Do you have a favorite pro golfer?

Elrod · Post by **Elrod** » February 12, 2007 8:11 pm

If not, you might consider Phil Mickelson.

Dan O'Neill wrote:Angel answers the prayers of Football's Dirtiest Player

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Sunday, Feb. 11 2007

In 1977, Conrad Dobler graced the cover of Sports Illustrated accompanied by
the unflattering headline "Pro Football's Dirtiest Player." He wore the label
like a badge of honor. He was brash, colorful and reckless.

"When you're young, you're invincible, you're superman," Dobler said. "Donny
Anderson told me once, 'Your body can't take all that punishment. I learned to
get out of bounds.' And I said, 'Well, you're just a (wimp). Play the game like
a man."

Dobler was a three-time All-Pro offensive lineman for the "Cardiac Cardinals"
in the mid-1970s. His life — and his outlook —have changed dramatically since.
On July 4, 2001, his wife fell out of a hammock and became paralyzed from the
neck down. Five years of therapy later, Joy Dobler has made progress, but her
paralysis remains severe.

Dobler himself is a physical wreck. Last year alone, he had seven surgeries on
his right knee. He developed a staph infection in the right knee and doctors
feared they would not be able to save the leg. He was on an IV for nine months.

During that same period, doctors found he had a pulmonary embolism. They told
No. 66 he might have only days to live, but he recovered. Through it all,
Dobler somehow has kept his sense of humor.

"It's been tough — tough on my kids, tough on my wife," said Dobler, who has
six children. The financial burden on the Doblers has been overwhelming. In the
initial year of Joy's treatment alone, the cost was $18,000 a month. Today's
NFL player might carry that around as pocket change, but Dobler never made a
ton of money. His first contract with the Cardinals in 1972 was for $17,000.
His top salary was $130,000 with Buffalo.

Dobler built a successful business, Superior Healthcare Staffing. But he has
had to downsize and sell most of his assets to pay medical bills that keep
coming.

With its insidious disregard for former players, the NFL is no help. The
league, the players and the union jettison former gladiators like they are
biodegradable orange peels. "Out of 7,000 former players who played in the NFL,
about 144 have been declared eligible for disability," Dobler said.
"Statistically, it is the safest industry in the world to get involved in."

You would think there is a better chance of a Wal-Mart greeter being hurt in a
handshake. And don't dare suggest otherwise; squeaky wheels like Dobler never
get oiled. "My disability file is a foot tall and the NFL will do nothing for
me," Dobler added. "I've been turned down more often than a mattress at
Marriott."

Into this tragic story rides an unlikely knight. One day the phone rang at
Dobler's home in Leawood, Kan. On the other end was Glenn Cohen, a lawyer for
Phil Mickelson. Cohen informed Dobler that his client had become aware of the
situation and wanted to help by paying for his daughter's college education.

Holli Dobler is now a sophomore at Miami University in Ohio. It's an expensive
ticket, but it is the school of her choice, a school she is able to attend
because of Mickelson's generosity. Conrad Dobler has never met Phil Mickelson,
never even talked to him.

"I asked his lawyer, 'Why is he doing this? I don't even know Phil,' " Dobler
said. "He said, 'Because he can.'

"You know, I was raised a Catholic and everyone used to say there is an angel
someplace looking out after you. You never take it seriously and then something
like this happens. It forces you to have a different perspective."

The NFL's outrageous lack of accountability is an important message here. They
who are living so lavishly in pro football's house are responsible to those who
are paying the mortgage with pain pills, surgeries and prosthetics.

At the same time, the Mickelson sidebar is a beacon, evidence that there is
still some humility and decency among sports figures. The winner of 29 PGA Tour
events and three major championships, Mickelson also contributes $100 per
birdie and $500 per eagle to Birdies for the Brave, which forwards the money to
Homes for Our Troops and Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Both are
organizations that support wounded soldiers and families that have lost loved
ones in combat.

Mickelson does that in a public way, to raise awareness, invite additional
contributions. When asked about assisting the Doblers, Mickelson politely
declines to comment. He's not looking for publicity, just looking to help. He
has even included cost of living increases in his contributions.

Holli Dobler takes nothing for granted. She works as a waitress between her 19
hours of classes. She maintains a 3.8 grade-point average and e-mails Mickelson
regular reports on her progress.

Recently, Glenn Cohen called again. Mickelson has invited the Doblers to be
guests at The Memorial Tournament in May and asked Holli to walk the course
with him during practice rounds. It will be an opportunity for the Doblers to
say thanks, and Conrad isn't sure he'll be able to get the words out.

"I don't know if I can do it without getting choked up," he said. "You ask
yourself, 'Why me?' There are a lot of other people who need help. My wife
spends a lot of time raising money for spinal cord injuries, but we never felt
we'd be on the receiving end. He's a remarkable person."

Or maybe he's more than that. Maybe he's an angel.

vagabonded · Post by **vagabonded** » February 12, 2007 8:19 pm

great story! phil was already my fav tho!

besides him i really like watching tiger. it just amazes me how an individual can just dominate a sport so consistently for so long. pretty sure he'll be slowing down here tho with the new baby on the way...

TommyBahama · Post by **TommyBahama** » February 12, 2007 8:21 pm

I would say Phil....Class act all the way.......also i like Faxon.....Andrade.....DiMarco!!...some of the lesser names.....Faxon/Andrade also do sponser a tournament for Charities in RI every year!!!

TommyBahama · Post by **TommyBahama** » February 12, 2007 8:21 pm

I would say Phil....Class act all the way.......also i like Faxon.....Andrade.....DiMarco!!...some of the lesser names.....Faxon/Andrade also do sponsor a tournament for Charities in RI every year!!!

Big Jimmy · Post by **Big Jimmy** » February 12, 2007 8:25 pm

Does Happy Gilmore constitute as a pro golfer?

Elrod · Post by **Elrod** » February 12, 2007 8:28 pm

Big Jimmy wrote:Does Happy Gilmore constitute as a pro golfer?

Nope. He's a hockey player.

Left Field ParrotHead · February 12, 2007 8:29 pm

I saw the HBO Real Sports piece on the NFL's retirement plan and their disability policy. While I understand that the piece was spun to make the NFL Player's Association and the NFL look bad, if half of what they reported was true. They should be ashamed of themselves.

There are others that live in pain every day because of their NFL careers and the NFL does very little to help.

Dobler's yearly pension for 10+ years NFL service is $24,000.

10+ years service in MLB will get you $175,000

TommyBahama · Post by **TommyBahama** » February 12, 2007 8:30 pm

Big Jimmy wrote:Does Happy Gilmore constitute as a pro golfer?

Right up there with Ty Webb!!

poohbear1324 · Post by **poohbear1324** » February 12, 2007 8:34 pm

Elrod wrote:
Big Jimmy wrote:Does Happy Gilmore constitute as a pro golfer?
Nope. He's a hockey player.

Brown Eyed Girl · Post by **Brown Eyed Girl** » February 12, 2007 8:37 pm

I'm not surprised, pro golfers tend to be among the most charitable people on the planet...because they can, and they do.

Good on ya, Phil!

Tequila Revenge · Post by **Tequila Revenge** » February 12, 2007 9:48 pm

Anyone old enough to remember the song about Conrad

Way to go Lefty

Quint · Post by **Quint** » February 12, 2007 9:56 pm

Quite and Shy is my favorite pro golfer.

Oh by the way.... I want you to kill ALL the gophers on this coarse!

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » February 13, 2007 1:05 am

Quint wrote:Quite and Shy is my favorite pro golfer.

Oh by the way.... I want you to kill ALL the gophers on this coarse!

Phil has done some very good things...because he can.... He's a class act.

weirdo0521 · Post by **weirdo0521** » February 13, 2007 2:26 pm

Nice work by Phil...better on someone's education instead of gambling.

BrianM · Post by **BrianM** » February 13, 2007 3:11 pm

Nice post Elrod, I read that article Sunday morning and thought it was awesome. Random acts of kindness are my favorite things to read about and do when I can, it makes the world a better place for everyone.

creeky · Post by **creeky** » February 13, 2007 3:15 pm

Stuart Appleby

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » February 13, 2007 3:20 pm

weirdo0521 wrote:Nice work by Phil...better on someone's education instead of gambling.

Casino owners' kids go to school too....

weirdo0521 · Post by **weirdo0521** » February 13, 2007 3:21 pm

SharkOnLand wrote:
weirdo0521 wrote:Nice work by Phil...better on someone's education instead of gambling.
Casino owners' kids go to school too....

Well I think Phil has made his fair share of contributions to them as well.

7lords · Post by **7lords** » February 13, 2007 3:41 pm

My favorite is Steve Stricker - I've played 18 with him before and he lives right by my parents. I do enjoy Phil though.

jonesbeach10 · Post by **jonesbeach10** » February 13, 2007 6:28 pm

I think almost all the guys on the PGA Tour are class guys. Phil and Jim Furyk are two of my favorites. Doesn't Tiger have his own school (a la Andre Agassi?).

There are a couple guys I don't like: Vijay Singh is one of them, especially after his comments about Annika Sorenstam when she played the Colonial a few years back.
Sergio Garcia is another one. He doesn't think NY'ers will remember him flipping the crowd the bird at Bethpage 5 years. I think he'll find out he's wrong when the Open returns to Bethpage in 2 years.