The Golf Channel has been doing a holiday tribute to The King…Arnold Palmer. Most of you who visit here are probably not golfers…or old enough to remember Arnie when he was in his prime. To listen to athletes from all sports and others talk about his impact and legacy is special.
The couple in Florida whose twins were preemies and survived due to the excellent care at the hospital founded by Mr. Palmer and his wife Winnie. Ken Harrelson, former Major League Baseball player said that Palmer had ‘duende.’ I’d never heard the word so I decided to investigate.
In Spanish, one meaning is:
The ability to attract others through personal magnetism and charm.
Arnold Palmer had as much duende as any athlete in history. Two others come instantly to mind…Muhammad Ali and Seve Ballesteros.
Ask any top 100 golfer today on any tour (men’s or women’s) who is most responsible for the tremendous purses they now compete for and ‘The King’ is the universal response.
Here’s a fact that is astounding. Mr. Palmer undoubtedly received more fan mail than any athlete ever…no one’s even close. He kept every note or letter received and, get this…he answered each one…even paid the return postage when fans requested autographs etc.. The postage fee was over $100,000 a year for decades. Who does that? No one.
2017 will not be the same without The King.
If you have 17 minutes some day, just google Jim Nantz Eulogy for Arnold Palmer.
The picture with this morsel reminds me of the drive I witnessed Arnie hitting thirty years ago on #10 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver. Arnie’s Army was still four deep and there was an audible gasp as his laser left the club head. It sounded like a a Sandy Koufax fastball roaring towards home like a freight train.
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