My Dad was a fine golfer. He started caddying at a country club at age 13 during the Depression, not only for the money to help the family income, but because caddies could play for free on Mondays. A bunch of guys he grew up with, all very good golfers, played together for decades, and eventually Dad was able to join the club where he learned the game, and so did a bunch of his old friends. When they couldn't play because it was too cold or raining, they'd have lunch and play cards at the club.
One of the members who did not grow up with Dad and his friends used to have lunch and occasionally play with them. Over a period of a few months, he started bragging about his teenage daughter and her swimming ability. All well and good, but after dozens of repetitions, his bragging was getting old.
One day one of Dad's old friends, Jesse, also tired of the bragging, said "You say she's a good at short distances; what's her time in the 100?"
Proud father spit out a number, and Jesse opined as how that was not very fast. Father responded "Oh yes it is - she's going to get a college scholarship; she's really good."
Jesse: "That's not very fast - I can beat her." Jesse was about 52-53 years old at the time.
Father: "You can't beat her - she's fast and going to get a scholarship!"
Jesse: "I have a hundred dollars that says I can beat her."
Father: "You're on!!"
They met. They swam. Jesse beat her by half a pool length in the 100 and collected $100.
Lesson from my Dad - Never bet with somebody you don't know.
In the 1940's, Jesse was a six-time letterman in swimming (graduate school too), was an All-American three years as an undergraduate and set the NCAA record for the 100 which stood for many years. He also lettered in soccer and lacrosse, which he never played before college and was an all-American in one of those too. He earned ten varsity letters at North Carolina, the most of anyone ever at the school, and that record stands today. He went on to compete in Master Class swimming (55 & over) and set a Maryland record that stood for decades.
When I told Dad I thought that was cruel, he explained that Jesse knew from her time that she was not good enough to get a scholarship, and didn't want her and her father's hopes dashed later on after years of hard work.
I remember Jesse - he was a helluva golfer too.
