Yesterday on ESPN Radio in Dallas, afternoon drive host and feature columnist for the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Randy Galloway called me “giddy and over the edge” for how I have spoken about Eldrick Tiger Woods.
I called what Tiger did, “one of the greatest athletic achievements by the greatest athlete in the world today.” I used an analogy that I suspect those of you that know our great game will understand. Imagine if you will, Emmit Smith playing in the Super Bowl and rushing for 150 yards under these circumstances…
- Two fractured bones in his leg
- A Torn ACL that needs total reconstruction
- Having had surgery just 8 weeks previously on his knee
- Having only practiced for 10 minutes a day with no pads for one month prior to the game
- Not bending down prior to the start of the game.
- Basically being told by his doctors to “shut it down now.”
- Not being able to walk from the kitchen table to the refrigerator.
- Not practicing with his teammates until game time.
And now the best…
- Knowing all this and knowing the pain he would have to live with every time he got hit.
Every writer in America; every radio host; hell, everyone would say it was an achievement beyond comparison. That is what Tiger Woods did at the 108th US open... And incidentally, the man never hit one practice ball or practice putt (other than a few shots to warm up prior to each round) during the tournament. And, oh yeah… he won.
Tiger has given us so many great moments. From his first Masters win to his unbelievable Masters chip-in. Every time the man goes to the golf course we wait for something great to happen.
As I watched from his first shot on Thursday to his short putt for par on the 91st hole, I knew there that something extra special was happening. We just did not know how special. For two weeks prior to the Open, I said that I did not think he would play. I knew something wasn’t right.
If it wasn’t the Open; if it wasn’t on a course that Tiger knew so well; if he wasn’t about to become the first player to record the incredible record of winning majors in 4 straight years, twice; if it wasn’t for the fact that he knew he was through for a pretty long time; IF IT WASN’T TIGER WOODS, none of this would have happened.
So, Randy, you go ahead and make fun of me… I will stand by my statements. I will stand tall knowing that what was accomplished this past weekend could not have been done by anyone but Tiger Woods.
On another note -- Is there anything more nerve-racking than watching our kids? Today I went through every emotion possible watching my eldest play his final round of golf in the Legends Tour event at Twin Creeks.
As many of you know, one year ago, Doug choose to chase his dream of becoming a golfer by spending his senior year at the International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head. By today’s standards, Doug’s chase began very late; most juniors are in their 8th or 9th year at 18 years old. But Sandie and I believe in chasing dreams and we are doing everything we can to assist our son.
He is doing his part. Practicing for hours; playing and, more importantly, gaining as much knowledge as possible in a short period of time. Knowing that he is behind does not make things easy. Doug makes mistakes during tournament rounds that other talented kids made when they were 15, but my son pushes forward.
Today was one of those days. Doug was three under par after 4 holes. As Hank Haney tells him, “Doug, you manage to shoot the highest score possible every time you play.” Today he turned a 68 or 69 into a 74. Now for you and me, 74 is a dream number. For Doug, it is just another round on the way to the goal. As parents we live and breathe with every shot, every swing of the bat, every puck shot at the net or every free throw attempt. The hardest part for each of us is enjoying the moment. Today, through all his ups and downs, I enjoyed more than ever before watching my son play a round golf. Douglas Gribin is getting better ever day and isn’t that what we want from each of our children.
So this weekend, keep it in the short grass and more important, go play golf with your kids… because there is no better way to play our grand old game.
