Hogan the man

[zipazoid]

I've been spending most of the day watching college football & putzing on the computer; just trying to relax after a long work week. In the thread about hands initiating the downswing I posted a video of Ben Hogan describing his thoughts on the subject. And it hit me - I think this guy was greatly misunderstood. He was famous (infamous?) for his 'all business, no chat' style of playing golf. Stories are legend about how he wouldn't say five words to his playing partners during a round. As a result he was considered cold, aloof.

But I started doing a little research. Not that I just had this thought today mind you, but I wanted to watch videos of interviews of him; anything where he talked. And what I found was a thoughtful, quiet, intense, funny (yes, funny) guy. And a real humble gentleman. In one interview taken after his playing days were over, he actually darn near cried when thinking about his fans, and how he regretted not being able to show them more appreciation while he was playing, but he knew he couldn't...he just wasn't wired that way when playing. But he did make it clear he was very appreciative of them. Here's the vid, and it's right at the very end.

Think about any picture you've seen of Hogan when he wasn't playing golf. Think about how he looked after crushing defeats, like after losing to Jack Fleck in the 1955 US Open. He smiled. He almost always smiled. He seemed to love and appreciate the competition and the skills of those he competed against.

That is the look of an appreciative sportsman, not a guy who was robbed of his fifth US Open by a club pro.

Hogan and Valerie did not have any children. And from what I gathered from the vids of the interviews was that he dearly, deeply loved her. I guess you don't have to look any further than the accident that almost claimed his life. His reaction to the impending head-on collision with a bus? He threw himself in front of his wife to protect her.

I think Mr. Hogan was not only a giant in the game, but was, in every way I can discern, a man who lived his life with dignity and respect - for the game and his competitors. It seems to me that part of his life gets short-shrifted due to his on-course demeanor. I get the impression that many thought he was like that all the time.

Not from what I see. He wasn't only a great golfer, he was a great man.

[Valleygolfer]

There is a pretty comprehensive book about Hogan out. I guarantee that behind that smile is complete frustration from losing. He had a pretty rough childhood, father killed himself when he was like five.

[newtogolf]

He had a very tough life, worked most of his childhood selling papers and working odd jobs until he became a caddie.  Even after that, life and success didn't come easy to him.  Who knows how many more tournaments and Majors he would have won if not for the war and car accident.

Originally Posted by Valleygolfer

There is a pretty comprehensive book about Hogan out. I guarantee that behind that smile is complete frustration from losing. He had a pretty rough childhood, father killed himself when he was like five.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by Valleygolfer

There is a pretty comprehensive book about Hogan out. I guarantee that behind that smile is complete frustration from losing. He had a pretty rough childhood, father killed himself when he was like five.

Oh no doubt. I'm sure he was pretty pissed. But the point is, he showed grace and humility in those photos; no hint of animosity.

I guess what I'm getting at is, there appeared to be misperceptions about him based on how he was inside the ropes, that this taciturn 'Wee Ice Mon' was that way outside the ropes. I watching these vids I saw a man who not only spoke, but was very thoughtful in doing so. And he seemed, dare I say, warm and engaging!

Like this vid -

Hopefully that comes thru - I see the one I posted in the original post didn't. Here's the url -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtMYFKsC9Lk

Anyway, I see a man reminiscing warmly about his younger days, smiling.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, he seemed to be defined by his on-course demeanor, but he was far from a terse automaton.