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1960 • Baseball Clip • Jackie Robinson on Handicaps - Radio Speech · Retro Sports Radio: Classic Games from History

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  This is RetroSports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons.com for more sports history.
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  Today, ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to tell you about a wonderful experience I had recently.
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  An experience that taught me a lesson I'll never forget.
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  I'll relate this story just as soon as we have this message of importance.
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  A short time ago, I had the pleasure, along with some very wonderful people who are well known in the entertainment field
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  and in the sports field, to participate at Leto Beach Country Club in the Blind Golfers Tournament.
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  Art Smith, a blind golfer, happened to be in our foursome.
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  As we stood around on the first tee, listening to what these fellows had to say,
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  we're kind of amazed to hear this blind golfer say that,
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  I can't hardly wait until I get the 16th hole.
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  I want to see what this really is like.
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  Art's coach was his young 12, 13-year-old boy who has been working with me for some time.
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  And as we walked along, and the little Arthur said that,
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  the only thing that I'm interested in is to stick with my father until I can bring him in a winner in one of these tournaments.
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  And if you ask me, I believe this thing is going to happen very soon
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  because there is a determination between father and son that has to carry them to the top.
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  I think, however, the things that thrill you most about playing in a foursome with a blind fellow
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  is a good shot that comes about.
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  And one hole in particular where Arthur got off a drive that I say travels some 200 to 220 yards,
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  Art said, did you see that shot?
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  And he could tell by the way that he swung the club and by the feel of the golf club hitting the ball,
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  whether it was a good or bad shot.
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  And immediately upon swinging the club, if he hit the ball with a shank or whether he sliced it or whether he hooked it,
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  he knew it and he wanted to know from his son whether or not he lined him up wrong or what had happened.
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  And the explanations the young boy gave time and time again indicated that he had studied this game for a long time,
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  explaining to his father that you didn't get into the ball just right or you didn't follow through
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  or you didn't really judge the distance of that particular putt.
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  I just hoisted every golfer or every handicap person in the world could have seen these blind golfers in this tournament.
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  You can understand that though we may be handicapped, if we have the determination, if we have the desire,
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  there are a few things that we cannot do.
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  As a wise man once said, I complained because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet.
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  I hope that you understand the great thrill that I had and how much I respect these fellows for the tremendous job they're doing.
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  And that just about does it for now fans. See you soon.