From Lombardi to Sinatra!

Frank Sinatra at Caesars PalaceOn the TunneySide of Sports May 17, 2021 #848 Up next… From Lombardi to Sinatra!

After further review… Last Friday, May 14th was the 23rd anniversary of Francis Albert Sinatra’s passing. He was 83. It will always be significant to me since it was in May 1985 that I met him. Going back, I was a teenager when he first came on the music scene in the 1940s. His popularity as a teen-idol was phenomenal. Perhaps the G.O.A.T. of singers!

Anyway, in May 1985, I was speaking for Budget Rent a Car at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas before it became the Bellagio. I noticed that Frank Sinatra was performing at Caesars Palace that evening.  I called Herb Alpert (TJB) for whom I had worked in the early 1970s to see if he might have a connection to get me a ticket for the Sinatra show. I told him I didn’t want a comp.

He called later with good news. So, after my Budget speech, I walked to Caesars. I picked up my seating ticket at Will Call noticing there was “no charge.” How nice of Herb! I was ushered down to the front of the stage and sat 3 seats from where Sinatra would be standing. I had brought with me my 2-cassette album (“Here’s to the Winners”) that I used to close my presentations with his version of “Winners.” The subject of many of my talks being about “striving” to win.

He did 1:15 hours on stage and was sensational! I gave my album to the back-stage guard. I didn’t want to leave, so, I stayed in the showroom until Mr. Sinatra exited — with my album. As I walked into Caesars casino, I heard. “Jim Tunney – white courtesy phone – you have a call.” A call? No one knows I’m at Caesars! I picked up the phone and a voice said, “Jim, it’s Artie! Stay right there, I’m coming to meet you.” A moment later this little guy – Artie – jumps into my arms with my album in his hand. He says, “I haven’t seen you since I left Green Bay.”

It turns out Artie used to work for Vince Lombardi, head coach of the Green Bay Packers and I hadn’t seen him in years.  I said, “What are you doing here?” He said he now works for Sinatra and follows with “He wants to meet you.” I said no way! Artie said, “Yes he does, come with me.” Artie takes me over to where Sinatra and several (many) of his party were sitting. As we approached, Sinatra stands up and said: “ Mr. Tunney, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

We shook hands, but I replied, “Mr. Sinatra, you got this backward. It’s my pleasure to meet you.” We talked for about 10-minutes (seemed like 10-seconds) about NFL football as well as he wanted to know about what I did off the field. Artie told me later, Sinatra and they would always watch Monday Night Football on ABC (MNF). Artie said, “He (Frank) would always ask, ‘Is Tunney working tonight?). I had no idea!

Sinatra later invited me to play in Barbara’s (Sinatra) Eisenhower Hospital Charity Golf Tournament in Palm Springs. I played there on three occasions.

As I walked back to the Dunes, I kept humming, “Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars…” It was a glorious evening. What an honor!

Will you share a time you had with someone you admired from afar?

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There are many golf stories in Jim’s books such as Raymond Floyd having to qualify by playing an unknown caddy (Lee Trevino) in their early days. See the website for all products.

To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com  or email jim@jimtunney.com.

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Golf’s Player Impact Program

Golf’s Player Impact ProgramOn the TunneySide of Sports May 10, 2021 #847 Up next… Golf’s Player Impact Program

After further review Golf courses report that there has been a resurgence in golf attendance as the pandemic slowly diminishes. Golf courses seem to be the perfect venue for the family, especially Par-3 courses or even the pitch-and-putt places. The community in which I live is a golf haven and recently upgraded its Par-3 course changing its name from Peter Hay, who was the first professional, to “The Hay.” The upgrading was done with excellent style and class.

I recently read in Golfweek that the PGA (Professional Golf Association) is planning on a  program to dispense $40 million in bonuses to some 10 stars deemed to have an impact in drawing the most fans to PGA tour events. Some of the star players mentioned were Tiger Woods  who is in long-term recovery), Bryson DeChambeau, Ricky Fowler, Rory McIlroy among others. It seems here that money could be of more help elsewhere. First and foremost, golf tournaments are and have been very generous in giving monies to local and national charities. Further, the prize money awarded to winning golfers today is greater than ever before.

As the PGA tour unfolds, it seems that many unknown names are atop the leader board each week. As an example, where did Hideki Matsuyama, who won this 2021 Masters, appear from? If you follow golf you know he is well respected on the tour, but his name value hasn’t matched up with Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, or other names in that realm. However, please mark Matsuyama in your book as it is likely he’ll be atop the leaderboard quite often.

Maybe more importantly, is this PIP plan a proper way to attract patrons to the PGA golf tournaments? As the restrictions for the pandemic ease, most golf followers will be flocking to courses. This idea of rewarding some players, regardless of how they perform, is antithetical to the golf industry. If you attend NFL, NBA, NHL games, those players already have their paychecks deposited. Not so in golf! PGA golfers have upfront costs that are not compensated until they perform well enough to earn prize money. Moreover, while golf is not a T*E*A*M sport like others, there is a “golfing family” attached to the professional game. Will this bonus pool create a division?

Will you log-in your thoughts about this bonus pool for “stars”?

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There are many golf stories in Jim’s books such as Raymond Floyd having to qualify by playing an unknown caddy (Lee Trevino) in their early days. See the website for all products.

To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com  or email jim@jimtunney.com.

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You could’ve waited!

Trevor Lawrence Mr. IrrelevantOn the TunneySide of Sports May 3, 2021 #846 Up next… You Could’ve Waited!

After further review… Trevor Lawrence was the #1 National Football League’s draft pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in last week’s 2021 draft held in Cleveland, Ohio.  He was recently quoted in Sports Illustrated Volume #132 Number 4 as saying: “Like, the sun was setting in Laguna Beach, California and I wanted to enjoy it.”

Trev, instead of being drafted by the Jags at No. 1 on the first day of the draft, you could have waited until Saturday and be selected at #260 or thereabouts as the last draft choice known as Mr. Irrelevant and enjoy a whole week in Newport Beach (adjacent to Laguna Beach). You could’ve spent many days in that sun.

Mr. Irrelevant?  Who is that and how did that happen? Funny you should ask! It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and I was enjoying the setting sun in Newport Beach, when a knock at my door was a 30-year friend, Paul Salata. “Slats,” as we called him, also lived in Newport Beach and always had another idea. He said, “I want to do something for somebody for no good reason.” I said, “Sounds interesting, carry-on.” “I want to honor the last NFL draft choice every year. We’ll call him Mr. Irrelevant. I mean, what could be more irrelevant than the last NFL draft choice?” he said. Fewer than 100 of those drafted each year make it in the NFL.

So, now we celebrate the 46th ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ as announced yesterday by Melanie Salata Finch, who has stepped up from her dad to honor the selectee as this year’s Mr. Irrelevant (this article had to be written before the selection).

What’s in store for him? Well, they fly him to LAX, then helicopter him to John Wayne Airport in Irvine. A parade through the beach towns, a day in his honor at Disneyland, a banquet with celebrates roasting him and finally presenting him with the “Lowsman Trophy”.

At one time there was a horse race in his honor at Hollywood Park, but that’s now SoFi Stadium where the Rams and Chargers call their home.

It is a wonderful week to honor a player who, if he stays in southern California, can have many days watching that beautiful sunset!

Will you watch your favorite NFL player in the upcoming 102nd year of the NFL?

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Jim’s books “On the TunneySide of Sports” as well as “Chicken Soup for the Sports Fans Soul” are full of baseball stories. Each sells for $20. However, as a 2021-year special if two are bought, a third is included free of charge. All autographed with no tax and free shipping. Mail to: Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953  Be well!

See the website for all products.

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