Make Mine An Arnold
Palmer
What makes
an athlete great? Pure talent, winning,
many years in the spotlight, records, all these and more. What makes an athlete the greatest? That is a tough one.
Mohammed Ali
was the greatest in the boxing world because he said he was. But it was more than that. He may not have been the most dominant boxer
of all time, you could make a case that he was, but he definitely made boxing
more interesting than any boxer before or after his era.
Golf just
lost its greatest of all time. Arnold
Palmer won a lot of tournaments, but others have won more. He won many majors, but others have won
more. He turned millions of non-golf
fans into golf fans…no one before or after has made a greater impact on the
popularity of golf.
Jack Nicolaus
was great and he had many fans, but he won so often and so easily, many fans
wanted to see him fail. Tiger played
perhaps like no one before him, but he had his detractors, especially after his
personal life made the front pages. Not
everyone rooted for Tiger.
Everyone
wanted to see Arnold win. He played on
the edge. He always went for the
toughest shot, and the biggest drive.
His swing was not classic and pretty, it was rough but effective. Arnold might fail but he never quit and he
often snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
He did it with style, but with a working class determination in a
country club sport.
Arnold hit
the golf world as TV was beginning to showcase the game and people suddenly
wanted to watch a game that prior had only snob appeal. Arnie brought the game to the common
folk. Suddenly the public courses were
packed and everyone was taking up the game.
New golf courses were built all over the country and everyone was part
of Arnie’s Army. He was the face of golf
for decades, even after his prime playing days.
Search Google
for bad things peoples have said about Arnold Palmer and you will find
nothing. He was a gentleman, a businessman,
a role model, a legend.
We lost a
great one at 87 yesterday. Ice tea and
lemonade might not be my favorite drink, but if you ask me who was the greatest
most influential man in golf for the longest period of time, I say,
“Make mine an Arnold Palmer!”
About the only people who might call him out on anything are those who;d think his promoting Pennzoil is a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteThey wouldn't get any bacon from me.
You do.
He was a beautiful man & a true gentleman. Many years ago, the wife of the pro at our local golf course had twin boys; their middle names are Nicklaus & Palmer!!
ReplyDeleteA great man, indeed. My man used to rave about him.
ReplyDeleteHe was one of the good guys. May he rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteA class act indeed!
ReplyDeletei knew him by name only. but nice to hear such kudos these days. we need more like him, then.
ReplyDeleteIf every sports figure was a true sport like he was, the world would be a better place.
ReplyDeleteAs a golfer and as a man he has always been heald in the highest esteem. That can't be said of many of the greatest sportsmen anymore...
ReplyDeleteGreat golfer, great man.
ReplyDeleteYou summed him up very nicely. We need more guys just like him in this world. It would be a better place.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
He did leave a lovely legacy.
ReplyDeleteHe made golf the sport it is today. Before Arnie's Armies, golf was a rich man's game with little general appeal. He made it popular for the every man and woman.
ReplyDeleteI've yet to hear anyone say a negative thing about him.
ReplyDeleteIt's been so long since I'd seen him play that I was struck by what an ugly swing he had. Amazing how he got results with it. But he did, over and over again. He and Ben Hogan were my favorites in my youthful days chasing the little white ball.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about sports, and even less about golf, but even I heard of Arnold Palmer and knew he was a class act.
ReplyDeleteAs one of the common folk, I remember watching Arnold Palmer on TV when I was a kid. I'd never heard of his drink, though. Probably because I've never been a tea drinker.
ReplyDeleteI was a small kid and my Dad and Granddad took me to a tournament in Denver. We were standing next to the green when Arnie played through. As he walked off the green, he passed close by us, stopped and walked over to me, shook my hand and said "Hi, I'm Arnold Palmer." I thought that was the coolest thing ever.
ReplyDeleteSorry to here he passed, but I'm sure he's playing golf wherever he is.