A Better John Daly

I like the John Daly in the bottom picture than than the one on the top.

John Daly on the top is drunk.
John Daly on the bottom is tied for 22nd at the British Open at the end of the 2nd round. He shot rounds of 68 & 72. More than good enough to keep him at Turnberry through the weekend.

This is a crazy Open. Tiger didn't een make the cut and a 59-year old, British Open legend is tied for the lead heading into Saturday's 3rd round. It's been an unpredictable British Open for sure.

It seems John has come a long way since he was taken into protective custody while publicly drunk at a NC Hooters in 2008. Since then he's served a six-month suspension on the PGA tour, had lap ban surgery and lost 80 lbs. He's also picked up a new sponsor of some wild golf apparel called "Loud Mouth Golf". It appears his legendary binge drinking is at least under control if not over. Remember, this is a guy who bragged about downing a bottle of Jack Daniels every day during his 23rd year of life.

John Daly has always drawn crowds at tournaments. He is a fan favorite. Probably because he's never pretended to be anything other than himself. John has readily admitted his flaws, among them: failed marriages, legendary gambling losses, loving booze more than major sponsor Callaway and the help of golf coaching great Butch Harmon. I think Daly is appealing because, like many of us, he came to golf without a silver spoon in his mouth and many of us can relate to his roots in Arkansas. However, prior to the John Daly on the bottom, the media, fans and fellow golfers were getting tired of watching a great golfer self-destruct.

I like this John Daly better. He reminds me of the guy who drove all night in 1991, to get to the PGA as an alternate in Indianpolis and shocked the golf world by winning. I hope he's clean and sober. I hope he's taking better care of himself for the sake of his three children. I hope he's finding some peace. At 43, his prime-time days on the PGA tour are pretty much gone. However, he can still put together competitive rounds and just may surprise some folks if he continues this seemingly better path.

I look at John Daly (I've blogged on John in the past) and I see a little of myself, a flawed individual from non-country club roots who simply loves the game. People who know Daly say he is a likable fellow with a very tender heart. For every one of us recovering sinners, I hope John finishes strong this weekend. I pray he finds peace from his demons and maybe even someone who can talk to him about the only One who is capable of providing peace for the long haul regardless of a person's past. That is indeed the 1st Step. Go John go, and if Tom Watson doesn't pull it out, I hope you can.

Three Really Sad Weekend Stories

Election coverage aside last weekend's news headlines were full of needless tragedy and violence. Here's three and a comment afterward.

• A convicted felon (not supposed to possess a gun) shot and killed a 12-year old trick-or-treater on Halloween in Sumter SC. The alleged shooter told authorities he thought he was being robbed when he clicked off 29 rounds with an assault rifle from inside his home. Here's the tragic story from Fox News.
  

• A Cincinnati pastor was shot and killed after arriving at a Northern Kentucky church for a funeral on Saturday. A deacon was also shot and wounded. The man charged with the murder and assault had a court order against him to stay away from the pastor. The two victims were attending the funeral at a sister church. CNN has the story.

• Pro golfer John Daly was taken into police custody in NC over the weekend. According to the AP story, police on the scene said Daly: appeared “extremely intoxicated and uncooperative” when he was found outside a Hooters restaurant early Oct. 27. With no other means of transportation, he was taken to the Forsyth County jail for 24 hours to get sober. Daly's version of the story is the usual cry of denial of the addicted. Golf Channel has his version of the tale here: Golf Channel
  

  The recovery crowd defines insanity as: doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. That said, it appears one of the greatest talents in golf is going mad. Come clean and get help John. Your public road to self-destruction is not fun to watch. You are capable of so much more. We miss that young gun who claimed PGA and British Open titles before he drank away his sponsorships.

Observations/comment:

• We live in tragic times. And people wonder why parents are paranoid?
  
• Sick people do sick things.
• Nothing is sacred anymore: church, funerals, halloween trick or treating, etc.
  
• Restraint applies to alcohol as much as it does firearms. Not every drinker is getting snockered and the majority of legal gun owners take their responsibility very seriously.
  
• Preserve and protect the memories of the victims and their stories---may they motivate our lawmakers, and educators otherwise they died in vain.
• Decency, respect, and character cannot be legislated. These things should be taught in the home long before someone is old enough to pick up a gun in anger, or take a drink.
• Personal responsibility and consequences for actions is a lesson we are failing to teach.
  
• "Revenge is mine," says the Lord.
• Lord Jesus, we still seem to be having serious trouble with your definition of neighbor, loving others as you love us, and loving our enemies.
• Forgiving those who've hurt innocent children is still a great struggle for me in my attempts to live out the words of Jesus.
  
• "Oh God, comfort the police and first responders in situations like this and give them much wisdom. Block the scenes from their minds and give them rest when they lay down."
  
• "Come quickly, Lord Jesus" is becoming my daily prayer.