
Great analogy Ryan!
how can you not like Steve Stricker? I can appreciate a guy who wears hit heart on his sleeve. It’s nice to see a guy show some emotion than be a robot.
It's Stricker's party
and he can cry if he wants to. (Though I was hoping Luke Donald & Paul Goydos could have got closer).
I’ve never forgiven Maltbie for his incredible rudeness to Stewart Cink. I would have punched him on the nose – or at least stamped on his foot.
Wendy.....please forward a
list of “rude” questions…..I sure don’t want to make you want to punch or stomp me……..lol. You go girl!
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
The first few........
Times I made presentations to the Kids at “Childrens Make A Wish Foundation” in front of a large audience, I too had trouble getting through the emotions of it all and I consider myself some what of a tuff guy or at least used to be. LOL The first time was the toughest of all as I started to well-up and the kid I sponsored sitting on the stage next to my microphone stand pulled at my jacket during my presentation speech and said, “Dont be sad, Mr. Rich because today I’m not” and proceeded to hand me some of his tissues from his wheel chair. Good lawwwdy, what a night that was. My point is that I guess it’s perfectly normal to wear your heart on your sleeve as it happens to all of us. Some more than others.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
I love Strick. He got emotional after winning at the Deutsche Bank in the fall also. It was cool to see.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
Ryan.....I love Strick too......I would've loved him even more had I picked him last week-end....lol
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
I was at the Deutsche Bank last year.
Stricker was playing with Tiger. Me and my buddies got a good spot right next to the path from a green to the next tee, and we decided to try to give Tiger a high five. Obviously, we expected him to walk right by without acknowledging us. And he did just that. But, Stricker came up right behind him and gave us all high fives. I just thought it was a cool thing to do. It made my day.
Ryan,
It never has been said of why Stricker fell off the radar the first time…And has been posted by others, emotions happen at funny and unexpected times…It may well be that he is so appreciative of the “second chance” that he just can’t help himself….Kind of like when Crenshaw won the masters for Harvey….I like the genuineness of his actions…Over the last couple of years, can’t remember anything derogatory said about him…that in itself is something in this day an age…STUB
Ah the driver...
Court, back a bit, you said you re-shafted the TM Ti head, the bubble shaft had been .037 and you put in a graphite…is that correct…I have the TI heads in 1-3-7 and 22% rescue..all with bubble shafts…I would like to re-shaft with graphite and make the driver 42-1/2 in…Jumpin, you forget I have EM in my corner, and his positive thinking is gonna do ya in….So if you positively want to send the lobsters and balls now, we positively would have no objections…STUB
It was so awesome to see my favorite player win yesterday!!
I’ve got to think Maltbie was trying to figure out how to word his “question” to prompt Stricker to get choked up – I liked that Stricks called him on it. :-)
I’m hoping 2010 brings Stricker the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits this year!
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
That would be cool...
I too would love to see Stricks with a major on his record. A truly deserving Champion, and a testament to perserverance………..
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Feb 8, 2010 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
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