Today& #39;s anecdote: First time I met Arnold Palmer was at Bay Hill in & #39;94 working on & #39;A Good Walk Spoiled.& #39; Had asked Doc Giffin, his right hand man, if I could talk to him that week. Doc said, & #39;Can you go to his house for breakfast Sunday?& #39; Yeah, I think I can make it.

Only thing was, I was supposed to see Krzyzewski that morning in Tampa--they were playing 2nd rd. NCAA Tournament game late and I needed an early column for first edition. I called K and said, & #39;I have to cancel, I& #39;m going to see Arnold Palmer.& #39; He said something about golf

not being a real sport. When we walked in, Doc said, "John cancelled a breakfast w/Mike Krzyzewski to be here." Palmer looked at me and said, & #39;Kachoo-who?& #39; Figuring he wasn& #39;t a hoops fan I said, & #39;oh, he& #39;s the Duke basketball coach.& #39; Palmer grinned. & #39;Oh yeah, Duke, the guys...

..who& #39; butt we& #39;ve been kicking the last couple years." (This was when Tim Duncan was at Wake) He was cracking up. Totally got me--and charmed me, all at once. The next three hours were amazing.