Money Players

When Curtis Martin speaks, listen (or read)

Sports Business Journal did a terrific “In-Depth” examination on athlete behavior. The whole thing is worth reading, but the interview with former Jets and Patriots RB and the NFL’s fourth all-time leading rusher, Curtis Martin, stands out. Unfortunately you have to have to subscribe to the Journal or its sister publication, Sports Business Daily, to read the entire interview. Below are a couple of Martin's answers:

On being a role model
I take being a role model very seriously. I take it just as seriously as I take my performance on the field. So in the same way that I prepare for a game, I prepare my life—the way I do things, the way I think—in a manner that is worthy of being a role model. I realize the position I’m in and the influence I have, not only on my teammates, but on guys around the NFL who might look up to me in sort of a big brother way. So being the proper example for kids and fans and colleagues and friends and family is tremendously important.

On the pressure put on pro athletes by families
The type of pressure that friends and family can put on you is unbelievable. One thing that I always try to preach to some of the younger athletes is to get good at saying no. Most of us feel so obligated because we are the only one, probably in our entire generation of our family tree, who has had this kind of success. The whole tree comes after you. When to say no and when to say yes, on top of trying to have a successful career, is overwhelming many times...One of the most difficult parts of being a professional athlete is dealing with that whole tree coming after you, and dealing with the pressure of taking care of not only your own family, but every family that’s even close to you. If you don’t have anyone to help you sift through that process, it’s extremely hard…I think the general public equates wisdom with money, and there’s nothing further from the truth. People wonder, with all the money you make, how could you do something that stupid? I think that more money opens you up to doing something that stupid.

Masters Major Achievement Award

My father-in-law is long-time Bay Area sports writer Art Spander. In 1999 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- for his writing, not playing ability. Last Wednesday Art added another special honor to his resume. He was one of 14 recipients of the inaugural Masters Major Achievement Award presented Wednesday morning at Augusta National.

One of the better perks of being married to his daughter Debbie is getting to tag along for such occasions.

The 14 honorees included a who's who of great golf writers and broadcasters:

Horace Billings, Furman Bisher, John Derr, Dan Foster, Ron Green Sr., Dan Jenkins (The funniest sportswriter ever), Kaye Kessler, David Kindred, Hubert Mizell, Dave Moffit, Edwin Pope, Nick Seitz, Art Spander, and Al Wester.

The funniest moment of the ceremony came from long-time Sporting News writer Dave Kindred who remembered the cramped writing areas of yesteryear being a far cry from today's mega-media center.

Said Kindred, "If you can write in a Quonset hut during a rainstorm on a typewriter sitting next to Art Spander, you can write in anything."

Here is the text of the presentation:

CRAIG HEATLEY:  Art Spander, ladies and gentlemen. A popular dynamo among the press and players, art made the cross-country trip to Augusta 41 years ago and has not slowed down since. Stints with the San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner, and now at the Oakland Tribune, have made him a friendly fixture in golf. With his voice and opinion in print and on the air, Art's knowledge and respect for the game is evident. A long-time friend of Jack Nicklaus, it was Jack's win in 1986 that still stands out in his memory.

Art, we are delighted to honor you today.

ART SPANDER: Well, thank you. As everybody said or at least implied, it is we, the writers, and announcers who should be thanking Augusta. One, for the tournament. I thank Billy Payne and the administration and everybody else for making the writers always feel wanted here.

As Dave Kindred more than implied, I talk a bit. (Laughter) so I won't talk too long up here. Just two things I remember. I showed up here, I was the first writer west of Dan Jenkins. You'll notice everybody else is from the east or Texas. And, "oh, you're coming" and I would wear my badge, with your name and little badge and people would say, "Oh, you're a long way from home"; Yes, I am.

The other thing is, there used to be a golf writer at New York times, some of you knew him, Lincoln Warden, a crusty old guy, and I was like 27 years old, and he would say, "Hey, kid, go down and see if Arnold Palmer is coming in." And I wonder what Lincoln would think now seeing this.

The ceremony is online at Masters.org.

Highlights
1) Beginning: Billy Payne's intro of the Masters Major Achievement Award and his description of the carved wood plaques (at about the 3 minute-marker)
2) 23:30 marker Dave Kindred invoking Art for laughs
3) 37:00 marker Augusta National member Craig Heatley presenting Art

Billy Payne, Augusta National chairman, and Craig Heatley, chairman of the media committee, and the entire Augusta National membership and staff could not have been nicer and more gracious. Plus we got to spend a few days walking around the greatest golf course in the world.