(01-04-2022, 08:18 AM)Phogge Wrote: I remember that Kevin Na hit into the trees at the Texas Open and would not take relief a few years ago. Maybe had a 17 or 18? Porky Oliver had a 20 or 21 on 17 at Cypress but it’s a par 3.
Fewest courses? Wyoming? Most? California?
Nobody else around here is old enough Bobbbbbbbbbbb.
I have his Topps ‘53 Card and his Mother’s Cookie Card.
My greatest golf moment was on 17 at Cypress. I was playing my usual round of Army golf. Left, right…. 17th is, of course, the signature hole. About a 220 carry over water. Fortunately it was a relatively wind free day. Which helped considerably. I put it about 8 feet from the cup. To which my caddie , who at this point understood my complete lack of game said “I don’t f——g believe it.” Missed the putt by about 4 feet. He said it was very fast. I got it half way there…I did sink the par putt.
Fortunate enough to have played Cypress three times. For a guy that played maybe 4 rounds of golf a year back then (less now) that almost is sacrilege. It is a wonderful experience. The raw beauty of the course coupled with the fact that there is almost no one on it.
The other two times on 17: once it was shut down. They were reinforcing the bank. The other time I hit it into the water three times.
(03-04-2022, 01:55 PM)DC 86 Wrote: (03-04-2022, 01:07 PM)Phogge Wrote: It's like Shaq not making free throws. Too much of a star and not that much of a teammate.
Was Bill Russell also a bad teammate? he shot 56% FT for his career (Shaq finished at 53%).
It's hard to find centers who are excellent free throw shooters, for a variety of reasons. Shaq did work with a number of free throw coaches (although he refused Rick Barry's offer to learn to shoot underhand) and reportedly practiced taking free throws daily both in-season and in the offseason. He also had an improperly healed wrist injury that limited his dexterity, so who knows. He always said that he put too much put too much pressure on himself at the line, which triggered his ADHD. In any case I don't think it's fair to call him (and by extension, Bill Russell) a poor teammate because he was poor at a specific skill which was completely different from the skills that made him a great player.
Wilt. He did shoot underhand at one time. Supposedly was an excellent ft shooter … in practice. Lousy of course in games. Except when he went 28-32 the night he scored 100.
Course, my favorite was Andris Biedrens. He’d miss sometimes by two feet. Shot around 15% one year. Barry offered to help him. He said that would be too embarrassing. I guess missing by two feet wasn’t.
If you can find a you tube where Barry talks on the subject, do so. Interesting. First, hands. On top not side of ball. Key to the shot. Second, rationale. The shot goes up incredibly “soft.” Backspin helps with rolls. A simple pendulum like motion. Easily repeated. Plus when tired, after playing so much of the game with your arms up, fatigue does not effect the motion or the shot.
Always amazing to me that bad free throw shooters (and there are a ton of them) wouldn’t try to learn from one of the greatest FT shooters ever. Course, I also have always been astounded that so few tried to emulate Kareem’s Sky Hook. The most unstoppable shot in basketball history.
(One guy that did listen to Barry - George Johnson aka Newpie. His percentage improved significantly.)
