Fridays with Mac: "Offer Grace"

An abundant, wet and surprising snow produced foggy conditions and kept two “Mac’s” from wandering far on this Friday. What to do? Watch golf. It was Super Bowl weekend. The PGA pros were in Phoenix for the Waste Management Open.

This tournament is renowned for the boisterous atmosphere surrounding the TPC Scottsdale’s 16th hole. It looks like a small college football stadium around the par three. Packed with rowdy fans. At a golf tournament? Yep. I think it’s cool and fired across the living room to the only coach to ever lead the Colorado Buffaloes to a national football title, “I’d love to see an entire tournament played with crazy fans. If basketball players can make free throws with a frenzied crowd harassing them, why not golf? Billy Mac from Hackensack snorted, “That’s a terrible idea!”

I started having flashbacks to “Buff Guy” days as a CBSDenver sports guy. This wasn’t the first time the Hall of Fame coach questioned your scribe’s intelligence. Ah well, goes with the territory. So we’re watching golf. A rookie named Sahith Theegala is making news with the second-round lead. The sweet swinger from Pepperdine got a sponsor’s exemption to compete. We’re rooting for him when another flashback emerges, far more pleasant.

Phoenix was site of the final football game in Bill McCartney’s illustrious CU football tenure. New Year’s Day 1995. The Buffs played Lou Holtz’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Fiesta Bowl. Won convincingly 41-24. That 11-1 Buffs’ team was talented. 10 players were?selected in a seven-round NFL draft. Ultimately, more than two dozen standouts on that ’94 roster would be drafted. What a pleasure to have a front row seat and get paid to observe it. Blessed.

Holtz coached the ‘Irish from 1986-96. McCartney led the Buffs from 1982-94. They meet three times: The 1989 and ’90 Orange Bowls before McCartney’s Fiesta finale. “Hey buddy, you finished 2-1 against Holtz.” The 81-year-old couldn’t hold back an ear-to-ear grin.

Phoenix. Fiesta. Finale. A plethora of phonetic “F’s.” Why not another? Fauria. Christian. One of those fantastic 1994 seniors. The All-American tight end was an early-round NFL draft pick, played 13 seasons and won two Super Bowl rings. Prior to the California native’s senior year, there was an altercation in Boulder involving Fauria. I was asked to write a letter of reference for the judge deciding punishment for a good kid who knew he could have made better decisions surrounding the incident.

It was an honor to write it and don’t know how much it helped, if at all. This much I do know, Fauria had an excellent senior season and played well in the convincing win over the Irish.?A good finale for Fauria too. After the game, in a live locker room interview, we talked about how the season started and now, much better, how it was ending. Once the chat concluded, I tossed it back to the studio. Christian gave me a warm embrace. We didn’t know the camera was still on us. A long and heartfelt hug between player and reporter? Live for all to see? I got some heat from Denver media critics afterward for violating journalism ethics and being “Too close” to the players. Tough.

Mac was taking it all in, “You were there for Christian when he needed help. Good for you.” For whatever reason, McCartney’s heartfelt comment took me to a moment BEFORE the 1994 season. Coach needed to hear this:

“I was going through a painful divorce. We hadn’t seen each other since spring practice. I was on the stress reduction diet and, let’s just say, looked gaunt and frazzled. Along with a station photog, I showed up for a preseason interview. You knew something was up and insisted I spill the beans. Upon discovery, you instantly said a prayer for my well being. Then? Each week for an entire year, I received a hand-written note from you imploring me to persevere. I’ll be forever grateful for your empathy for a forlorn fella!”

Mac smiled warmly and announced, “We are here to show grace and lift one another up.” Amen buddy. #fridayswithmac