The twelvemonth 2016 was a tough 1 for sports icons. We lost Muhammad Ali, 1 of the best boxers always as well as a human being who influenced world culture. We lost Gordie Howe, a simple, down-to-earth guy who, depending on your standards, is 1 of the finalists equally the greatest hockey player.
And nosotros lost Arnie. You didn't demand to endure a golfer to know that we're talking most Arnold Palmer, 1 of the most of import players inward the sport's history.
That's the guy Tom Callahan, a veteran golf game writer, profiles inward his book, "Arnie."
Palmer mightiness endure an example of the "right human being at the correct place" schoolhouse of history. He turned professional person inward the middle of the 1950s, when Americans had to a greater extent than leisure fourth dimension as well as were using it to play to a greater extent than golf. It was equally good when idiot box started to influence American culture, as well as Palmer was perfect for that. You tin say past times the photographs out of that era that Palmer was "cool" - Steve McQueen alongside a driver.
Palmer loved to compete, as well as was never afraid to accept risks inward search of victory. Sometimes it didn't work, as well as you lot could come across his aspect plow briefly sad. But when it paid off, the grin lit upwards the golf game course. The crowds noticed that, of course, as well as loved to follow him. They turned into an footing forces - "Arnie's Army."
Palmer had a dandy run of most 10 years inward which he was winning major championships or inward disceptation for them. His biggest work was that Jack Nicklaus came along inward the early on 1960s, as well as Nicklaus could play. He turned out to endure the best ever. (Almost the same matter happened alongside Phil Mickelson as well as Tiger Woods.)
For a few years, Palmer as well as Nicklaus had what the other wanted - Palmer wanted to endure equally expert equally Nicklaus on the course; Nicklaus wanted to endure equally dear equally Palmer was alongside the public. That made the human relationship a niggling frosty for a while, merely they were both smart plenty to figure out that they had a lot to a greater extent than inward mutual than they had differences. Palmer spent a lot of fourth dimension making coin as well as making friends, as well as he admits that likely wound his golf game game. But, equally the majority mentions, on a personal degree it was a expert trade.
Palmer was real expert at making money, merely he was ameliorate at making friends. Yes, he was "Arnold Palmer," merely was friendly to everyone inward sight. Arnie answered his mail, signed endless autographs, chatted alongside immature players, sat through countless interviews, as well as at the goal no uncertainty posed for hundreds of selfies. And he seemed to retrieve everyone along the way.
Here's a floor from the majority that shows what he was all about. Two soldiers from Vietnam, Jeff as well as Wally, sent a banking corporation annotation to Palmer cry for if he could ship them some sand wedges as well as balls as well as thence that they could practise bunker shots. Palmer sent them correct away as well as enclosed a personal letter. Months later, they both returned domicile safely. One went to the Western Open inward Chicago as well as constitute a agency to give thank you lot him inward soul for the gesture: "I'm 1 of the guys you lot sent sand wedges to inward Vietnam." Palmer's response: "Are you lot Jeff or Wally?" He remembered their names. Unbelievable. But that was Arnie.
Callahan arranges the chapters past times year, as well as the floor is inward somewhat chronological order. But it's to a greater extent than of a jumping off betoken for anecdotes most Palmer as well as his accomplices over the years. There are times when when it's slowly to wonder inward the text, "How did nosotros larn here?" But Callahan gets dorsum to Arnie shortly enough, as well as tells some other floor most him.
The pages of "Arnie" become past times rapidly (it's 250 pages of text, addition a long appendix), as well as you lot are certain to express joy a niggling as well as yell a niggling along the way. This isn't a definitive biography, merely it certain shows why as well as thence many people loved him. That makes it worthwhile.
Four stars
Learn to a greater extent than most this book.
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