Greg Oden Goes Golfing (Tiger’s Next)
The summer is winding down and the last few weeks of warm weather means athletes are participating in various charity golf tournaments.
First up, Portland Center Greg Oden (you know the guy who looks 40 but is really 21). On his blog, Oden recounts his golf outing.
"Last friday i went to Terre Haute Indiana for the Travis Smith Golf Outing, that i host. Its always a fun event. Travis Smith is my best friend who passed away in a car accident in 2007. So for me to host the event it was no questions asked."
Its very cool that Oden, despite being a newbie to the NBA, is using his fame and status to host charity events. It sounds like a day on the links with Oden would be memorable.
"It was my third time on a golf course ever and i sucked. Its usually third times a charm, well not on the golf course. I sucked worse then anybody who ever played golf, i didnt even have one decent shot. I almost broke my clubs like five times, i threw them like three. In all i had a good time we played with some good players so they carried us."
Try to mentally picture a 7 foot, 285 lb NBA center playing military golf and chunking shots...now picture him blowing up, throwing clubs and screaming (I don't know whether to laugh at the thought or wet my pants).
"after 9 holes they drop me for a 10 year old Tim Lewellyn. He played 50 times better then me he even got closest to the pin, i wouldnt be able to get that hitting from the junior pin i didnt even make it to the junior pin teeing off from the mens tee."
Gotta love a guy who's 7 feet tall and willing admit when he's at a disadvantage to a 10-year-old.
But if you want a competitive charity golf tournament, then leave Terra Haute and head to Turning Stone Resort and Casino in upstate New York where Notah Begay III held a golf tournament to raise money for issues affecting Native Americans. (if the name Notah doesn't ring a bell its o.k....it probably shouldn't. What should ring a bell is the name Tiger Woods, Begay's roommate in college).
Notah Begay's Twitter page was full of updates:
"Tiger Woods vs Mike Weir vs @camilovillegasr vs NB3..raising $ for Native youth tomorrow at the 2009 NB3Challenge!"
"Tiger, Camilo and Mike will be arriving shortly at Atunyote for the 2009 #nb3challenge..were psyched to get underway!"
The action kicked off and when your playing with 3 other PGA pro's, don't blink an eye or you may be out of the competition.
"After four holes, Tiger Woods and Camilo Villegas tied at two skins apiece #nb3challenge"
"Tiger just narrowly misses the skin on the 9th hole"
Not to worry, the world's top ranked player came back and took the tournament.
"Tiger Woods on 18 after winning the 2009 #nb3challenge, and offering some kind words for NB3"
"We raised over 1 million dollars for the NB3 Foundation! A special thanks to Tiger, Camilo and Weirsy, and all of our AMAZING fans!"
Golfing for the greater good: It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.
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