Before stepping onto the first tee, Illinois-Chicago basketball coach Howard Moore pulled out a bag of golf balls. Yes, a bag. Not a sleeve.
The package of 18 Wilson Ultras was re-sealable, like the pouches grocery stores use to keep your deli meat fresh.
"Like opening up some jerky," Moore said.
It was a $15 purchase at Columbus Park, Moore's neighborhood course on Chicago's West Side, and the bag carried the words "All about the Long Ball."
On cue, Moore crushed his first drive with such authority, the ball whizzed past the group in front of us. Thanks to the GPS in the carts at the Bridges of Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates, we learned that his ball traveled 309 yards, leaving just 86 to the green.
But with bridges come water, and the first green was protected by enough to hide a whale.
Moore's first effort had a splash landing. And his second.
"Howard!" he said, admonishing himself. "OK, this is it."
But it wasn't. One more went down like the Titanic.
"That's how you ruin a perfect drive," Moore said. "Three in a row right in the drink."
But, hey, let's cut Moore some slack. He's 6-foot-6, never has taken a lesson and didn't take up the game in earnest until 2005, when he began working for coach Bo Ryan at Wisconsin, his alma mater.
Ryan doesn't reach the NCAA tournament every year by having assistants who slack off. So Moore, 38, generally limited his tee times to recruiting dead periods.
Now building his own program at UIC, Moore's priority isn't to become the best bunker player in the Horizon League.
"I'm worried about getting some players," he said.
He'll have nine newbies on next season's roster, including a six-man freshman class. Moore wanted new blood after his Flames shocked Illinois on Dec. 18 at the United Center — then went 2-17 the rest of the way.
"We acted like that was our championship," Moore said of the 57-54 victory over the Illini. "I tried to warn the guys — just use it as a springboard. But the kids hadn't experienced success, and it showed."
Moore got a late start last season, taking over in August after Jimmy Collins' abrupt retirement. In his effort to change the Flames' culture, he sought advice from Pat Riley while the Heat worked out at UIC during their playoff series with the Bulls.
"He told me, 'Get your players to trust you — and get your best player on your side,' " Moore recalled.
UIC's decision to hire Moore was a natural considering he'd recruited Chicago while assisting at Bradley, Ball State, Loyola and Wisconsin.
18 holes with … Howard Moore
UIC basketball coach relatively new to golf but packs plenty of power
- Tweet
-
Comments0
- 1
- 2
- next
- | single page
- 1
- 2
- next
- | single page
Comments (0)
Add comments | Discussion FAQCurrently there are no comments. Be the first to comment!