It's one thing to write a song, it's another get radio airplay.
That is the case with pro golfer John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks), winner of the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 British Open. Daly has also recorded two country and western albums. One of his songs, "I Hit It Hard," from his 2010 album I Only Know One Way, is receiving airplay on Sirius XM channel 56, The Highway.
According to the song's lyrics, it covers part of his life which featured multiple divorces, alcohol and gambling addiction, and a golf career that has included everything from winning two majors to sponsor's exemptions to event get into PGA events.
As the song goes:
"Well, I've won and lost it all against the best. This old road is a hell of a test. I'm still driving, I ain't slowing down. There's rules I love to break and bend, mistakes I've made again and again, but I tell you this my friends again and again, I'm still around.
"I hit it hard, man. I hit it long, man. No laying up, no holding back, ain't afraid of nothing. It's a natural fact. I'm still driving. I ain't slowing down."
The song has received praise from country music critics.
Wrote Dayne Shuda of countrymusiclife.com, "John is very honest with his music. But if you've ever seen him in an interview, you know that's exactly who he is all the time. He's an open book. He's not afraid to talk about the things he's done in his life. He's quite the character and people love it. I think, in a way, all of John's fans are inspired by his honesty.
"The fact that this song is getting played on SiriusXM now caught me off-guard. The album that John put out came out back in 2010.
"He's an open book on this song and on every song on the record. He's just honest, and that's why he remains one of the most popular golfers on the PGA Tour."
Tales of Lou Holtz
Everyone who has worked with former Arkansas, Notre Dame and South Carolina coach Lou Holtz probably has some stories to share.
Add former Arkansas and Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt to the list. Recently, on the CBS Sports Network's Inside College Football, Nutt shared a story of his time when he was a graduate assistant under Holtz at Arkansas.
Nutt said one day after practice when the coaching staff was watching practice film, Holtz, who was exasperated at the play of the fullbacks, blew up at Nutt.
Holtz: "How many times did you go over the play!"
Nutt: "I went over the play 500 times."
Holtz, who by this time shut the projector off and with smoke rising from his pipe: "What did you say Mr. Nutt?"
Nutt: "Coach, I went over that play 500 times."
Holtz: "Obviously, you're a very poor teacher because I know how smart that young man is. Let me ask you this Mr. Nutt. What's so significant about the number 500! Why not 1,000! Why not 1,500! Why not 2,000, until the job is done!"
Nothing like being berated to promote accountability.
Web heads
From the internet site fark.com:
• "Good: ESPN Monday Night Football to once again talk about domestic violence. Bad: Once again, the panel has 11 men (one of them Ray Lewis) and zero women."
• "What do the residents of Jameis Winston's hometown do when he embarrasses them by his behavior? They go public with their disgust. 'It's like a runaway train. You know it's going to wreck, but all you can do is watch. It's terrible and it's tragic.' "
Sports quiz
When was the last time John Daly finished in the top 10 in a PGA Tour event?
Answer
The 2012 Reno-Tahoe Open, where he finished fifth.
Sports on 09/30/2014