LG, this may make me un-American, but I cannot fathom the fascination so many golf fans have with Daly. To me, he is someone who has chosen to waste his God-given talent in a booze bottle, makes terrible life choices, has the worst golf ettiquete of anyone on tour, and is a fat slob as well.
I tried to be understanding of the battles he has with himself but saw an interview they did with him when he started drinking again and listening to him, an admitted alcoholic, justifying having "a few beers" as okay just turned me off forever.
It amazes me that golf fans who are ready to rip Tiger Woods for his expletives on the course totally give this guy a pass.
I agree with you there. The fascination seems to stem from the casual golf fan feeling that they can somehow "relate" to Daly's lifestyle and shortcomings. He's the fan's real life "Happy Gilmore."
I certainly appreciate his golf talents (two Majors is more than many higher ranked players) but he loses me as a fan with his on course tribulations that are often the result of his off course behavior.
Daly is the "everyman"...quintessentially American. He came a nobody out of nowhere, mullet flying in the wind, to grab a major. His "grip it & rip it"/ go-for-broke style is always going to be something the fans(me included) love. He battles his demons in public and makes no excuses. I certainly would never excuse(and he took a great deal of heat for) some of his past on-course antics that were no doubt fueled by his off-course problems. We love to see someone who's been knocked(or fell) down get up, brush themselves off and succeed. Everybody loves the underdog.
Oh .. the Mercedes. Who knows ... ok Lefty to win... DL3(is he playing ?) as a loser.
Just noticed from Jim's list that neither are in the field as of yet Oh well, I'll stick with them anyway.
Waz, I'm a sentimental slob about "underdogs" too. Watched the made-for-tv match with the Duvals and the two Special Olympians today and used up a bunch of Kleenex.
But Mr. Daly, in my opinion, has used up all his underdog credits. Someone who knows he is an alcoholic and goes on TV to say that it is okay to drink a few beers is sending a horrible message and just flat out lying to the public and himself. At this point, again in my opinion, he is a very talented jerk who has used up his second, third, and one-hundredth chances to earn my respect! Not that he cares....
Personally, I think there are very few individuals without faults. John has his and it's well documented. He is, however, one of the most generous individuals on the tour. He has given lots of his time to charitable tournaments. He spends lots and lots of time signing autographs when others will have nothing to do with the fans (Tiger). He has given monetary gifts when he's heard of someone who has had some tragedy befall them.
He has had on-course antics, but there are many, many more that are equally bad. Pat Perez comes to mind. Ricky Barnes has just recently been fined for his poor behavior. It doesn't make John's behavior right, but doesn't mean he needs to be condemned for it. I think the majority of times that I've seen John play, he has behaved himself just fine.
Has he made poor decisions. Sure. I wonder who hasn't. I've made tons of poor decisions myself. Haven't become an outcast because of it, but wiser.
As for wasting his talents, I don't think his talents have been wasted. How do any of us know how hard he had to work to get where he is. He didn't have the country club, professional teachers, get his way paid for, as far as I've heard.
I agree, for Daly to say that it`s okay for alcoholics to have a just a few beers is wrong, but was he refering to all alcoholics, or just himself ? If it was just himself, then maybe that`s the best he can do at the moment, and by saying that, he can then waiver some pressure on himself. Then privately deal with the problem in his own time and at his own pace, hopefully sooner rather than later.
To refer to him as a fat slob I think is unkind but there again, it may be regarded as more of an affectionate insult, than it would be on this side of the pond, that I can`t tell ! Two nations divided by a common language and all that..!
I think Daly has always made it clear that his decisions regarding alcohol are not meant to be interpreted as advice for anyone else. Of course he's kidding himself and Donna I appreciate your concern for the example he may be setting in this respect. His life has always been an open book and as has been pointed out is very fan-friendly, generous and accommodating. Hey ...I just like the guy.
Hey, guys, I don't hate JD....just will never be a fan for reasons stated. However, you are certainly entitled to your opinions of him. I must say, though, I do find it curious that people rise to his defense and although they couch it in reasonable terms, there is an underlying emotional involvement. Not saying that is wrong, just that whatever it is about him that causes this sympathy to arise totally escapes me.
Maybe I'm just lacking that "just a guy" empathy gene!
I don't think it's "just a guy" thing. There may be a few dim-bulbs who see him as sort of beer-swilling, bubba-in-arms hero, but I think most people just react favorably to the honesty & humility he demonstrates in dealing with his admitted failures & shortcomings.
I must say, though, I do find it curious that people rise to his defense and although they couch it in reasonable terms, there is an underlying emotional involvement. Not saying that is wrong, just that whatever it is about him that causes this sympathy to arise totally escapes me.
Maybe I'm just lacking that "just a guy" empathy gene!
Respectfully, Donnakay, I think that perhaps you have an "underlying emotional" aversion to JD. :nodsmiley
You know, V, you could just be correct! Having had distressing personal experience with an alcoholic in denial, seeing him follow that same path may bring up unpleasant memories and cause my visceral reaction......hmmmmm.
January 1st, 2005, 01:00 PM
Oh well, I'll stick with them anyway. 
Linear Mode
Similar Threads
