Upon Further Review… A 96? and he brags about it?
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Then in his Friday column, I found myself being attacked for wishing him all the best while he was out trying to improve his personal best score of 100 for 18 holes.
He came back Saturday and I discovered he had actually shot a 96. Not too shabby — for PUTT-PUTT.
Being the competitive person I am, it is eating me up inside that I am unable to get out on the links and show Mr. Nunley a few things about golf.
He was right about a couple of things, though. I haven’t been able to swing a club in over two years now. I have had a few health problems which have kept me off the course, but on my worse day I could still take care of Nunley. I think a putter and a five-iron would be all I’d need to beat a round of 96.
Mr. Nunley, all I can say to you is enjoy your moment. My doctor told me I should be able to get back on the course this fall. Give me three more months. In fact, you may need that much time to work on your game. I won’t even practice, and when I’m cleared to play we’ll hit the course the next day.
• All joking aside, I would like to comment on something which is very serious to me. The premature death of St. Louis pitcher Darryl Kile really struck home when I found out how he died.
An autopsy showed the 33-year-old pitcher found dead on Saturday had 80 percent to 90 percent narrowing of two of three main arteries to his heart.
As some of you may know, one year ago in July I had to have open heart surgery to bypass two arteries which were 100 percent blocked and one that was 50 percent blocked. I too have a family history of heart disease but never gave it any thought. I was always in great shape, ran, lifted weights and played every type of ball I could play always giving 100 percent.
One year ago last month I started felling weak and was unable to do many of the things I had always took for granted.
I was very fortunate that I went to the doctor and found my problem. Most young people who have atherosclerosis — a cardiovascular disease — die after their first heart attack. In fact, while most Americans who die of heart disease are 65 or older, research shows that 80 percent of heart disease deaths in younger people occur during the first attack. In 50 percent of men who die suddenly of heart disease, there were no previous symptoms.
I was a very, very lucky man. I too have atherosclerosis heart disease and what is more scary to me is that I had 100 percent blockage.
I didn’t mean for this to sound like some sort of public service announcement. But with more and more young people dying from heart attacks and having a brush with death myself. I think it is very important that every body wakes up and realizes if a 33 year-old professional baseball player can drop dead from a heart attack, we all need to keep a better check on our health.
Take it from somebody who had their chest split open and tubes running out of their body. Life is very short and I was only 40 when this happen to me. I think about my family and how lucky I was. Darryl Kile wasn’t that lucky, he left behind a wife and three kids that will have to grow up without a father.
If you have any history of heart disease do yourself and your family a favor. Go have regular checkups including cholesterol screening, stress test or heart imaging test.
Such tests would have saved Kile’s life — and will save yours.