Born in Davenport, the odds had always been stacked against Jack Fleck. After returning from service in World War II, Fleck continued what had been a lackluster golfing career.
It all changed in 1955, when Fleck put it all together and stunned the legendary Ben Hogan in a playoff for the 1955 U.S. Open. It was an upset that kept the golfing world buzzing for years afterward, and gave Fleck instant international fame.
Jack Fleck: WWII veteran, golfing champion, international hero, and most of all, an Iowan.
Now who do you suppose Iowans should respect? A man who fought the odds to author one of the greatest upsets in all of sports? Or, the anonymous dudes on the Internet who incessantly advise me to insert things into my own rectum?
Now, don’t get me wrong, the majority of people who responded to me in what the international media has dubbed “The Iowa Jihad Thread” were well within the realm of fair play.
But as you all likely know, it just takes one person to make everyone look silly. And I’m no PR expert, but I’m not too sure how “Angry hunters with a grudge” will play across middle America.
Let me finish this with the words of Jack Fleck, shortly after his stunning victory over Hogan.
“God Bless Iowa,” Fleck said. “And don’t be vulgar and lewd on public Internet forums. Kids may be reading.”
WorldGolf.com's William K. Wolfrum blogs about everything in the world of golf and travel, including Michelle Wie, Lorena Ochoa, Tiger Woods and other PGA and LPGA headlines. Plus, he offers the humorous and obscure in news, politics and pop culture.
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