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North: A tribute to the king of golf, Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer was born on Sept. 10, 1929, and I saw him on TV when I was about 6 years old and it changed my young life.

I usually scribble my Daily Herald columns very fast on a lined yellow tablet and sometimes it's difficult to decipher.

Not this time.

I certainly don't have to do much research either when writing about Arnie, because he has always been "my guy".

I can easily talk off the cuff about him, which was the same way he played golf. Palmer was a blue-collar guy who could swing harsh and wild.

With his good looks, lean body, and pigeon-toed putting stance, he was us - except that he was really good at golf.

I've only broken 100 three times in my entire life, so I stink as a golfer. But I play it and I love it because of Arnie.

I fell in love with Palmer and the game as I watched my family's black-and-white TV on a Saturday morning in 1960. I don't think I ever wanted any team or any person that I followed to win more than Arnie back then.

I was lucky enough to interview Mr. Palmer three times over the course of my career, and those interviews stand far ahead of all the rest, from Ted Williams to Ernie Banks from Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant.

The last time Arnie won a title was over 30 years ago, yet his popularity was as strong in 2016 as it was in the 1960s. His business success was extraordinary and the golf channel survived and flourished because of his partnership with them.

He was a Virgo and a perfectionist in an imperfect way, but he also set an example of class and good sportsmanship.

Jack Nicklaus and Palmer were friends, but their rivalry was intense and they didn't always see eye to eye on the course. At Cherry Hills in Denver in 1960, Palmer rallied and beat Nicklaus and Ben Hogan.

I never got to shake his hand or meet him in person, but I was in awe of the man even in a time when I had lost any awe I had for athletes.

I have so much I could say about my idol and I wish he could have stayed with us forever. He hugged us and talked to us - not at us. He made guys love golf and him, and always looked people directly in the eye.

He's gone now at age 87, but what a run he had.

I admit that I cried at his passing, but I'm glad he didn't suffer. I don't think there is another sportsman that I respected more.

No one can ever replace him in my eyes. RIP King!

• Follow Mike North on Twitter @north2north. His column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.

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