By Dr. Kenneth Neldner

NAPE's dear friends and major benefactors, The Three Amigos, successfully completed another golf benefit in Houston on May 6-7, 2003.  It is one of golf's greatest philanthropic fund-raising events, which benefits research in Alzheimer's, Cancer and PXE.

The three amigos were at their very best.  Jim Nantz did his usual masterful job as M.C.. Fred Couples - just coming off a major tournament win - was in great spirits and "our very own" Blaine McCallister and Claudia added the final glamorous touch.

President George Herbert Walker Bush was the honorary chairman.  He and wife Barbara contributed some great anecdotes and some interesting thoughts as well as congratulations and encouragement to all of the amigos in the room.

Each year a new (old) golf pro is especially recognized.  This year it was Jack Nicklaus, who was also awarded the George Bush Inspirational Award.  Jack gave an excellent inspirational talk on what it takes to be a pro - at anything.  His answer could be summed up in two words:  HARD WORK.

I'm always pleasantly amazed that they can recruit so many golfers to pay rather large sums to play a round of golf with Blaine, Fred or Jack and get a few tips on how to cure that horrible hook and slice.  But thankfully, there always seems to be a lot of golfers of this caliber.  Jim Nantz knows untold numbers of famous sports figures and plays a major role in "keeping the ball rolling."