Arnold Palmer’s death Sunday, at age 87, didn’t come as a total shock to me but it was hard blow, nonetheless.
It might seem strange or inauthentic to claim that the passing of a celebrity figure whom you have never met can have a serious effect on a person. But millions of folks in the US and around the globe would refute that claim; indeed, they have done so through social media since the word of The King’s death was made public.
Although I’m one of the millions of admirer’s that never met Arnie, there seems to be millions who did actually meet him.
Many of those fortunate enough to have known Arnie have been able to publicly reminisce about their connection to the most beloved figure in the world of golf as Golf Channel hosted a nonstop forum for call-ins for about forty hours after the announcement of Arnie’s passing.
The Golf Channel has functioned as a sort of multimedia wake where Arnie’s friends could come together and swap stories about the one person in our sport who is universally loved.
Arnie was an exceptional talent on the golf course and without his competitive achievements in the 50’s and 60’s he would not have been crowned the King. But the seven majors and 62 PGA Tour titles proved to be merely a foundation for what Arnie would build as his life’s work, and now, as his legacy.
His legacy is that he was the best darn role model as a professional athlete that we have ever seen.
His competitiveness was always restrained by his courtesy and humility, and he always looked like he was having fun. Golf was, and is, a game after all, and Arnie seemed to understand that, even through his disappointments.
Dave Marr III had a close relationship with Arnie as his dad, Dave Marr, was a good pro and close friend and contemporary of Arnie. He told the story of the time his Dad and Arnie got swamped 6 & 5 in an opening foursomes match in the Ryder Cup, when Marr played poorly. Team Captain Byron Nelson seemed to be considering a change in pairing for the afternoon but Arnie insisted “I’ve got my partner right here,” pointing at Marr. Sticking by a friend was more important than possibly playing in a stronger pairing.
As the young Marr explained “It was about how you played, not about how you finished”.
The personal aspect of the competition (how he did it) was more important to Arnie than the outcome. And that putting people and relationships first is what the legion of his friends talked about as they called in to the Golf Channel’s non-stop bereavement session.
Rich Lerner, Frank Nobilo, Tim Rosaforte and Mark Rolfing were the front line for the Golf Channel once the news of Arnie’s passing came. This group convened in the temporary on course studio Golf Channel had assembled at Hazeltine for the Ryder Cup, which of course starts this Friday.
It was very apparent how difficult this assignment was for each of these gents as each had a personal relationship with the King. That’s no surprise as Arnie was a co-founder of The Golf Channel.
What each of these gents, and the dozens of others who called in over the next two days, talked about were the personal qualities, the character of the man known as The King. What everyone talked about was the love they had for the man and the love they had received from him. His golf achievements, his pioneering approach to sponsorships and endorsements, his many business enterprises and his extraordinary charitable works (especially the Orlando area hospitals) were noted and discussed, of course. But most of the talk was about lessons learned, advice given, good times shared, and hand written notes received.
This non-stop programming forum dedicated to Arnie was the greatest tribute to a person I’ve ever seen. He was a more extraordinary person than I had imagined. Lee Trevino called Arnie “the Mother Teresa of golf” and I think he’s got it right.
Long live The King.
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