AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > September > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWoods’ run evokes streak of ‘45
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: I saw an unusual golf magazine the other day. Tiger Woods wasn’t on the cover. His loss to Shaun Micheel in match play in England aroused this question: Did Byron Nelson, who died Tuesday at age 94, have a match-play event included in his record streak of 18 straight in 1945? No, but one event was the Miami Four-Ball, in which he was partnered with Jug McSpaden. … And whatever became of Eddie LeBaron?
• Around the PGA Tour, Loren Roberts is commonly referred to as “Boss of the Moss,” referring to his prowess on the green. Actually, he hasn’t won the tour putting title since 1994. Champion last year: Arjun Atwal of India, at 1.71.
• That brings up another PGA Tour-related item. At one time this year, 17 countries were represented among the top 125 earnings leaders. To find your fortune, take your bag to America, young man.
• When the baseball-addicted attorney Abe Schear talked with Darrell Evans in one of his interviews, he asked, “Where were you when Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run?”
Said Darrell: “I was on first base.”
• Here’s a neat one: When Joab Lesesne retired as president of Wofford College after 22 years, he became an assistant on the football coaching staff. He has now moved up to head of football operations, proving that there’s always a future for a guy who wants to get ahead. Actually, a man finally doing what he loves.
• Ever hear the name Matt Cassel? One season he was backup to Carson Palmer, Heisman Trophy winner, and another to Matt Leinart, another Heisman winner, at Southern Cal. Now he backs up Tom Brady with the Patriots. How’s that for patience?
• Peyton Manning has contributed a million dollars to the Tennessee athletics department to upgrade its sports center. One way or another, it seems these Manning kids are reflecting a good upbringing.
• Mike Scully, the golf pro at Medinah, where the PGA Championship was recently played, was an offensive lineman at Illinois and played one season with the Washington Redskins. In the process, from football grunt to golf pro, his weight has dropped from 325 pounds to 253.
• I went into a quaint little eatery the other day. It had a boothside jukebox, two plays for two bits.
• After 33 years as one of the leading referees in college football, Jimmy Harper finally found the job he didn’t like. He retired after a couple of years upstairs in the booth, as what is known as “communicator” on one of those instant replay teams. Speaking of one of his favorite associates on the field, he said, “He didn’t know the rules, never read the book, but after he threw a flag, he’d say, ‘I don’t know what it is, but he can’t do it,’ and he was always right.”
• So they say:
Lee Corso: “Of all the places in America, the best place to be on a football Saturday is Lincoln, Nebraska.”
Chan Gailey (on poll voting): “I don’t see Texas Tech, I don’t see Oregon State or Stanford. I may see a few clips of them on TV, but I don’t see enough teams across the country to vote with any conviction.”
D.J. Shockley: “I was patient, but it wasn’t easy [waiting his turn behind David Greene at Georgia]. We had a great relationship. He was such a good guy, and we liked each other.”
Corso again: “There’s nothing like walking out on that field on Saturday afternoon with the stands full and rocking. That’s why both Jim Donnan and I would like to be coaching again.”
• Name of the Week: Ashley Lelie, exotic dancer? Hardly, the Falcons’ new receiver. … Selah.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Furman Bisher
Comments
By Par Shooter
September 27, 2006 08:49 AM | Link to this
The golf world will miss Lord Byron. Hard not to wonder if the US Ryder Cup team would have performed better if Byron had passed just before the matches began.
The USA has become a training ground for the best athletes in the world, but the world now beats us in most major team sport competitions. At least we train them well.
By Drew
September 27, 2006 09:45 AM | Link to this
The golf world has lost a great one… He will truly be missed. Now he can play forever!
By Bob Peterson
September 27, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this
So Furman, what songs did you play on the jukebox?