So I was sitting in my room last night, hoping, no, praying that an idea for my column would smack me upside my head. I mean, whoever thought coming up with an idea for a sports column every week could be so daunting. Or maybe it's just that I'm lazy, and procrastinating has become a way of life for me.
And then it hit me - what athlete would most appreciate my laid-back approach to life and, in particular, this column?
My mind immediately responded with John Daly, winner of this past weekend's BMW International Open, and golf's answer to Robert Downey Jr. Daly showed amazing finesse in shooting a final round of 66 to capture his first tournament victory since the 1995 British Open, or roughly about when I went away to college for the first time.
Now you're saying, Ben, what in the world does John Daly have to do with that heroin-shooting, cocaine-sniffing screw-up Downey Jr.? Oh, how quickly we forget the past.
In the 10 years since Daly burst onto the professional golf scene by winning the PGA Championship in 1991 as a virtual unknown, he's had his share of mishaps. He has taken three trips to rehab, attempted suicide twice, been divorced twice, racked up over $1.5 million in gambling debts, lost a $3-million-a-year endorsement deal with Callaway Golf (which, incidentally, paid off his gambling debts), suffered numerous PGA tour suspensions, smashed up hotel rooms, etc.
Their sordid tales do share a similar story line, albeit for two different reasons. While Downey can't stay off smack, Daly's demon of choice happened to be the readily available Jack Daniels. More importantly, a year ago he finally matured and decided to get his priorities straight. Daly is happily married for the third time, he has been clean and sober for over 10 months, he lost 50 pounds and finally is playing golf at the solid level fans expected from this blue-collar hero.
Daly has settled into a routine he finally seems comfortable with. His addictions have become more tame and ordinary - Marlboros and diet sodas - though some may argue they aren't much healthier. But it's working for Daly; he looks happier, and nothing can make you happier than a win.
He's finally off the anti-depressants that were making him tired and groggy and were bringing down his game. The team of doctors that prescribed his medication went the way of his Callaway deal - incidentally, the company that had hired the doctors for Daly during his rehabilitation.
Even his play was noticeably sharper prior to the BMW International. There was no dumb luck in this win. He shared the lead after carding a first round 63 that included a hole-in-one. He continued to dominate the 7,062-yard, par-72 Nord-Eichenried Course in Munich, Germany, throughout the weekend and was never lower than second place after each round.
But with as happy as this ending was for Daly's journey from hell and back, he still has to face his demons regularly. When he won the BMW International, tournament officials awarded Daly a bottle of champagne along with the trophy for his victory.
I'm not sure if the officials knew what they were doing, but I bet every reporter held his breath waiting for Daly's response. Then he handed over the magnum for the writers to enjoy, acknowledging how simple, yet tough, the daily battle is for him.
Fans inundate his Web site, www.gripitandripit.com, with positive feedback, offering encouragement in hopes that he stays clean and healthy. This man did, after all, single-handedly promote Callaway's Big Bertha driver and embodied every aspect of the club that appealed to weekend hacks all over the country: power, strength and increased distance to help you kick your buddy's ass.
I still faintly remember the first commercial I ever saw for the Big Bertha driver. I remember the club's bulletproof Kevlar shaft being shot at with a shotgun, leaving not even a scratch. Then Daly steps up and rips a huge drive with that classic overswing, sending the ball over 300 yards, a sight we can once again see on tour. And with that, I wish Daly all the best on remaining forever bulletproof.
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