BARBARA TAYLOR
Blog: May-June 2012
Michael Jordan Celebrity/Amateur Invitational
Ask anyone with warm feelings for golf, and before you get very far down their list of what they like best about the game you will hear: Its challenge, diversity, frivolity, and the beauty of its style and grace in motion.
For me, my warm feelings include all of the above—in addition to an exciting world of opportunities golf has opened up for me. This blog for the African American Golfers Digest, the nation’s leading publication for avid Black golfers, is, without a doubt most assuredly, an example of how my budding career as a golf blogger and reporter for the Digest has afforded me the opportunity to be exposed to the upper echelons of golf.
I attended The Michael Jordan Celebrity/Amateur Invitational Tournament at Shadow Creek Golf Course, Las Vegas—once the domain of only the privileged few. This tournament is an annual Michael Jordan fundraiser to support the Make A Wish Foundation. The tournament was held on March 28th thru April 1, 2012. To date, the Invitational has raised millions of dollars for charity. SEE THE VIDEO BELOW!
The phrase, “Wow, what a roller coaster ride!!” comes to mind in my attempt to describe my experience attending the tournament and to be included as a part of the VIP media team was just the piece de resistance!
For two days I was all over the place–networking, trying to watch the game, taking pictures, and (at the same time) trying to mentally prepare for my prearranged celebrity interviews in the media tent with Marcus Allen, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Cedric Kyle’s, aka “ Cedric the Entertainer”.
My Interview with Marcus Allen (photo above) was delightful and informative. Marcus went to great lengths explaining to me the reason for the tournament, the “Make A Wish Foundation”, the logistics, why he has participated in this tournament for the last three years and the fact that he has been golfing for over seventeen years. (At this point, I was wondering who was interviewing whom?)
(Above: Joe Morgan)
However, I did get the opportunity to ask him if he had ever considered coaching a NFL or NBA team. He looked at me with a big smile on his face and said, “Pretty Lady, I like sleeping nights and please quote me on this subject in totality.”
At the conclusion of “our” interview, he told me that he really enjoyed chatting with me and wanted to introduce me to a friend standing close by that he knew would enjoy talking to me as much as he had. Much to my surprise the friend to whom he was referring was Sugar Ray Leonard!!
Well, let me just tell you that I don’t know if Sugar Ray enjoyed talking with me, but I sure in the heck enjoyed interviewing him! I found him to be extremely charismatic with a sincere and warm personality. He stated he has been golfing longer than he cared to remember, enjoys the game and finds it to be very therapeutic. He shared his overwhelming gratitude for having been asked by Michael to participate in helping to raise money for his favorite and so worthwhile charity.
Sugar Ray also advised me that he has his own Foundation, “The Sugar-Ray Leonard Foundation” which was formed to help fight childhood obesity and help find a cure for children who suffer from diabetes. We also talked about his being a motivational speaker for Fortune 500 companies, his mentoring of youngsters who are trying to make their mark in the boxing world, and the book he has written entitled , “The Big Fight In And Out Side of the Ring”.
My next celebrity encounter was with Cedric, of “Cedric the Entertainer”, (photo above) who was running around the golf course like a fish out of water—totally enjoying himself and being enjoyed by the crowd to the max! The
”funny man of comedy” took time out on the 7th hole to get out of his golf cart, run to the side lines and greet and shook hands with people waving him on, as well as take pictures with members of his “Fan Club”.
I was able to hold him still long enough to introduce myself and tell him that I was with the African American Golfers Digest and wanted to interview him after he finished his game. He immediately said, “Great” and asked me for my business card.
He told me that he was performing at the MJ Banquet Gala that evening and, unfortunately, needed to get back to the hotel as soon as he finished playing. On the run back his cart he shouted, “Let’s talk tomorrow.” Well, wouldn’t you know it, I was leaving the next day!! Mon dieu, perhaps another time….
In addition to my pre-scheduled Interviews, I was able to make personal contact, chatted a bit, and take photos of:
-Joe Morgan, former MLB Player/Baseball -Broadcaster, Win McMurry, Golf Channel -Contributor, and Julius Erving, Former NBA player.
The Banquet Gala, was in the ballroom at the lovely Aria Hotel, which was the tournaments host hotel, and I can sum this star-studded event up in two words “par extraordinaire”.
However no cameras or interviews were allowed in the ballroom, but who cared, I was too busy having fun, fun, and more fun!
Soccer player, Brandi Chastain and Former MBL, All-Star pitcher John Smoltz are the Champions of the two person 36-hole celebrity scramble Golf Invitational, which took place on April 1, 2012, at Shadow Creek, none of the armature players from the days before, were allowed to participate, just the celebrities.
A Great time was had by all, especially me !!!!
Until next time,
Barbara Taylor
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ABOUT BARBARA TAYLOR
In April 2011, after taking a six-year hiatus from golf lessons, Taylor decided to return to the world of Golf. When she first took lessons, she found that the transition from playing a “B” level of tennis to learning to play golf was boring, and slow as hell, and as perilous as going over Niagara Falls without a barrel. So, she made a decision (that she thought was wise at the time) to give it up! Taylor’s returned to the game came with a whole new prospective, purpose, respect, and attitude…. And, yes maturity.
Unlike when she was playing tennis, Taylor had no desire to get caught-up in the competitive frenzy. She is into golf for the shear love of the fun, travel and social interactions that she has found so delightful in the golf environment and game. However, she does want to be taken seriously.
Taylor is currently being coached by the legendary Alton Duhon, at the renown Chester Washington Golf Course, in Los Angeles. The course is also the California Golf Home of Dr. Charles Sifford.
