1991 was the beginning of the rollercoaster ride. John Daly, the chain-smoking, hard drinking kid from Arkansas had just escaped from the obscurity of being the ninth alternate to win the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick. Life was good and the rollercoaster was just starting up the first hill.
He was Cinderella in spikes, an overnight success with a bowl haircut. The crowds loved him because they shared the same mantra: hit it harder. Sponsors also loved him and lined up at his door begging him to take their millions and millions of dollars. Still climbing that first hill he took the money and never looked back, or forward for that matter.
Soon after his rollercoaster topped that first hill came the wives, the booze and the gambling, and for a while it appeared that he might be that ever-popular one trick pony, but youth was on his side. He seemed strong enough and talented enough to survive more bad decisions than Robert Downey, Jr., and he was, for a while.
Then, with every reason to fail, somehow, some way John Daly won the 1995 British Open; and the rollercoaster approached the second hill. We never doubted you big John, here’s another million, a new wife, and a free room at any hotel in Las Vegas where they never say no.
From that point on there have been a few more wins and several more hills on his rollercoaster ride, each one smaller that the preceding one, but that’s the way rollercoasters work. The crowds still came, some for the thrill of seeing someone like John hit the ball nine miles, but others came to see the car wreck called John Daly. His weight flucuated wildly as did his drinking, gambling and marital life. One ex-wife even went to jail, if I recall correctly.
John’s last win was 2004 Buick Open six years ago. Since then he’s lost his card, his money and the youth that he rode so hard. In 2009, John spent much of his time in Europe where he played in 10 events and actually finished tied for second at the BMW Italian Open. In the words of Toby Keith, “I’m not as good as I once was, but I’m as good one time as I ever was,” or something like that.
In the middle of all this, he’s gone under the knife for lap-band surgery and dropped a hundred pounds, which is a lot easier than going on a diet and going to the gym, but I digress.
In 2010 John Daly is living on sponsor money (yes there are still a few hanging around) and sponsor exemptions. He hasn’t made a cut this year, and frankly he might have a hard time beating your club champion, but he still draws a crowd because he’s famous.
After a particularly poor outing last week John announced, "I'm done.” Egged on by a Golf Channel producer asking with what, John responded “With golf. I just can't do it anymore," Daly went on. "I'm tired of embarrassing myself."
However, by late Friday Daly was twittering, "I never said retirement.” By Saturday afternoon, his agent confirmed that Daly isn't retiring. Very Favre-ish.
One of the saddest sights in sports is an athlete who doesn’t know when to retire. Even sadder is when an athlete like John Daly knows when to retire but can’t because he believed that the money was never going to end and now he owes everyone in town.
Sadly John Daly’s rollercoaster ride is almost over. The hills ahead are not big enough to raise your hands for, it’s simply time to hold on to the bar so you don’t fall out. But don’t feel sorry for John Daly, he had his time in the sun, and even though you and I may think he blew it, the truth is we don’t know if he did or not.
I saw a story some years ago about a Brinks armored car driver who absconded with something like 5 million dollars. They found him eleven months later totally broke. When asked what he did with the money he smiled the biggest smile I had ever seen and said, “I spent it.”
I always wondered if he played golf?
