Army vet Chi Chi Rodriguez, 88 passes
A lot of older celebrities were also veterans – that’s just the nature of having a draft. Some just served their time and got out quietly, some did surprisingly well like Johnny Cash, an airman who enlisted and became a Morse code intercept operator (reputedly the op who intercepted the first news of Stalin’s death.) By the bye, he originally wrote “Folsom Prison Blues” while stationed at Landsberg in the FRG. Station Hypo
But we note the passing Thursday last of ChiChi Rodriguez, a poor kid from Puerto Rico who enlisted in 1954 or ’55 (accounts differ) for one of the oldest reasons in the world, to help support his family. He served until 1957. He died at the age of 88 in his native Puerto Rico.
ChiChi was a fixture on the pro golf tour back in the ’60s and ’70s. A small man, he could drive 300 yards with the best of ’em. Noted for some of his somewhat goofy routines (like putting his hat over the hole after sinking his putt to keep the “birdie” in – reputedly once he dropped a ball which a large toad pushed back out and lost the bet on the hole.) Or dancing a salsa dance after putting out. Or pantomining a toreador’s coup de grace finish – with a golf club. He not only won 8 majors, he was a tremendous fan favorite. Britannica
On one occasion, Rodríguez had a brief encounter with Mother Teresa, a moment he considered to be the greatest of his life and which inspired him to help others. Together with former professional golfer Bill Hayes and Bob James, Rodríguez established the Chi-Chi Rodríguez Youth Foundation, an afterschool program at the Glen Oaks Golf Course in Clearwater, Florida. The principal idea behind the foundation was to instill self-esteem in young people who are victims of abuse, have experienced minor brushes with the law, or have suffered any other hardships.
A class act from back in the day. Interesting to note his name was used a couple of times in Hollywood – in the ’95 movie “To Wong Foo” John Leguizano’s character was name Chi Chi Rodriguez (that cost the film a settlement) and there was a scene in “WKRP Cincinnati” when Les Nesman, despite corrections, kept broadcasting a story about “Chai Chai Rodriguez” – think they had permission for that one.
Wonder if his NCOs ever thought he would go far…
Category: We Remember
A Class Act, indeed. I never was a big fan of golf, but I did watch a match or two just to see him cut up. He always looked as if he was having fun in a game that soooo many take way yonder too seriously.
Rest easy, Good Sir.
Chi Chi and Lee Trevino were both excellent at reminding people that golf is, after all, just a game and should be fun.
Maurice Flitcroft too 😉
Hack’s introduction to Chi Chi Rodriguez.
https://youtu.be/7WmTsLO-hUI?si=17cDqHOw6BfMhqAx
I’m damn sure glad you did it because this was the FIRST thing I though of when I heard it the other day.
CHAI CHAI !!!!
This ranks up there with “As God is my witness I thought turkeys could fly.”
I’m glad I clicked the link before posting my original thought. It would have been redundant.
Well, maybe not *redundant*, but exactly what you posted.
Thank you, Hack.
The old time players had some interesting personalities on Tour. Too many guys now are just robots made from the same cookie cutter. Rest in Peace, Chi Chi. I live in the Bay Area and played the Chi Chi course.
The history of Chi Chi Rodriquez… and DEVO.
For those who don’t remember, or didn’t care in the 1970s,
image of Chi Chi on DEVO’s 1st 45,
then a modified similar image on DEVO’s 1st LP.
RIP JA”CC”R
Very interesting. Chi Chi was awesome back in the day. Fan favorite.
tom,
This is the composite image on DEVO’s 1st LP.
Chi Chi, with bits of Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon added.
Enjoy !
Never knew the story behind the album cover. Thanks. Now Hack has to get back to working in a coal mine.
… goin’ down, down, down…
I can never hear this man’s name without hearing Les Nessman (WKRP In Cincinnati) referring to him as “Chy Chy Rodragueez”.
Rest well, “Mr Rodragueez”.
Correction … He won 8 tournaments on the PGA Tour but never won a major (best major finish was the 1981 US Open, tied for 6th)
Still a terrific golfer and entertaining character. May he rest in peace.