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Messing with the Masters?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Remember all the hue and cry a few years ago when Atlanta’s own Ted Turner wanted to colorize some classic old black-and-white films? Well, now the issue has reared its little technicolor head again here in Georgia. And the revered footage in this case involves — brace yourselves, children — the Masters.
Way, way back in 1960, Arnold Palmer birdied the final two holes on Sunday at Augusta National to snatch the green jacket away from Ken Venturi by one stroke. Ardent golf fans know all about that dramatic finish, but it’s never been re-shown on TV. Until now.
On April 8 (aka this year’s Masters Sunday), CBS will air “Jim Nantz Remembers: The 1960 Masters,” at 1:30 p.m. Obviously, we won’t get to see the whole thing all over again — the durn show’s only an hour long, after all — but there will be an interview with Palmer as he watches the broadcast for the first time and recalls all the details of snatching victory from the jaws of Amen Corner.
But wait, there’s more! Unwilling to leave good enough alone, Jim Nantz Productions (working with Legend Films) has colorized the original black-and-white footage of the live event. We’re told by CBS that this represents the first time in TV history that a sporting event that originally aired live in black-and-white has been rebroadcast in color. Ain’t technology grand?
But considering how many folks don’t want anything involving Augusta National to change, ever, (two words: pimiento cheese) one wonders if they’ll take kindly to the carpetbaggers, er, the good folks at CBS and Jim Nantz Productions messing with sacred old footage.
It comes down to this: Tradition? Or the azaleas (not to mention the plaid golf pants) in full technicolor bloom? The Serf is going to say that anything that brings more color to Augusta National is OK by her, and leave it at that.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Grampus
March 23, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this
People are stupid.
By ron
March 23, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
When CBS hired you know who to do the news,I ceased to tune them in.They may color anything they want to and I’ll never know it.
By Lawson
March 23, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
Who Cares!
By Mike P
March 23, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
Gee, you just have to believe that Jim Nantz would not do this without the blessing of Billy Payne and the boys. Otherwise he might be sitting with Gary McCord next year watching the Master’s from the outside in. I think it’s a good idea and would hope it will be tastefully done. I bet the Augusta clan will like it and support it! So this is a relative non-story. AJC at it’s finest as usual.
By James
March 23, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
This is Augusta National’s answer to embracing a multi-color, multi-race world.
By Shannon, M.Div.
March 23, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
Augusta National? Irrelevant. They decided a while back that they wanted to continue to field an exclusionary, prejudicial image to the world, and that’s what they have. So I say, the Master’s? A pointless relic of a bygone era.
By Mike P
March 23, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this
Why does everything have to have a race card attached to it? What a screwed up town!
By Jennifer
March 23, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
Why can’t we just live history like it is?
By David Lee
March 23, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
Shannon, M.Div., I am sure the members of Augusta National really give a crap what you think. What Augusta National does is within the law. Get over it.
By DJ
March 23, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
hey David Lee - lots of things are “within the law” but are abhorrent to the majority of educated, civilized people, and are entirely legitimate targets for protest and criticism. What makes you think the members of the reading public who scan the AJC website give a crap about what YOU think? at least Shannon offered a thoughtful opinion about an issue. All you offered is petty fourth grade character assassination. You must be one of those “compassionate conservatives”, right? Crawl back into your cave until Rush is on the radio again on Monday.
By Eloise
March 23, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
People relax. This is supposed to be a fun engaging dialogue not some smarty pants forum. Good grief!
By Pillsbury Doughboy
March 23, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this
Um, the Augusta National is more diverse than many golf courses up North, such as Winged Foot. In fact, there is one course in Michigan that does not allow women in except for once a year at Christmas, they can come in and buy presents for their member husbands. Many many women have played the Augusta National.
By Spartan
March 23, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
Shannon’s comments were in no way a “thoughtful opinion.” To the contrary, her post was a couple of thoughtless oft-used phrases strung together. There could be thoughtful opinions on the subject, from all sides.
By BB
March 24, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this
Shannon can’t even spell Masters.