The Reluctant Jam Boy and Peyton Manning - two talents collide

I went to high school with former Major League Baseball player Al Martin. After graduating, I knew he had gone to the minors and I kept an eye on his progress, until he made it to the roster of my favorite team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Martin never achieved as much as it appeared he might in the big leagues, but he had a very good career and has nothing at all to be ashamed of in his efforts. For me, however, who grew up playing baseball, there was an unsettling twinge of jealousy I felt when Martin’s career took off. I was immaturely wounded that someone was doing something so much better than I, and being extremely successful at it.

It wasn’t until my mid-20s or so I was able to shake off those feelings, that were made all the more disconcerting by the fact that I had really liked Al in school.

As a writer, I would hold those same type of feelings sometimes. When I’d read something brilliant, I’d often feel more jealousy than appreciation. It’s not something I’m proud of, and those types of feelings have long passed. I can now truly appreciate good writing.

Which is why I advise all to read the Reluctant Jam Boy. Face it, for golf fans, the stories from a caddie are bound to be interesting. When they are written by someone with talent and a penchant for introspection, they become brilliant.

Take a look at his recent blog about carrying the bag for Peyton Manning and you’ll see what I mean. It’s the type of writing that used to give me twinges of jealousy. But now I can appreciate reading someone who is truly one of the hidden gems on the Internet.

–WKW