Arnie's Army Left Leaderless :(
September 26, 2016 2:22 AM Subscribe
Arnold Palmer has died at the age of 87. One of the all-time golfing greats, a world-class philanthropist, and an advertiser's dream was awaiting heart surgery when he passed away on Sunday, 25 September 2016.
Jack Nicklaus reflects:
I just got the news at about 8:45 that Arnold had passed. I was shocked to hear that we had lost a great friend - and that golf had lost a great friend.
At this point I don't know what happened, and I suppose it is not important what happened. What is important is that we just lost one of the incredible people in the game of golf and in all sports. My friend - many people's friend - just wore out. I know he was in Pittsburgh trying to find out how to make himself better. That's what Arnold was always trying to do. He has always been a fighter and he never gave up on anything. He didn't give up even now. Maybe his body did, but I know Arnold's will and spirit did not.
Jack Nicklaus reflects:
I just got the news at about 8:45 that Arnold had passed. I was shocked to hear that we had lost a great friend - and that golf had lost a great friend.
At this point I don't know what happened, and I suppose it is not important what happened. What is important is that we just lost one of the incredible people in the game of golf and in all sports. My friend - many people's friend - just wore out. I know he was in Pittsburgh trying to find out how to make himself better. That's what Arnold was always trying to do. He has always been a fighter and he never gave up on anything. He didn't give up even now. Maybe his body did, but I know Arnold's will and spirit did not.
I don't play golf but I've lived most of my life in Augusta, GA, (where the Masters is played) and he really helped put this town on the map. Looking back at his record it is hard to believe that he last won here in 1964, when I was not even 1 year old. Based on my Facebook feed it looks like the whole town is going into mourning, not unlike when James Brown died.
posted by TedW at 2:47 AM on September 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by TedW at 2:47 AM on September 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
One of my father's favorite go-to jokes was "I'd like to meet Arnold Palmer. I'd like to shake his hand and thank him for inspiring me to take up golf. Then I'd like to punch him in the nose for inspiring me to take up golf."
Thank you, Mr. Palmer, for the happiness and the frustrations you brought into our family.
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posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:57 AM on September 26, 2016 [14 favorites]
Thank you, Mr. Palmer, for the happiness and the frustrations you brought into our family.
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posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:57 AM on September 26, 2016 [14 favorites]
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posted by Joey Michaels at 3:05 AM on September 26, 2016
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:05 AM on September 26, 2016
My Dad knew him, said he was always a total gentleman and a real nice guy.
Fore!
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posted by james33 at 3:16 AM on September 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
Fore!
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posted by james33 at 3:16 AM on September 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
Only knew his TV persona, but I suspect he was a good man....of the Dizzy Dean ilk. RIP, Arnold; you will surely be missed.
posted by lometogo at 3:16 AM on September 26, 2016
posted by lometogo at 3:16 AM on September 26, 2016
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He's on an Xist Pleasure Saucer now...
posted by acb at 3:18 AM on September 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
He's on an Xist Pleasure Saucer now...
posted by acb at 3:18 AM on September 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
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posted by one weird trick at 3:38 AM on September 26, 2016
posted by one weird trick at 3:38 AM on September 26, 2016
I never followed professional golf, but he did invent one of my favorite non-alcoholic beverages, so for that I'm grateful.
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posted by Faint of Butt at 3:46 AM on September 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
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posted by Faint of Butt at 3:46 AM on September 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
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posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 4:35 AM on September 26, 2016
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 4:35 AM on September 26, 2016
⛳️
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 4:35 AM on September 26, 2016
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 4:35 AM on September 26, 2016
I grew up in a house where the only sport that was ever on TV, aside from the Olympics and the occasional hockey game, was golf. Like, all the time.
Like the hushed tones of golf announcers floating up from the TV room on a Sunday afternoon, the presence of Palmer (and Nicklaus too) in the world has just been one of those certainties that's always been at the back of my mind.
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Man, the pictures making the rounds on Twitter recall an era:
Hack darts on the course, look fresh to death, live to be 87. RIP The King
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:25 AM on September 26, 2016
Like the hushed tones of golf announcers floating up from the TV room on a Sunday afternoon, the presence of Palmer (and Nicklaus too) in the world has just been one of those certainties that's always been at the back of my mind.
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Man, the pictures making the rounds on Twitter recall an era:
Hack darts on the course, look fresh to death, live to be 87. RIP The King
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:25 AM on September 26, 2016
🏌
posted by hot_monster at 6:57 AM on September 26, 2016
posted by hot_monster at 6:57 AM on September 26, 2016
I have always been a fan of Arnold Palmer. It began when I was 6 or 7. I probably first saw him playing on a small B&W TV in central Texas. We were poor, we had little as a family. My closest friends lived in the local projects. But I was still mesmerized by him and the game.
I don't know which came first: Falling in love with the game of golf, or my seeing the ads in the back of kids science magazines or comics or some other periodical for his academy.
But there it was; a summer camp for boys at the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. I absolutely dwelt on those ads, imagined the fields, the big skies. Arnold and his Army on TV.
I think I first swung a club a year or so later at the local muni course. I literally swam through the water hazards at night to pick balls out of the Texas mud to play with.
The fantasy of the golf academy kept me focused at a time that I was actively aware of my gender dysphoria. I knew I wasn't a boy, I knew we couldn't afford it, but I so wanted to be a part of it. I loved Arnie.
Keep in mind this was the '60s and '70's. My parents found a way for me to play. And I kept playing as much as I could. No private club for me, always the local muni course, always battered lefty rentals, always water balls.
My first birthday after I told my parents about my gender dysphoria, my Dad gave me two gifts: custom lefty clubs and a sandalwood hairbrush.
Fast forward many years. I've become a competent player and competed as a woman at many levels. But, I've never forgotten those ads and those epic head to heads with Jack.
I'm not sad at his passing. I am thankful I saw him playing way back in the 1960's on that tv. I'm thankful that he, from all accounts, was a good man.
Thank you Mr Palmer.
posted by michswiss at 6:58 AM on September 26, 2016 [21 favorites]
I don't know which came first: Falling in love with the game of golf, or my seeing the ads in the back of kids science magazines or comics or some other periodical for his academy.
But there it was; a summer camp for boys at the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. I absolutely dwelt on those ads, imagined the fields, the big skies. Arnold and his Army on TV.
I think I first swung a club a year or so later at the local muni course. I literally swam through the water hazards at night to pick balls out of the Texas mud to play with.
The fantasy of the golf academy kept me focused at a time that I was actively aware of my gender dysphoria. I knew I wasn't a boy, I knew we couldn't afford it, but I so wanted to be a part of it. I loved Arnie.
Keep in mind this was the '60s and '70's. My parents found a way for me to play. And I kept playing as much as I could. No private club for me, always the local muni course, always battered lefty rentals, always water balls.
My first birthday after I told my parents about my gender dysphoria, my Dad gave me two gifts: custom lefty clubs and a sandalwood hairbrush.
Fast forward many years. I've become a competent player and competed as a woman at many levels. But, I've never forgotten those ads and those epic head to heads with Jack.
I'm not sad at his passing. I am thankful I saw him playing way back in the 1960's on that tv. I'm thankful that he, from all accounts, was a good man.
Thank you Mr Palmer.
posted by michswiss at 6:58 AM on September 26, 2016 [21 favorites]
Growing up and living in western PA, there have been a host of sports celebrities over the decades that everyone lauds and loves but things swirl in the background--the guy's a womanizer, gets pissy with autographs, doesn't tip, parks in handicapped spaces, etc.
Except Arnold Palmer. The man wasn't 'The King' for what he did on the golf course, he was 'The King' for everything he did when the club wasn't in his hand, both for each individual person he met and for the community as a hole.
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posted by splen at 7:43 AM on September 26, 2016 [6 favorites]
Except Arnold Palmer. The man wasn't 'The King' for what he did on the golf course, he was 'The King' for everything he did when the club wasn't in his hand, both for each individual person he met and for the community as a hole.
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posted by splen at 7:43 AM on September 26, 2016 [6 favorites]
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NYT: The Arnold Palmer: Two Parts Iced Tea, One Part Lemonade
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:04 AM on September 26, 2016
NYT: The Arnold Palmer: Two Parts Iced Tea, One Part Lemonade
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:04 AM on September 26, 2016
Did you ever see an Arnold Palmer autograph? Unlike most celebrity autographs, his was clear as a bell. He said: “What’s the point of signing something if the person can’t read it or later can’t even remember who it was."
I can't golf, but Arnie taught me how to sign autographs.
posted by sixpack at 11:34 AM on September 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
I can't golf, but Arnie taught me how to sign autographs.
posted by sixpack at 11:34 AM on September 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
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posted by suprathreshold at 12:28 PM on September 26, 2016
posted by suprathreshold at 12:28 PM on September 26, 2016
Much has been made about Greg Norman blowing a six-shot lead starting the final round at the 1996 Masters. Palmer blew a seven-shot advantage with nine holes to go.
Just like when he was standing in the 18th fairway at the 1961 Masters, Palmer got ahead of himself and forgot to take care of business. Instead of keeping his focus on playing the course, Palmer felt he had the tournament secure and now he wanted to beat Ben Hogan’s U.S. Open record of 276. Palmer and Hogan were never buddies, and now Palmer had a chance to erase one of Hogan’s hallmark records in the tournament that defined the Hawk’s legendary career.
The man had style. He was like one of those guys playing a hero in the movies, except he did it in real life.
posted by bukvich at 1:43 PM on September 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
Just like when he was standing in the 18th fairway at the 1961 Masters, Palmer got ahead of himself and forgot to take care of business. Instead of keeping his focus on playing the course, Palmer felt he had the tournament secure and now he wanted to beat Ben Hogan’s U.S. Open record of 276. Palmer and Hogan were never buddies, and now Palmer had a chance to erase one of Hogan’s hallmark records in the tournament that defined the Hawk’s legendary career.
The man had style. He was like one of those guys playing a hero in the movies, except he did it in real life.
posted by bukvich at 1:43 PM on September 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by LobsterMitten at 2:36 PM on September 26, 2016
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:36 PM on September 26, 2016
I totally agree with him on the signature bit, though I figure most celebrities end up with a scribble because they got so tired of signing after awhile. Hell, one of my exes basically drew a loop as his "signature" and claimed it was because he had to sign his name so much in retail. I was all, dude, you could easily forge this...
I do love his beverage. Too bad I finished my last bottle in the house before I heard this news.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:01 PM on September 26, 2016
I do love his beverage. Too bad I finished my last bottle in the house before I heard this news.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:01 PM on September 26, 2016
⛳️
posted by getawaysticks at 1:30 PM on September 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by getawaysticks at 1:30 PM on September 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
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I think I'll have some ice tea with lemonade tomorrow morning.
posted by Guy Smiley at 2:38 AM on September 26, 2016 [8 favorites]