The King’s English calls for legibility
Arnold Palmer is considered the king of autographs among players on the PGA Tour for his efforts to make sure every fan can read his name. And like with so many other aspects of his golfing career, his influence spans generations.
“I’ve always heard you need to make it legible, and I try to do that,” Tim Clark said as he signed for fans behind the railing at Doral this spring. He used lower case for his entire name, and it was as clear as could be.
Where did he hear this advice?
“Arnold Palmer,” he said.
Michael Thompson said he changed his autograph from looking like an EKG reading - a mostly flat line except for two spikes (the “M” and the “T”) and a short drop for the “p” - to writing every letter “to emulate Palmer.”
“He has probably the greatest signature in history,” Thomas said.
But not every player adheres to the Palmer method.
Rory McIlroy’s signature is a series of loops that are as curly as his hair. It is difficult to decipher the “R” or the “M” or even what language it is. A young girl with an over sized foam golf ball at the Houston Open gleefully said McIlroy had signed it.
Where?
She pointed to a bunch of loops. “I think he signed it upside down,”she said.
Former Arkansas Razorback John Daly (Daradanelle) has three autographs - one for kids, another if he detects the fan wants to sell it, and third for personal items.
“It’s totally different on legal stuff,” he said. “I’ll do ‘John P. Daly.’ For autographs I know they’re going to sell, I scribble. It’s the ugliest signature you’ll ever see, and they can’t sell those.
“But for kids,” Daly said, stopping to sign for a young boy at Innisbrook, “that was a beautiful signature.”
Cold snap
Detroit Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) said there are ways to deal with playing in cold weather, like the Tigers did Monday when they opened the season in 35-degree weather and 17-mph winds in Minnesota.
“You put Vaseline on your legs and on your arms … close your pores up,” Hunter told the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. “And then you put your sleeves on and two pair of underwear. And you just play, kind of zone it out.
“When you’re at the plate facing that pitcher, you really don’t think about anything until you hit one off the end of the bat, and while you’re running, you’re like, ‘I think I left my hands back at the plate.’ ”
Pulling their leg
Kevin Ware might have a future as a comedian.
The Louisville guard, who has become something of a celebrity since his right tibia snapped during Sunday’s Midwest Regional final, was at ease as he presented the top 10 list on the Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday night, even tossing in a barb at Letterman’s late-night rival Jay Leno.
Among the top 10 “thoughts going through Kevin Ware’s mind:”
“I hope this doesn’t leave a bruise.”
“Hey look, my tibia!”
“Oh boy, hospital food.”
“They fired Leno?”
“At least my bracket’s not busted.”
No Globetrotter
President Barack Obama made 2 of 22 shots while playing basketball during the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday.
According to comedian Argus Hamilton, “That night, he was demoted from Commander-in-Chief to Washington General.”
Quote of the day
“I can’t fit in places because my head is too big. I’ve got to tilt to walk in places.” Tim Hardaway Sr. on watching his son, forward Tim Hardaway Jr., lead Michigan into the Final Four
Sports, Pages 20 on 04/06/2013