Jim Nantz has been friends with Arnold Palmer for a long time. The CBS Sports lead broadcaster had some terrific tales to tell Tuesday about his old pal, who died recently at age 87.
Nantz shared the time he and Palmer met the Queen of England (which was hilarious), but he opened with some sobering words nobody in attendance will soon forget.
"I can't think of anything more powerful I've ever attended in my life," said Nantz. "As you cheered him on, somehow he always connected with everyone. Millions of people [are grieving]. All of us had a connection. So many people around the world never met him, but Arnie was their friend."
He continued: "[CBS producer] Frank Chirkinian was asked one time, 'Tell me about Arnold Palmer.' He said, 'You know, the camera is a tricky thing. It either loves you or hates you, but it reveals everything.' The camera loved Arnold Palmer."
Powerful stuff from somebody who saw Palmer through a lens which most of us never got to use. The ending was terrific, too. An emotional Nantz had everyone stand and give Palmer one last standing ovation.
