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| From News of the Mahopacs |
It was way back in 1934... during the economic downturn known as the Great Depression... that Olin Dutra, a tall, swarthy Californian, of Spanish extraction, held off Gene Sarazen to win the 38th U.S. Open at Merion by a single stroke.
The circumstances of this win were quite remarkable, and ultimately defined Dutra as a player of exceptional grit and determination. This passage by Robert Alvarez, collections manager of the USGA Museum, provides some detail:'
The story began more than a year before the championship when Dutra became afflicted with amoebic dysentery, an often uncomfortable and painful intestinal infection. As the U.S. Open approached, Dutra stopped in Detroit en route to Philadelphia to visit his brother, when he began to feel very ill. He spent a short time in the hospital, casting doubt over his chances of participating in the U.S. Open.
The Californian did make it to Merion, resorting to unusual measures to cope with the infection, eating sugar cubes to regain his stamina, though he did lose close to 20 pounds off his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame during the championship.
The Californian did make it to Merion, resorting to unusual measures to cope with the infection, eating sugar cubes to regain his stamina, though he did lose close to 20 pounds off his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame during the championship.
So although Dutra won that year in Philadelphia, I'm quite certain no other player in history has lost as much poundage during the tournament's four rounds tournament, making Olin Dutra the U.S. Open Championship's Biggest Loser.
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ReplyDeletethe biggest FACTOR in my mind, and i guess you could extend this to ANY sport, is the difference in the circumstances surrounding these events
imaging traveling by car, cross-county, with an odd illness, for an event that has no future promise, even to the winner and epecially for the other contestants
i'm setting aside the difference in the equipment for the moment
how about nutrition and sleep and proper diet and excercise ? and the disconnect from a normal routine and from friends and family and home ?
i mentioned just yesterday to someone i would like to observe the activity at the local private airport nearest the USopen site this week - no doubt a beehive of the latest in private transportation
well then again maybe back then the booze was of better quality than the adulterated over-hyped "high-fructose" infused alcohol of today - popcorn flavored vodka ? ? ? WTF is that ?
that's entertainment, i guess
puff
puff
frankDftliquordalesoFLA33316
PS PH: still awaiting e-mail
Yes Frank, I too remember the days when vodka was actually appreciated for being flavorLESS. Now... well... popcorn is just one of many annoying flavors, marketed to a Kardashianesque demographic that's lost any sense of decency when it comes to drink. Contton Candy & Fruit Loops are two I've heard of lately. You're supposed to be 21 to drink, but the maturity level of consumers buying this $#!^ has got to be much lower. - So true about today's players. I'd love to see some of them have to play in the under the conditions that Dutra's generation faced.
ReplyDeleteYeah, and he lived up with that reputation as the Biggest Loser
ReplyDeleteHmmmph, what an interesting bit of information Patricia!
ReplyDelete