There are times in every sports fans lives where those you’ve rooted against tug at your heart.  Growing up a Raiders’ fan I loathed everything there was about John Elway.  Those shots he took from the Boz are some of my favorite football memories.  However, once he got his rings after so many years and then retired, well, I have a lot of respect for the man as both a player and a human being.

I used to be a big Los Angeles Lakers fan during the Showtime years.  Just watching the wizardry of Magic, the majestic sky-hook from Kareem and knowing as soon as James Worthy started backing somebody down in the lane his patented turn-around jumping was going to find the bottom of the net.  Because of my love for that team the most hated rivals were the Boston Celtics.  How could anybody root for this big redneck that seemingly can’t miss from the outside especially in crucial situations?  (Okay, I answered the question myself)  Kevin McHale and his freakishly long arms and boney chest jutting out.  Robert Parrish not being able to put together a complete sentence and sound literate.  It always did my heart good to see them lose.  Once their reign had ended and they began to retire I realized the respect that I had for them all.  I couldn’t believe it.  I was actually happy for the accolades they received after retirement.

In the world of golf I have something similar.  Now I didn’t come to be a fan of golf until recently.  To me, it was so boring to watch it on TV.  Of course I was one of the uneducated.  I didn’t understand all the nuances involved in the game and how the intrigue can be as suspenseful as the best mystery movie.  Oh, I had my favorites in the sport.  Ben Hogan of course.  Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez all come to mind.  One of my villains has always been The Golden Bear.  This man is cocky, arrogant and aloof.  Maybe it’s just his success that drove me crazy.  Jealousy?  Maybe.  But something about the guy still sticks in my craw. 

This brings me to one of my most loathed of individuals in all sports.  This person couldn’t seem to win the biggest of all, The Masters.  Players on the tour have commented on the attitude of this individual and how the person we see on TV is very different than how this person is in real life.  Things like that drive me nuts.  I can’t stand it when somebody puts on a persona just for the masses.  Fake.  Phony are words that come to mind.  I didn’t like it when he finally broke through for the Green Jacket.  The smirk on his face made me want to just wipe it off of him.  But now something has occurred that gives me pause on the man.  Something so tragic that one wouldn’t wish it upon their worst enemy.  I guess it gives me some hope for the little humanity that I have left, but it sucks that it takes something like this to make me stop and think about the person themselves.  I am speaking about Phil Mickelson and his wife Amy’s courageous battle with cancer.

Amy has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  That dreaded disease that doctors supposedly can not prevent, though I have my conspiracy theories on that which I will share over a few beers.  Phil has put aside his touring schedule to be with his wife, as it should be.  So often an athlete/sportsman will continue to play citing “That’s what they would have wanted” to the point that I want to vomit.  Phil did what any good husband should and would do.  He put aside his agenda to be with his wife.  Amy seemingly has always been there for Phil.  She was there at Augusta when he won his first major in 2004.  She was also there for him in 2006 at Winged Foot when he lost the Open.  She went into labor on the last day of the 1999 U.S. Open, but she didn’t say anything.  By the way, that’s the same Open that the late Payne Stewart won.  Remember after he sank that putt to win it?  He and Phil embraced and Payne told him “You’re going to be a father.”  Amy gave birth the next day.

So I’ll put aside my animosity for Phil while Amy battles this terrible disease.  The entire golf world will have the Mickelson’s in their thoughts and prayers and will hope for a speedy return for one of the golf world’s most glorious couples.