EDMOND — Forty years ago,Esteban Toledo would’ve been
considered along shot toeven be in Ed-mond thisweek.
His wholelife has been along shot.
The youngestof 11 impover-ished childrengrowing upMexico, heused to makemoney by fish-ing golf ballsout of a river atMexicali Coun-try Club and
selling them back to members. It was Toledo who’d found his
older brother in a different river
CLEVELAND (AP) — If LeBron James was going to win another NBA title, healbroken hearts and continue building his legacy, he knew there was only oneplace to go.
To Ohio. Home.Four years after he left for Miami,
a widely criticized departure thatdamaged his image and crushed along-suffering city’s championshiphopes, James is coming back to playfor the Cavaliers to try and endCleveland’s half-century titledrought. He’s returning to his basket-ball roots, to the people who knowhim best to make good on a promise.
James made the announcementFriday with a powerful essay writtenfor Sports Illustrated. His decisionended two weeks of speculation withthe entire league waiting on his move.
In the end, he chose Clevelandover re-signing with the Heat.
“I looked at other teams, butI wasn’t going to leave Mia-mi for anywhere exceptCleveland,” he said toSI. “The more timepassed, the moreit felt right.This is whatmakes mehappy.”
James had not yet signed acontract, but he made it clear hewill wear a Cavaliers jerseynext season.
“When I left Cleveland, I wason a mission,” James said in theSI first-person story. “I wasseeking championships, and wewon two. But Miami alreadyknew that feeling. Our city has-n’t had that feeling in a long,long, long time. My goal is stillto win as many titles as possi-ble, no question. But what’smost important for me is bring-ing one trophy back to North-east Ohio.”
James is the league’s best all-around player, a four-time MVPwho was dubbed “The ChosenOne” as a can’t-miss high schoolstar in nearby Akron. At 6-foot-8, 260 pounds, he can scorefrom all over and is one of thegame’s best passers and de-fenders.
Staying in Miami would havebeen easy. He could have madeanother run at a third title and
fifth straight NBA finals appearance with close friends Dwyane Wade and ChrisBosh, the other members of a “Big 3” who have been the league’s team-to-hate
since 2010.Instead, James picked the young, unproven Cavs, with a rookie coach whospent last year in Israel. Almost unbelievably, he’ll again work for owner
Dan Gilbert, who torched James on his way out the door in 2010.For Cleveland, a city accustomed to so much sports heartache — asthe Cavaliers, Browns and Indians have come close but failed to win
it all — news of James’ return triggered a spontaneous downtowncelebration during Friday’s lunch hours.
Car horns blared and strangers high-fived on the side-walks outside Quicken Loans Arena, where James had so
many big moments during his first seven seasons as apro.
Four years ago, some fans burned his jersey. OnJuly 11, 2014, all was forgiven.
The Cavs were considered a longshot whenfree agency opened. But as the days went
by, Cleveland emerged as the leader.While he was in Las Vegas earlier this
week, James met with Heat presi-dent Pat Riley, the architect who
assembled Miami’s back-to-back championship teams.
Riley made a finalpitch, but he had noth-
ing to match theo v e r w h e l m i n g
lure of home.“ B e f o r ea n y o n e
e v e rcared where I would play bas-ketball, I was a kid from North-east Ohio,” James told SI. “...People there have seen me growup. I sometimes feel like I’mtheir son. Their passion can beoverwhelming. But it drivesme.”
James’ exit ends an era in Mi-ami and will likely lead to Boshsigning elsewhere. The Heatface an uncertain future afterfour straight Eastern Confer-ence titles. Wade and Bosh allopted out this summer, as didforward Udonis Haslem.
“I went to Miami because ofD-Wade and CB,” James told SI.“I believed we could do some-thing magical if we came to-gether. And that’s exactly whatwe did! The hardest thing toleave is what I built with thoseguys.”
James was scorned for turn-ing his back on Cleveland in2010, announcing his decision
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2014 C
Are we striking outwith our youth
sports programs?Coming in The Sunday
Constitution we feature Part 3of our series on youth sportswith a look at some of theissues Lawton faces.
Last Sunday we featured alook at youth programs inArdmore, Wichita Falls and Enid,which are generally regarded assome of the best in the state.
This week Sports Editor JoeyGoodman looks at some of theproblems that continue toplague Lawton’s youth sportsprogram.
Unkept fields, low participa-tion and struggles to findumpires are amongst some ofthe isssues Goodman addresses.
‘I’m coming home’Ohio’s prodigal son returning as James makes decision
APColin Montgomerie walks to the fifth tee during the second round of the U.S.SeniorOpen at Oak Tree National in Edmond on Friday.
Montgomerie maintains lead
SEE JAMES, 4C
APTexas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, left, reaches out for the throw from catcher Robinson Chirinos before tagging out LosAngeles Angels’ Erick Aybar on a stolen base attempt in the fourth inning Friday in Arlington, Texas.
TYLER
PALMATEER
SPORTS WRITER
Toledo’s storybrings him all theway to Edmond
SEE PALMATEER, 2C
EDMOND (AP) — Colin Mont-gomerie thought it would be toughto keep his advantage from thefirst round at the U.S. SeniorOpen, and it was.
The Scotsman shot an even-par71 on Friday and leads Scott Dun-lap by one stroke after the secondday of the tournament.
Montgomerie opened with a 65on Thursday, and then held off thefield in mid-90s heat and high hu-midity. He is at 6 under after tworounds.
“It’s not easy to repeat a goodround as yesterday’s was, but thiswas as good, to be honest,” hesaid. “Seventy-one out there was agood effort. Breezy conditions,windier than it was yesterday,warmer and with the pack comingat you — it’s never easy.”
Dunlap had a 69 in the firstround and a 68 in the second to getto 5 under. He was at 2 under afterstarting on the back nine, andthen went back to the front nineand birdied Nos. 2, 5 and 7 on hisway to a 32.
“I have been particularly goodSEE SENIOR, 4C
Rangers fall againAngels shut out Texas to extendlosing streak to six straight
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Garrett Richards allowed five hits overseven innings to extend his personal winning streak to seven decisionsas the Los Angeles Angels handed the Texas Rangers their sixth con-secutive loss, 3-0 on Friday night.
Mike Trout provided Richards all the run support he needed with asolo home run in the fourth inning, his 22nd of the season.
Richards (11-2) is unbeaten in his last eight starts and the right-han-der has an ERA of 1.27 during that span.
Albert Pujols and Erick Aybar had two hits each for Los Angeles, andAlex Rios had two for Texas.
Texas right-hander Nick Tepesch (3-5) retired the first 10 batters hefaced before Trout sent a 1-0 sinker 418 feet to center field for thegame’s first run. Tepesch allowed two runs in the seventh.
The Rangers left eight men on base, including runners in scoring po-sition in six innings.
in Mexicali, where he’dbeen dumped after a fatalbeating. It was Toledo whohad no choice but to some-times eat the rotten fruithis father fished from thetrash.
But somehow, at age 51,Toledo is still a professionalgolfer. He shot 1-under inthe U.S. Senior Open at OakTree National to reach 1-over for the tournamentFriday, well ahead of thecut line and close enough tomake a move should anyleaders start sliding.
“I played better thanwhat I shot,” Toledo said. “Icouldn’t drop a putt all daylong. It was tough outthere.”
Toledo has made a careerfrom tough.
Sometimes on the coursewhen he walks by a pond —like the many at Oak Tree— his thoughts drift to theriver at Mexicali CountryClub, and those balls heused to put up for sale.
“Once in while, it doeskind of all come back,”
Toledo said after his roundFriday. “You have to under-stand where I came from,with nothing, no shoes, noideas, really. To be in a U.S.Open or a British Openwith thousands of peopleand cameras, that’s all newto me. Sometimes I stillcan’t believe I’m wearingnew shoes, new pants, newshirts.”
That was stuff Toledonever had before; now it’sall given to him free.
“Sometimes it’s kind ofweird,” he said.
Toledo first got his handson an old 7-iron he foundnear the country club inMexicali. He practiced withit by hitting rocks, an at-tempt to escape form thebleak outlook of his dailylife.
Toledo got a free pass outof Mexicali when a wealthybusinessman in Californiaheard of him. Jon Minnis,who died 11 years ago, wasintrigued by the formerboxer — Toledo had a 12-1record before complica-tions with appendicitis end-
ed his fighting career —who had taken a liking togolf and wanted to learnEnglish.
Minnis provided foodand housing for Toledo ashe went through small-cir-cuit golf and 12 disappoint-ing stints in PGA TourQualifying School to earnhis Tour card.
Toledo solidified a cardin 1994, but it slipped awaythe next season.
In 1997, Toledo earned itback after chipping in onthe 18th hole of an Q Schoolevent. He wept on the spot,and then went on to make237 starts on the PGA Tourfrom 1998-2004.
Toledo’s momentumstarted wearing off in 2005,but his career has sincebeen rejuvenated on theChampions Tour. In 2013,his first season of eligibili-ty, he became the first play-er from Mexico to win onthe senior tour when hebeat Mike Goodes andGene Sauers in a playoff inthe Inspersity Champi-
onship near Houston — onCinco de Mayo, ironically.
Toledo won again thatSeptember in another play-off, chipping in on the thirdhole to edge Kenny Perry atthe Montreal Championship.
The victories were Tole-do’s first on big-time protours. Moreover, after amajor swing change duringthe two and a half yearsprior to his Champions de-but, he’s got more confi-dence than ever that he canwin a major championshiplike the one this week atOak Tree.
“I never thought I wasgoing to win twice in oneyear. Never thought itwould happen. I’ve just gotto keep believing I can goout there and do it,” Toledosaid. “This is a hard golfcourse. All the holes aregreat. You can’t go to sleepout here or the course is go-ing to get you.”
In solid physical shapefrom a strict running andstretching regimen, Toledolashed a 3-wood more than300 yards on the 10th tee
Friday, showcasing a dis-tance possessed by fewgolfers in Edmond thisweek. And having in manyways “made it” in golf now,some of the pressure is offToledo as it’s never beenbefore.
Which makes one wonderif the Champions Tour iswhere Toledo will find hisfirst major win.
After all, he’s still hereand still playing good golf.That’s more than anyonecould have expected fromhim as a 10-year-old longshot in Mexico.
“My story, it’s just differ-ent than everyone else’s,”
Toledo said. “I came a longways from the toughest liv-ing. Now I’m still the sameguy. I’ve got differentideas, that’s the only thing.I haven’t changed much. Iwant to win a major, that’smy dream and I’ve got tofollow that.”
U.S. SENIOR OPEN2C SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2014
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PALMATEER: Toledo’s thoughts walking Oak Tree drift back to Mexicali CC back homeCONTINUED FROM 1C
APJeff Hart watches his chip shot on the fourth greenin the second round at the 2014 U.S. Senior Open.
BY TYLER PALMATEERSPORTS [email protected]
Carnegie-born Rocky Walch-er missed Friday’s cut aftershooting 8-over in the secondround, dropping to 11-over inthe U.S. Senior Open at Oak TreeNational in Edmond.
Walcher, who spent threeyears as a toddler in Carnegiebefore his parents moved to Du-rango, Co., had one birdie, fourbogeys and two double bogeysfor the round.
Four of the five other Okla-homans in the field made thecut, which was set at 7-over.
Bob Tway and Willie Woodjoined Stillwater’s Bill Glassonin shooting 2-over Friday. Glas-son is now 4-over for the week,while Tway and Wood are 5-over.
Edmond’s Gil Morgan shot 5-over Friday after a 1-over open-ing round.
Scott Verplank shot 4-over forthe second straight day to missthe cut.
Verplank seeking answersVerplank’s struggles this
week continued Tuesday withfour bogeys and two doubles.
The former Oklahoma StateAll-American, who has won botha U.S. Amateur and an NCAA ti-tle, again had difficulty explain-ing the state of his game. He hasbeen largely out of control offthe tee, highlighted by a toppedtee shot Thursday.
Verplank has suffered elbowand wrist injuries in the past,but he hasn’t been totally clearthis week whether or not he’sfeeling any actual pain.
“My body just does not.. Mybody is like rejecting me play-ing golf is basically what it’slike,” Verplank said. “The thingsthat I can do well or have donewell, you know, or practiced todo well, my body just won’t doit.”
Verplank, an Oak Tree mem-ber who lives on the course, saidhe hasn’t played well there late-ly. He worried aloud about howthat might affect his practice inbetween Champions Tour roadevents.
Verplank stopped short ofsaying the disappointment of his
performance this week wascompounded by it being athome. He spun a positive mes-sage to end an otherwise roughpast two days.
“I love being here, it’s great tobe home,” he said. “It’s great tohave all the people out. Playedwith a couple good guys, youknow, in the group. I just… Idon’t know what to do. Throwmy clubs in the lake? That’s notreally going to help me any. Ijust have to figure out what I’mgoing to do next.”
Dawson down, Dunlap upThrough two rounds, two dif-
ferent sectional qualifiers havescratched the top of the leader-board.
Scott Dunlap, who is from Du-luth, Ga., will be in today’s finalpairing after he fired a 3-under68 to jump into sole possessionof second place. He one-uppedMarco Dawson, another section-al qualifier, whose 5-under 66 onThursday raised some eye-brows.
Dawson shot 5-over Friday,sliding to even par for the weekin a four-way tie at 13th place.
The last U.S. Senior Open win-ner to come through sectionalqualifying, rather than an ex-emption, came in 2002.
No practice, no problemDunlap’s first-ever round at
Oak Tree was Thursday. He did-n’t have time for practice earli-er in the week, having just re-turned from a trip in the UnitedKingdom to try and qualify forthe British Open.
Dunlap said he prefers lesspreparation these days. It’sworked this week, as he’s hadonly two bogeys in both rounds.
“You know, being fresh andnot beaten down is the first andforemost thing for me,” Dunlapsaid. “Now, I have got friendsthat are the golf equivalent ofbasketball gym rats. They wantto be at the golf course all dayevery day. That’s great. Thatworks for them. It doesn’t workfor me. I mean, I love it whileI’m here, but I will put in myfive or six hours, and then it’stime to go to the movies, gohome, watch soccer, do whatev-er, but not be at the golf course.”
Walcher,Verplank miss weekend
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