Silly Golfers, Smoking is for Criminals

You may remember Michael Jordan was photographed smoking a cigar at the Presidents Cup during a practice round last October. The photo caused a bit of a stir because public smoking is banned in San Francisco - a law that extends to include the golf course they were playing on; Harding Park.

There was much hoopla in the media surrounding Jordan's law-breaking stogie (of which he was not asked to fork over the $100 fine). But not questioned by the media, and perhaps an obvious follow-up to the story is; Why are people in vast outdoor areas banned from smoking in the first place?

I just returned from a trip to New Mexico. Being rather dry, New Mexico is susceptible to brush fires. And in particularly dry seasons, I've had to do without a cigar on some its most gorgeous courses. I understand this completely and have no problem capitulating.

But over the last few years, some towns and counties have implemented no smoking bans on public courses due to health issues such as second-hand smoke. These places include San Francisco (as mentioned above) Glendale and Pasadena, CA; Hawaii County, HI; Bloomington, MN; Goshen, IN; Abilene, TX; and Arvada, CO.

An article in USA Today last year highlighted the Hawaiian law in particular was being largely ignored. Meanwhile, golfers in other towns were taken-back by the mere notion of banning smoking on the course - One golf pro in Pittsburgh thought it would be "ludicrous" and "overkill" and then posed the question: "How would you enforce it?" He has a point - rangers can't even handle the slow play problem.

Perhaps more interesting was Los Angeles County's recent ban on smoking (effective last September) at parks, beaches and golf courses (ironically, the ban does not extend to actors smoking when the script calls for it). Anyway, officials in LA cited health concerns for the ban, including that second-hand smoke leads to the deaths of 52,000 people annually. OK, I understand the second-hand smoke point when you're indoors, but the last time I checked, golf was played outside. The golf course isn't a crowded bar...if you don't want to get a whiff of your playing partner's Robusto, why are you standing downwind of him? What's next, no more campfires while camping? After all, campfire smoke contains acetaldehyde.

It seems recent smoking bans concur - There was some question whether the new ban in Michigan (which went into effect May 1, 2010) included players out on the golf course. However, review of the new law revealed the ban only "includes the clubhouses where food is served and areas around beverage and food carts on the course." So much for buying cigars from the MOFOBETE in The Great Lakes State.

But the reality is, laws are being passed that ban smoking in the great outdoors, and this includes some municipal golf courses. While the towns and counties don't seem to be enforcing said rules (including when a high-profile celeb like Michael Jordan is caught red-handed), the laws exist nonetheless, not-to-mention more are being proposed in other areas (including one in Spokane, WA last year which was defeated due to public outcry). I've previously posted about how golf and cigars seem inseparable. Was I wrong?

Take the poll and let us know...

Should More Towns Ban Smoking on Public Golf Courses?

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The Most Versatile Athlete of All Time Was...a Golfer?

A golfer was the most versatile athlete of all time you ask? That's right...she was a golfer. Wait...what? I know...you're having a hard enough time getting by the title as it is. And then I go and throw in "she."

Now you're completely thrown off! I'm obviously a few fries short of a Happy Meal. I'm sure I've even lost some credibility (what little I have) with many sports fans. Well, trust me, I would never have thought I would feel this way before I really looked into it.

But, maybe you'll even agree with me afterward. Maybe you might even consider dropping "most versatile" from the title and replacing it with, simply, "greatest." After all, being a great golfer on top of numerous other athletic accomplishments, some at an expert level, deserves a little bit more attention than being a standout at only one sport, no?

If you haven't already guessed who I'm talking about, it's a little lady by the name of Babe Didrikson Zaharias. Most people who know anything about her know the obvious - she was the greatest female golfer of her time (and one of the greatest of all-time). She was a cofounder of the LPGA. She excelled in other sports besides golf and was voted by ESPN's SportsCentury to be the 10th greatest athlete of the 20th century. While many people are aware she had other athletic achievements, I don't think most realize exactly how amazing an athlete she was. Quite honestly, she was great at everything she attempted.

Professional golf came relatively late in life for Babe. After high school, she didn't attempt to play competitively again until she was 24, which makes her golfing achievements all the more impressive. However, seventeen consecutive amateur wins later, a feat still unequaled to this day, she was ready to turn pro. Over the following eight years, Babe went on to win 41 tournaments including ten majors despite playing the final three years of her career while being treated for cancer. Even more amazing was, in 1954, just one month after surgery for colon cancer, she won the US Women's Open - her final major victory. She was also the first woman to compete on the PGA tour, missing the cut in her first attempt. It would be the last cut she would miss.

But most of us are already aware of her golfing accomplishments. What about the rest? What are the other examples which make her such an amazing athlete? It starts with basketball. Her team won an AAU championship in 1931 and she was an All-American hoops player three times.

You may have also been aware she was an Olympic athlete and participated in the 1932 games. But did you know she actually qualified in five different events? However, due to the rules of the time, being a female she was only allowed to compete in three. And compete she did, taking home two gold medals (hurdles and javelin) and a silver (high-jump). Additionally, she set world records during the Olympics and qualifying tournaments in the 80m hurdles, javelin, high jump and baseball throw (which was an Olympic sport until 1957).

Babe was also a competitive player to a lesser degree in billiards, baseball, softball and bowling. She even won a sewing competition at the Texas State Fair! When not on a competitive playing field, she somehow also found the time to sing and play the harmonica. She did this well enough to record for Mercury Records. Is there anything this woman couldn't do?

So let's look at the tally. She's one of the greatest golfers of all-time. She was an Olympian who took home three medals and set five world records. A three time All-American basketball player. She also competed in baseball, softball, billiards and bowling among other sports. For what reason would she not seriously be considered as the greatest athlete of all-time?

Now, being ranked 10th on the list of greatest athletes of the 20th century does confirm she was at least considered to be listed at number one. But I have to admit, I have a hard time taking the SportsCentury list seriously considering three of the 100 athletes are not even human (they're horses). I have an even harder time with this list when I see one of the horses (and a jockey for that matter) is ranked 37 places higher than Bo Jackson, an all-star baseball player AND pro-bowl NFL player! Jackson, I might add, could also have been a track & field star, but gave it up to focus on baseball and football. But a guy who rides a horse while beating it with a whip is somehow a better athlete? You get my point.

#1 on the list is Michael Jordan who is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all-time. But does that make him the greatest athlete of the 20th century? Is being the best at one sport a greater feat than excelling at almost every sport you take on? Hard to say.

Considering all of the accomplishments and accolades acquired by Zaharias, I wonder the reason why she wouldn't be ranked higher on the list. I can only come up with one idea. Maybe you can help me out. If all of these achievements were accomplished by a male, would he be ranked higher?

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