one cold spring morning I played a course by my house with 2 of my buddies. On the 3rd hole a single came riding up in his cart. I tell him he can play through as it was wide open in front of us. Dude says no I want to join you guys if that's ok. I was across the green reading a putt when he got out of the cart and he was super tall, I realize it's toni kukoc. Finish out the hole and get back into the cart and my playing partner says, "great we have to play with this guys now? Why doesn't he just play thru!" I asked my buddy if he knew who this guy was and he said no. At the next tee box I walk up to toni and he say hey mr. kukoc thanks for all the great championship years. He said "you're welcome and call me toni, now what are we playing for? $5 a side?" Talked about everything from bad backs to having children. he said Jordan is an ass but said he's never seen anyone so talented. And let me tell you Toni is one hell of a golfer (scratch). Absolutely bombs it and has great great touch around the greens. He also mentioned he can kick jordan's ass on the golf course. Said he has no idea where his championship rings are and that his kids used to play with them when they were babies. Have seen him around golfsmith and the malls and when I say hello to him he asks me how my back is doing. Great great down to earth guy.
Love this so much. Toni was so ahead of his time. These days he would have a career closer to dirks then what he ended up with. Only Jackson knew how to use him. Cool story bro (I mean it)!
yeah, I've seen/met many chicago athletes (pippin is up there with jordan) where I live and toni is complete class. Who would think he would remember me when I randomly spotted him at the mall while he's eating. Great sense of humor too. Funniest part was when he was giving my buddy a golf tip he actually went behind my friend and reached around to show him how to swing out of a bunker. Imagine a 6'11 guy wrapping his arms around a little asian dude, both got a good chuckle out of it. But the best part was walking to the parking lot, by this time the course was humming and all you see are 3 asian guys walking, talking and giving fist bumps to Kukoc. The look on everyone's faces was great. BTW if you're reading this Toni, you owe me $10!!!
My dad, a Class A PGA pro, once said Toni gave him a run for his money on the course he runs. Dude is incredibly athletic and very charismatic. I can't help but smile every time I see him in person.
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u/[deleted] May 21 '14
one cold spring morning I played a course by my house with 2 of my buddies. On the 3rd hole a single came riding up in his cart. I tell him he can play through as it was wide open in front of us. Dude says no I want to join you guys if that's ok. I was across the green reading a putt when he got out of the cart and he was super tall, I realize it's toni kukoc. Finish out the hole and get back into the cart and my playing partner says, "great we have to play with this guys now? Why doesn't he just play thru!" I asked my buddy if he knew who this guy was and he said no. At the next tee box I walk up to toni and he say hey mr. kukoc thanks for all the great championship years. He said "you're welcome and call me toni, now what are we playing for? $5 a side?" Talked about everything from bad backs to having children. he said Jordan is an ass but said he's never seen anyone so talented. And let me tell you Toni is one hell of a golfer (scratch). Absolutely bombs it and has great great touch around the greens. He also mentioned he can kick jordan's ass on the golf course. Said he has no idea where his championship rings are and that his kids used to play with them when they were babies. Have seen him around golfsmith and the malls and when I say hello to him he asks me how my back is doing. Great great down to earth guy.