Suppose you were already considered to be one of the very best at whatever it is you do. Would that be enough to soothe your ego and competitive spirit? Or would you still maniacally strive for "elite" status in some other pursuit as well?
There's feature story in Golf Digest November issue that illustrates how _ for some stellar athletes in America's popular sports _ enough is never enough. They're serious enough about their golf games to maintain USGA Handicaps, and boldly share them with the public.
Here’s a sampling of some of the report's notables in order of handicap (note: handicaps without a decimal point are unofficial estimates).
1)
Jerry Rice (plus -0.7) - How many of us are surprised that someone as competitive as Jerry considers par a bad score?
2)
Livan Hernandez (0) - Cuban-born baseball pitcher aspires to play on tour: Any chance he’ll tee it up with Fidel?
3)
Penny Hardaway (2) - NBAers are arguably the best athletes on the planet, so no wonder Penny’s prowess has translated to the links.
4)
Clyde Drexler (2.7) - This NBA Hall of Famer now gives new meaning to "The Glide".
5)
Michael Jordan (3) - Introduced to the game by fellow Tar Heel, Davis Love, III, he attends every Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup and started making golf "cool" before Tiger came along.
6)
Ronde Barber (3.4) - While his twin brother Tiki attends production meetings for his TV gig, Ronde is chipping and putting.
7)
Marshall Faulk (4) - During his stint as an Indianapolis Colt, Marshall was a member at Indy’s Donald Ross-designed Broadmoor Country Club.
8)
Ray Allen (4.8) - He’ll wax you in a 3-point shooting contest and a long drive contest as well.
9)
Emmitt Smith (6.0) - Ol' Twinkle Toes is breaking 80 on a regular basis.
10)
Jason Kidd (6.6) _ Now we know why he sought the warmer climes of Texas.
11)
Doc Rivers (6.7) _ Maybe success stems from exchanges with the Celtics' top players brass on the course.
12)
Reggie Jackson (7) - And we thought classic cars were his only passion.
13)
Stephon Curry (7.6) - A sharpshooter's range extends beyond the hardwood.
14)
Marcus Allen (8) - A rare talent who, at times, makes ball-striking looks as fluid as toting the rock for long gains.
15)
Jerome Bettis (8) - There's hope for the ‘big-boned’!
16)
Ozzie Smith (8) - Check your pockets before playing The Wiz for skins.
17)
Bo Jackson (9.9, top left) - All together now, “Bo knows golf!”
18)
Freddy Adu (11) - Some may fear he'll turn out to be the over-hyped Ty Tryon of soccer, but this budding star keeps his eye on the ball.
19)
Jason Taylor (11) - Shares Emmitt's propensity to age well, dance capably, grind on the gridiron and finesse the fairways.
20)
Jim Rice (11.6) - Mr. Personality? No. Mr. Three-putt? Not suitable either.
21)
Terence Newman (12) - He’d better not play his QB Tony Romo for any money, though.
22)
Shane Victorino (12) - Probably the only one on the list who takes the game for granted – he’s a native Hawaiian.
23)
Rod Carew (12.4) - Supreme hand-eye coordination in his days as a batting leader, so go figure.
24)
Bill Russell (14) - How’s this for a dream foursome: Russell, Doc Rivers, Ray Allen & John Havlicek
25)
Julius Erving (14.9) - Dr. J may be the only one on this list who owns his own golf course and, in fact, Dr. J’s course may have the highest slope rating of ANY course in Georgia, public or private.
26)
LaDainian Tomlinson (15) - See:
Jerry Rice (below).
27)
Sugar Ray Leonard (16) - like fellow pugilist, Joe “The Brown Bomber” Louis before him, Sugar Ray is a golf fanatic and a very accomplished player.
28)
Antwaan Randle El (17) - Talk about well-rounde: the ARE got a ton of consideration for the Heisman, played hoops for Bobby Knight and started in centerfield while at I.U.
29)
Alonzo Mourning (18) - At 6’10”, he won’t be playing any clubs “off the rack”
30)
Jason Campbell (19) - The 'Skins star QB can play ‘bogey golf’ with the best of them.
31)
Chris Paul (20) - Former Wake Forest hoopster has a lot of past and present Demon Deacon golfers to glean tips from.
32)
Shane Battier (20.1) - May have bragging rights amongst former Blue Devil players.
33)
C.C. Sabathia (25) - Wonder if he wears his golf visor tilted ever-so-slightly to the side also.
34)
Darryl Strawberry (25) - He and Doc Gooden could have sorely used this diversion during their Mets days.
35)
Derek Jeter (35) - Building a monstrosity of a home in Tampa, so there had better be a chipping/putting area somewhere in the compound.
36)
Charles Barkley (36) - Believe it or not, Sir Charles used to have mad game; in the words of Ricky Ricardo...'Wha'happen?!?!'
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If Fore!BlackGolfers ever gets around to creating a Green of Honor, we (gulp!) would have to install Furman Bisher as a (posthumous) figure.
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