Greg Hansen's Notebook: This entry is part of longtime Star columnist Greg Hansen's weekly notebook.
Subscribers can read this week's "Hansen's Notebook" in its entirety in the Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024 edition of the Arizona Daily Star (Page C2) — either in print or at Tucson.com/EEdition. Or, dig into the Hansen archives at Tucson.com/Hansen.
My good and long-time journalistic “rival’’ and golf partner Jack Rickard died last week in Tucson. He was 89. He enjoyed life to the fullest. He probably got 189 years of enjoyment out of those 89 years.
The former Tucson Citizen sports editor and beat writer began his newspaper career at his hometown Corvallis Gazette-Times in the 1950s and wrote for the Citizen for three decades. He was one of a kind. He was a stern competitor but never let it get in the way of friendship.
Greg Hansen is the longtime sports columnist for the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson.com.
We later started working for the same team as selection committee members of the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame. He made every meeting upbeat and fun.
Rickard was the beat writer for Lute Olson’s first 10 UA basketball teams. He went to every road game in that period, and I was fortunate to be his travel partner for most of them. In 1986, when Olson’s World Championship team won the world title in Europe, we spent three weeks together in France and Spain.
One hot Sunday afternoon in Paris we sat on the Champs-Elysees with Olson for a few cold ones. We might’ve been overserved. When we walked back to the team bus, Olson stopped to get a cheeseburger and ate it on the way to the bus. The mustard and ketchup spilled onto his customarily immaculate outfit.
When the Team USA players, including Steve Kerr and Sean Elliott, got back on to the bus, Rickard took a seat by Olson, who had fallen asleep in the front row. Rickard blocked the view of Olson’s messy shirt so that the players wouldn’t see. Olson later found out about Rickard’s actions.
A few days later, Olson’s team stunned heavily-favored Russia to win the gold medal.
On the way back to the team hotel, Olson sat by Rickard.
“I owe you dinner,’’ he said.
Rickard was a prolific golf writer — the best, by far, in Tucson history. For about 20 years, he wrote a weekly column on local golf. Every detail at every course. Women’s leagues, Junior leagues. Country Clubs. Muni courses. The Tucson Open. He didn’t miss a thing.
I looked forward to all of our rounds together. He was about a 10-12 handicap, a lefty. Always upbeat. He bet on everything. He had so many “side games’’ that you needed a scorekeeper.
One of his favorite bets was called a “barkie.’’ If you hit a tree and still got a par, it was $10.
Once, at Dell Urich Golf Club, Jack hit two trees on the No. 6 hole. Somehow, he chipped in from about 50 yards for a birdie.
“That’ll be $20,’’ he said. “But don’t worry, I’m buying.’’
And he always did.
I’ll miss you, Jack. One of a kind.
Hansen's Notebook: Marana football snaps 7-year Salpointe streak vs. Tucson-area schoolsFrom Greg Hansen's Notebook: This week's short stuff, including: Marana HS ending Salpointe's seven-year win streak against Tucson-area schools; UA women's golf facing ex-coach Laura Ianello, Texas twice early on; history of coach's kids playing on UA teams; more.
From Greg Hansen's Notebook: Colton Smith, who made the Final Four of the NCAA Men's Tennis singles draw in 2024, is among the leading Arizona Wildcat athletes heading into 2024-25. Other's near the top: Tetairoa McMillan (football), Salpointe alum Mason White (baseball).
From Greg Hansen's Notebook: Jack Kennedy was a basketball and golf standout at The Gregory School 20 years ago. A few weeks ago, he's became the head coach of Colorado State's men's golf team.
From Greg Hansen's Notebook: Arizona AD Desireé Reed-Francois has changed the face of the UA athletic department, hiring new associate ADs, among other positions.
