Golfdom, January 2016

Keeping up with The Jones NATTY LIGHT DUCT TAPE I asked Normans media contact in advance if I could get some one on one time with the Shark before or after the media event The answer was no SETH JONES Editor in Chief Chance encounters I n 2016 Im going to try to attend as many events as possible while at the same time not travel so much that I neglect my family Its a delicate balance During the 2008 Golf Industry Show Jones far right got to introduce his then 18 month old daughter Evey to Greg Norman and Chris Evert I attended the media event hoping to talk my way into a one on one interview I found the media contact and tried to convince him I was worthy of Normans time He tried to convince me I was not So I took a different route and asked him where he was from and where he went to In chapter newsletters and magazines I always see chapter presidents pleading with their members to come to regional meetings Im a big believer in being there in person meeting new people shaking hands Theres a value to being there that pays off immediately Sometimes further down the road it pays off unexpectedly In 2003 my Kansas Jayhawks made the Final Four A group of us road tripped to New Orleans for the event Who knows how many people I met that weekend at the Final Four It was fun meeting fellow KU fans and the fans of the other teams Texas Marquette and eventual champion Syracuse Fast forward five years GCSAA named Greg Norman the 2008 Old Tom Morris Award winner It was my job to get an interview with him school When he said Syracuse I knew we had a talking point I told him Im a KU alumnus and about my hatred for the Orangemen He laughed I asked if he went to the 03 Final Four and he said he did I looked a little harder at him then asked him if he took a stuffed Syracuse Orangeman toy with a Natural Lite can duct taped to his hand with him to New Orleans He paused gave me a look and said that he did Then I asked him if he remembered playing three on three basketball one night against three similarly intoxicated Kansas Jayhawk fans It was then that he realized I was his next door neighbor at that fleabag hotel we stayed at in New Orleans I warned you about Carmelo Anthony he shouted We laughed about the small world moment we were experiencing Finally I said Hey man can you please help me out on this Greg Norman interview He smiled and said Sure we can work it out Strange to think that a chance encounter five years earlier is what made the interview happen Was it luck Yes But I made a little of my own luck by taking the time to be there You never know whom youll meet when youre out attending events from the Final Four to the Golf Industry Show But you know exactly whom youll meet if you dont attend no one Email Jones at sjones@ northcoastmedia net It wasnt easy Norman is a busy businessman Norman came to Kansas City for a media event at Stone Canyon GC I asked his media contact in advance if I could get some one on one time with the Shark before or after the event The answer was no 6 Golfdom January 2016 Golfdom com PHOTO BY JUDY ROMERO