John Daly: A funny, loveable buffoon (whose PGA Tour career is over)

So, YOU think that JD is a moron do you? If you want to find out who the REAL moron is, just check back on your "pot calling" comments...I believe that you will recognize that it is YOU, and surely you will try to become a person of true quality as a consequence. Oh, just wanted you to know that I will no longer be reading your section...it's just too dull.

BH

I've only met about six or eight Tour players in person and not to shoot the bull, just at appearances and so forth. But John Daly remains the most sincere of the bunch one-on-one. He honestly appreciates the support of the fans and I think he honestly returns the feeling. It's OK to appreciate JD for who and what he is, even if he never achieves what he might otherwise have.

Classy article, Mark. Looks like you and BH deserve each other.

I am sure you were just looking for a reaction and by the looks of it you are getting it. Whether it be on the golf course or having a jar at the local I would choose the company of John over any of the assembly line cookie cutter bores that make up 99% of the tour at the moment.

OK, with this post I finally figured it out! THANKS!!!

It MUST be that the site pays y'all based on the number of comments you get. Right?

Otherwise, why rag a guy who does the best he can given the 'personal issues' he drags around like an extra caddy? Mr. Nessmith - shame on ya.

Now that's funny.....don't shed a tear for John when he misses almost every cut. He can pull 100K for a clinic whenever he wishes.

I think that's the point. He makes a pretty good living being who he is, and that's probably alot easier than tyring to take the game seriously.

He plays golf alot better than you write.
Losers rag on others rather than trying to improve themselves. You guys can't even come up with your original newletter. this looks exactly like the golf newswire. you guys are putting a real stain on golf

Before you criticize - Take note of John's off course contributions to the game and you'll soon become a fan. He provides alot of young kids with hope and raises funds for children and has actually declined tour money oppurtunities in favor hosting charity events - go JOHN !!! By the way - the trophies aren't awarded to underacheivers (or you might have a crack at them).

You whack job! Remember when Ely tried to scare John straight? Didn't work. Daly is in rip-roaring shape (in spite of not being able to clear the pithy Horseshoe Falls of Niagara with 20 tries). He feeds off the crowds, hibernates for a few years at a time (he actually slims down by digesting his own blubber during these wintertime meditations), and returns just to remind us how soft those hands are on the wedges and putter, how maniacal (ask Jack Lemmon and Peter Jacobsen) his driving ability is, and what a sweet turn he puts on the swing (no one ever talks about that--he is the greatest from top to finish.) Long John will rise again, and that ain't no porno!

For me, it's sad to watch such a waste of talent. You'd think he would be inspired by Mickelson's change in thinking since cutting down on his swing (& taking chances) has netted 2 Majors - so far. But no, it's fan-friendly, you-da-man, bombs-away on every shot. He may be sincere, but he sure isn't too smart. Just because he has some personal issues in life (who doesn't?) does not excuse him from legitimate criticism.

Why would we want John any other way?? so he can be just like all the others?? dont be an ass, we want characters and he certainly is that. I bet he is chuckling all the way to the bank and could'nt give a shoot wot we think.

You want characters? Read a book (not bloody likely!). Or hang around a neighborhood pub - there's plenty of them there. Me, I'd like to see this immensely talented player actually fulfill some of his promise rather than squander the opportunities.

Amen, Shanks!

Stop picking on John...he's one of the few tour players with any real personality. He's sincere and let's all of his short-comings hang out. What you see is what you get.

Hey, Keir, I said Long John was funny and loveable, didn't I?

Awww, we don't want to hurt his widdle feewings ....

JD will have the last laugh when he wins at World Golf Championship. He is driving so long and straight.

He may have lost the WGC, but I think that 2nd place showing suggests that his career is far from over.

Not over yet I guess...

I'm not one of the Daly lovers. The man can do some amazing things. Talent galore. I can't bring myself to root for the guy because of the way he quits when things aren't going so well. Tom Lehman said as much when asked about John being a Captain's pick for the Ryder Cup. Said there's way too many 70th place finishes.

Mark...This may come as a shock...but having balls balls involves actually standing against the crowd and expressing a controversial opinion. So the problem is John Daly smokes and is????? Hogan smoked..Palmer chain smoked big time....blah blah blah. Daly won 2 Majors because he DESERVED them...that doesn't make John virtuous or one of the game's greats. He's an above average player within his generational peer group and is very entertaining. I went to the AMEX Championships at Harding Park a few weeks ago and people followed Daly in numbers only exceeded by Tiger Woods.....
So Mark...your point is???????

>>>"So Mark...your point is???????"

My point? I was quite clear about it above. (To be exact: He's got a boatload of talent and cojones for miles. But it takes more than that.) Do I think it's stupid for a person who makes his living with his body not to take care of it. Definitely. I don't care what Hogan or Palmer or anyone else did to their bodies a generation or more ago. We've learned a lot over the years. And it's not just smoking. How many more wins would Lee Trevino have had if he'd been on a modern training regimine? Not a slam on Trevino, just an observation. How many more home runs would Babe Ruth have hit if he'd trained like even average MLB players do today? (Minus, the steroids, I mean.) Conversely, how many fewer wins, Ks and no-hitters would Nolan Ryan have had without all that training? If you don't think the "non-golf" training that guys like Tiger Woods and Lefty do has a lot to do with their success, you're nuts.

So lots of fans were following JD at Harding Park? Of course they were - as I said in my title, he's funny and loveable. Hey, he'll go down in history for what he did at Crooked Stick alone. That's one of the great Cinderella sports stories of all time. But I guarantee if you'd polled the galleries there at Harding Park, the folks who really follow golf were rooting for John precisely because he's made them wince so many times over the years. Even NASCAR fans get tired of watching crashes. The fact is, John has accomplished a lot with the talent God gave him. Imagine what he could have done with some discipline, focus and hard work.

Anyone who can beat the best players in the world while he is pissed as a fart is a legend in my book. Smoke, drink, orgies, whatever! Who cares! He is human you know!
Just because he don't fit into the "mould" of a pussy PGA tour player that sips milk before bedtime and eats 2 fruit and 5 vegies a day does not mean he won't win tournies. JD is pure talent and does not need to have a practice regime like any others.
An example of how better a player he is over the top 5 in the world was a charity event in Canada a few years ago. After finally winning a hole, 15 holes in, against VJ and Sergio and some Canadian guy, he rocks up to the next hole, a par 3 with the honour of teeing up first. He walks over to the drink cart, grabs a diet-coke out, takes a few mouthfulls, puts it on the ground, puts his ball on top of it, stands next to it, and pulls the trigger with a 3iron in hand. Although the ball did not hit the green, it still was hit clean as a whistle off the can which stayed upright and not a drop spilt.
He then asks VJ and Sergio to give it a go, after all it is a charity match. They shook their heads and said 'no way'. Mainly because they probably would smash the can 20 yards down the fairway and look like complete idiots. So is the personality, prowess and power of the most talented guy on tour, JD!
Let us see how many titles you have won Mark!

Actually, Waldo, you sound like the stereotypical JD fan. It's amazing how his underachieving is entertaining to some.

http://www.johndalysgolf.com
I like ol' John, I have known him a very long time and have personally seen what he has done for many people.

Check out his new golf shop.
http://www.johndalysdiscountgolf.com

John Daly is far more entertaining than most golfers. I'd rather watch his Daly Planet than repeats of Tiger winning the Masters.....

JOHN IS A MAN FOR THE PEOPLE. HE'S REAL AND HUMAN.DOES LIFE HIS WAY, SOMETHING MOST OF US CAN'T DO. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM AGAIN ON TOUR AND IN THE CASINO'S IN VEGAS. GO JOHN !!!!! BE WHO YOU ARE IN THE FACE OF THE STIFF RODS CRITIZING YOU....

there are still some wisenoses around who dont understand the impact john daly gave this very special sport.

shame on you who dont understand this guy, and maybe another note,jealousy
might not even be a doubt.

I'll take fun "lovable buffoon over" over "boring snide blogger" any day.

I love John
www.johndalysgolf.com

Mark Nessmith , surely you do not mean these nasty remarks for John Daly. The crowds he attracts, and the love generated by them would not equal up to losing.

Critic without two Majors, please stand up....

first time at this site, probably my last. I read "Mark's" comments and response. I'm reminded of the old adage, "Opinion's are like 'anatomical orifices', everybody's got one". I'm thankful we live in a country where we can express them no matter how insensitive or heartless they may be. Mark mentions Babe Ruth and Nolan Ryan. The Bomber had a history of self-destruction in various forms but he made the Hall of Fame and has an honored place in history. John got his start young in this sport, has been successful and been extremist in his consumption of his rewards and spoils. I mean the guy has blown millions at the gambling tables and had, to say the least, bad luck with women, I mean he's on the way to another divorce apparently. But the fact is the guy plays for a living and apprently makes a bundle at it with his "moronic" game and his other endeavors, Retail and online Golf store, music recording, book sales, benevolent endeavors for kids and others who really need it. I mean lest you all forget, John sent a couple of girls through college, who's daddy was killed by lightning, while in attendance at one of his Major wins. The "game", his "game" that made him famous, is off yes. He's brought alot of misery on himself yes, but the guy is HUMAN! He's a little younger than I, but I remember doin some pretty stupid stuff and drinkin myself to excess and to passin out in public places although I could never drink like John. I never needed rehab and could'nt afford it if I ever had needed it. But you've never heard of me because I have never played pro golf or college golf or won the PGA championship or the British Open but if I had and all the money that came with it, I'm sure I'd have come up with new ways and ideas to strengthen the term, "I have not yet begun to defile myself" and me, I'd have sent myself to the poorhouse with alcoholism and been bankrupt at it's end. As would any avearge american citizen suddenly thrust to the forefront due to some native abililty. John is not native-ability, he's a hell of a ball striker and he's young. He's been forced, due to luck and his ability, to make all this money and and accolades and grow up at the same time. I wonder if I'd have fared as well and kept my sanity in his shoes. Probably not, and I'd have been broke and dead. John recognised his death demon, Jack Daniels, and downshifted himself to an ole Arkansas beer drinker who smokes too much and gambles too much. Why?, probably cause he has too much expendable liquidity (money). He's been through all this and he still makes money when he plays, he has'nt filed for bankruptcy yet, and he still makes his major tournaments, he just dont win as much, but with the drama at home who can blame him, and he still continues to dole out tournament money from his sponsored tourneys and his foundation and he still has'nt filed for bankruptcy, although he still blows wads gambling. I dont know but that does'nt sound like the workings
of an alcoholic, moronic, has-been and never-will-be again! Sounds like a guy thrust through his own abilities to fame too fast, kinda like Elvis Presley. He does what he wants because it makes him happy in the moment and makes no apologies. But ultimately it sounds like to me, he's tryin desperately to find happiness in his homelife, tryin to make all the major tournaments and win, and still havin hell with the women which effects his game which we all know who play is a 90% mental game. If the mental house isn't in order your mental game wont be. He's still makin enough to keep goin on in his attempt to get back on top, keep dolin out some change for the charities, and have some fun. If he could get the women situation in order, he might be alright. In short, he's living life to the fullest he can, be himself along the way, no apologies, and just simply still tryin to grow up through all the fame and accolades or lack thereof. It's wrong, inhuman, and insensitive, to kick a man when he's down. He'll be back you watch. I just hope he dont read alll this crapola. I love the guy, bein from Texas early and now a fellow Arkansan, I feel he's "one-of-us"! I only hope he lives through all this and gets back on top, not becoming another "legend in the sky" taken from us too early by excesses or a "crazy soon ex-wife or lover-to-be". Or lets himself get caught up in a "WWE Superstar Chris Benoit"-type scene. Sometimes behind closed doors, even the best can snap amongst all the negative energy. John has my love and prayers, give the guy a break! Dont kick him when he's down. He'll be back! He's too good a person and charitable guy to not be back after he grows up. Give him time. Hang in there John! your true fans love ya for your perserverance.!!