How Good is Great?
6/17/2010
After watching the 3rd perfect game (unofficially) this season, 21st overall, in MLB history by Armando Galarraga, and witnessing Steven Strasburg exceed the highest of expectations, striking out 14 in his MLB debut, it made me ponder how good is great?
Satchel Paige was the oldest pitcher, at age 42, to make his major league debut. His prime was spent in the Negro leagues and the stories about Satchel Paige are omnipotent. He was so great that he once promised to strike out the first nine batters (or the fans got their money back).
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Bryon Nelson, won 5 major championships, and won 11 consecutive tournaments in 1945. His story of greatness also occurred while conducting a swing clinic in 1954 at LA country club. He proceeded to hit every club in his bag and his caddy did not move more than one step in either direction, until he pulled out his driver. He told the crowd “you want to have a little extra left if needed.” His caddy just looked straight over his head as the ball flew directly over. He later said “It was a perfect day of golf.” *
Billy Casper won 51 times on the PGA tour. One day of greatness occurred during the 1963 Cajun Classic in which he hit 16 greens and shot a 63. However, he actually missed 4 putts inside 10 feet and his two chips that day, lipped out.
J.B. Holmes has won twice on the PGA tour, while being one of the games longest drivers. While he played at The University of Kentucky, he finished 1st in every qualifying tournament. *
Phil Parkin, All-American at Texas A & M, once finished 2nd in a collegiate tournament by one shot. The “greatness” aspect was that he finished 2nd playing only with his irons. He wanted to see “just if he could do it.”
Not to be outdone in the quest for greatness, Dean Karnazes once ran 350 miles-non-stop, without sleep. He covered the distance non-stop in 80 hours, 44 minutes, which is equal to running from Indianapolis, IN to Pittsburgh, PA.
*Editor’s note- Thank you to Don Essig III & Coach Mike Fleck for their contributions.
