The Color Barrier Colors Even Golf Feats

Congratulations to Larry Laoretti on his great storybook victory in the U.S. Senior Open, “Golfer Lights Up: Will Larry Laoretti Be Madison Avenue’s Next Folk Hero?” (July 21).

Interestingly, he was never on the PGA tour and this is his first victory on the senior tour.

He immediately becomes a major marketable commodity, largely because he smokes cigars and drives from event to event in a motor home. It is also helpful to have a photogenic, 29-year-old spouse.

People frequently ask: What do those troublesome African-Americans want?

Just so you will know the answer . . . Charlie Sifford has been smoking cigars for the 40 years that he has been participating in, and winning, the regular and senior PGA tours, almost never removing the cigar for any shot. Nary a sponsorship contract to the best of my knowledge.

Something else which underscores the corrosive inequities of life in this society for African-Americans involves the long putters currently in vogue (and used by Laoretti).

The first one ever used by a pro golfer was designed by Charlie Owens, an African-American golfer who has a fused knee resulting from a paratrooper injury.

Orville Moody was an atrociously poor putter on both tours. He got a long putter and miraculously began making everything he stood over. Do you want to guess who the television reporters credited with developing this strange, new and effective device?

America has made it very clear. Even being “very good” is not enough to overcome the color barrier. Be a Michael or a Magic or prepare to be unnoticed and probably unrewarded.

CALVIN D. BANKS

Camarillo