Remembering Arnold Palmer, Muhammad Ali, and Gordie Howe Another “Big Three”

After the passing of golfing great, but more important human great, Arnold Palmer at age 89 last week, it is noteworthy, albeit quite sobering, that not so arguably, the greatest performers/promoters/ambassadors and surely skilled in their 3 sports/games, have died in 2016.

Muhammad Ali, who died too soon at 72 and after enduring a sickness that squelched his bravado but not his spirit,  was about the best heavyweight boxer ever (Ray Robinson, called “Sugar Ray,” is generally regarded as the best boxer period. That was also the opinion of Ali, whose “Georgeous George” (a famed professional wrestler) style of promoting, hid the fact he was a humble man) and certainly the best promoter/ambassador, the brutal sport of boxing has ever known.

Palmer (I can still hear a great voice, golfing commentator, sorry I do not know whom, not likely but possibly the great Jimmy Demerat, intoning “ARNEE PALMERR,” stretching out the great player and ambassador’s name, as he putted for victory in a famed 3 way playoff vs/with Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald in the 1962 Masters Tournament.

Arnie was my favorite, Player my Dad’s and somehow I remember it, Palmer’s third Masters title.

Gordie Howe, “Gord” Howe on a poster of sports greats which I believe included Ali and Palmer (wish I could find it and a famous one of the beautiful Farrah Fawcett), was a seminal great, arguably the greatest player in his sport of hockey. He was also a great ambassador of the sport.

The great Arnold Palmer, pictured above.