The Best Part of the Golf Outing

I purposely left this item out of my post of Bob's Golf tourney because I felt it needed an entire column all to itself.
In addition to the auction and prizes given away at Buffalo City (5631 Park St. No, St.Pete) after the event, there was a trophy ceremony to honor the winners and losers in the tournament. You know like best score, longest drive, worst team, worst score, and the mack daddy of all awards- "WORST PLAYER."
I'll give you all 3 guesses as to who was the proud recipient of the very first Worst Player trophy presented in the event. That's right, look at this thing and weep:

Now I know some of you are saying "is he nuts; he's excited to have been named the worst player?" and the answer is yes, for 2 reasons:

1. I know for a fact that I was probably not THE worst player out there. I've only been on a course 3 times in my life, and although I was no Tiger, I was no Duvall either. In fact, some of my teammates had shots equally as lousy as some of mine. But when the time came to nominate the winner of the award, with no clear front-runner and no one exactly jumping up to claim the prize, my teammate, co-worker, and friend Michael jumped up and pointed to me, shouting "right here, right here, Jeff was the worst player." When Michael's brother Ricky seconded the nomination, next thing I knew I was the winner in a land slide, and I was in front of the crowd accepting my trophy in tears- of-laughter!
2. The trophy, as you can see, is a great looking piece, with a plaque commem-orating the event and a golf ball mounted to the right. As Captain Darrell pointed out to all trophy winners, the balls were from Chicago Bob's personal supply, and had all been used by Bubba during one of his numerous rounds (obviously not one of the many that he lost along the way). So the ball and thus the trophy itself is an actual keepsake of our friend, something that he once used and has now been bestowed upon me. I will be able to look at it every day and think of Bob, and the terrific event that his friends put on in his name.

I just wanted to also take this time to thank Barb, Darrell, Joe, and Frank at Buffalo City and everyone else who was involved in this terrific event. They really made it come together in a very short period of time and the results couldn't have been better. I also wanted to thank everyone for all the kind words regarding my kind words following Bob's passing; the outpouring of emotion to me just validates the amount of love everyone had for Bubba.

They announced plans to hold the 2nd event next April 10th, Bob's birthday. Please be sure to make plans now to attend. Because if there is one thing I can guarantee, I will be there to defend my title!

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1ST ANNUAL CHICAGO BOB MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Bob was with us- clubs, shoes, cooler & all

THE 1ST ANNUAL CHICAGO BOB MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24TH

SEMINOLE LAKES COUNTRY CLUB

Here are some of the moments from the outing, and I think it's safe to say that we all felt that Bubba was there with us

Barb w/ Bob's cart

• Joe takes charge
  

Let's sign in

Michael gets warm

Another sunny day in F-L-A!

Let's get this party started

...Skipper tees off first...

Bubba's Official Cart

Nice

look,

huh?

The

12th

hole

Pinky supplied food & bevs

Muggy

& cloudy,

hmmm...

...time to

get to the

19th hole!

Good to see barb smile!

The Czar at work

"Oh no, here they come!"

Let's auction stuff off...

Craig & Nick

having fun

"Dont you

dare!"

Everyone had a great time

Barb

&

Hospice

got checks

We love

& miss

you,

Bubba

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Mourning the Passing of Chicago Bob

Robert "Chicago Bob" Allen, 4/10/42 - 7/20/2006

Although it has been a couple of weeks now since Chicago Bob passed away suddenly from brain cancer, I had not started this blog, so I wanted to pay tribute to the man who "never met a stranger".

Bob was a one-of-a kind individual, as everyone he came in contact with will attest to. He was gregarious, hilarious, and one of those peole who always put a smile on the faces of those around him. I was fortunate enough to have worked with him for five years at Video Group. I can remember when I first started, he and Joe were the old veterans of the place (heck, they were the old veterans in most places!), and I didn't know how they would receive me or how I would fit in. Joe had his crusty exterior that prevented anyone from getting too close to him, but Bob was always friendly and told me not to worry about him. After Joe showed his true colors (he's really a teddy bear, but doesn't want anybody know it), we all immediately hit it off, and the three of us became pretty inseparable. I guess it was because they saw a younger version of themselves in me that they took me under their wing, but whatever the reason, for the next 5 years we had some terrific times: liquid lunches at The Corner; an all-day bender on St. Patty's Day in 2004 that nearly got us all fired; and listening to Bob's funny tales, jokes, & anecdotes that always had us laughing, no matter how many times we heard them.

Bob was the life of any party, and if there wasn't a party, his prescense alone would create one. He always had a joke to tell and a Budwesier nearby, but most importantly he truly loved all of his family & friends. He was a real "guys guy", a Vietnam War vet, hard partier and avid golfer; of course women loved him as well. I know for a fact that without the love and care of his wife Barb he would never have made it as far as he did, due to his penchant for wanting to stay out all night pounding Buds, being hit in the forehead with 2x4's, and eating urinal wafers!

Myself, my son, and my wife all cried heavily the night we heard that "Bubba" had passed. Although he had lived a very full and rewarding life, it was still much too soon and way too quick to have someone as special as him taken from our lives. He is a man I will never forget, and will never meet anyone similiar. He was an American institution to those who knew him, and his memories will live forever in all of us. But as Joe reminded everyone at the service, Bob would want us to celebrate his life, not mourn his death. And in that case, everytime I give a fist bump, or raise a cold one to my mouth, I will always think of Bob.

R.I.P. Bubba. I love you, man.

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