The King is 80; Long live the King!

Mike Dudurich

Posted 2009-09-10

Believe it or not, there are people in the world who don’t realize the significance of the birthday we’re celebrating today.

A day before the solemn observance of 9-11, golfers, non-golfers, men, women, children will all be raising a figurative glass toward western Pennsylvania, toasting the 80th birthday of the King, Arnold Palmer.

Golf fans know what Palmer has accomplished on golf courses around the world. 92 victories, 7 major championships and, more importantly, he brought the game to the masses with his charismatic personality, his go-for-broke philosophy and a pair of western Pennsylvania broad shoulders that enabled him to take on all comers.

But Palmer was, and still is, much bigger even than the game itself. He dragged the gentleman’s game into the public vision, made it television worthy and gave working-class golf fans someone to root for in a sport previously dominated by the wealthy.

"I never like to say any one man is bigger than the sport, but Arnold Palmer is a man for whom our sport owes a great debt," Player said. "He's been a wonderful ambassador to the game. He behaved well. He was passionate with people."

In his playing days, Palmer was respected by friends and foes on the PGA Tour. As he rose in stature in the game, his popularity and influence rose outside the game as well. He revolutionized the business aspect of the game, becoming a pitchman extraordinaire and showing the rest of golf what possibilities existed off the fairways.

"I feel fortunate that I've been able to have any impact on the game," Palmer said. "I have to give credit to a lot of people I was involved with - my father and mother were keys to my involvement in the game. My father taught me to play and to do all the proper things in the game and have respect for the people I play with."

By the time I started covering golf, Palmer was into the Champions Tour phase of his career. I had become a fan of his many years earlier, but knew only what I saw of him on TV or had read about him. I learned a couple things quickly.

First, he always knew when I was going to be at a tournament in which he was playing. His popularity was immense, even though he wasn’t putting up the kind of numbers he wanted. He routinely took part in post-round interviews outside the media center, many times for the benefit of local television stations.

Without fail, once those interviews were done and he’d see me taking in the scene, he’d always call out, “Mike, you have everything you need?” If I happened to have a question or two, he’d always take me behind the ropes and give me the time I needed.

Second, as his scores kept getting higher, so did his frustrations. He kept threatening to quit playing competitively, but as I witnessed during the many rounds I walked with him, the crowds didn’t care what he shot, they just wanted to see him out there playing.

We talked about that several times and he said he understood where they were coming from, but also hoped they understood that there was a level embarrassment associated with shooting high scores.

The man never forgot his roots, something that seems to becoming more fashionable among the younger generation in the game. And he also never forgot the standards he had set as a consummate professional golfer.

From his earliest days in the game, Palmer learned to play the game the right way and try to do good for other people.

"I look back at my beginnings at Latrobe Country Club, and I feel fortunate," Palmer said, speaking of where he got started in the game and where he reports to work every day during the spring and summer. “It's important to do things that are good. I'm proud that I've been able to contribute to the well-being of our society.

"I can spend the rest of my life being thankful that golf has given me the opportunities to make significant contributions throughout the world," he said. "The whole nation has been very generous with their help in various charities, including hospitals in Greensburg, Latrobe and Orlando."

Because of Arnold Palmer, children in Orlando, Fla. were able to get care that might not have been available without the Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital. Because of Arnold Palmer, cancer victims in western Pennsylvania are able to receive treatment of the dreaded disease at places like the Arnold Palmer Pavilion.

The list of other people he’s helped anonymously is too long to get into. But that’s Arnold Palmer, the man. He was spectacular in the game of golf. Whatever is better than spectacular would describe what he is outside the game. Which is why all those glasses need to be raised to honor the man on his 80th birthday.

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About Mike...
As a sports writer for over 35 years, Mike Dudurich has seen a lot of great things, covered spectacular events, but his passion is, and has been golf. He recently ended a 29-year career at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and will now be a frequent contributor on GolfGearReview.com. Mike hosts a weekly golf radio show on 1250 ESPN in Pittsburgh from the beginning of April through the end of August. The show airs Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. and can be heard online at http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1250/show?showId=insidepghgolf - Listen to Mike Here!.

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