John Daly's continued fall
Today's news that John Daly has been suspended from the PGA Tour for six months is another chapter in the unseemly novel scripted by one of golf's troubled stars.
It's not a surprising development, given the incident in October when Daly spent a night in a North Carolina jail sobering up after being taken into custody. That, of course, was on the tail end of a career of on- and off-course incidents that have made Daly golf's version of daredevil sports: Tune in and you might see greatness or you might see a monumental crash.
The photo of Daly in an orange jumpsuit from his overnight stay in jail, of course, was precisely the kind of image the PGA Tour doesn't like. It's unclear precisely when Daly's suspension began, though there was another incident in December in Australia between the player and a fan that added to the golfer's wildly diversified resume.
Daly says he hopes to use the time away from the U.S. tour to straighten out himself and play well enough so that he can get back on tour in this country. Time will tell whether Daly ultimately is remembered as the guy in that mugshot or the guy who had the incredible power off the tee and soft hands around the green to win two major championships.
-- Mike James
Photo: John Daly's mugshot from spending a night in a North Carolina jail. Credit: AP
Daly is so not a a sympathetic tragic figure. His crap is just plain stupid, pathetic, and annoying. John, go away. You are a major bummer made by your own dopey decisions.
Posted by: Jon Shaver | December 31, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Mr. Daly seems like a very nice man, with a very big heart, and that is a big reason for the crowds love for him.
He is however a drunk.
Mr. Harmon was quite correct is his observation that Mr. Daly likes to drink more than he likes to golf. Mr. Daly has shown us that over and over again.
In his position he has a good number of enablers around him who allow him to kid himself that he has a good life. He is a drunk.
He earns millions in endorsements, appearance and golf course design fees, and the occasional tournament purse, and gambles and drinks the monies away with little thought of the effect on his family and children.
The money is the only thing that differentiates this man from the drunk with a spray bottle washing windows on the street corner.
Mr. Daly has a gift, and his spray bottle is a golf club.
He seems to have no gratitude for his gift, and no sense that he's just a stinking drunk.
Posted by: Larry | December 31, 2008 at 05:24 PM
So what if he wants to drink. Why don't you go after Charles Barkley who is driving around drunk.The only reason the PGA did this is because they don't have him under a contract. Golf is an elitist sport and Daly is a hillbilly. This would not be news if Daly was in the NFL,NBA, MLB, or Hockey. I think Daly is one of the most entertaining Golfers on the tour. He has a major fan base and none of them are shocked by his behavior because this is not a new revelation. Mr. Daly has a right to live his life and make a living. As Barkley stated in the past athletes are athletes and not role models.
Posted by: Bob | December 31, 2008 at 07:28 PM
i for one wish the times would do a serious story about daly. i find him the second-most interesting golfer after tiger. it's sad to see an undiagnosed alcoholic throwing away his gifts. it's also a great story, and i wish someone would go into JD's world for a while and come back with the story.
Posted by: sox nation | January 01, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Dear John,
The door is always open.
Signed,
Bill W.
Posted by: Tom | January 01, 2009 at 11:42 AM