Arnold Palmer, American Hero

Riight here ^ | 04/10/04 | JimVT

[JimVT]

While most of the media and the off-center Americans are grinding their teeth over the Condi Rice flap and the body count;US vs Ragheads....a simple little piece of Americana took place today;the Master Tournament's at August, GA.

Arnold Palmer is playing in his 50th Masters.

Kids and adults who weren't even born when he started on the Tour are sitting behind the ropes applauding.

We need to ask ourselves some questions.

Arnie won his first Masters in April, 1960 ( in tribute, I'm sure to the love of my life marrying me in May,)

Since then he has been what...I guess I would call...one of America's unsung heros.

But boyohboy.....what a change today

Why do the media treat us to today,mostly to...steroid kings....Kobe Bryants...(more attention to his trial than his athletic "talent")....

Sammy Sosa, Mark McGuire,et al ,vs real heroes like Yogi, Ted W., Warren Spaughn..et al

Charles Barkley...is a role model.........????

Why is it that the NBA is populated by mostly extra-tall Black Americans-Namibians-Chechnyans-etc,etc,etc,?

Is it that white guys can't shoot OR that it's easier for the franchise-owners to buy some 8 foot tall Lithuanian who understands two English words: (1) Shoot (2) Pass)

It is a world gone upside down...when real role models....(fill in the blanks) are shunted aside by 8th grade graduates (just barely) who become College "graduates" because of their so-called athletic talent.

And even little 'quiet' institutions like Providence College, my almost Alma Mater, have to 'buy' 7ft tall Ugandans to beef up the round ball program.

What he hell ever happened to going to PC to get some learnng????

I'd be delighted to see a report on the number of NBA,MLB,NHL,ETC 'athletes' who completed a four year degree program and earned a B. of anthing!

Maybe some of our Freeper data collection wizards could take this on.

I am frustrated with the USA of today...with the Kerry, Kennedys, Clintons, BenVenistes,et al...who seem to have a outlook on life that is totally foreign to me.

It was a great pleasure to see Arnold Palmer play the Masters.

Note that the 74 year old guy WALKED the course..which was not a piece of cake...

I'm sure he will play more Seniors or Super Seniors and have the advantage of a golf cart.

For what it's worth.

JimVT

[JimVT]

As above

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Arnold Palmer is a Sports Legend.
Our service people, cops, firemen, nurses, doctors etc are Heroes.

[isthisnickcool]

Hero?

Audie Murphy was a hero. The men fighting in firefights in Iraq are heros. Arnold Palmer plays golf. Sports figures may be people that people can admire but calling any of them "heros" cheapens the word?

[curmudgeonII]

What has Palmer done that's heroic? He's lived a loing time - but so have I.
My 73rd birthday comes up before the end of the month. Does that make me heroic also?

[M_i_G]

He was a Veteran of the Korean War...so with that and all the other things he's accomplished, I'll go with Hero.

[al baby]

john f kerrys a hero just ask him

[isthisnickcool]

The context of this is golf. He is no hero for playing golf.

I'd say this guy more of a hero than Arnold Palmer.

Feel free to post information regarding Arnold Palmer's heroic exploits in Korea. I'm not aware of them.

[John W]

HERO: Dictionary Entry and Meaning
Pronunciation: 'heerow, 'heerow


WordNet Dictionary

Definition: [n] the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem
[n] a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States
[n] (Greek mythology) priestess of Aphrodite who killed herself when her lover Leander drowned while trying to swim the Hellespont to see her
[n] someone who fights for a cause
[n] (classical mythology) a being of great strength and courage celebrated for bold exploits; often the offspring of a mortal and a god
[n] a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength; "RAF pilots were the heroes of the Battle of Britain"
[n] Greek mathematician and inventor who devised a way to determine the area of a triangle and who described various mechanical devices (first century)


Synonyms: bomber, champion, Cuban sandwich, fighter, grinder, Hero of Alexandria, hero sandwich, Heron, hoagie, hoagy, Italian sandwich, paladin, poor boy, sub, submarine, submarine sandwich, torpedo, wedge, zep

See Also: Armin, Arminius, artificer, character, defender, discoverer, guardian, Hermann, inventor, Job, leader, mathematician, mythical being, part, persona, protector, role, sandwich, shielder, theatrical role

[Kirkwood]

I am 100% certain that Arnie would despise being labeled a hero. He considers himself a family man, a golfer, and a businessman.

[No!]

Arnie is a GREAT champion and gentlemen and a credit to the game of golf. He single handedly boosted the popularity of the sport more than any other man, period.

If you don't like golf, that's fine, but you obviously don't know much about Arnold Palmer, and that's too bad.

Yes he's lived a long time and I dare say he's accomplished 10,000 times more than you have.

Congratulation MR. Palmer on 50 masters tournaments. You will never be forgotten!

[LibKill]

He was a Veteran of the Korean War

Ever seen the History Channel special on the Korean War, "Fire and Ice"? The title says a lot.

Anyone who made it through that has my respect.

[JennysCool]

We can quibble about "hero" all we want. The important thing is Arnie is and has always been the real deal. I'm in his Army forever. Good post, JimVT!

[JimVT]

Boy oh Boy Oh Boy......Ya never know what kind of response you're gonna get on the FR.

My main reason for posting my once-a-year vanity on one of MY American HEROs...a guy who didn't get blow jobs in the White House or drive young women to their deaths over Massachusetts bridges or admit to 'lusting after women' yada yada yada.....

..but simply used his talents to win a lot of money which he shared with a LOT of people...(do some research, folks)..

..and gave a lot of us some very exciting sports moments...

and did it for 50 freakin' years....

makes him, in my humble opinion, more of an American Hero than some of the one-shot wonders being idolized today!

So please...all you Gung Ho types who think HERO only applies to Audie Murphy and JF Kerry...loosen your belts!

And PS...I did 4 years in the USAF during Korea and only got shot at once...and 4 years in the USNR during Viet Nam and only had to endure 2 weeks on the USS Purdy...

...but to my kid I'm a HERO because I WENT WHEN CALLED.

[Rummyfan]

Arnie was a great golfer and is a true gentleman. Our heroes are currently kicking a** over in Iraq!

[get'emall]

I've had the opportunity to meet and play golf with Arnold Palmer, though he wouldn't remember, I'm sure.

He is one of the finest people you could ever meet. He loves and respects his sport and he honors it by the way he conducts himself on the course and in the public.

There are not a lot of sports legends I know of that carry themselves as well or perform at a high level as long as Arnold Palmer.

[marbren]

Arnie is the Best. I believe he won his first Masters in 1958.

[KC_for_Freedom]

Arnie is the Best.

Just watched the replay of Arnie finishing up today's play. He is a ledgend, and then come the tears.

[LibKill]

He is one of the finest people you could ever meet. He loves and respects his sport and he honors it by the way he conducts himself on the course and in the public.

Class is timeless. I only wish more of the current sports icons could take a page from Mr. Palmer's book, and carry themselves the same way.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Arnold should've picked his ball up at the 18th and never finished the round. There would always be an asterisk next to his name indicating that we are still waiting for him to finish his last round.

[JimVT]

You are correct...I was befuddled by soon to be marrying the most beautiful girl in the world.