"Take away the topics of football and women, and most Tour pros are mute."
More great stuff from Part 2 of Connell Barrett's Q&A with Brandel Chamblee.
I liked this about the relationship between players and media, which I can confirm by the number of guys who I've tried to ask a question of only to be told they plan to hit balls for the next 4 years:
The separation between Tour players and everyone else—the media and fans—is too wide. And there’s only one reason: money. If the players weren’t so rich, they’d need the media to cast them in a different light, to get more endorsements. In their minds, they don’t need you. They’re rich enough. You’re not gonna impact their life in any way. But they don’t realize that the media can help them connect with fans. Here’s an example. I haven’t seen Jim Furyk smile in two or three years. Last week we spotlighted him on Golf Channel, and he was fan—f---ing—tastic. Funny and jovial and great. I’m gonna root for him now. He gets it. Before, I didn’t even want to watch him because he looks so grim. These guys should be entertainers, not just guys posting numbers on a board.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Reader Comments (11)
That said, he is pretty damn good at what he does. Plus, he and the impeccably rumpled Frank Nobilo make a great visual odd couple on TGC.
WR, no, actually you do not have to ask yourself that any more than I have to ask about the difference between golf professionals and professional golfers.
He used to be a touring pro - but he wasn't good enough to last. Now he is taking it out on the modern players - forgetting just how hard it is to be a PGA Tour player, or Euro Tour player, or Nationwide, or LPGA....
Read this interview and notice how many times he says "THEY", and you can feel the tone of how he uses the word. I understand the separation between player and media - but Chamblee used to be a "they" - he should remember that and give that kind of insight instead of his Johnny Miller wannabe bitterness and arrogance.
And the end where he blames other people for his lack of ability to focus ? Nice. Yes - TV is a tough job - just like being a Tour player. If you can't focus on the job and separate all the voices - you're not good enough. How about THEM apples ?
In a career that ran from 1987 to 2001 (covering 60 majors), Chamblee made the cut in 5 and missed the cut in 7 more. That means he wasn't good enough to play in 48 of the 60.
Then there are Ryder Cups for Kite AND Pavin.
Brandel, you're excused from any further discussions of talent.
If you'd read the interview, you'd see that the interviewer asked him specifically "Who got the most out of the least talent?" How else is someone supposed to answer the question than Brandel did? He named three players - all FAR more accomplished than he was - and pointed out how they got more out of their game than any other players. He even called himself a hacker in the process. His tone bordered on awe - talking about how Pavin was getting the ball in the hole almost as well as Chamblee was when Chamblee was playing near the top of his game.
Chamblee answered the question honestly and graciously. I don't care if you dislike the guy, but - to repeat myself - how else would you want him to answer the question??