The SportsMonday Column

T. J. Berka Teeing Off

Stewart's passing recalls moment with young writer

While the death of any person is tragic - especially when one is 42 years old, like Stewart was - it's something that is desensitized due to the relative frequency of it happening. Unless it is the death of a loved one or a friend, I think of tragic news like that for a split second and move on.

In most cases such as Stewart's, I say 'Aw, that's terrible' and go about my life. But when I heard the news of Stewart's passing, my response wasn't that well rehearsed.

No, I am not related to Payne Stewart. No, Payne Stewart was not a good friend of mine. But Payne Stewart is a big reason why I am doing what I am doing today.

In high school, I lived in a suburb of Houston called The Woodlands. The Woodlands was your typical upper-middle class suburb with a high school, a mall and a bunch of cookie-cutter subdivisions. But the one thing that The Woodlands has is a golf tournament.

The Shell Houston Open is a pretty insignificant tournament when related to the U.S. Open. But in my hometown, it was a huge event. When I was a junior in high school, the editor of the small weekly paper I was working for wanted me to cover the golf tournament.

As a 16-year old new to journalism, I was excited as hell about covering the event. Not only did I get to go to a major professional sporting event, I got to cut school and hang out in the press tent with reporters from publications such as the Houston Chronicle and Sports Illustrated. Needless to say, I was extremely geeked.

But that excitement quickly turned to shyness once I arrived at the event. I was overwhelmed by the hubbub of the professional reporters and professional golfers that were around me. I stayed in the background, afraid that I would do something dumb and embarrass myself in front of everyone.

But then Payne Stewart walked into the tent with his trademark knickers. Having seen him a million times on television, I was awestruck by being in the same room with him. Stewart proceeded to go in the interview room - followed by other reporters - so I quickly followed suit.

Stewart sat at the podium in the interview room and started fielding questions. He had just finished his round four shots behind the leader of the tournament, Scott Hoch. As he was being questioned by the other reporters, a thought came into my mind. I instantly asked Stewart a question, which silenced the other reporters in the room.

I don't even remember what the question was that I asked, but Stewart instantly smiled at me and said, "Good question" before coming up with an answer. My self-esteem soaring, I proceeded to take over the press conference and asked Stewart a flurry of questions. He answered them all very eloquently, making me - and the reporters bumming information off me - very happy.

So as I left the press conference, Stewart saw me walk by and said, "Come here, kid." I went over, not sure as to why he wanted to talk to me again.

Stewart put his arm around me and asked where I was from. I quickly answered him and he proceeded to ask me another question. And another. And another. Quickly, Stewart and I switched roles, as he was interviewing me.

As Stewart and I were chatting, Hoch was losing his seemingly insurmountable lead. But Stewart didn't seem to even care, as he proceeded to talk to an awestruck 16-year-old kid who had scammed his way into the press tent.

Finally, Stewart finished talking to me and went out to play a one-hole playoff against Hoch, who had fallen into a first-place tie with him. But as he walked from the press tent back to the golf course, he took something with him.

He took the scared kid who wasn't quite sure what to do with him. In his wake, he left a confident young reporter who decided at that moment what he wanted to do in life.

Payne Stewart probably didn't remember that conversation with me. I'm sure he talked to hundreds of reporters during his successful PGA career.

But I will never forget his impact on me. Payne Stewart took the time to talk to a young high-school-aged reporter instead of brushing me off as an ignorant kid.

By doing that, he showed me some of the rewards that comes with being a sports reporter. And he also gave me the confidence in my reporting and writing abilites, a confidence that has grown since that day.

And for that I thank him.

- T.J. Berka can be reached via e-mail at berkat@umich.edu

11-01-99