Hey gang —
It’s been a minute and I apologize. The beginning of the season combined with some work-related stuff, a couple new ventures, a few more on the back burner and the need to get away from golf every now and again left this newsletter in the corner unattended.
No more. We will be back for the rest of the season (and beyond) to give you updates on golf and more importantly some updates on Patty! The tin foil hat of mine has been dusted off and is firmly on my noggin. (How about my guy RFK tapping Aaron Rodgers for VP. Honestly, not surprised).
It’s been a fun start to the year highlighted by a trip to Phoenix for the WM Phoenix Open. There are stories that will be told on podcasts and others only within finer circles, but overall it was a great time and I appreciate the boys and girls from WM (the C-suite suits!) for their hospitality.
One story I am willing to share and one that no one will get upset about is my run-in with a certain person of interest. WM had invited this person to play in the Pro-Am and attend various functions. The company did this for plenty of A-list celebrities include one Patrick McDonald. A who’s whose, so to speak.
I digress.
I walk down to grab breakfast Wednesday morning at the resort they put us up at. It’s early — probably just a little after 6 am as I like to stay on East Coast time whenever I travel west — so I was expecting no one else and the buffet and coffee to myself before heading to the course.
As I enter the room there is one man grabbing coffee, but I can’t tell who it is since his back is to me. I pay no mind to him and grab my selection. Bacon, sure. Eggs benny, why the hell not. A doughnut?! You slut, of course!
I am having a field day and grab my coffee before sitting down at a table to read the Wall St Journal before finally realizing who the mystery man was…Nick Saban.
There are plenty of sports writers who would dream (maybe even kill to be honest) of sharing a room with Saban one-on-one. I’m probably not one of them! Great coach? Sure. Greatest of all time? Perhaps! But remember, I’ve got a fucking doughnut in front of me and that’s where my attention is drawn.
He’s sipping his coffee (black, no nonsense) and I decide to introduce myself. I compliment him on a great career, call him “coach” like a dweeb loser who has literally never played organized football in his life, and we chat for a few minutes about his retirement plans, his golf game and the 2024 presidential election (two truths and a lie).
I wish him luck at the Pro-Am and we go our separate ways.
Later that day, ESPN announced Saban would be joining their college football coverage. Adam Schefter broke the news if I am recalling the events correctly which makes sense given his employer.
He gets asked about it when interviewed by Golf Channel and there is a noticeable buzz surrounding him as he makes his way through the golf course and ultimately to the celebrity event later that day on the par-3 16th.
After fighting with security (I literally told a man “to never fucking touch me again or I will drop you”), they let me and my credentialed ass into the arena to take in the event. I shot Glenn Powell a horns up sign like a tool, did a hit for a local CBS affiliate and then got out of there since it was a complete mess.
A few stories were filed and I grabbed dinner before a WM event that evening. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting as this was the first corporate event of the week that I attended. Mostly, I assumed it would be all WM people and a few guests like myself, but no one noteworthy.
This theory was debunked right when I entered the room as the first man I saw was…you guessed it…Coach Saban.
He’s chatting it up with some executives and I deviate from the group I am with and make my way towards him. Our eyes lock (not in that way) and I can tell that he remembers my face.
“I’ve got a bone to pick with you,” I say with a smile.
“About what?,” Saban said.
“You couldn’t have given me the fucking scoop this morning that you were going to ESPN?”
Entire restaurant of people erupt into laughter, Phoenix builds a statue of me, Saban brings me on as his protege, end scene.
Saban lets out a hearty laugh and tells me that I had him going for a second!
I give him a slap on the ass and tell him to have a good night.
Literal laugh out loud on last line. Fun story.
Didn’t you already tell the Saban story?