Linemen on the Links

Former Michigan running back Mike Hart laughs after hitting a brutal drive off the 10th tee at the University of Michigan Golf Course during Sunday, May 17th's Brian Griese and Steve Hutchinson Champions For Children's Hearts Golf Classic.

Former offensive lineman Steve Everitt displays his best golf apparel while preparing to hit a driver off the deck from 195 yards out on the 18th hole. Oh. did I mention the pond in front of the 18th green? Everitt's ball now swims with the fishes.

  

  The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and all around were tour-sized staff bags filled with Mizunos, Callaways, Titleists, Nikes and Pings. 

  Millionaire athletes strolled about the putting green of the famed Alistir MacKenzie layout. Yes sir, this was a golf tournament all right, and like most tournaments there was a ton of money to be raised for charity. But this was no ordinary group of millionaire golfers striping 300-yard tee shots with a slight draw down the middle of the fairway. No, this group was more likely to contain 300-pounders than 300-yarders.

  Welcome to the Brian Griese and Steve Hutchinson Champions For Children's Hearts Golf Classic at the University of Michigan Golf Course. 

  Held Sunday, May 17th, the tournament once again brought in a ton of money for the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital (more than $650,000) while also bringing together some of Michigan's finest gridiron stars, both young and old.

  I've covered many high-profile golf tournaments in my career: the Ryder Cup, a U.S. Open, two PGA's, as well as several Buick Opens, but until Sunday, I'd never covered a UM charity scramble, and when I say scramble, I mean that literally.

  When photographing a professional golfer, it doesn't really matter all that much where you set up as long as you wait until he's struck the ball before you press the shutter (see "Tiger Woods tantrums" if you shoot too soon) This is not the case when shooting a professional football player. It became painfully obvious that hitting another human being in shoulder pads and a helmet is not exactly akin to hitting a golf ball off a tee - no matter how expensive the driver.

  This, of course, made it extremely challenging for me, a photographer, to try and get a decent shot of these monsters at play. For example, just how far off the intended target line should I stand in hopes of getting a decent shot without having to worry about taking my teeth home in my hand?

  The answer to that question turned out to be - it doesn't matter where you stand, your life could be in grave danger (never underestimate the power of a golf ball ricocheting off the curb of a paved cart path).

  After watching former Michigan lineman Adam Kraus nearly kill a cart girl who was parked roughly 50 yards in front, and 50-yards left of the 10th hole tee box, with a drive hit pretty much sideways off the heel of his driver, traveling roughly at the speed of sound about foot off the ground, I decided standing behind the golfer may be the safest place.

  That's not to say that some of these former players can't play. When Elvis Grbac, Michigan quarterback from 1989-92, strolled onto the grounds with his name emblazoned on his Mizuno staff bad, I kind of figured he could play. Turns out I was right, Grbac is a scratch player who competes regularly on the celebrity golf circuit.

  Other sticks included kicker Jay Feeley, who can crush a drive about the equivalent of a 60-yard field goal, and tournament host Brian Griese, himself.

  For some reason, quarterbacks and kickers make for the best golfers. Lineman and running backs? Not so much. I'm guessing it has something to do with weight transfer. Whether you're throwing a ball or kicking one, you have to shift your weight for power, same as a golf swing. Of course shifting weight doesn't mean a damn thing to a ball carrier, receiver, blocker or tackler, unless the weight you're talking about is the 280 pound opponent being put on his ass. And this lack of being able to transfer weight correctly shows up in embarrassing fashion on the links.

  But hey, these guys are totally cool - cooler than you would ever expect. Every player was extremely gracious and some even let yours truly join in on the fun and smack a drive or two with their group.

  Aaron Shea, Tyrone Wheatley, Steve Everitt, Jake Long, Mike Hart, Kraus and Grbac, friendly guys all. As I'm sure most of the other players I didn't meet were as well. Besides, it wasn't really about the golf, it was about the charity. And this event has gotten so popular over the years they're actually talking about adding another course (perhaps Radrick Farms?) for next year so they don't have to turn anyone away.

  At any rate, it was a fun day spent with some superstar athletes on a place I feel more comfortable than anywhere on earth - a golf course. Although I'm pretty sure I can safely say they didn't feel quite the same level of comfort - at least from a golfing perspective.