What If...

The differences between golf and the other major professional sports are obvious. Golf is an individual sport while the others are team-oriented. Baseball, basketball, football and hockey require uniforms while golf is, once again, more individual in nature (think: plaid pants). One difference, however, is a bit more subtle and one that elevates golf above the others. As we approach the 2008 U.S.Open at Torrey Pines this week, we are reminded of that difference in a notable moment from the same event some 83 years ago.

During the 1925 Open at Worcester Country Club, golf legend Bobby Jones (shown left) was standing on a very steep bank preparing to execute a difficult greenside chip. Just before impact-the ball moved. So slight was the movement that Jones was the only witness. Yet, abiding by the rules of golf, he called a one-stroke penalty on himself. Instead of winning outright, Jones dropped into a tie for the lead with Willie Macfarlane who would capture the U.S. Open title with a 36-hole playoff victory the next day. Though he lost the tournament, Jones' stature as a golfer was never higher.

Imagine the following:

• It's 1988 and an injury-wracked Kirk Gibson of the Dodgers is facing the best closer in baseball, Oakland's Dennis Eckersley, in Game 1 of the World Series. After a lengthy and painful at-bat Gibson launches one to deep right field for an apparent, dramatic game-winning home run. But wait! Gibson's not running! He's speaking to the umpire. No one else saw it, but as he swung, Gibson had stepped out of the batters box. He calls himself out and the Oakland A's go on to win the Series. Vin Scully, Tommy Lasorda, and all Dodger fans are left feeling "Dodger blue".
  
• It's 1972 and the Oakland Raiders are leading the Pittsburgh Steelers 7-6 in their AFC Divisional Playoff game at Three Rivers Stadium. The Steelers are on their own 40-yard line with 22 seconds left in the game and it's 4th down. Terry Bradshaw goes back to pass and under pressure cannot find his primary receiver. He instead throws the ball downfield in the direction of his running back "Frenchy" Fuqua. Fuqua gets drilled by Raider defensive back Jack Tatum just as the ball arrives. The hit levels Fuqua but the ball pops up in the air and is grabbed by halfback Franco Harris just before it hits the ground. Franco eludes several stunned Raider defenders on his way to the game-winning touchdown. But wait! One official signals "touchdown" but referee Fred Swearingen is gathering the entire crew for a discussion. Fuqua makes his way over to the officials and confesses that the ball had glanced off him- thereby making Franco's catch an illegal touch. The Raiders decline the penalty, take over on downs, and win the game.
  
• It's Game 7 of the 1957 NBA Eastern Conference Championship series at the Boston Garden. The 76ers have cut the Celtics lead to 1 point but the Celtics have the ball out of bounds with 5 seconds left. Unbelievably, Bill Russel's in-bounds pass hits a guy wire that supports the backboard and now the 76ers will get possession under their own basket. Hal Greer scans the parquet floor and spots Chet Walker out deep. As the ball approaches the intended target, Celtics super "6th man" John Havlicek launches himself into the passing lane and steals the ball. As Johnny Most's bullfrog voice is screaming "Havlicek stole the ball!" that bouncin' Buckeye from Ohio State has called time. Havlicek tells the referree that he actually fouled Chet Walker on his way to the ball. The Celts are in the penalty so Walker gets two shots and makes them both. The 76ers win and Celts' bid to to win their 7th consecutive title falls short.
  

Now, I know that these other sports do not have rules that allow for self-reporting. I'm just sayin'...what if they did? I think we all know the answer. Thank you, Bobby Jones.

Enjoy the Open!

Colonel Bogey