30Tony FarinaThere are some people you meetalong the way who make an impressionth<strong>at</strong> lasts a lifetime.In my long career as a print andbroadcast journalist going back to myNavy days, I’ve met and intervieweddozens <strong>of</strong> celebrities, public figures,political leaders, and many regularday-to-day people who make a living<strong>at</strong> a job th<strong>at</strong> sometimes gets them intothe news.But about 20 years ago, when Iwas working as an investig<strong>at</strong>ive reporter<strong>at</strong> Channel 7, I spotted an itemon the rundown th<strong>at</strong> CBS golf analystKen Venturi was going to be <strong>at</strong> theConvention Center for an equipmentshow.Now I didn’t cover sports <strong>at</strong> thetime, but I wondered if we were goingto cover Venturi’s appearance as hewas a well-known TV broadcaster andhad been a terrific golfer, winning theU.S. Open in near 100 degree temper<strong>at</strong>uresin 1964 <strong>at</strong> Congressional.In those days, they played 36 holeson the last day <strong>of</strong> the Open, and Venturi,who was suffering from dehydr<strong>at</strong>ion,was warned by medical peopleth<strong>at</strong> he was risking his life if he continuedto play in the torrid he<strong>at</strong>.But despite the danger, Venturiplayed on with a doctor following onthe course with salt pills and w<strong>at</strong>er tokeep him going (and alive). I rememberw<strong>at</strong>ching him th<strong>at</strong> day, and wonderinghow he could possibly go on inhis dehydr<strong>at</strong>ed st<strong>at</strong>e. Not only did hego on, but he won the Open and I neverforgot the courage he showed th<strong>at</strong> day.Now back to the golf show <strong>at</strong> theBuffalo Convention Center. I asked ifNIAGARA FALLS REPORTER MAY 21 - MAY 29, 2013I Remember Ken Venturi, a Class ActKen Venturiwe were going to get an interview withVenturi while he was here about thingslike equipment, the st<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the game,and his own gre<strong>at</strong> story <strong>of</strong> overcominga stammering problem as a young manto develop into one <strong>of</strong> the best sportscomment<strong>at</strong>ors in the country.I was told there were no reportersavailable to get the interview, so I saidI’m going to do it because I admireVenturi, I play golf, and he was someoneI respected from th<strong>at</strong> U. S. Openwin so many years before.I grabbed a photographer andheaded to the Convention Center. Venturiwas busy dealing with people <strong>at</strong>the show, but he said he would breakaway to give me an interview and Italked to him for about 45 minutes.No question was <strong>of</strong>f limits to Venturi,from his Open victory to his careeras a golf analyst. He even talkedabout his friendship with Frank Sin<strong>at</strong>ra.In short, he was a terrific interviewand a gre<strong>at</strong> guy. I remember him sayingto me, “wh<strong>at</strong> else do you need.Ask me wh<strong>at</strong>ever you want, I’ll maketime.”Venturi wins U.S. Open in 1964.After the interview, we shookhands and it was clear th<strong>at</strong> we had connected.He was a regular guy, verygracious and charming, warm and engaging.Ken Venturi turned out to beexactly who I thought he was, a specialperson who made it big but never forgothis everyman roots.Venturi will never be mentioned inthe same bre<strong>at</strong>h as some <strong>of</strong> the golflegends, but he won 15 pr<strong>of</strong>essionaltournaments, including the Open, despitebeing plagued with injury problemsthroughout his career, forcinghim into an early retirement.But he was a terrific golfer andteacher, and had been friends withmany <strong>of</strong> the gre<strong>at</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the game includingByron Nelson and Jack Nicklaus.It was my pleasure on th<strong>at</strong> day 20 or soyears ago to spend some time with himand he made an impression on me likefew others.When I learned <strong>of</strong> his de<strong>at</strong>h lastFriday <strong>at</strong> age 82, only 12 days after hisinduction into the World Golf Hall <strong>of</strong>Fame, I remembered th<strong>at</strong> interview inthe Buffalo Convention Center andsaid a prayer for him.Ken Venturi was a special guy, andhe will be remembered as long as thegame <strong>of</strong> golf is still around. I hope hefinds a course up there with oceanbreezes, lush fairways, and fast greens.And I hope to see him again someday,on the course.This column is for you, Ken.Thanks for the time you shared withme and I want people to know wh<strong>at</strong> aclass act you were. May you rest inpeace.Venturi won 15 pr<strong>of</strong>essional events."There is no problemthe mind <strong>of</strong> man can setth<strong>at</strong> the mind <strong>of</strong> man cannotsolve."~ Samuel Johnson
NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER MAY 21 - MAY 29, 201331This scary picture clearly shows the danger <strong>of</strong> beingon the beach when Bigfoot (right) is nearby.This horrifying picture shows Godzillaabout to do something horrid.The CN Tower is certainly something anyonewould want to see.
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