Hello to all! I hope everyone had a fun and safe Fourth of July holiday. I was playing golf, which many of you faithful Sports Hollywood readers know is one of the great passions in my life. Golf, fishing, acting and of course this column!
I was thinking the other day while on the course, that golf might be the most difficult sport to play. Now I know there is a debate whether golf is really a "sport" like basketball, football, hockey, etc, but in my mind when you play a game using your body in an active way, it is a sport.
Now when I say golf is the most difficult I don't mean physically. There are of course many more demanding physical sports, but golf relies upon the most demanding of muscles; the brain.
In all other sports, split-second reaction is needed. After playing the games, listening to the coaches, going through the drills over and over again, these reactions become second nature. A fade away jumper with a defenders hand in Iverson's face, Hasek stopping a slapshot with his glove, Alomar fielding a one hopper and with one move throwing it to first. These are all seemingly amazing actions which these players have honed with years of training…their brains and muscles know instantly what motions to execute to complete the play.
In professional golf the brain is the friend or the enemy. Mind control is what each of these athletes strives for, as each shot is your decision…a decision that does not rely on split-second timing, but rather a constant rumination of what shot, club and angle to play. I know I'd rather rely on conditioned responses! It's when you have time to think about what you're going to do, as opposed to reacting, that trouble can arise. Case in point, free throws in basketball…how many players (please, no Shaq letters!) have a difficult time at the line, but when they are in their zone of play, can sink almost any shot with ease? When the brain has time to roam a bit, that's when mind control is needed to quiet it and bring it to the place where it can help an athlete perform.
Golfers have this mind control. They needed it, especially when you have so much time to contemplate what to do next in between shots. We've all seen Tiger's stoic expressions while playing…very business like…that is mind control. He needs to keep himself in that zone, until of course he sinks a putt and celebrates! But, that is his release for clamping down on his brain…he needs that to balance his mind and game.
How many golfers have you heard getting arrested for assault, drugs, guns, or any of the litany of offense that athletes in the NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL routinely are charged with? Very, very few. These pro golfers obviously carry their mind control into their personal lives where the distractions of various addictions or disruptive influences would interfere with their mind control.
Golf is you alone against the course. Sort of like life…you need mind control, self-discipline and excellent decisions to successfully navigate through it. Maybe we should all play a little more golf.
July 13, 2001
edmarinaro@sportshollywood.com
