| I have been a fan of Phil Mickelson's for a | | | | numerous surgeries, doctor visits, etc., |
| very long time. He's one of those golfers | | | | Conrad has had to downsize and sell almost |
| that I've pulled for for years and have | | | | all of his assets to keep the family afloat |
| always assumed he was a nice guy considering | | | | while paying for Joy's rehabilitation. |
| how polite and nice he seems on television. | | | | |
| Back in 2004, I was at the Masters on Sunday | | | | Enter Phil Mickelson. Phil's lawyer, Glenn |
| when he won his first Masters title. My wife | | | | Cohen, called Conrad up one day and told him |
| and I were positioned to the left of the tee | | | | that Phil had become aware of his situation |
| on #10, and after Phil teed off, he walked | | | | and wanted to pay for his daughter Holli's |
| down the left side of the fairway passing | | | | college education. Conrad couldn't believe it |
| directly by us. | | | | because he had never met Phil and still |
| | | | hasn't to this day. Conrad asked Cohen why |
| We both smiled and gave him a "Go Phil", and | | | | Phil was doing this, and his response was, |
| he did something that many professional | | | | "Because he can." |
| athletes don't do, he smiled, tipped his hat | | | | |
| and said, "Thank you and thanks for coming | | | | Phil does stay in touch with Holli who is now |
| out." That may not sound like much, but try | | | | a sophomore at Miami of Ohio. She waits |
| that same scenario with many other | | | | tables and has a heavy load of classes and |
| professional athletes while they're in the | | | | currently has a 3.8 GPA. The first year, Phil |
| heat of the battle, and you're more likely to | | | | sent $20,000, and he has promised cost of |
| get ignored, glared at, or at best, a quick | | | | living increases every year promising $22,000 |
| nod. | | | | and then $24,000. |
| | | | |
| But, one nice "thank you" does not | | | | This random act of kindness by Phil has |
| necessarily mean that the real Phil Mickelson | | | | changed the lives of more than just Holli. It |
| is a nice guy. It means he's polite and | | | | has made Conrad a better person, and it's |
| respects the fact that the fans are as much a | | | | given Joy the will to walk again. She's |
| part of a golf tournament as he is. | | | | already made great strides and hopes to one |
| | | | day get out of the wheelchair for good. Phil |
| What does make him a nice guy is a story I | | | | has invited the entire family to the Memorial |
| read in a recent edition of Golf World | | | | Tournament in May, and the family can't wait |
| magazine. The title of the article was, | | | | to meet him in person. As Joy says, "If |
| "Conrad Dobler's Favorite Golfer." Unless you | | | | there's anything he's missing in his life, |
| are a die-hard historian of professional | | | | it's a set of wings. He's an angel. And if I |
| football, you probably have never heard of | | | | can when I see him for the first time, I'm |
| Dobler... Neither had I until I read this | | | | going to go up and give him a big hug." |
| article. Conrad was once called the "dirtiest | | | | |
| player in the NFL". | | | | BECAUSE HE CAN! That is the real Phil |
| | | | Mickelson. |
| Because NFL players of the distant past did | | | | |
| not make that much money, and the NFL's | | | | To me, this story embodies what it means to |
| disability plan doesn't amount to much, | | | | be successful. Being successful means having |
| Conrad lives a nice, but not too extravagant | | | | the ability to help others "because you can." |
| lifestyle considering he's had numerous | | | | There are so many people who could help |
| surgeries on both knees. But, Conrad's entire | | | | others, but they choose not to. I'd like to |
| life changed back on July 4, 2001. He and his | | | | challenge you to look for areas in your |
| wife Joy and their six children were relaxing | | | | everyday life where you can perform a random |
| while waiting for friends to come over for | | | | act of kindness. You'll be surprised how many |
| the holiday. His wife Joy was in their | | | | situations come up where you can help.... |
| hammock and accidentally fell out of the | | | | |
| hammock and couldn't feel anything. She's | | | | Good luck and make it a great day! |
| been a quadriplegic ever since. After | | | | |