Ray Keating looks at the Big 4 controversies in baseball today – more teams in the playoffs, starting a runner on second during extra innings, seven-inning doubleheaders, and the universal designated hitter. Keating argues that if you love baseball – real baseball – then you should be in favor of one of these ideas, and vehemently opposed to the others.
Monday, September 28, 2020
Mad Men - What is Happiness? Don Draper and St. Augustine
by David Keating
The Keating Files – September 28, 2020
One of the most enduring shows to have aired on television in recent years is AMC’s Mad Men.
Mad Men features the character of Don Draper, an advertising executive whose creative pursuits, marital affairs, and drinking exploits we follow throughout the course of the series. Of the things that I love about Mad Men’s character study of Draper is that it explores what it means to truly be happy.
Don is a character that, when we first meet him, appears to have it all. He has a lovely home in a suburb north of Manhattan. He has a beautiful wife named Betty, who is portrayed by January Jones. He has two children, Bobby and Sally, a white picket fence, the whole American dream that is envisioned in 1950’s America. Yet, the most consistent theme that we see Don struggle with is how to define happiness. It comes through in his creative work for his advertising firm, and it certainly comes through in conversations he has with the many different women in his life.
In an early episode of Mad Men, Don describes happiness in this way, “Happiness is the smell of a new car. It's freedom from fear. It's a billboard on the side of a road that screams with reassurance that whatever you're doing is OK.” Much of Don’s work in the marketing world seems to reflect this view, especially early on in the series. It seems as if Don reflects a view that many have in our culture as well. Happiness is whatever brings us a sense of comfort and peace, perhaps even a sense of distraction, that helps us to put our minds at ease when compared to the many things which worry us in our day-to-day lives.
Later on in the series, Don offers a similar take when pitching DOW Chemical on his agency taking over the marketing division of DOW. The DOW executives explain that they are happy with their agency since they have a good relationship and sales are strong. After all, they have 50% of the market share for what DOW chemical provides. To this, Don replies, “Are you? You’re happy with 50%? You’re on top and you don’t have enough. You’re happy because you’re successful for now. But what is happiness? It’s a moment before you need more happiness. I won’t settle for 50% of anything. I want 100%. You’re happy with your agency? You’re not happy with anything. You don’t want most of it. You want all of it. And I won’t stop until you get all of it.”
What viewers come to realize in this exchange is that Don isn’t really talking about DOW Chemical. Instead, he is offering insight into his own character’s struggles. Don has defined his own happiness in two ways: whatever provides a sense of comfort, and the idea that in order to acquire happiness, you need to be chasing the things we want, even until we have acquired everything there is to have.
Christians, especially in North America, can often fall victim to the same kind of thinking that Don puts on display here. We assume that if we had a little bit more money, possessions, leisure, etc., then we would finally be happy. But what we find when we acquire these things is that they quickly become passe. Our happiness, when defined along the lines of what Don Draper describes, only becomes one moment of satisfaction before we need more.
St. Augustine offers us some comfort in response to the struggles to which Mad Men gives voice. St. Augustine once wrote that, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” In other words, when left to our own devices, we will constantly be unsatisfied with the things we require. Simply put, when our faith, trust, or satisfaction is found in things other than God, we will always be dissatisfied and looking for more, even when we seemingly have acquired everything, or at least everything our culture tells us to acquire.
Matthew reminds us of a similar idea in his Gospel account. He records Jesus' words which tell us, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Christianity’s answer to Don Draper’s dilemma then is to remember what our wants are versus our needs. Focus on the things that are within our control, but, ultimately we trust that God will care for us in those things which are out of our control. Surely, God does provide for our needs. We have a Heavenly Father who cares for the Church, and therefore not only do we have the gifts of food, family, and home which stem from God, we also have the most precious gift of all: the satisfaction that comes with the eternal life which Christ Jesus offers. At the end of the day, our hearts can only truly be satisfied not in the acquisition of more happiness, but in the rest which our Savior provides.
__________
The Reverend David Keating is pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Curtis, Nebraska.
Previously by Pastor Keating…
“Zack Snyder’s Messy Super-Jesus”
“Short Message: How Do, or Should, Christians Witness?”
“Amazon’s ‘The Boys’ - Does Christianity Have a Culture Problem?”
“Reflecting on 9/11: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?”
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Polls Before the Dreaded Presidential Debates
by Ray Keating
The Keating Files – September 27, 2020
On Tuesday night (September 29), Americans will be “treated” to a presidential debate between … well, quite frankly … two inarticulate, creepy old guys – one touting a Leftist agenda and the other offering populist screeds. Ugh. Thank goodness that the baseball postseason starts on Tuesday as well.
Anyway, President Donald Trump (R) and former Vice President Joe Biden (D) are the two major party candidates the nation is stuck with, so let’s take a look at where the polls show the race at the current moment.
The national polling indicates that with just over a month until the election, President Donald Trump is in trouble. Polls show Trump consistently trailing Biden by anywhere from 6 to 10 percentage points. In terms of percentages, Biden is running in the upper 40s to low 50s, while Trump is running in the low 40s, occasionally upper 30s.
That’s a daunting deficit to overcome. It’s hard to see Trump changing minds in his favor. Instead, the president’s hope lies with Biden doing or saying something breathtakingly stupid.
Yes, this is another election more about voting against a candidate, rather than for someone – though not as extreme on this front as was the 2016 election.
But as many people learned in 2016, the presidential race actually is a race state-by-state, decided in the Electoral College. So, let’s look at the battleground states.
Arizona (11 electoral votes) has moved around, with the latest polls pointing to Biden having a narrow lead.
Florida (29 electoral votes) continues to rank as a toss-up, with the latest polls putting Biden slightly ahead.
Michigan (16 electoral votes) shows Biden holding a consistent lead, and coming in at or above 50 percent.
Minnesota (10 electoral votes) shows Biden holding a consistent lead in the latest state polls.
North Carolina (15 electoral votes) remains a dead heat.
Pennsylvania (20 electoral votes) remains a challenge for President Trump. While the race is close, Biden has held a consistent lead, and some of the latest polls put Biden’s tally above 50 percent.
Wisconsin (10 electoral votes) continues to look strong for Biden, with his recent poll tallies topping the 50 percent mark.
Ohio (18 electoral votes) offer polls that indicate the race is very close. At the same time, the latest numbers point to a shift in Biden’s direction.
Iowa (6 electoral votes) is a dead heat.
Georgia (16 electoral votes) is a dead heat. That’s a troubling development for Trump and Republicans, given that this should be a Republican state.
Nevada (6 electoral votes) has served up recent polls that range from a dead heat to Biden being up by 11 points.
Texas (38 electoral votes) should be strong Republican country, but it continues to be a statistical dead heat. Recent polls put Trump up slightly – anywhere from 1 to 5 percentage points.
Everything had to break for Donald Trump to win in 2016, with him taking the Electoral College 306-232 (though the final tally of actual votes was 304-227). In order to win the presidency, 270 electoral votes are needed.
While Trump looks competitive in Nevada, which was won by Hillary Clinton in 2016, Biden is showing real strength in at least three states that Trump won in 2016 – Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Plus, there are effective dead heats in seven other states that went for Trump in 2016.
If the election were held today, it looks like Biden would grab at least 288 electoral votes, while perhaps running as high as a landslide level of 421.
In the end, elections are determined by who actually comes out to vote. With the pandemic in the mix, plus President Trump’s shameful statements undermining confidence in U.S. elections, projecting turnout will be more difficult than perhaps ever before.
As for this election being about a Leftist versus a populist, like I said, there’s baseball.
__________
Recent and Related Columns by Ray Keating…
“Voting Your Conscience Isn’t Wasting Your Vote”
“Character-Rich Sci-Fi: Take the Netflix Journey with ‘Away’”
“Applaud, Don’t Attack, Robinhood”
“Sports Are Back But Americans Aren’t Happy”
“Should We Take Our Ball and Go Home When Pro Athletes Disagree with Us?”
“‘Greyhound’ Ranks as Strong Storytelling – Even on a Smaller Screen”
“2020 Politics as the Conventions Get Rolling … Kind of?”
“Biden Picks Harris: Will It Matter on Election Night?”
__________
Ray Keating is a columnist, novelist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur. You can order his new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York from Amazon or signed books at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?
Keating’s latest novel is The Traitor: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, which is the 12thbook in the series. The best way to fully enjoy Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries is to join the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship! For the BEST VALUE, consider the Book of the Month Club. Check it all out at https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship
Also, tune in to Ray Keating’s podcasts – the PRESS CLUB C Podcast and the Free Enterprise in Three Minutes Podcast
Check out Ray Keating’s Disney news and entertainment site at www.DisneyBizJournal.com.
Saturday, September 26, 2020
The Kennedy-Nixon Debate and the Importance of the Camera
by Chris Lucas
Guest Column
The Keating Files – September 26, 2020
Sixty years ago today, the very first televised U.S. presidential debate was held, between sitting Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy. It still ranks as one of the most watched TV events in American history, and it changed U.S. politics forever.
The debate was at the studios of Chicago’s WBBM TV, a CBS affiliate. Vice President Nixon had years of debate experience, Senator Kennedy not so much. Nixon was considered the more prepared candidate, especially when it came to foreign policy issues.
Unfortunately for Nixon, he underestimated the power of television. Just before the debate, he came down with flu-like symptoms and lost some weight. He was pale, sweaty and sickly. With radio and newspaper debates that was never a problem before, but nothing gets past the cameras.
Senator Kennedy showed up after a trip to California. He was tanned, rested, and ready. His people also asked what color the studio walls would be, so that he could wear a contrasting outfit for the black and white TV cameras. Nixon wore a suit that blended in with the walls. He also refused the services of WBBM’s makeup department, which wanted to help him cover his pallor and his persistent five o’clock shadow.
Two-thirds of all Americans were watching the broadcast that night. Nixon did indeed run circles around Kennedy with his knowledge, but the picture conveyed a different story. Americans forgot about the words and focused on the visuals. The popular conception was that Kennedy looked more youthful and healthy, so he was declared the winner.
The next day, Nixon’s lead in the polls went away and he never regained it. There were three more debates after that. Nixon learned his lesson, prepared for the camera and was considered the winner of the other three by the media. The damage was done, though, and the first debate is what everyone remembered.
Nixon lost the presidential race by a very slim margin, and that debate is pointed to as one of the key reasons. The debate itself has lived on in pop culture, parodied on TV shows and in movies for decades. Woe to the candidate who doesn’t remember the lessons from it.
Since then presidential debates - especially the first one - have been must see events and often set the tone for the next thirty days of the campaigns, no matter what came before.
__________
Chris Lucas is a writer, something of a cultural historian, actor, and the author of Top Disney: 100 Top Ten Lists of the Best of Disney, from the Man to the Mouse and Beyond.
On the PRESS CLUB C Podcast, enjoy Ray’s recent discussion with Chris Lucas about his career as an actor, author and Disney expert. Tune in right here!
Friday, September 25, 2020
Character-Rich Sci-Fi: Take the Netflix Journey with “Away”
by Ray Keating
The Keating Files – September 25, 2020
Science fiction at its worst tends to be too “sciency,” that is, it’s all about the imaginary future of science and technology. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m as much of a sci-fi nerd as the next person standing in line at a comic con waiting to meet William Shatner. But there has to be more than futuristic techno-jargon.
At its best, science fiction serves up compelling storytelling and interesting characters within settings like space faring, time travel, or life across the galaxy. Sure the Enterprise, warp speed, time travel, the transporter and boldly going where no one has gone before are awesome, but what made Star Trek: The Original Series great were Kirk, Spock and McCoy, who they were, their relationship, and their interesting, fun and sometimes insightful adventures.
In terms of character-rooted science fiction, Netflix has nailed it with Away, starring Academy-Award-winner Hillary Swank, along with Josh Charles, Talitha Eliana Bateman, Ray Panthaki, Vivian Wu, Mark Ivanir, Ato Essandoh, and others.
This is the story of the first manned mission to Mars. Led by Emma Green (Swank), the American commander, the rest of the international crew is Misha Popov (Ivanir) from Russia, Dr. Lu Wang (Wu) from China, Ram Arya (Pathaki) from India, and Dr. Kwesi Weisberg-Abban (Essandoh) from the United Kingdom.
Back on Earth, we are treated to an assortment of characters supporting the mission and/or affecting or influencing (sometimes through flashbacks) the astronauts. That includes Green’s husband – fellow astronaut Matt Logan (Charles) – and their daughter, Alexis (Bateman).
Away makes for a fascinating drama – perhaps more accurately, a series of interesting character studies – that happens to be set on board a spacecraft headed for Mars. We see how the astronauts meet assorted challenges and interact with each other. Perhaps as expected, sacrifice (in terms of who was left behind and what occurs during the mission), courage, conflict, honor, and trust all come into play.
But there’s much more. Away dives into what makes each character tick. So, for example, we see Emma being torn by the deep love for her family – who are facing trials at home – in the midst of the significant risks and problems she faces during a journey that is the pinnacle of her life’ work. Misha’s broken relationship with his daughter is explored, as are Lu’s with her family and beyond. The roots of Ram’s isolation are probed as well. And the personal costs of space travel are made clear.
Most interesting, though, is the fact that the show’s creators, writers and directors don’t shy away from presenting characters in full. It’s not just a sliver or moment here or there. As best they can during a ten-episode season, the creators try to go deep on each character.
That even includes matters of faith. In an interview with TheWrap.com, showrunner Jessica Goldberg was asked about the issue of religion in Away. It was reported:
“When you talk about the universe, it’s hard to eclipse those questions of faith,” Goldberg told TheWrap. “We did a lot of research, we talked to a lot of astronauts, and one thing we kept hearing was when you’re up there, if you’re atheist, you’re even more of an atheist, or if you believe, you become a deeper believer. I think because we were having those conversations in the [writers] room, they just worked into the larger fabric of the show.” …
“In our [writers] room, we’d be talking about these things, and then it would definitely evolve back to, ‘Is there a God? Do you need faith to get through these kinds of missions? What happens if you believe in nothing? What if there is other life out there?'” she continued. “If we get to go on and have a Season 2, that question will play even more deeply because the question of life on Mars is the scientific basis, you know, it’s the holy grail of what Mars could possibly hold.”
In Away, Kwesi is a devout Jew, who prays and often speaks of faith. And it’s apparent that his faith has an effect on other crewmembers. Back on Earth, Alexis sneaks out of the house on Christmas Eve night with her new boyfriend, Isaac (Adam Irigoyen), and unbeknownst to her, they wind up meeting his family at Midnight Mass. And at another point, Isaac and Alexis pray the Lord’s Prayer in church together.
Viewers were fortunate that principal production work reportedly started in August 2019 and was completed in early February 2020, just before the pandemic hit the U.S. As a result, Away was able to be released on September 4 on Netflix.
Season 1 of Away stands tall on its own, and warrants watching. But I’m certainly rooting for more character-rich sci-fi in a second season. Let’s hope that Netflix gives it a thumbs up.
__________
Recent Columns by Ray Keating…
“A Few Reflections on the U.S. Open at Winged Foot”
“Applaud, Don’t Attack, Robinhood”
“Sports Are Back But Americans Aren’t Happy”
“Should We Take Our Ball and Go Home When Pro Athletes Disagree with Us?”
“‘Greyhound’ Ranks as Strong Storytelling – Even on a Smaller Screen”
__________
Ray Keating is a columnist, novelist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur. You can order his new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York from Amazon or signed books at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?
Keating’s latest novel is The Traitor: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, which is the 12thbook in the series. There is a big sale on signed books and sets at https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month. Also, the best way to fully enjoy Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries is to join the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship! For the BEST VALUE, consider the Book of the Month Club. Check it all out at https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship
Also, tune in to Ray Keating’s podcasts – the PRESS CLUB C Podcast and the Free Enterprise in Three Minutes Podcast
Check out Ray Keating’s Disney news and entertainment site at www.DisneyBizJournal.com.
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Why Are Conservative Christians in Retreat?
by Jerry Bowyer
Guest Column
The Keating Files – September 24, 2020
Me: "Company X did something really bad."
Conservative Christian Kneejerk Response: "I'm going to sell Company X from my portfolio."
Me: "If Congress does something stupid do you instruct the department of elections to remove your name from the list of registered voters?"
There is something deep in the current Christian psyche that automatically opts for retreat. There is something in the general conservative psyche of the moment that is drawn to the role of standing outside the castle yelling at those inside.
The other side, on the other hand, seems to have a governing mindset. They don't have a good governing philosophy. They've left a wide trail of failure behind them. And yet, they still tend to govern our institutions.
They take the mandate of Jesus to “occupy” more seriously than we do - but without His true principles. They take more seriously than we do the command to “disciple the nations,” except not the part where Jesus said to teach them all things HE commanded. They disciple the nations away from his commandments, while we don't really think in terms of discipling them at all.
Of course, I'm not talking about all of us. If you are reading this, you probably do not fit the standard pattern. But there is a factory installed default to conservative Christians when it comes to nation building and that default setting is “retreat.”
__________
Jerry Bowyer is the editor at Townhall Finance, and his new book is The Maker Versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics.
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #32: Bullish on Golf
After the U.S. Open at Winged Foot and before we hit The Masters in November, Ray Keating takes a look at the state of golf. His conclusion? Keating is bullish on golf!
Monday, September 21, 2020
Zack Snyder’s Messy Super-Jesus
by David Keating
The Keating Files – September 21, 2020
Fans of filmmaker Zack Snyder tend to be either amazed or annoyed by the way he blends modern superhero stories with classic legends, myths, and, oftentimes, spirituality. And we certainly will have more to discuss and debate with Snyder’s now-HBO-Max-approved Justice League: The Snyder Cut on the way.
While the myths and legends worked for the Greek and Roman inspired 300, fans of the superhero genre often find themselves split on the outcome of Snyder’s films. Some praise his dynamic visual style and broody kind of storytelling, while others prefer the more optimistic tone, colorful visual palate, and humorous banter that comes with Marvel Studios’ series of films.
Given Snyder’s preference for portraying superheroes as modern myth and legend, I find myself coming back to his films frequently to dissect what he’s trying to communicate through his trilogy of Superman films.
Snyder first began his trilogy with 2013’s Man of Steel, followed by 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. A troubled behind-the-scenes production for 2018’s Justice League led to Snyder stepping away from the project, leaving Joss Whedon to step in and finish the film. Without detailing the drama surrounding Justice League, it’s enough to say that the film did not accomplish what Zack Snyder originally intended for his trilogy.
Man of Steel began with a reimagining of the character of Superman. Snyder drew on the comic book origins of the character and then took Superman in a new direction. Whereas Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (who were both children of Jewish immigrants) imagined Superman as an immigrant figure or, perhaps, a new Moses as Superman escapes his alien world and finds a home in a new land, Snyder opted to take a different direction. Snyder’s Superman is much more akin to a Christ-like figure. Superman still escapes from his home world as a baby sent away by his parents and makes a home for himself in Kansas. However, in Man of Steel, Superman is now also a savior for the planet. At the climax of the film, Superman flies down to earth in a cruciform pose, while being told that he can “save them all.” Similarly, Superman finds himself in a church, discussing his impending clash with the villains of the story with a priest. Behind Clark Kent, Zack Snyder chooses to frame a stained glass portrait of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
In Batman v. Superman, Snyder continues to develop the theme. Superman was able to “save them all” in Man of Steel, however, in BvS, Superman will concern himself primarily with saving one man: Bruce Wayne. The version of Batman presented in the film was an older, jaded version of the character. This Batman’s Robin has died, his tactics have gotten more brutal, and Bruce even confesses to his butler, “We’ve always been criminals, Alfred.” Many audiences reacted negatively to this very unfamiliar, jarring version of the character. And yet, this is exactly what Snyder intended.
Toward the end of the film, Superman must sacrifice himself to end the threat of a monster named Doomsday. Superman heroically gives his life in order to save Batman, Wonder Woman, Lois Lane, and the rest of the city. As the body of Clark Kent is lowered down from the rubble where the battle takes place, the viewer can see three crosses made from debris in the background. Batman leaves the battle a changed man, vowing to find other heroes like Superman, now having been reinspired by the sacrifice of the Christ-like character.
If this all seems a little on the nose, it most certainly is. Zack Snyder is not shy about using this kind of powerful religious imagery in order to elevate his stories. The only problem that I have with his version of Super-Jesus is the way in which he uses violence. In Man of Steel, Superman does indeed save the world, but in order to do so he kills his nemesis, General Zod. In Batman v. Superman, Superman gives his life in order to save the day and (in a way) make atonement for Batman’s sins. However, he does this not out of submission to any kind of divine figure or by putting himself in the way of those for whom his is atoning, but, instead by ramming a kryptonite spear through the villain’s heart.
So, what is the problem with Snyder’s Jesus character? Zack Snyder uses religious imagery to amplify his stories and yet he doesn’t carry his analogies all the way through to their logical conclusion. If Superman is meant to be a Christ-type, then he should save in a Christ-like manner. Jesus saves, ultimately, not through stylized hyper-violence, but out of humble service to the Father and out of deep compassion for sinners. Admittedly, this isn’t the kind of exciting stuff audiences want to see in blockbusters, so, for now we will have to settle for Snyder’s Super-Jesus, kryptonite spears and all. Only time will tell if he will continue his Jesus/Superman story in the same way with a tale of resurrection in the upcoming Justice League: The Snyder Cut.
__________
The Reverend David Keating is pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Curtis, Nebraska.
Previously by Pastor Keating…
“Short Message: How Do, or Should, Christians Witness?”
“Amazon’s ‘The Boys’ - Does Christianity Have a Culture Problem?”
“Reflecting on 9/11: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?”
Friday, September 18, 2020
A Few Reflections on the U.S. Open at Winged Foot
by Ray Keating
The Keating Files – September 18, 2020
The U.S. Open arriving at Winged Foot brought back some good memories.
During some two decades as a weekly newspaper columnist, I had the good fortune to cover three U.S. Opens. While with Newsday, I wrote about the 2002 U.S. Open played on the Bethpage Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Long Island, and the 2004 tournament at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton on Long Island. Later, then writing for Long Island Business News, it was the 2009 U.S. Open, once again, at Bethpage Black.
However, the first U.S. Open that I attended was during college. It was the 1984 national championship at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York – where this year’s U.S. Open, of course, is being engaged.
Matt Carolan and I journeyed up to Westchester County from Long Island early on Sunday morning. My late friend, Matt, and I had become buddies in high school, shared a love of golf, and would later serve as best man at each other’s wedding, as well as writing a newspaper column together for several years. But for that day, it was the final round of the U.S. Open.
A few things remain from that day in my otherwise porous memory. First, in retrospect, it was a heck of a lot easier to get tickets to a U.S. Open in 1984 than it would be in later years. Second, after arriving on the grounds, we had access to the famed clubhouse at Winged Foot, and enjoyed breakfast there. That would be unheard of today.
Third, I had never seen greens like those at Winged Foot before, and probably never since. The rolling, undulating, slick putting surfaces were completely foreign to a young hacker whose experience at that point had been limited to public courses. I recall watching in amazement as Tom Watson struggled to get the ball in a hole that was cruelly positioned on a side slope.
Fourth, even though Matt was always a fan of Greg Norman, and Norman was at the top of the leaderboard, I pushed to follow a different pairing. Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino played together that Sunday, and were not too far off the lead. Even at that point in time, I understood that a Nicklaus-Trevino pairing was history, and needed to be seen.
I told Matt that we had to follow Nicklaus and Trevino because they were two of the all-time greats. On a par-three hole, we waited greenside for the tee shots of the two. They both wound up dumping their balls in the front bunker, and Matt sarcastically said, “Two of the greats?” Both proceeded to play magnificent bunker shots close to the hole, tapping in for pars, and I said, “Yeah, two of the greats.” Matt smiled, and conceded the point.
But we eventually wound up following Norman, and watched as he drained an incredibly long putt to save par on the 18th green to force a playoff. Given those greens, it was incredible. That was when Fuzzy Zoeller famously waved a towel from the fairway in surrender, though we were unable to see him doing so from our position.
Alas, we didn’t see the 18-hole playoff the next day in person, but it would be Zoeller who prevailed in the end over Norman.
Whether watching or playing, golf ranks as a great game. The 1984 U.S. Open turned out to be a wonderful experience and memory with my great friend, Matt Carolan, whom I still miss.
__________
Recent Columns by Ray Keating…
“Applaud, Don’t Attack, Robinhood”
“Sports Are Back But Americans Aren’t Happy”
“Should We Take Our Ball and Go Home When Pro Athletes Disagree with Us?”
__________
Ray Keating is a columnist, novelist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur. You can order his new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York from Amazon or signed books at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?
Keating’s latest novel is The Traitor: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, which is the 12thbook in the series. There is a big sale on signed books and sets at https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month. Also, the best way to fully enjoy Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries is to join the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship! For the BEST VALUE, consider the Book of the Month Club. Check it all out at https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship
Also, tune in to Ray Keating’s podcasts – the PRESS CLUB C Podcast and the Free Enterprise in Three Minutes Podcast
Check out Ray Keating’s Disney news and entertainment site at www.DisneyBizJournal.com.
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