Once It’s Quitting Time, It’s All in Fun

Arnold Palmer recorded the last of his four Masters victories in 1964, winning by six strokes. So he could identify with Phil Mickelson, who won the Masters last weekend by two strokes, even though he had a bogey on the last hole.

“To be able to walk up the 18th hole much like Phil did the other day, not feeling the pressure of having to make birdie or par to win, is fun,” Palmer told Fox Sports radio.

Palmer played with Dave Marr on the final day of the 1964 Masters.

“David was quite a few shots back,” Palmer said. “On the 18th tee I said, ‘David, is there anything I can do to help you?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, you can make 12.’ ”

Trivia time: The large and loyal galleries that followed Palmer around golf courses were called “Arnie’s Army.” What is the origin of that phrase?

Fun with Les: Last week on the “More With Les” segment that David Letterman does with CBS chief executive Les Moonves, Letterman asked Moonves, “You can’t call them fans [at the Masters], can you?”

Said Moonves: “No, they’re called patrons.”

Letterman: “But if I could get you to call them fans, would you get a lousy call from somebody down there?”

Moonves: “Dave, you’re giving me a hard time on a tournament that is very important to us. You’re getting me in big trouble.”

Last dance: Matt Leinart, in an interview with ESPN’s Shelley Smith that will be on today’s editions of “SportsCenter,” explains why he chose to take ballroom dancing to get the final two credits he needed for a USC degree.

“I’ve been in college 4 1/2 years, I have taken every single credit I could take and this is all I have left,” he said. “I’m like, ‘This is my reward.’ ”

A different tactic: Today, the Miami Heat will wear throwback uniforms modeled after the early 1970s Miami Floridians of the ABA for the final time this season.

Steven Herbert of City News Service recalls that after a 23-61 season in 1969-70, every player on the team was traded, released or chose to retire. So owner Ned Doyle came up with this slogan to promote ticket sales the next season: “Instead of firing the coach, we fired the team.”

Looking back: On this day in 2003, the Mighty Ducks defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2, in overtime to eliminate the defending champions from the playoffs with a four-game sweep. The Ducks were only the second team in NHL history to sweep the defending Stanley Cup champions in the first round. Detroit did it to Toronto in 1952.

Trivia answer: When Palmer won his first Masters in 1958, soldiers from a nearby Army base were there. Nearly all of them rooted for Palmer and many held up signs to show their support.

And finally: Terry Bradshaw last week donated his four Super Bowl rings and other memorabilia to Louisiana Tech, his alma mater. Said Jay Leno: “Terry said that this would mean a lot more to him if he knew what alma mater meant.”

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Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.