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THE
DOCTOR’S REPORT ARIZONA 2008
INTRODUCTION
This year twelve of
the Brethren (minus Kippy, Pedro or the Doctor) are heading to Arizona
to try to capture the Yellow Sweater. In the past, the Doctor has
compared the individuals golfers with heroes, detectives, Shakespearean
and Disney characters. This year he relates the players in this band of
brothers to the 1967 movie, “The Dirty Dozen”. Critics have often
labeled it “the classic guy movie” as there are no significant women
characters. The movie began the transition from the earlier formats of
John Wayne and Audie Murphy patriotic movies, to the more soul searching
war genre movies of the 70s such as “Mash”, “The Deer Hunter”,
“Apocalypse Now”, on to the more recent Mega films including “Pearl
Harbor” and “Saving Private Ryan”.
This film was used as
a star vehicle for both athletes and television personalities, and its
ensemble cast contained many actors who would later appear in other war
movies with other leads including movies such as the “Great Escape”,
and “Kelly’s Heroes”. In many instances the Doctor will refer to other
film characters the actor may have played to explain part of the reason
for the selection of the golfer’s character.
Its plot is simple.
Shortly before D. Day, twelve soldiers who have committed crimes are
assembled under a major and sergeant to go on a suicide mission to blow
up a German castle where Generals and other officers drink and frolic
with beautiful women to seriously damage the German chain of Command.
If any of them survive their record will be swept clean. In addition to
the fourteen, a number of Allied generals and colonels planning this
attack have significant roles. The actual attack in both the book and
movie is secondary to the selection of men, the mission development and
training of the squad.
The “Dirty Dozen”
stands out among war movies because of when it was made (1967); at a
time in America when support for the Vietnam War was shifting (and
around the time Nelson was conceived). Critics note that its director
dealt with contemporary 1967 themes of individualism vs. collectivism,
cultural relativism, internal and external racism, and their meanings
with patriotism and duties in war, all of which related to issues with
the Vietnam War.
It contained few
likeable characters. All of the Dirty Dozen were criminals and along
with the officers represent the good, bad and mediocre in wartime. They
are led by a Major who could not follow orders. However, it is today
best known by younger generations as the movie that Tom Hanks and Victor
Garber cry about to Rita Wilson when comparing it to “An Affair to
Remember” in the comedy “Sleepless in Seattle”.
The Doctor in this
analysis considered the fact that, of the twelve golfers, the only ones
who had not won a sweater, were Tom, and Billy Jake current pros and
Dave Berliner an ex head pro. For them to prevail they will have to be
successful behind enemy lines, subject to attack from friend and foe
alike with only one to return alive from the battle fray wearing the
Yellow sweater.
THE FIELD
An event that was once
only a foursome first expanded to eight some and was a twelve-player
group when the Doctor joined the tournament. It has grown at times to
more than four foursomes but will be a fourteen-man field in Minnesota.
As the numbers have increased the logistics have become more difficult.
Getting four tee times and switching partners for the second round
during the thirty-six hole days is often difficult. This is particularly
true in Arizona where there are less hours of sunlight. The
significantly lower cost of the Minnesota trip as well as the time of
year and access to the courses has contributed to an increase in the
size of this field. This has also increased the burden on our genial
hosts Roger and Shirley Madsen, whose home and cottages they open to the
Yellow Sweater brethren. The use of the recreational vehicle for
transport of all the players is no longer possible. This has resulted in
SUV’s also needing to being driven. This breaks up some of the
experience for those left to ride in the old folks car, and has resulted
in changing the days when we return from Minnesota. This year all will
return on Saturday from Thumper Pond. All of the golfers except Ken that
encompass the field play together regularly at Dodge or in Council
Bluffs or Omaha. While a few people have dropped out for the most part
once you have become one of the brethren you are one for life. However
this does create significant difficulty in the pairings as will be
discussed below. Of most recent significance is the fact that children’s
and spouse’s activities now often are the deciding factor in whether an
individual can make the trip.
What truly has amazed the
Doctor is the relationship among the players in the group and the lack
of acrimony among the players. These men are loyal to each other,
although listening to the comments a casual passerby would be suspect.
What is clearest is that everyone has a very competitive instinct, and a
fierce love of golf.
The original four men who
started the event have always handled the selection of new invitees.
COURSES and VENUES
Minnesota in the fall and
Arizona in the spring. This is the tradition. While other locations than
Scottsdale have been discussed the ease of flights and consistent good
weather, is an overriding factor. Although the courses have become
outrageously expensive, and reasonable accommodations more costly
despite efforts by recent brethren Dave Berliner with his connections
out west to keep prices low. Arizona is a four times a more expensive
trip than the fall trip North.
Suggestions have been to
add a third event at Prairie Dunes where three of the Brethren currently
belong and a fourth is on the waiting list. As children grow up and
schedules become full, this may become a more realistic alternative, or
the size of the group may eventually be reduced in both fall and spring.
Kris, Tom, Ward, John,
Dave and Tins have consistently worked at getting the best rates at good
courses. As the quality of courses has improved, and certain courses
have been taken out of the rotation, it is more apparent, that the
choice of courses has not been as big an influence on recent champions.
While the available venues in the Minnesota are significantly less than
in Arizona, new courses such as Whispering Creek, Oxbow, Thumper Pond,
and other nearby courses have resulted in play at Detroit Lakes becoming
less important in the determination of the champion, much to the regret
of five time champion Ward Prine who stars at that venue, where he also
plays in a top amateur tournament each year as a warm up for the
Sweater.
HANDICAPS
It should be no
surprise to the yellow sweater readers that the politicking for strokes
began over two months before the scheduled trip. The Doctor, who has
always been considered a brilliant handicapper (presuming he is not in
the field), discovered that a month before his report was due - trial
balloons were sent up and alliances were already forming. The audience
is familiar with the arguments about the GHIN handicaps, whether the
strokes should be based on play at Dodge, other course or only sweater
venues, the tees to be played, recent play, equitable stroke adjustment,
the difference between match and medal scores and past performance. Each
of these has been hashed out the last month.
Two new issues are
the claim that everyone should have a handicap voted them rather than be
voted off the best player, and that many believe Ward may no longer be
the CHALK. Ward has complicated this by insisting he will not take any
strokes. In an effort to please everyone the Doctor will list each of
the players the character role they match, the actors, the amount of
strokes they need against par and the number against the field to have
everyone have an equal chance.
Bill
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Pedro Jimenez (Trini Lopez)
1.5 ZERO
Bill has never won a
sweater; until he has one he remains a minor character, Bill is by far
the best golfer in the group. In the movie he plays a guitar and is
supposed to cut the cable shutting off communications to the German high
command. He is a likable character who is treated well in the first two
parts of the movie but who dies when parachuting into Germany.
(Apparently Trini’s agent wanted more money so he was killed off
early). It is this character’s death that Tom Hanks cries about in
‘Sleepless” Like Jimenez in past sweaters, Billy has often started with
great promise only to not be present at the finish. A recent example
being his and Jeff’s poor showing in the Dodge Cup where Gallner and
Hughes won the first flight.
Billy has beaten Ward
like a drum this year, as well beating everyone else including the
Doctor. The fact that Jeff will not be on the trip may help or be a
hindrance to him and there is some talk that young Bill Cutler’s desire
to join the sweater brethren may have been delayed, not because of
Cutler’s waffling about his schedule and failure to summit a timely
request before Mike G. a proven winner signed on; but instead, because
of the formable pairing Cutler and Billy Jake made this year at Dodge.
None the less, Billy
Jake is better than Ward, and while the old warhorse is not ready to go
to the rendering plant yet only his pride and competitiveness will
account for Billy not giving him strokes BILL is the base everyone
else’s handicap should be calculated from. ZERO
Ward
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Jefferson (Jim Brown)
2 and ½ One
Generally regarded as
the best athlete , although not a Division One player like Berliner or
Nauman, even at middle age Ward appears to be the stud in the group. In
the Dirty Dozen Jefferson is expected to handle the most athletic role
and after the generals are trapped in the basement of the Château is
supposed to run a gauntlet of air shafts dropping hand grenades in
each, Unfortunately he is killed before he can reach safety. In the
movie he is well liked and indeed appears to have been wrongfully
accused, similar to Ward’s recent experience with the Riverside Grille.
However it is his past athletic accomplishments when after college he
and Don Nelson’s son were the only white college players on the
basketball team in Europe and his renowned punching power; that make him
a natural for the Jim Brown role. Brown retired from professional
football during the making of this film and the Doctor believes that
Ward will need to surrender the title of best golfer on this trip. Like
Brown; Ward is a multi-sport athlete and he may need to look to the
senior league in one of those activities to continue as Numero Uno.
All this being said,
Ward is a warrior and plays his best under pressure. He will not give
up without a fight and although a distant memory still has the best
scratch performance is sweater competition. His pride will not let him
win a sixth sweater with strokes, but age catches us all. Ward is
hitting his driver well now, but that comes and goes. He needs from one
half to one against Billy Jake. The Doctor would give him less, but
the pairings could cost him more. Slow play remains as issue. It may
be just he can’t move as fast as he used to. Out of pride he will play
as a ZERO
Dave
General Denton (Robert Webber)
3 and ½ 2 and ½
Like Billy Jake, Dave
has never won and must therefore be cast in a minor role. However
Denton is vitally important as the aide de camp to General Worden played
Ernest Borgnine ,the General in charge of the whole attack plan. While
he does not go on the actual mission it is frequently his role to
resolve the differences between Colonel Breed played by Robert Ryan and
Lee Marvin, the major John Reisman. This supporting role is played well
by Dave both in planning these trips as well as his work at
Silverstone. Dave as a past pro and great baseball player only deserves
strokes because of lack of play and is difficult to handicap but he will
be expected to be there at the end. Berliner threatened for the title
his first year as a Rookie and if he played half as much as most of the
field would be even or better than Billy Jake.
Denton is one of the
truly good guys in the movie and this is similar to Dave with this
group. Robert Webber is probably the least known actor but you may
recall him in the Television show, “Moonlighting” which jumpstarted
Bruce Willis’s career.
Dave has been voted
anywhere from three to less than two; while he has shown signs of going
low, he does have more erratic scores than others. He is a great
putter, but his short game will decide how well he plays. He needs at
least two from Ward, but he has to earn his first sweater. Two and One
Half from Billy Jake is the correct number.
Mike
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Major Armbruster (George Kennedy)
Six and 1/2 Five
Major Armbruster is a
classic army officer, he expects discipline and that everyone will
follow the rules. However he also has a feeling of sympathy for the
Dirty Dozen. He is the individual who tries to help Major Reisman and
is the official who travels with the squad when they are attempting to
capture Colonel Breed’s men in a mock assault before going into
Germany. This is the same type of character that Kennedy played in
numerous other movies. Michael; the oldest golfer on this trip; has
many of these same old fashioned values. He abhors slow play; will not
play PD with temporary green and until recently religiously kept his
handicap and usually short changed him. Mike expects integrity from him
and others, but can be rigid on some opinions. He does not try to
manipulate the system; and expects honor from everyone. However Mike is
a good old boy and wants to be friends with everyone and never believes
badly of another person until he is faced with reality. Mike like
Armbruster is a good old guy everyone enjoys. As a side note they both
had silver hair earlier than age would have suggested.
George Kennedy has
played the sidekick or second banana in countless television shows and
movie, frequently as an official who is in over his head. The audience
will easily recognize Kennedy in any role. He seldom plays the bad guy
because of his affable attitude. He starred in two cop shows the Blue
Knight and Crime in America; as well as played a priest a common role
for him in “Sarge”: as an ex-police officer on television.
Mike will have played
in the South in January and has a great swing, he was playing the best
of anyone in late fall. He has a new set of irons and has been hitting
the driver well. He did hurt his shoulder recently and has added a few
pounds, but what has been amazing is his improved putting. He has shown
in the past he can putt well with this group, and experimented last year
with a belly putter. He will adjust well to different courses, but his
social willingness to drink with the boys may help him on the golf
course, but at his age could be a distraction at night. Without the
Doctor along; Mike may not be able to keep his competitive attitude and
become too social, therefore instead of four the Doctor thinks he needs
closer to five. Five is right
Tom
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Sgt Clyde Bowren (Richard Jaeckel)
Seven SIX
Sergeant Bowren is
second in command to Major Reisman and goes on the mission. Although
injured he does survive. Like Tom he is short of stature, but strong on
character, Bowren runs interference for the Dirty Dozen with the Major,
although there is no doubt he is a tough hombre. His ability to survive
as contrasted with the Dirty Dozen is evidence of his toughness and
character. Tom is the local pro, but not the best golfer. T.P. often
defers to the protests of more vocal members; however this should never
be interpreted as an indication of weakness.
Perhaps no actor is
more similar to Tom in the sweater. Jaeckel had numerous starring
roles, but never as the lead role to carry the movie. Extremely
competent and well respected, he was always one of the guys whether a
villain or victim. Jaeckel also was frequently seen in television
comedy shows “At Ease”, a detective in “Banyon” a detective in
“Baywatch”, a fireman in “Firehouse”, the advance man in ‘Frontier
Circus”, the FBI agent in “Salvage”, a detective Lieutenant in” Spenser
for Hire” and a Master Chief in the military drama “Supercharger” all
supporting roles.
Tom has been cursed
in not winning a sweater, this is in part because of early expectations
for a while because of lack of play and recently because of bad luck.
However, after this much time the Brethren cannot enable T. P. He
needs to earn it. His handicaps have repeatedly allowed him to win the
Calcutta’s The Brethren have been far too generous of late. He does not
need more than Six off of Ward, and frankly that may be too much. He
will be there like the sergeant when they march down the eighteenth
hole. However he has to be in the fight, and not so comfortable he
doesn’t have to play well. He played better this fall Because the
Sweater was decided on the eighteenth hole among Tom Kris and John the
Doctor feels the three should be adjusted the same. Six is fair against
the field.
Scott
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Pinkley (Donald Sutherland)
Seven SIX
The Doctor found this
to be the second easiest character assignment. Not only are Sutherland
and Critter similar in height and physical appearance but both in this
movie and in many other movies with Sutherland at this time he plays a
soldier who is a little off the wall. And not quite there. Whether it
is his character in “Mash” as a goofy Doctor in Korea or as the tank
commander in Kelly’s Heroes, he is always the funniest character in the
room without saying a thing. Posey in this movie serves the same
function.
Sutherland has had a
long successful career in both television and the movies first in
“Klute” with Jane Fonda; then as the professor in “Animal House” and
most recently in the “Italian Job”, and now on “Dirty Filthy Money”.
Scott is always the
most difficult to handicap. I have bought him in the Calcutta after he
won the year before and he finished dead last. Once a pro; he has great
talent and can hit it with anyone. He can win with six or lose with
ten. In this instance the Doctor does not feel Mike can give him more
than one and Scott should play Tom even.
Junior
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Posey (Clint Walker)
Eight SEVEN
Strong silent type,
hard to anger but does not like to get pushed around, good guy, who
doesn’t know his own strength, tries to obey the rules. Sounds like
Junior to me. Probably the most likeable of the Dirty Dozen you get the
feeling he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, which up until
recently was Junior’s job. With the change in jobs and hairstyle and the
fact that he has been playing more he is a factor to be reckoned with.
Clint Walker prior
to this movie had been a successful television actor in two westerns
Bronco Layne and
Cheyenne and later in one short lived series as a modern day marshal in
Kodiak. A movie character actor he hoped this would rekindle his film
career after Cheyenne went off the air in 1963. Walker had served in
World war two in the Merchant Marines.
Junior has always had
game. J.P. like Dave and Tom does not play as much as the rest. A
quick player, he can be distracted, and his distance on some of these
courses could be a problem with staying in the fairways. He needs a
stroke from Critter and Tom and probably one a side from Mike G. He
could be six and one half but that would favor the high handicap
players to much.
Ken
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Wladislaw (Charles Bronson)
Eight and ½ Seven and 1/2
The only one of the
Dirty Dozen to survive, Charles Bronson used this role to become a
starring lead in action films for the next twenty years, as well as at
times as a leading man with his wife Jill Ireland. Bronson had been in
the Army in World War Two. Throughout the movie he is the one criminal
who the Major thinks may have been innocent and who becomes the major’s
closest ally of the Dirty Dozen. The most famous line of the movie is
his at the end in the hospital when he says, “This killing generals
could become a habit.” Appropriately the only Colonel on the golf trip
has this line. Of the Dirty Dozen, he was the only ex officer; who had
killed another officer a coward who had endangered his men.
Like Bronson, Ken has
always taken pride in his physical strength and toughness and also has
allowed his other T.J. cronies to do the talking. Ken fears no bet nor
any game; and taking the safe play has recently only become an option.
Like Bronson in Mr. Majestic, Ken does at time have questionable fashion
tastes, but success has not spoiled him.
The Doctor has always
considered Ken the partner to go into a fight with on the golf course
just like Lee Marvin selects him in the Dirty Dozen. Ken’s handicap has
been going down; and his athletic ability may be second only to Ward.
Ken is still a little better than the Madsen brothers; and the Seven and
One Half is the same handicap the Doctor would give himself if going on
the trip. Ken has gone the longest of any of the sweater winners on the
trip without a win, he is due.
Kirk
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Maggot (Telly Savalas)
9 and ½ to-10 Eight
Yes, Kirk has been
chosen to represent the worst character of the dirty Dozen, Archer J.
Maggot, the religious fanatic with definite psychological problems who
is a rapist and murder. Yes, this is the man the Doctor labeled Uncle
Scrooge less than six months ago.
Why then Maggot?
Granted everyone understands why Fritz would have psychological problems
having Kris as his brother. His obsession with women who are not good
for him is becoming apparent. His elderly appearance compared to the
rest of the group is similar to Maggot in the movie as is the fact that
both are extremely physical strong individuals.
What was the deciding
factor is Fritz’s ability to manipulate all these facts to his
advantage. Witness his illness in 2006 on the plane, he truly almost
died resulting in one of the greatest sympathy votes since John Wayne in
“True Grit”. To hear Fritz now he had been in terrible pain for months
though working out regularly and competing with Ward in what can only be
described as the dating equivalent of Extreme Sports. Maggots live off
decaying flesh, and as the returning Arizona champion, who is now
healthy he should play to his potential. Fritz has won four sweaters
and would be tied with Ward but for his collapse in the desert that
allowed Peter to win his sweater.
It is important to
note that Savalas had been in World War Two in the Army and was in a
number of other war movies including “Kelly’s Heroes”. He typically
because of his appearance played villains until his defining television
role of Inspector Kojak from 1973-1979 and then again from 1989 to 1990
He was an acclaimed actor who starred early in his career in many of the
television anthologies
Kirk is not as good a
scorer as his brother, and can’t putt as well. However he can go
lower and when focused is as fierce a competitor. This field without
any true high handicappers is likely to favor Fritz who enjoys
comfortable pairings. Fritz, like Mike G. often becomes more concerned
with how others in his foursome are playing to his disadvantage. This
field would suggest that he will have partners that will not put
significant pressure on him. The Doctor because of Fritz’s four
sweaters and recent victories would have voted him the same as Ken,
except as Kirk will tell you “he is still recuperating”.
Kris
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Major Reisman (Lee Marvin)
Nine Eight
While many readers
might consider this as a no brainer, the truth is that Kris has many of
the characteristics of Marvin’s nemesis Colonel Breed who was
played by Robert Ryan. It is Reisman who is the maverick not the solid
soldier Breed who questions whether the mission is worthwhile and
whether or not Reisman is the man for the job.
Kris seems more
appropriately cast as the fixer; James Garner’s role in the” Great
Escape”.
Madsen is more
conservative than the Major and less likely to take great risks, but he
has two characteristics that require his selection to this position.
One he is still the leader of this group, that he has helped to select
and assemble over the years; and two he is able to manipulate the
brethren to do what he wants, whether it be tee times, bookings ,
handicaps etc. Every round at Dodge he approaches as a battle to be won
not only on the first tee but also to be fought whenever any opponent
raises his head. Like Reisman, the Dirty Dozen or more of golfers who
play with Kris, all have one goal to beat him. Also like Marvin’s
character, Kris often has his subordinates do the dirty work for him.
In the Dirty Dozen, Reisman
works the men until they yield to do his bidding, what analogy is more
appropriate for H. Despite his Lewis Central address and his taste for
Scotch and fine wines, he is still a T.J. blue jeans guy that inspires
golfers to follow his lead.
Lee Marvin had been a
marine in World War II. By the time he made this movie he was a well
established actor starring as Liberty Valance with John Wayne and Jimmy
Stewart, and later as a comedic actor in “Cat Ballaou” with Jane Fonda.
He later starred in the Delta Force movies. Marvin was an extremely
versatile television actor appearing in the fifties, sixties and
seventies in the Alcoa Theater, Kraft Theatre and other anthologies
regularly. He starred in “M Squad” as a homicide police detective and
was in movies the beginning in the fifties in character roles until his
death.
Kris’s game has
improved dramatically the last year. He has new distance a slight draw
and no longer has weaknesses out of the sand. His new irons have
contributed but those who know him best realize that he has merely
improved his game as better layers have arrived and others have
sharpened their games. Billy Cutler, Nick Vondrak, Billy Jacobsen, Mike
Gallner now playing more at Dodge with Junior and T.P. and the group
clearly forced him to make more birdies and pars and with not having
Ward all the time has had to be the “A” player more frequently. He
cannot now always win the hole with a double bogey or sweep with a
bogey, and often has to birdie to avoid a loss it is no surprise to the
Doctor that Kris plays better when he needs to. Kris could be a five or
six, it is a question whether his psyche will allow it. Perhaps Kris is
to focused playing the “game” that he can’t really play the game when he
needs to. He does not need strokes from Ken or Kirk but still needs one
a side from Tom and Scott and probably the same three Mike has to give
the Doctor.
John
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General Worden (Ernest Borgnine)
Thirteen 11and ½
Although Colonel
Breed is Major Reisman’s nemesis, it is Ernest Borgnine as General
Worden who truly has the power over the Major. As much an ally as a
rival, this also reflects the unique friendship that has developed
between John and Kris. While Kris, like the major, will get his hands
dirty - it is John who provides leadership but stays above the fray.
While some might say the first crack in the Sweater brethren’s armor
began when Tinley, the Doctor and Billy Jake first went to Arizona years
ago; it was the next fall when John appeared in Minnesota that the
battle for leadership and Sweaters truly began. Since that time neither
Ward, Kris nor Ken has won a sweater while John has two and Tins one.
Even Kris’s blood relation has been captured by John; and the fear is
now of a threepeat by SilverStone Group. Billy Cutler’s appearance and
desire to soon become a sweater brother is as telling a sign as John
joining Prairie Dunes this summer. John has the sweater and the power
in the group is starting to shift.
Ernest Borgnine like
many of the other main characters had seen action in WWII in the Navy.
A gifted comedy actor as well he is well known for his role in “McHale’s
Navy” and his other character roles. Borgnine also starred in the show
“Airwolf” in the late 80’s on televisions and was on numerous anthology
shows and playhouses on television as well as character roles in
movies. He was married to the famous stage actress and signer Ethel
Merman.
John is the current
Sweater champion. His first great victory was when he won the Top Sixty
against the Doctor nearly fifteen years ago. Last summer, he not only
beat up on Kris regularly, but came in second in the Charles Craig
Classic with the Doctor where John made friends with Bill Murray and
golfers from around the United States. This January he came in second in
a two day pro-am playing with partners Bernard Langer and Gil Morgan.
The Doctor has long
believed that John could be as good a golfer as his Uncle Steve “Chachi”
Nelson, who has viewed the Doctor as his nemesis for a quarter of a
century at Lakeshore. John had confided a story to the Doctor that he
has allowed me to repeat. Prior to the pro am John was taking a lesson
from one of the local pros and was struggling. While on the practice
range a fellow who was hitting balls next to them came over and made a
few suggestions, changing John’s stance, his grip a little; and got him
to drive hard from the inside rather than outside. John continued
hitting shots and chatting with the gentlemen for he next hour. Turns
out the fellow used to know Hilgie and Hilg buddy Lonnie Nelson from
Iowa. That golfer’s name was Peter Jacobsen. Chachi - your time as the
best golfer in the family is limited.
John won at a twelve
in Minnesota, and he must come down even though Arizona is more
difficult. Although he has been playing with some pros, the Sweater
brethren are a much tougher field. John could be knocked as low as
eleven, but I think he still needs more than four in medal play from
Kris - so 11 and one half is appropriate.
Chris
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Victor Franko (John Cassevetes)
Fifteen and ½ 14 and1/2
Smart ass, wise guy,
made man, proud of his ethnic heritage willing to take on any comers,
sounds like Tins right. Well there is no character in the Dirty Dozen
who mirrors
one of our golfers as
does Frank to Chris Tinley. Franko is a Jersey mafia guy, who gets
drafted and arrested for murder. No wonder the TJ and Dodge park mafia
have never frightened Chris. Sound like a comparison to our own
Creighton Prep, Irish democrat Tinley. Franko is constantly looking for
the edge and how to escape, always questions authority and does not back
down when out numbered or faced with superior strength. Franco is the
last of the Dirty Dozen to be killed shot thru the back. As they are
driving away thinking they have escaped.
John Cassevetes is a
brilliant actor and director who played character roles for years on
stage screen and television, starring in many of the theatre and
anthology shows in the fifties, sixties and seventies.
Chris Tinley has
demons. When he is not hitting his drive two fairways right or left, or
shanking his chips he is brilliant. Chris has never played Arizona well
but scrambles and putts well under pressure. Chris is the Doctor’s
choice as his partner for the Charles Craig Classic this fall, and his
handicap may be anywhere from Single digits to close to twenty. Chris
has won in Minnesota where he could find his ball but the desert is
another story. Clearly the highest handicap on the trip; if the lower
golfers average less than 75 he does not have a chance, If Kris can
average below ninety he should contend.
He needs more than
six in stroke play from Kris Madsen, and is getting one more from John
than Doctor would normally give because of the reduction for John being
the current winner. Fourteen and 1/2 is correct.
DOCTOR'S PROGNOSIS
While I believe these
handicaps will create the most level playing field for all golfers and
everyone has a reasonable chance to win; at the current sweater holder’
request I offer the following opinions as to the outcome.
Of the four low
handicaps; Ward is most likely to prevail, with Dave and his strokes a
serious factor. He would be the favorite but still not sure he has the
sweater mentality; unfortunately he plays with an attitude too much like
the Doctor for his own good
Among Tom , Critter,
Junior and Ken; it is still Tom’s event to win. The Doctor may still
be too generous with Tom. The winner could easily come out of this
field. Ken is always a threat and the pairings should suit him since
there will be action everywhere.
As to the Madsen boys
and The Prepsters ; Kirk and Tins leave more questions than Kris and
John. Our current Sweater winner has shown more Grit than my law partner
recently.
The attentive reader
will note that this is similar to the survivors at the end of the movie.
John and Dave (the
general played by Borgnine and his aide). Kris ( Major Reisman, Lee
Marvin); Tom (the sergeant ) Ken ( the ex officer Charles Bronson) all
survive. Only Ward’s character perished on the mission. The Doctor
thinks Ward giving up the stroke he needs will also be his undoing.
John, Kris and Tom were there at the end in Minnesota; but this is a
great war movie so the Doctor goes with the COLONEL.
CONCLUSION
Although the
nightly hot tub baths will keep the group from literally being the dirty
dozen, the characters are far more similar than they would like to
admit. The fact there is only a fourteen stroke handicap from best to
worst is a first, and the difference may be less than that. Pairings
and tees will probably be the difference, but since the Doctor isn’t
going that’s up to someone else probably Franco (Oops, Tinley) to bitch
about. Have fun. | 
