Jim Nantz on Sports, His Father, and Alzheimer's

I thought you should know

My wife's mother passed away on Sept. 17. She spent nearly 20 years caring for her husband who was stricken with Alzheimer's at age 54. He was cared for at home until he passed away nearly ten years ago. I am writing this to you because I read your book and was touched by the many stories that you shared. Also, I was fortunate to have met you several years ago on a Caribbean cruise. Some guy was being obnoxious with you, and I sort of ran interference between him and you. You then were gracious enough to introduce Mrs. Nantz to my wife as they sat side by side at the one armed bandits. To this day when Sue sees you on TV she says what nice people you folks were. You demonstrated that a simple gesture of friendliness can help to make a lasting memory. Now if you can only get Phil (Simms) to correct his southern accent!!

My best to you and your family

Jim

Always by my side

I read the book and could not put it down. I lost my father in 1996 after watching him suffer for seven months with cancer. He was much like your dad and your memories of him. I have always admired your broadcasting skills, glued to the TV every year during the "Masters". When I took up golf in 1992, Fred Couples quickly became and still is my favorite golfer. I heard you congratulate Rush on his 20th anniversary, which elevated my opinion of you even more. It was hard to fight back the tears on many occasions while reading the book, especially on a recent airplane flight. There are very few gentlemen in your industry today and you have a strong following. A dream come true for me would be a round of golf with you and Freddy, and hear some of those UH stories. You are definitely a man of integrity and a proud father and husband. Give us the pleasure of many more years of the "Masters"!!!

Contact address

Dear Mr. Nantz - How can I contact you? Do you have a website, a contact email address or a facebook? Would like to send a note regarding your book which was tremendous.

thank you

Is it all about you ?

I see in your comments that reference is made by name to others in your life but no mention of the name of your father whom you claim meant so much to you.

The respect you report to claim for your father seems rather shallow to me.

Hence it smacks of the phrase "It's All About Me (you)".

The reason for my comment is that my brother and I may have known your father in his high school days in football and to me Nantz was an unusual name that I rembember.

Please do not post this comment. . . .

I have a request that maybe you could help me with.

Dear Mr. Nantz,

Since this is of a personal nature I would not like to discuss it here in this format. If you could give me some way that I could contact you that would be great. You can respond to my e-mail address below. Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to talking to you. It must be great to be on the air with the Proffesional Golfers. I have watched them ever since they have been on TV, learned so much from them and could use their help. I would be so appreciative of your response.

Thank you Sir

Hey Jim

Hey Jim,

yes it's John Holland. remember me? I always think about you when I watch you on tv. It is amazing to think that I got a glimpse first had at a very early age of your great announcing. Man were those great times. I just wanted to say how proud I am of you and hope some day we are able to cross paths again. Maybe get out on the links even like old times. I am still living here in Daytona Beach. Teaching now for 22 years. Where does the time go? Otherwise, doing great and all is good.I am leaving you an e-mail address and number. Call sometime if you ever get the chance. 386-212-9089;

Talk soon

John

A note of appreciation

Jim,

I just finished your book Alway by my side,I must say I was emotional moved as well as delighted to hear of of a close father son relasionship.I lost my father wnI was nineteen and surely wish that I could have experienced some of your memories

with my father.Thank you for writing this book which will always

have a prominent place in my library.

A GREAT PERSON

HELLO MR. NANTZ FIRST OF ALL I WAS SAD TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FATHER PASSING WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK I WAS TOLD MY PRAYERS ARE STILLAND FOREVER WITH YOUAND YOUR FAMILY.. I FOLLOW YOU ACROSS CBS SPORTS AND WHEN I MET YOU AT THE TIME I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE VISITING YOUR FATHER IN THE HOSPITAL IMSURE HE WAS A GREAT MAN LIKE FATHER LIKE SON I WILL MAKE THIS SHORT IT SHOWED CHARACTER OF YOU SIR WHEN YOU TOOK TIME AND TOOK A PICTURE WITH ME AS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY (THE TWO LADIES) WAS LEAVING THE LOBBY AREA.... EVEN THO IT WAS A ROUGH TIME BUT GOD KNEW'' I CHERISH THAT MOMENT AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT AUTOGRAPH PICTURE OF YOURSELF AND PHIL SIMS I TOLD MY DAD I MET YOU AND LATER HE WENT AND BROUGHT THE BOOK I WILL READ IT.. YOU AND YOUR FATHER ARE FAMOUS TO ME''' TAKE CARE

NAPOLEON- (HEIGHTS)

Your Book, Your Dad

Thanks for writing a book like this. I had a chance to read it while on a business trip. What great memories you have, and at the same time brought back to me and about father. There were so many moving, inspirational and funny parts of your book that to single one out would not do justice to all the other great stories in your book.

But what it did do is to instill hope in me that there are still family role models that our kids can look up to.

Your father was a smart man. It was that generation, which my father was a part of, that some how new what was best. Most of the time they were right too.

To discuss Alzeheimers like you did is like walking through a time machine back to my grandmother who suffered from this terrible disease. Now they both no longer suffer.

Our prayers go out to you and your family.

And thank you for sharing your dad with us.

Your Book

Dear Jim:

I just finished your book and thoroughly enjoyed every paragraph although some were heart-wrenching. My Mother-in-Law was a victim of Alzheimer's and it is a terrible disease.

In your book, you took us through some wonderful times in the sports world and allowing us to see it from in the inside was a special treat. I was really moved with the Arnold Palmer & Ken Venturi reconciliation; I did not know that it had happened, but it must have been wonderful to have been such an integral part of that which is a moment in history itself. As you said and I often think myself, life is too short to hold grudges.

In this day and age, it is not often that you see someone who has been totally devoted to his family and you have shown that in this book. I know your Father is so very proud of you and your accomplishments and I would love to meet Caroline - she sounds like a real trooper! The piece with Tiger and Caroline was just great!

Thank you for sharing, I'm sure it was not an easy task, but your Dad would be proud.

Thanks from The Woodlands, Texas

Paula Vodicka