Remember Casey Martin? You should.
He fought ‘the man’ and won. In this case the man being the PGA who thought being born with a birth defect that made one of your two legs nearly useless meant using a performance enhancer (um, a golf cart) was just a wacky idea that could not be tolerated.
Martin won that battle but lost the war of attempting to have a long term career on the PGA tour. Ultimately proving that talent is a more important factor in success on tour than a golf cart will ever be. Now he seems quite happy as the University of Oregon’s golf coach, and with the Oregon Ducks football team set to open play against Boise State tonight, his moonlighting gig has come to light – official uniform coordinator for the team.
Huh? Why do you need a uniform coordinator for a football team? Dark is home, light away (unless you’re the Dallas Cowboys of course) right?
Well, usually. Unless you’re the Ducks. Lacking a hook like awesome weather (Florida), great tradition (Oklahoma) and a seemingly unending supply of local talent (Texas), the Ducks have taken to fashion as a means to catch potential recruits attention. Their current slate of uniforms boast up to 80 different possible combinations between the jersey, pants and helmet, so Martin has his work cut out for him.
Tonight’s selection against Boise State? All white. They should um, pop on the blue field of Boise State. Or maybe Martin was going for the white hat ‘good guy’ look when riding into unfriendly territory.
Regardless of his fashion sense, it sounds like Martin is having fun and maybe he’ll even bring his talent for garbing athletes to other unexpected places in the future.
Hack is a pen name for a marketing and media relations professional who enjoys blogging as a means to pursue his passion for his favorite sport – golf. He represents the yin to his collaborator’s yang. He doesn’t so much play golf, as the game plays him to his delight and likely demise. Follow his perspective on Twitter at @
Interesting developments for Casey Martin. While I’m more of a fan of the Yankees of college football (Notre Dame) I am a Ducks fan tonight. I think their uniforms over the past decade have been really innovative and cool-looking. Would love to see their locker rooms.
I liked Casey, but agreed with the PGA as far as their ruling and their RIGHT to make the ruling. It was unpopular and appeared cruel and uncaring, but they made the decision to stick to their guns so the next lawsuit would be fought when they thought the game was threatened.
Hogan sure could have used a cart after his accident as he hobbled up and down the fairways upon his return. He would not have asked. I do not think most other professional golfers would have either.
I am glad Casey found a home in golf, especially in his home state.