Mickelsons + Me = Par 4 the Course!

This fall I’ve been working on a One on One featuring Tina Mickelson. Yes, big sister to international golf star Phil Mickelson and Tim, the golf coach at USD. It debuts November 18th @ 6:30 before the live USD basketball game on Channel 4 San Diego.

I interviewed her parents at the home where the kids grew up, and it seemed like a natural to interview her brothers, too. Phil doesn’t do many TV interviews away from tournaments, especially local. But, with their schedules and my schedule, even if they said yes, how would we get it done? Tina was a gem. She picked a day that would in theory work for us all; the day Tim was returning from a golf trip and a few days before Phil was heading to China. And just before I took a little vacation, she confirmed that they said yes and they’d be there at 4pm on the 28th to play a hole and sit down with me. So, I had vacation and something to look forward to.

Tuesday, the crew and I arrived at The Santaluz Golf Club in plenty of time to set up in their library… not for a One on ONE, but a One on THREE! Tina arrived early at 3:30 and said she’d been reminding her brothers with text messages, but you still never know. Sure enough, at 3:55 they came walking up in their golf attire just as nice and friendly as could be. Phil’s first questions to me: “so what’s this about? What’s this for?” I said it was for my show featuring Tina… and her story and the brothers are part of her story. Great… let’s do it.

For as many famous baseball and football players I’ve met, Phil rates as a pretty big deal considering his international stature. After only seeing him on TV playing with the likes of Tiger Woods, I admit, I might have seemed calm on the outside, but my heart palpitated a little bit. This was a pretty cool thing – to know that this came about first because I wanted to feature Tina (who I think is a remarkable woman,) and secondly, because we’d be able to showcase the whole Mickelson family.

Tina, Phil and Tim walked the course. My associate producer Michelle, intern Casey, and I drove the carts while photographers Dan Roper, Michael Spaulding and Paul Gugliotti followed them along to capture their conversations and get great shots. After Phil hit his ball some ridiculously long distance, I shared that Tina had given me a lesson and I hit a ball 70 yards! Tina said I did well. Phil laughed saying, “she was just being nice.” Well, we all have to start somewhere.

At the end of the hole, I wanted to take a picture of them and noticed how teeny-tiny Tina is next to her brothers. Phil, again, was witty and teasing me with “oh, you got to pull out the fat jokes, huh?” Of course not! It’s just interesting how three siblings can look so different. Short, tall, broad, small -- yet all swing a mean club. Wow.

We spent a total of an hour and 20 minutes with them between the course and a 30-minute sit-down interview. The first time ever that the three of them had been interviewed together. They were funny, cordial, sincere, reflective and professional. Tina said Phil’s never sat that long for an interview and she is very appreciative of that. And so am I. Thanks to Tina and the whole Mickelson family. I think you’ll enjoy getting to know them, too.

Happy Birthday Dad

As I post this on Oct. 21, it would have been my father’s 89th birthday. He never wanted anything elaborate. Just his family and maybe mom’s Celebration Chicken and Apricot-Lemon cake for his birthday dinner. It’s been nearly15 years since he died January 8, 1994… of ALS… also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was a fighter. A man of courage with a gentle heart and welcoming smile… all the way to the end. He raised his children with a phrase he coined in the Navy… “Don’t wait. Anticipate.” It served him and us well.

I had moved home from Tulsa to help my mom and family care for my dad in 1991, but it took several years after he passed away to feel ready to help others dealing with ALS. In 2002, after we all were affected by 9/11, I felt compelled to do something to help my community and those with this devastating, degenerative fatal disease. Turns out the San Diego Chapter of the ALS Association was just being formed. I figured with my work at Channel 4, my relationship with the Padres and just my life experience caring for my father, I had something to offer. And after the first meeting, I was elected to the board and the work has been a labor of love… in honor of my dad who fought in three wars but couldn’t beat ALS. For me, and my family, volunteering for the chapter is part of my father’s legacy.

That brings me to Sunday October 19th. For the 7th year, bright and early Sunday morning, families, friends and supporters put on their walking shoes, grabbed a cup of coffee, and filled the grassy area at De Anza Cove for the Walk to Defeat ALS. For several months, our Board, the small but mighty staff and volunteers plan for this day. The logistics. The city permits. The registration. The t-shirt count for the 100 or so teams. But every year… at about 7:30… even when I know what to expect, I get a lump in my throat as I take the Mission Bay exit and see the parking lot filling up… the people gathering with their teams, their signs, their PALS… Persons with ALS.

About 1500 people turned out. About the same as last year, but the crowd seemed even more energized. More determined. More hopeful. Perhaps it’s because those of us in the ALS community are seeing that more people are paying attention to this disease. From the government to science to mainstream media and even Hollywood. We received great coverage in advance and on the day from various folks in the San Diego media – and we’re so grateful. I don’t want to leave anyone out, but CW San Diego 6, Fox 5, the Union-Tribune and my good friends at Double X Radio. And I produced a few stories through the Padres season and last week too on Channel 4. It’s nice to know spreading the word transcends broadcasting party lines.

As I emcee the event, my favorite part is reading all the team names… from ALS Busters… to ALS (still) Sucks… to Bobby’s Angels… and my team Wally’s Walkers. A-Z… each team represents people who know and love someone with or who had ALS. Or, they just want to help. Everyone has a story, and that day they share it with their old and new friends by just being there… or with the display of photos of those who have passed.

My mom (84 and with a new hip!) my brother and his son, my boss and her children, my sister and kids, and several special friends made it out for the day. And many others contributed as virtual walkers and I thank them all.

The clouds cleared and the sun broke through again for us this year. Despite what some are dealing with… with the disease… with the economy… whatever their worries… this was a day that we DEFEATED ALS… with smiles, a few tears, and hope. And the funds we raise allow us to keep serving others with ALS here in the Greater San Diego area.

If you missed the Walk and still want to contribute to the cause… the Walk season continues through the end of the year. Go to the website for info. www.alsasd.org
Whether you send a check or just spread the word… I hope hearing about this will inspire you to learn more about ALS. Or, maybe it will inspire you to work for a cause close to your heart. So… just do it. You’ll be glad you did.

Oh… and Happy Birthday Dad. You were such a gift to the world and to me.

Join me to Walk to Defeat ALS Sunday October 19

While my new blog will focus mainly on One on One related subjects and all the fun stuff that goes along with the guys we love to get to know… the first entry is about a cause that’s close to my heart. This Sunday morning October 19th is the Walk to Defeat ALS. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. My father died of this in 1994.

I’ve been involved in the local chapter since its beginning in 2002. A key mission is to help people with ALS and their families. If you’d like to help, please go to the website at www.alsasd.org and click on the Walk to Defeat logo. You can form or join a team. If you can’t make it, be a Virtual Walker with a donation. Join my team if you like… Wally’s Walkers… in honor of my dad. I’d love to have you part of the effort. Donations are accepted year round.

I have more I’d like to share about my dad and his influence even on my approach to One on One… but I’ll save that for another time.

I’m blessed to be in a position to not only help those with ALS, but to overlap those efforts with the support of some key groups: my employer Cox Communications has sponsored the Walk since year one and allows me to do features for Channel 4’s pre-game and Postgame shows; the San Diego Padres help raise awareness through Lou Gehrig Night at PETCO Park and sponsors the Walk; and players have offered their name and visibility to the Chapter…. specifically Mark Loretta, Scott Linebrink and Randy Wolf. They might not be Padres anymore, but their partnership has been important in raising funds and awareness.

I’ve done a number of features linking ALS, baseball and the community and October 16th on Postgame at 10pm you’ll meet Robert Tierney who, as a kid, played baseball with Lou Gehrig back in 1939. Ironically, Mr. Tierney’s wife would later die of ALS, too. His message at 85 years old? Live life every day as a gift.