EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

CNNSI.com GROUP
 Sports Illustrated
 Life of Reilly
 SI Women
 SI for Kids
 Press Room
 TBS/TNT Sports
 CNN Languages

COMMERCE
 SI Customer Service
 SI Media Kits
 Get into College
 Sports Memorabilia
 TeamStore

My Shot

It's time for Augusta National to forgive and forget and lift its ban on Gary McCord

Click here for more on this story

I wasn't very happy about missing the cut at the 1994 Masters. But tuning into the weekend coverage on television, I got to hear two of the most infamous flourishes of commentary in the game's history. Calling the play at 17, Gary McCord told the world that the green was so fast it seemed to be "bikini-waxed." Describing the difficulty of recovering from long approach shots, he said there were "body bags" buried behind the green.

David Walberg

I wasn't surprised when, a few months later, the members at Augusta National banned him from future telecasts. I didn't think they were right to do it. It's about time to forgive and forget and let the man return to the booth.

I don't know Gary terribly well, but I've seen a lot more of him recently because he has excelled on the Senior tour. I believe he's hurt by the ban, even if he refuses to show it. More important, the Masters is poorer for Gary's absence. He is one of golf's top commentators. Some awfully funny things come out from underneath that bristly handlebar mustache.

The membership at Augusta should understand that he wasn't criticizing the course. He was only trying to get across how difficult 17 was playing that day. If someone simply says that the greens are slick, a person sitting on his sofa won't have any idea of how fast they are. I didn't take "bikini-waxed" seriously, and I don't think the members should have, either. Likewise, if Gary says body bags are behind the green, he doesn't really mean dead people are lying about back there.

Laughter shouldn't be forbidden at Augusta. Laughter is happiness. I'm searching for laughter all the time in my life -- that's what keeps you young. There would be much more laughter at the Masters with Gary McCord back on the air.

Gary Player, 65, is a three-time winner of the Masters.

Issue date: April 2, 2001

 

Related information
Stories
Teeing Off: Kiss of Death This Old Course: Under Fire Jaime's Top 10 Golf Notebook
Multimedia
Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

Copyright © 2001 CNN/Sports Illustrated An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.