Remembering Steve Duplantis is both difficult and easy.
Difficult since I never met the man, what I know of the facts of his life I gleaned from Alan Shipnuck’s wonderful book Bud, Sweat & Tees. The book is mostly about Rich Beem, but contains a lot of fascinating stories about the late Mr. Duplantis. I feel for his daughter, Sierra who just turned 12. Losing a father is never easy, and Mr. Duplantis was for years her only parent. I am sorry for her loss. The easy part of remembering Mr. Duplantis regards his lifestyle and the demons that drove him to repeat the same mistakes despite efforts to change. Familiarity with the lifestyle and long time association with others of the same ilk provide insight to their sufferings, hopes and dreams. The world has lost a good person.
I remember when most roads resembled that pictured above. Simple two lane ribbons of asphalt without a real shoulder and, more importantly, not heavily traveled. Today the highways have expanded, much like my waistline, inexorably growing into something unrecognizable from its meager beginnings. So it seems with so many other things. Remember when the Super Bowl was contested in the middle of January? Or the World Series was played during the first week of October? How about when the golf season didn’t compete directly with playoff football in January (come to think of it there didn’t used to be playoff football) or with college football in September?
Super size your fries, comes with a drink which requires two hands to lift to your face. Apparently you’ll get enough exercise lifting the drink to negate the caloric overkill in the fries. Where did the idea that more is better begin? Moderation is a concept gone the way of the payphone. I’ve only just discovered the washing machine hasn’t been shrinking my jeans. I need to invest in a larger pair to allow more oxygen to get to my brain enabling me to get a grip on this phenomenon. I only hope I’ll then be able to bend over and tie my shoes without passing out.
Look at the size and shape of drivers; monstrous things compared to the persimmon clubs I swung learning the game. Bloat is everywhere in the salaries paid to today’s professional athlete. Of course in golf you don’t get paid unless you play better than most of the field. While watching the Buick Invitational I noticed the shirts on the players are beginning to look like NASCAR racing suits. Logos everywhere; both sides of the chest, a sleeve or two, the rear yoke, and multiple logos on hats. As a fashion accessory the logo is a flop. Does anybody really make purchasing decisions because a professional golfer sports the logo? I certainly hope not, but then I’ve been known to buy a brand of golf ball because they aren’t used by everybody’s uncle.
I wish I knew at what point all this mega sizing overkill ends and sensibility returns. I’d like to think it’ll happen in my lifetime, but I doubt it because I’m not sure anything like sensibility survived the turn of the century. Instant gratification has become the norm, which I would discuss in more detail if I didn’t find it necessary to run out and purchase a pair of Footjoys and a dozen Titleist. If only I can get my pants buttoned and my shoes tied without losing consciousness.
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8thehardway
Jan 29, 2008 at 11:03 am
Listen, pal. It all started with that Oliver Twist kid wanting “more.” At least in literature. That’s the way of it.
In the real world you got your kings wanting to gobble up neighboring kingdoms – whaddya think made Peter the Great great? – and companies wanting to gobble up other companies.
Here’s a saying that’ll stick in your craw – “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” Pop over to the British museum – like the mummys? That’s what comes from wanting more! They got some Toot Uncommons that people will pay good money to see for a long time to come. No way Egypt gets their stuff back.
Immediate grat’s a natural! If Britain delayed world domination until today, they couldn’t get away with it.
You want less? Don’t worry, someone will come along and grab what you got. In fact that parade’s gonna start on April 15th.