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Devil Ball Golf

Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:57 am EDT

Happy 80th birthday, Arnold Palmer!

By Jay Busbee

In sports, we have a tendency to go over the top with our pronouncements. We want to proclaim that what we've just seen is the greatest game, the greatest player, the greatest upset ever. Sometimes we're right, more often we're going way over the top to associate ourselves with a time of greatness.

But when it comes to Arnold Palmer, it's impossible to overstate the importance The King has had on the game of golf. It wasn't just the fact that he won so many majors, it was his entire story -- modest beginnings, triumph over tragedy, humility and compassion above all. Palmer and Mark McCormack of IMG pioneered the concept of athlete as brand, and everybody from Michael Jordan to Peyton Manning owes Arnold Palmer a debt of gratitude for that.

Over the last few weeks, we've been focusing on all the astonishing contributions he's made to the game of golf:

• How his trip to the British Open changed the face of golf.

• How he saved the Senior Tour.

• His landmark amateur win.

• His 1960 U.S. Open victory that propelled him to stardom.

• His battle with, and triumph over, prostate cancer.

• His epic battle with Jack Nicklaus at the 1962 U.S. Open.

• The way that early tragedy shaped his career.

• His many legacies both on and off the course.

• Dealing with a late-round collapse with grace.

• Recalling his final PGA Tour victory.

It's a legacy virtually unmatched in sports. Heck, the guy's even got a drink -- half lemonade, half iced tea -- named after him.

It's easy to diminish the qualities of a legend like Arnold Palmer when we see him as he is today, aged, with an old man's fence-gate swing. But pull him out of the history books. See him for what he is -- a great golfer and a better man. Even on the Internet, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone with a negative word to say about Palmer. In an industry where so many are smaller than their legend, he's the rare exception who was larger.

So happy birthday, King! Thanks for all you've given us, and here's hoping for many more!

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55 Comments

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  1. DarylV
    1. Posted by DarylV Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:32 am EDT

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    I spoke to my 83 yr old neighbor Sam about Arnie. Sam played in a pro-am with him 20 something years ago and has a signed picture of them hanging out at the bar later that night. they talked life, politics, war, and family. Much of the things we 'youngsters' havn't learned or lived yet. Palmer is an "everybody" kind of guy. You can be a farmer from Minnesota and he will still buy you a drink. Sam still plays twice a week and I finally beat him by one stroke the other day, had to shoot 81 to do it. Sam is a hero.
  2. DarylV
    2. Posted by DarylV Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:34 am EDT

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    sidenote: can't wait to see what kind of garbage superman spews on this comment board. I doubt he has looked past his own ego long enough to notice what great things others have done. I suppose every village needs thier idiot. Jay, can't we find a different one? Ocho Cinco perhaps?
  3. Kelly G
    3. Posted by Kelly G Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:25 pm EDT

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    And thank you Jay, for writing such wonderful articles on Arnie. Thanks also to all those who wrote about their own personal times and memories with him. I have enjoyed reading them all very much. Not only does the sporting world need more men like Arnie, the world needs more like him. Thanks again Jay and Happy 80th. to the King.
  4. Shawn D
    4. Posted by Shawn D Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    arnold making me go to sleep who CARES baout what he won in 1930 jay you need to learn thats all about TIGER now not arnold jack lefty or whoever and kelly g the KING is TIGER WOODS put tiger and arnold heads up tiger win by 40 styrokes over 4 days NO ONE can beat tiger though everyone where tries to beat TIGER down but it aint gonna happen get rid of toeh golf plantation that keeps us down and blacks would domjninate golf juts like every othre sport where there is NO PLANTATION
  5. Smart arack
    5. Posted by Smart arack Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    Shawn D #4.........What language are you trying to write? Is that English or Ebonics?
    Happy Birthday to the modern King of Golf................Arnold Palmer. My hero. At 80 he can still beat most of the wingnuts who comment on this golf blog.
  6. geosa_student
    6. Posted by geosa_student Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    Shawn has the passion but has trouble articulating his point, so let this sociology major explain and respond to each of the points made above.
    • How his trip to the British Open changed the face of golf.
    True. The British Open had the right demographics (all white, no minorities) so Arnold Palmer was the right person at the right time.
    • How he saved the Senior Tour.
    False. Tiger Woods' emergence as the greatest PGA golfer of all time caused all the PGA fans who could not stand to see a person of color on top of every leaderboard week after week to shift their allegiance to a tour where white men still dominated the boards.
    • His landmark amateur win.
    Somewhat true. It was landmark for its time, but has been eclipsed by Tiger Woods' amateur record.
    • His 1960 U.S. Open victory that propelled him to stardom.
    True.
    • His battle with, and triumph over, prostate cancer.
    True. Did you know, however, that black males are far more likely to get prostate cancer? So, why does Arnold Palmer get all the publicity?
    • His epic battle with Jack Nicklaus at the 1962 U.S. Open.
    I have no opinion one way or the other. This was back before my time and when golf clubs were painfully segregated and exclusionary both on grounds of race and economic status.
    • Dealing with a late-round collapse with grace.
    This is called a choke, but notice how the media shapes opinion.
    Sadly, the PGA is still largely a plantation, where people of privilege ply their domination over people of color, and even Tiger Woods complete domination of golf cannot change that.
  7. Shawn D
    7. Posted by Shawn D Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    Im smart #5 i jsut dont type good. TIGER WOODS would bring in 100,000 fans for a presonil appearance what would ARNOLD binrg about 20 but im a cool dude so arnold happy brithday!
  8. hammer
    8. Posted by hammer Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:23 pm EDT

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    Shawn D is racist of the lowest quality and his comments only confirm it. he is also trying to rile the spirits of the people who have followed this great game for many more years than Shawn has or will. Shawn please have your only freind let me know when you die I will want to piss on your grave. Happy 80th Arnie
  9. elic
    9. Posted by elic Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:32 pm EDT

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    I have always enjoyed him.
  10. elic
    10. Posted by elic Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:32 pm EDT

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    I have always enjoyed him.
  11. Dan the Obliviousman
    11. Posted by Dan the Obliviousman Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:33 pm EDT

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    Happy 80th to one of the greats of the game. :)
  12. Dan the Obliviousman
    12. Posted by Dan the Obliviousman Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:34 pm EDT

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    Happy 80th to one of the greats of the game. :)
  13. Dan the Obliviousman
    13. Posted by Dan the Obliviousman Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:35 pm EDT

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    Happy 80th to one of the greats of the game.
  14. Dan the Obliviousman
    14. Posted by Dan the Obliviousman Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:35 pm EDT

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    Happy 80th to one of the greats of the game.
  15. Dan the Obliviousman
    15. Posted by Dan the Obliviousman Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:41 pm EDT

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    Great!...My comment gets posted four times before it appears,each time telling me my comment could not be posted...Can someone there at Yahoo! please fix this?...Thanks.
  16. Smart arack
    16. Posted by Smart arack Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:54 pm EDT

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    This is a post about Arnold Palmer and his 80th birthday. Its not about race. If you have a problem with that, infect your bitterness elsewhere.
  17. geosa_student
    17. Posted by geosa_student Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:20 pm EDT

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    Its not about race, but everything I said is 100% true and no one has even tried to refute it.
  18. Dan M
    18. Posted by Dan M Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:29 pm EDT

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    To Post 6, this is about recognizing the 80th birthday of an American icon. Known as much for his character as he is for his golf achievements. Peddle your sociologist rant somewhere else. And you gives a bleep what you think anyway?
  19. Shawn D
    19. Posted by Shawn D Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    i dont know what icon is but i know this TIGER gets 1000 comments or more on blog arnold gets 20
  20. Smart arack
    20. Posted by Smart arack Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:04 pm EDT

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    Post 17 No one is trying to refute it because no one here, aside from you wants to discuss bitterness and entitlement on a board devoted to Arnold Palmer.
    You sound like a white liberal posing as an intelligent black person. ..Good try. I'm sure there are plenty of boards out there that discuss lots more than Arnold Palmers birthday.
    If you had half the brain you pretend to have,you'd Go find one.
  21. Superman
    21. Posted by Superman Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:09 pm EDT

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    Hey Shawn D, can you say ASK!! instead of AXE!! LOL, Hey go away!!! Dawg!!
    The Master Blogger
  22. Jay Busbee
    22. Posted by Jay Busbee Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:09 pm EDT

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    Geosa, if you're still a student, take a little more time in class before making public pronouncements. I give your post an A for effort but a C for accuracy. For instance:
    "• How he saved the Senior Tour.
    False. Tiger Woods' emergence as the greatest PGA golfer of all time caused all the PGA fans who could not stand to see a person of color on top of every leaderboard week after week to shift their allegiance to a tour where white men still dominated the boards."
    Your false is false. Arnie joined the Senior Tour in 1980, when Tiger was about five years old. I don't think PGA fans were fleeing a five-year-old. And how do you explain that PGA ratings are about 20 times as high as Senior Tour ones? Nice theory completely unsupported by facts.
    And so on. Don't get your feelings hurt so easily. Yes, there has been immense injustice in golf, but Arnold Palmer didn't start or perpetuate it. And if your idol Tiger reveres Palmer, which he does, shouldn't that tell you something?
    Thanks for taking the time to write, but seriously--consider all sides before proclaiming yourself "100% true."
  23. Smart arack
    23. Posted by Smart arack Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:18 pm EDT

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    B Obama delivered his message to Congress last night but all were amazed because all he talked about was his Marthas Vineyard golf game.
    When he pointed out he'd shot an 80 some congressmen from S Carolina yelled out,"Liar!"
    Arnold Palmer was there. He was bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor or his 80th birthday.
    He approached the podium and gently reminded Obama to stick to the subject and Obama quietly said,"Happy Birthday Mr.Palmer". "I may be President but you sir, are King!"
  24. w.a.s.p.
    24. Posted by w.a.s.p. Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:18 pm EDT

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    My prize possession as a high school kid (back in the 60's) was an Arnold Palmer shirt with the umbrella log on it.
    Does anyone know if they still market them? I see Arnie wearing the umbrella logo, but can't find them for sale, not even in the Bay Hill pro shop.
  25. w.a.s.p.
    25. Posted by w.a.s.p. Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    Oh, if anyone knows the answer to my post #24, please e-maIL me at JAS8631@yahoo.com

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