Here's a cute little Arnie and the gals story.

In 1996 Buddy Marucci was paired for two rounds in the Masters with Arnie for being the runner-up in the US Am at Newport to Tiger Woods.

Later Marucci said those two days at the Masters with Arnie was definitely the highlight of his career--ANGC, The Masters, the crowds and the adulation for Arnie.

They were walking off a tee lined with people together and Marucci heard someone behind him call his name. He turned around and back near the tee was this really good looking girl he wasn't sure he knew in the crowd calling to him. So he went back and just as he got to her and was about to take her hand Arnie snuck up behind him and inserted himself right between Marucci and this really good looking girl!  

Jason
What becomes clear from your post(s) is not that Jack Nicklaus is an ass, its that you, personally, don't like Jack. Fair enough. But to call him an ass because he said this may be his last Masters is, as my dad would say, a bit mucking fuch.

I'd be interested to know the context of his statements re next year. If it was a press conference, most likely a member of the press asked him about his long range plans at Augusta. Only an ass would not answer the question. In fact, in my paper this morning Jack said "This is Arnold's day. Let Arnold have his day." Nothing to be knighted over, but pretty classy none the less.

Adam:

Winnie being around or not had nothing to do with it. Arnie that way was one of the most carefully guarded open secrets imaginable, particularly on tour.

Oh, I'm sorry, I guess you're not supposed to say things like that about world class idols when there's syrup flowing all over the place, are you?  

Actually Brad, the 7250+ length is not hurting JN (yet).  The commentators said he was hitting the ball sometimes beyond 300 yards.  He missed putt after putt and said so in the post interview.  Give him 3-4 of those putts over the past two days and he is in the hunt.

Whether he decides to play again is his choice but I think there is little question he still remains competitive.

JC

Bill: To say Jack Nicklaus ALWAYS personified class is historically not exactly accurate. Nevertheless, what may be even better or let's say even greater is real redemption. That's what I think Nicklaus is about in the final analysis.

Actually, it's perfectly legitimate to suggest that Jack Nicklaus has always personified class.  As competitive and intense as he is, he has always been able to put tournament golf in perspective.  Jack's public persona certainly evolved over his career; but, he has always respected the game and its customs.

It's unfortunate that it took so many years before people began to appreciate him.  He certainly deserved and earned their respect previously.

I concede overreacting to Jack's comments last night, he's obviously one of if not the most influential player in the last 100 years and has earned respect.  I have never personally cared for his personality, however (one's man's confidence is another man's arrogance I guess).    

I would expect some on this board, however, to at least entertain the possibility that Jack's comments were somewhat thoughtless.  

This group has always provided frank and critical discussion and while I should have toned down the post the point was to trigger a discussion.  Unfortunately, I seem to be alone in thinking that the comments were inappropriate.  

   

It is inappropriate to call JN an ass for the remarks he made.

JN did take a pretty aggressive negative stance against Casey Martin, and I think that was insenitive of JN and I differ with his opinion.

However, he is entilted to his opinion.

Brad did a good job. I still think this is a post screaming for one Tom Huckaby.

"The standing of Nicklaus is etched in stone but his scores at ANGC the last two days are just as clear that it's time to say adios from the main stage."

Matt, does this mean that everybody that missed the cut by two shots or more should now say adios from the main stage?  That will eliminate the following players:
Parry, Maggert, Funk, Curtis, Montgomerie, Toms, Mattiace, Mediate, Perry, Campbell, Scott, Bjorn, and others.

I'll be happy for Arnie and Jack (and Gary and anybody else who ever won the tournament) to play as long as THEY want to play.  Let THEM judge when its time to bow out.  That's what I plan to do with my golf game; why should they be held to a standard that you and I are not?

Brad and Adam - yes, Arnie knocked in a 40' putt on the first hole at Harding Park in the old Lucky International, maybe 1959 or 1960.  Actually, it was one of those Arnie putts in those days that hit the back of the hole, popped up and then into the hole for birdie!  If it hadn't hit the hole squarely, he'd have had one of those 8'ers coming back, hitched up his trousers and knocked it in, knock kneed stance and all!  The man did have flair!  And still does.

Tom Paul, even when the fans were down on him hard for beating Arnie at the 1962 Open (on what was almost Arnie's home course), Jack never lost his cool, never showed a lack of class.  And you're right, he was smart enough to self analyze the situation and change his persona to win over the fans.  I didn't like him much at first myself, but his performance over the years, culminating in the 1986 Masters, had to win you over eventually.

My favorite Arnie - Jack story has Arnie and a bunch of his buddies in the Latrobe clubhouse having breakfast.  After finishing his, Arnie gets up and says, "I'm off to the john to take a big 'Jack Nicklaus.'"   Not sure where I heard this over the years, probably aprochrypal, but what a story to reveal the depth of their rivalry and Arnie's frostiness over the years to Jack.

Just curious, Tom, has there ever been a bigger head to head rivalry?  Hagen-Sarazen?  Hogan-Snead-Nelson?  Watson-Nicklaus?  Everything else pales in comparison to Palmer-Nicklaus.  I remember with pleasure the TV series "The Big Three" with JN, AP and Gary Player.  They kept the rivalry under control to make some money in those days!

i think if he reflects on it he might have spoke differently

anywhay it doesn't seem to have affected arnie who responded with "if jack said it that's okay"

i blame the media for poking the microphone into participants faces immediately - before the participant can formulate a more measured response

Re: Gary Player, I suspect that he will have an outside chance to shoot his age at the Masters, and that would be a wonderful accomplishment.  I don't know that Nicklaus will have that opportunity.  BTW, has that ever been done there or at any regular tour event?

Re: Jack Nicklaus, it is an overwhelming concensus here that the man is anything but as asshole.  I've been around him a number of times and am acquainted with people who've worked with him and know him very well.  The only negative thing I've ever heard about Jack is that he can be a bit stubborn, and, at times, he can razz his friends pretty hard.
More commonly, he is described as a very loyal friend and family man, at times hard on himself, and as a person who fully understands what golf has done for him and what his responsibilities are to the game.

Past critics such as Lanny Wadtkins and others from that era can try to knock the Golden Bear down with snide comments about him being a pompous know-it-all-Carnack, but who would anyone rather meet or have a beer with, Jack Nicklaus or Lanny Wadtkins.  I remember once hitting a good tee shot in front of a large group of Oriental engineering recruits at a company course, and while I could not make out much of what they said as they clapped, I did pick-out "Jack Nicklaus" with no mention of "Lanny" or "Wadtkins".

And when other lesser players complained about "foreigners" such as Gary Players coming in and "looting" the PGA Tour, it was Nicklaus who defended a system of meritrocacy as opposed to one of barriers to foster mediocracy.  Had Nicklaus been able to be a benign dictator for the tour, we would not have the blandness and closed nature of the existing exempt tour and the technology issue, particularly the ball, would have been addressed long ago.

Finally, being that this is an architecture website, I would like to know which architect has done more successful, quality courses than Jack Nicklaus without any major brain-farts in the mix.  The last three Nicklaus courses I've played, Las Campana-Sunset, Cimarron Hills, and Sherwood are not short of outstanding.

Arnie may be the King and certainly the most beloved.    But Nicklaus is clearly in a class by himself, and arguably, among the most respected athletes in any sport.  I wouldn't count Tiger out, but he does have a little ways to go, and perhaps his large intimidation advantage has been diminished.