San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Who’s fourth on S.D. Mount Rushmore?
Sez Me (Memorial Day Sports Mongers Edition) …
To pluck from the voluminous “Seinfeld” quote book — it was “The Godfather” and “Casablanca” of TV programs — Gutzon Borglum “stopped short.”
Gutzon was the sculptor who designed Mount Rushmore, and his choice of four rather enormous presidential busts has become food for thought under the idiotic Cancel Culturists’ broiler. But the real shame is that he stopped short, limiting it to that number.
Rushmores have become very popular in sports, and four is not enough. Far too limiting.
Following half-century-old Phil Mickelson’s stunning victory in last weekend’s PGA Championship, I was asked by one of my favorite relatives (speaking of limited) where I’d place Phil on my Rushmore of San Diego athletes — who, if not born here, at least attended high school inside our borders. Close.
But the fourth is the problem for me. I immediately put Ted Williams, Bill Walton and Marcus Allen on my mountain. But then what? It can’t be done fairly.
By now, Phil has passed Billy Casper as our greatest male golfer, and Billy was a monster. What of Mickey Wright, probably the greatest female golfer of all time?
How do we keep Gail Devers off the hill? She won three Olympic gold medals — backto-back 100-meter championships and the 4x400 relay. She won a world championship in the 100 and was three-time world 100-meter hurdles champion. At Sweetwater she also was a terrific long jumper and ran the 800 in 2:08 (ran cross country as a freshman).
Maureen Connolly? The first woman to win the grand slam of tennis.
Brick Muller was on Sports Illustrated’s all-time college football team and won the high jump silver in the 1920 Olympics.
Reggie Bush very well may have been the greatest college football player of all time — and was a fine sprinter at Helix.
Greg Louganis? Best diver. Ever.
Was Charlie Powell our greatest all-around athlete? Brother Art was on the all-time AFL team. The Powell family nearly was its own Rushmore (younger brother Jerry was San Diego CIF football Player of the Year).
Other names: Junior Seau, Deron Johnson, Arnie Robinson, Willie Steele, Willie Banks, Brian Sipe, Graig and Tommy Nettles, Gene Littler, Karen Hantz Susman, Bill Mccoll, Terrell Davis, Terri Mann, Tony Hawk, Shannon Mcmillan, Shaun White, Tony Clark, and of course Jimmie Johnson.
My apologies if I’ve left out some, but the picture is clear and it fogs up our mountain view. This is a city of great (individual) champions. Our Rushmore needs a team photo.
I’m leaving mine at three, No. 4 for all the rest. For the moment. …
A reminder to those who thought Phil would choke away the PGA: Phil doesn’t choke. He Phils. Enormous difference. …
Is Phil cocky? Of course. What great entertainer isn’t? He’s a gambler. Always has been. Can’t be good at anything without an ego. …
You only can take humble so far — and it’s not far enough. …
It’s not surprising when
Tiger does anything. But Phil set surprise records. …
The absurd unmasked mob scene/gauntlet Phil had to walk through — not to mention our
Bryce Miller, who was in danger and on deadline — on the 18th was a major botch by the PGA. Augusta’s green jackets would have called in troops from nearby Fort Gordon — but then, it wouldn’t have happened at the Masters. …
Phil used his 60-degree Callaway wedge to lift PGA Sunday ratings 31 percent . ...
I have no interest in watching people play golf who can’t play golf any more than reading novels by writers who can’t write. …
Eugene Chung, a former professional O lineman of Korean descent, says he interviewed for an unnamed NFL coaching job and was told “you’re not the right minority.” The Rooney Rule stinks, but if you look around, you’ll see hundreds of Korean American coaches in The League. …
People are hammering Urban Meyer for signing tourist Tim Tebow to Jax. Tank Younger brought a grocery bagger into San Diego’s training camp. …
Meyer says Tebow has improved. From what? Is he batting .225? ...
Surely the World Whining Champions Dodgers can find a spare rear-view mirror in L.A. and put the 2017 Series with the Cheating Astros in it. …
The Pesky Padres’ power is in the lost arts of movement, creativity and derring-do . ...
Fernando Tatis Jr.’s wise switch to the feet-first slide comes just before we see what terrible things Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna did to his hand sliding in head-first. …
Tatis is a marvelous talent, but he can’t do wonders with loaves and fishes. No need to go unsocial media-crazy on those who criticize his fielding (or report it). He isn’t playing good shortstop. Maybe because he’s outgrowing the position or is a natural center fielder . ...
Jackie Bradley Jr., perhaps the best center fielder of this century, doesn’t play center in Milwaukee. Too much beer in that city . ...
Heard there “definitely was a playoff environment” in Phoenix before the first Lakers-suns game. How would they know? …
Draftkings over/under on Aztecs football wins: 6.5. Probably waiting for the QB situation to be settled. Which means, maybe, 2022. …
Seen the other day: Adam Vinatieri has retired. His greatgreat-grandfather Felix was
Gen. Custer’s bandmaster. Custer, who lost every man at his Last Stand, told the musicians to stay home. So there wasn’t an American Last Bandstand, and if Felix had gone to battle, there would be no Adam — and Tom Brady might have three fewer rings. …
Texans, with about half of their roster new, opened camp to the media. Players didn’t wear numbers. A great franchise . ...
Did you see sophisticated Knicks fans celebrating that Game 2 win over mighty Atlanta? New York hasn’t seen such celebrating since V-J Day. Missing was the sailor and nurse making out. …
Blake Griffin says he’s found the Nets ego-free. Now there’s a 16-wheeler eastbound and down, loaded up with crap . ...
Stink O’ The Week Sezment: Popcorn tossed on Russell Westbrook. It’s a game, nutjobs . ...
Can’t understand why a TV director can’t show us how the infield is set up in the Stupid Shift prior to an at-bat. Not hard . ...
Saturday mornings during Army basic training at Fort Bragg, N.C., they marched us to get shots. Needle-squeamish guys (or those pretending to be) passed out in line. Tough. They got shots. …
Ever get a Black Plague shot? We couldn’t lift our arms for hours. …
If COVID couldn’t bring people together and wise up, what could? I’m texting Nostradamus . ...
May 25, 1940: The day we knew the Age of Miracles hadn’t passed. Dunkirk. …
Can any Ham & Egger or 101 Ash Street Gang member, past or present, explain why the Ocean Beach pier damage report was buried in Davy Jones’ Locker for so long? ...
Is the hate we’re surrounded by real or artificial? I’m convinced the great majority of haters are too stupid to know why they’re hating. It’s a thing for idiots/followers to do . ...
There is National Debt, which I don’t understand, and Fredo Spanos Debt, which I do.
sezme.godfather@gmail.com Twitter: @sdutcanepa
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