champagne_on_the_green_enhanced_audio

Howard Cosell interviewed Tony Lema a couple of weeks before Lema, along with his wife Betty, perished in a small plane crash. This 30 minute interview takes you inside the mind of one of the PGA Tour's "glamour boys" during his prime. Ken Venturi introduces the interviews and gives some closing remarks on his and Lema's close relationship. Enjoy.

[@mitchrodenburg9285]

Ironically, Tony's plane crashed less than a mile from my house when I was eleven. Lansing Country Club in Lansing IL. My buddies and I rode our bikes to the scene, saw the plane on the golf course, and it had a huge impact on us. Not until seeing this interview did I know how great he really was. Thoughtful AND talented. Play on through, Tony.

[@tourbackspin]

Thanks for the story, Mitch. My biography of Tony, "Uncorked, The Life and Times of Champagne Tony Lema" is available on Amazon. It really is a great story from his childhood up through what you witnessed in Lansing. Thanks again for the comments.

[@adrianleman5158]

Gone but not forgotten Rip Tony and wife.

[@davidbrickman3271]

I have lived a half mile away from the Lansing sportsman club for 30 years. There is a bike/walking path right by the 7th hole where he died. The club had a sign a sign on the hole for years , but the course has been closed and sold now in 2021. I always thought it was sad he died so young but he was killed on a golf course.

[@jay-zeelterbilinsky3977]

Done too soon