Mar. 13, 2008
By Dave Senko, PGA TOUR Staff
Editor's Note: Recently, the New York Yankees signed actor/comedian Billy Crystal to a one-day minor-league contract. After working out with the team, Crystal played in an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. We asked several Champions Tour players if they had a chance to do something similar, what sport and team would they like to play for or compete in as Crystal did. Below are their responses.
| Dana Quigley |
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"Obviously, I'd like to try that with the Boston Red Sox but I'd rather be there more than a day because it would take more than one day to make up for all the mistakes that I would make! I'd love to be a pitcher but I can't throw it more than 50 so I'd probably like to play left field and mess around with the Green Monster. The best athletes in the world haven't figured out the bounces off of that thing yet so I wouldnt look quite so bad." |
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| Bruce Lietzke |
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"It would be probably be some part of drag racing. I'm not sure what kind of car it would be, whether it'd be a top fuel or a funny car, but if that was offered for me for a day or a week, I'd take it in a heartbeat." |
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| Curtis Strange |
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"We all played Little League baseball so to do something like that for a day it would probably be to play for the Baltimore Orioles. I grew up in that area and followed them. I'd probably like to catch for the Orioles." |
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| Allen Doyle |
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"I wouldn't do it now, but if I would have had the opportunity earlier, it would be to play defenseman for the Boston Bruins. I could have seen myself doing that." |
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| Andy Bean |
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"I'd probably say fishing on the FLW Redfish Tour with the Watts brothers (Bryan and Greg) or perhaps fishing the Bassmaster Classic with Kevin VanDam or someone like that." |
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| Kenny Knox |
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"I would love to play baseball. It is my first love. I guess the reason I played golf instead of baseball was because we had such a great junior golf program in Columbus, Ga., where I grew up. No question, I'd like to play for the Atlanta Braves. Growing up in Columbus and having the Braves move to Atlanta from Milwaukee in the mid-60s was big and Ive been following them ever since. I played shortstop and pitched in Little League and played third base and pitched when I was in Babe Ruth, but if I had a chance to play, I'd probably have to be a second baseman. Sure my arm wouldn't quite hold up in the big leagues. My favorite all-time Brave? I loved Smoltz and Hank Aaron, but Bob Horner is a friend of mine. I got to know him and he caddied for me one year at the EDS Byron Nelson Classic. I remember when he broke his wrist my whole family went into mourning." |
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| Don Pooley |
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"Id say probably pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They've been my favorite team since I was seven years old when they first came to Los Angeles in 1958. I'd love to pitch but my fast ball is like a real slow ball. My favorite player? It was Wally Moon. I remember him hitting those home runs over that fence in left field at the Coliseum. They were called Moon shots because of that short fence."(note: it was a 42-foot high fence and just 250 feet from home plate) |
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| Jeff Sluman |
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"Living in Chicago, I'd probably like to do something with the Cubs and also have a one-day scholarship with the Florida State football team. It would be interesting to just sit in on a full day of practice and see how they do things." |
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| Eduardo Romero |
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"Yes, I love soccer and I'd like to try that. Probably playing midfield for the Argentine National team. My favorite team in Argentina is River Plate." |
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| Graham Marsh |
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"If there is one sport I'd like to try it would be tennis. I've always been a huge fan of Pete Sampras and now Roger Federer. I guess I'd like to try being on the other side of the net receiving a serve from one those guys. It would be a pretty fun thing to do. I've played a little bit of tennis, not enough to qualify as any kind of player, but enough to be able to play. It would have been interesting to go at full speed against either of those guys just to see what the ball was doing. I've watched tennis live and I know the pace at which these guys are hitting their shots. It's amazing. At least with tennis I couldn't get hurt!" |
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| Peter Jacobsen |
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"Mine would definitely be in baseball either with the Yankees or Red Sox. I grew up as a Yankee fan, but am now a huge Red Sox fan. I grew up as a baseball player. As a grade schooler and high schooler for me to think about playing major league baseball would be a thrill. I am very jealous of Billy Crystal at this point. I'd play the positions that I played as a kid either shortstop or second base. I could turn the double play or at least I could try." |
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