RIP Chi Chi Rodriguez

[matt_garth]

 

[playthrough]

The Champions Tour was at its peak when he was there doing sword dances.

Need Les Nessman to read his obit: “Chai-Chai Rodrigweez …”

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

The Champions Tour was at its peak when he was there doing sword dances.

Need Les Nessman to read his obit: “Chai-Chai Rodrigweez …”

Ep 3 of Season 1, in fact.

 

[MileHigh]

Loved Chi Chi. Otherwise known as ...

 

[Typist Clerk]

R.I.P., Juan.

 

[User 149557]

I daresay the greatest celebration in sports history. I can’t believe a baseball player hasn’t stolen it for a bat flip.

 

[DanOregon]

He was instrumental in getting the Champions Tour off the ground. Realized it needed some flair to have a chance.

 

[ChrisLong]

After press conferences, he thanked and shook hands with every reporter there. RIP, Chi Chi.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Loved Chi Chi. Otherwise known as ...

I was just coming on here to post this. I love you, brother.

 

[UNCGrad]

As a high school kid I was a standard bearer at a U.S. Senior Open - one of those kids carrying around the sign with players names and scores.

I was in a group with Jim Dent and Dale Douglass. Dale was classy and Dent was a force of personality. It was July and there was a backup on the par-3 6th tee. A marshall signalled me to have a seat on a bench on the tee.

The group behind had Chi Chi in it. He sat right next to me and slapped my knee and immediately struck up a conversation. How was I doing? Was I from there? Did I play? And then, "How are you holding up?"

"Hanging in there."

"Good, good," Chi Chi said. "It's a hot one today, and I think you got it worse than all of us. We just have to play golf. You've got to carry that ****in' sign."

I'll never forget laughing with Chi Chi Rodriguez. I imagine if anyone was watching, they'd be wondering what we were talking about.

Later in the round, our group and the others around us are pulled into a trailer to ride out a storm. We got in first, then Lee Trevino's group, and Chi Chi's. Among other things, Trevino starts telling lightning stories, and Dent was animated. Chi Chi, at one point, looks at me and says, "Ah, you got another break, kid."

RIP.

 

[Chef2]

RIP

 

[maumann]

As a high school kid I was a standard bearer at a U.S. Senior Open - one of those kids carrying around the sign with players names and scores.

I was in a group with Jim Dent and Dale Douglass. Dale was classy and Dent was a force of personality. It was July and there was a backup on the par-3 6th tee. A marshall signalled me to have a seat on a bench on the tee.

The group behind had Chi Chi in it. He sat right next to me and slapped my knee and immediately struck up a conversation. How was I doing? Was I from there? Did I play? And then, "How are you holding up?"

"Hanging in there."

"Good, good," Chi Chi said. "It's a hot one today, and I think you got it worse than all of us. We just have to play golf. You've got to carry that ****in' sign."

I'll never forget laughing with Chi Chi Rodriguez. I imagine if anyone was watching, they'd be wondering what we were talking about.

Later in the round, our group and the others around us are pulled into a trailer to ride out a storm. We got in first, then Lee Trevino's group, and Chi Chi's. Among other things, Trevino starts telling lightning stories, and Dent was animated. Chi Chi, at one point, looks at me and says, "Ah, you got another break, kid."

RIP.

Great story. When the now-Champions Tour was still getting established, the seniors came out to Suntree in Melbourne to play and I got a chance to get inside the ropes that weekend. With almost no pressure, the guys were loose, joking and telling some hilarious stories during times when they were waiting for the greens to clear. Like getting a front row seat in a pro-am without having to play. And there couldn't have been 150 paid spectators on the course.

I was amazed at how far they could hit it. But it was really evident that the guys who still had touch around the greens had the biggest advantage. I think that's why guys turning 50 try to make as much money as possible while they still can putt at such an expert level.

RIP, Senor Swordsman!

 

[nietsroob17]

Reminds me of his confrontation with the producers of "To Wong Foo..." and John Leguizamo's similarly named character.

Chi Chi to Universal Pictures: Thanks for Nothing, I'm Suing

 

[swingline]

I think every Gen X person on this board immediately thought of WKRP when we saw this thread.

 

[cyclingwriter2]

Was the basis for album cover for Devo’s Are We Not Men?

 

[swingline]

Chi Chi?

 

[User 149557]

If you’re wondering, “Can I pull off that hat the extremely charismatic Chi Chi Rodriguez wore?” the answer is no. No, you cannot.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

I’m putting this here so I remember where I put it.

LITTLE CHI CHI'S OTHER SIDE

 

[maumann]

I’m putting this here so I remember where I put it.

LITTLE CHI CHI'S OTHER SIDE

Wow. Just a few months before Tony Lema died. Heartbreaking.

 

[BrownScribe]

Thanks for posting that article @BitterYoungMatador2! It was a great read. Especially loved the part about him wanting to make the world a better place for kids because he was too poor to be a kid.