Bad sports, good sports: Daly does the right thing this time

Posted on May 25th, 2009 by Alan Spoll

Rarely has an athlete who has shown up in the papers for the wrong things as often as John Daly had so much positive press at the same time. Sure, he has won some tournaments and wowed crowds with his long-distance drives. But he has also been a human train wreck. Issues with alcoholism and weight have chased him his whole career. Fans have always flocked to him, though, drawn in by his everyman persona and his sense of humor.

This week, he leads off our Good Sports section by showing his support for the plight of fellow golfer Phil Mickelson’s wife, who has breast cancer, by wearing pink pants at the BMW PGA Championship in England. It’s not a huge gesture. Putting on a pair of (ugly) pants is nothing heroic. It impressed me, though, and I guess that is because the gesture came from a guy who has had so many problems of his own, and who is such a larger than life character, it is easy to forget that he is a human being with feelings, just like anyone else.

I have been touched by cancer in my own life, as my grandmother died of it a few years ago. I am not usually moved by the various pins and ribbons that you see worn by nearly every celebrity at any media event, but the site of this large man wearing pink pants at a professional golf event spoke to me.

Check out the Susan G Komen website for more information on how you can help in some way.

Good sports, continued:

2) How do you win a tennis match if you can’t even return the initial serves? Well, Lleyton Hewitt figured it out, and won his French Open match against Ivo Karlic, despite Karlic’s record 55 aces.

3) The media is very quick to anoint the next great player in any given sport, usually long before that player has really proven anything. Lebron James has been the biggest thing in basketball since the day he stepped on an NBA court. Sure, he is an amazing player who can dominate a game. But until Friday night, there was an oft-repeated criticism of him that he would give up the ball too easily at the end of games, rather than take the big shot himself. This time, he won game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals by taking the shot.

Bad sports:

1) There is almost nothing I can write about this story that will add to it. A roomful of Belgian bodybuilders got out of Dodge when doping officials showed up at the event. Awesome.

2) Just when you thought Ryan Leaf was out of your life forever, back he comes for more.

3) I will be honest about the fact that I despise the Dallas Cowboys. I’m a lifelong Eagles fan… it comes with the territory. I was sad to hear about the people who were injured when the Cowboys’ practice facility collapsed a few weeks ago. Reading the story now, however, about the fact that the consultant who helped them expand and “improve” their facility last year was an ex-con with a background in drug trafficking, simply makes me smile. I am constantly impressed with Jerry Jones’ ability to consistently make bad decisions.

Bad Sports, Good Sports appears every Monday

Author Bio
Latest Posts

Alan Spoll

Alan Spoll is a software quality assurance director from the suburbs of Philadelphia where he lives with his wonderful wife and children. He has spent his entire life as a passionate fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, and Penn State. Recent Phillies success aside, you will understand his natural negativity. Follow me on Twitter - @DocAlan02