Dein erstes Forum » ast few weeks.OFF TO SEE THE W

Everybody has a favorite Arnold Palmer memory.Maybe its that time you followed him at a tournament. At one point, he was seemingly in trouble behind a mammoth oak tree, only to hitch up his slacks, take a mighty lash with a 5-iron and land his ball on the green. To this day, you swear he looked right at you afterward and offered a knowing wink.Or maybe its when you ran into him at a restaurant. You didnt want to interrupt, but the man had always been your hero. So you nervously approached and asked for an autograph, only to have that chance encounter turn into him regaling you with a 15-minute story about the good ol days.Or maybe youre not even much into golf. Maybe you only know him because a family member was cared for at the hospital bearing his name. Or because he contributed to your favorite charity. Or just because those old black-and-white pictures make him look like the coolest guy who ever lived.Everybody has a favorite Arnold Palmer memory, because he impacted every single one of us.And now, after hearing of his death at the age of 87, these memories come rushing back.He wasnt just a brilliant golfer; he was the man who ushered the game into the television era. He wasnt just an icon of the sport; he grew to become one of the worlds most recognizable figures.The word legend is thrown around too often these days, but Palmer epitomized the very definition. He founded his own hospital, flew his own plane and concocted his own drink -- and that was just in his spare time.Most of the favorite memories about the man fondly known as The King are personal interactions. People meeting him, speaking with him, taking photos with him, receiving his meticulously penned signature on a hat or ticket stub. And of course, being a member of Arnies Army.My favorite memory is a private one. So private that it includes only him, alone.It was two years ago. Id played Palmers beloved Bay Hill course with some buddies, even stopping at the turn to get a photo with him, like so many thousands of others had done before. After the round, we had lunch and I wasnt in a rush to leave, so I headed back out to the practice green.Within a few minutes, some 50 yards away, a cart pulled up to the far right side of the driving range, two bags of clubs strapped into the back, as always.This wasnt the range where hed developed his game as a youngster. No, that was some 1,000 miles north at Latrobe Country Club, where his father had been the head professional and superintendent and where Arnold, even recently, would sometimes sneak his lunch down to the locker room and eat on a bench near the showers while swapping stories with his old buddies.He came to Bay Hill later in life, once he was already a champion and an icon. He didnt just hit golf balls on that range. He taught -- and yes, he might have even learned a little.Just six months ago, while playing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his grandson, Sam Saunders, recalled a time when a lesson on that range turned into so much more. When a few people stopped by to say hello, Palmer took the opportunity to needle him a bit.He was going to try and embarrass me, Saunders recalled. He wanted to toughen me up; he wanted to make me feel uncomfortable. So he said, If this boy will just listen to me, hell be all right. Otherwise hes going to end up driving a tractor. Then he puts that big giant fist right in my face and said, What are you gonna do, boy, if I pop you in the nose? I got right back in his face and said, Ill knock you out, old man. And he got tears in his eyes. I knew thats exactly what he wanted. He was testing me.This wasnt the range where he honed his game; it was the range where hed tried to hold onto it for as long as he could.On that day two years ago, just before his 85th birthday, I watched as the familiar figure pulled up in his cart. Using a club as a cane, he ambled over to a spot on the range and moved a single ball from a pile closer to him. He took a few practice swings, then settled in to his stance, reached back and swung through it.Id love to tell you that the ball soared high into the mid-afternoon sky, his mighty lash no different than a half-century earlier. It didnt. It traveled no more than 100 yards or so. Palmer watched it, and shook his head. He checked his grip. He moved another ball closer. He swung again. Same result.Again and again, maybe 20 times, he hit shots with that club, shaking his head in disappointment after each one. This was a man years removed from tournament golf. He wasnt preparing for any big competition, didnt need to get his game in shape for anything coming up.There he was, though. Still trying. Still digging for secrets in the dirt. Still hoping that somehow, on the precipice of turning 85, the magic would return and hed start hitting towering shots down the range once again, reliving the glory days of his youth.The coolest man in the room. The champion, the icon. The philanthropist and pilot and drink inventor. The man who accomplished so much in his life, still wanted more. He wanted to hit that little white ball the way hed once done.When he was finished, Palmer used the club as a cane, easing himself into the drivers seat of the cart. He sat there for a few minutes, every once in a while looking back toward the range and shaking his head again. Finally, he drove away, unsatisfied with his game. Unsatisfied with himself.That will always be my favorite Arnold Palmer memory. 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Jose Juan Barea Jersey . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday.LANDOVER, Md. -- Losers of two in a row, the Green Bay Packers had no trouble sharpening their focus on the Washington Redskins when they met in the playoffs in January.Its their intent to do that again to pull out of this tailspin before its too late.The Packers (4-5) return to the scene of their NFC wild-card win Sunday night hoping that facing the Redskins (5-3-1) can turn their fortunes around after a three-game skid.This game is important because its the game this week, so thats what were focused on: beating the Redskins, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said.We clearly understand where we are in our season and understand how weve played the last couple games, so its about improving each and every week.Another loss would make the Packers path to an eighth consecutive playoff appearance more difficult. But the margin of error is also small for the Redskins, who could fall to last place in the NFC East with a loss and a win by the Philadelphia Eagles.While Washingtons position is more comfortable than Green Bays, coach Jay Gruden said the Packers are not far away from being the Packers that we know.Injuries havent helped, but the mere presence of two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers makes them formidable.The fact that the Packers have lost a couple of games here really is irrelevant when you have him as the quarterback and some of the other great players that they have on defense, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said.You realize youve got to come ready to go because theyre going to be hungry and theyre going to be ready.The Redskins are seemingly better than they were when they lost 35-18 on Jan. 10. Cornerback Josh Norman gives the defense a different look, and undrafted rookie Robert Kelley has shown evidence that he can be a capable starting running back.A similar scheme that they ran last year, theyre just doing a little bit better I think, Rodgers said. You have some guys who maybe werent big contributors last year who are kind of stepping up and being more of an impact player this year.Some things to watch when the Packers visit the Redskins:SACKS IN BUNCHES: One reason things fell apart for the Redskins in the playoff game was that their initial pass rush on Rodgers was neutralizzed by Green Bays running game.dddddddddddd. Washington has three sacks in five consecutive games, including two big ones by Preston Smith in a victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Its a lot of guys trying to find ways to get to the quarterback, Smith said. And of course its a competition to see who can get more sacks by the end of the year. Maintaining a consistent pass rush was a goal from training camp, and this is another major test.RUN IT OUT: In the span of a few days, Christine Michael went from being the leading rusher for Seattle, to Seahawks outcast, to potential backfield savior for the Packers. Green Bay has only three rushing touchdowns this season, all from Rodgers. McCarthy wants to balance the offense, which has been pass-heavy since Eddie Lacy went down with an ankle injury. Any semblance of a consistent running game will help the Packers extend drives, which could in turn rest a defense that has been on its heels the past few weeks.OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD: Norman relishes matchups against not only top receivers but top quarterbacks, and on a conference call Wednesday he referred to Rodgers as a wizard. Rodgers has Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson as targets, and Norman is eager for the challenge. Facing definitely a cerebral assassin in that guy over there, he said of Rodgers. I know how he works, so Im looking forward to it.STARTING STRONG: Fast starts used to be a Green Bay specialty. Lately, the Packers have been falling behind early. Last week, DeMarco Murray had a 75-yard touchdown run on Tennessees first play from scrimmage. The previous week, the Colts ran the opening kickoff back 99 yards for a score. The poor starts left the Packers scrambling in both games, with the offense forced to get away from the run. The Packers need to avoid another slow start. They also need to avoid the momentum-sapping late scores that have also plagued them near the end of second quarters of recent games.---AP Sports Writer Genaro Armas in Green Bay, Wisconsin, contributed.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '