Chauncey Billups Answers 6 Questions About Golf & Basketball
DENVER (CBS4) - This weekend The 19th Hole features perhaps the best basketball player to ever come out of Colorado.
In an encore presentation of the CBS4 Sports show, Vic Lombardi plays golf against Chauncey Billups at Cherry Creek Country Club in Denver. And Billups came prepared; he brought along his Mr. BIGSHOT golf balls.
Billups, now retired from the NBA, has been working for ESPN lately doing on-air analysis.
"I like the TV thing right now, Vic," he said.
But Billups has hopes that someday he might run an NBA organization.
Don't miss the show on Saturday (after Round 3 of the Quicken Loans National on CBS4) to hear more about what Billups has to say about that topic, and read more Q & A from the show below:
What was your best score ever on the golf course?
Billups says on the show that this is his fifth summer of golfing. "The best score I ever shot was an 85. I'll beat that this summer, though," he tells Lombardi.
How does golf compare to basketball?
"Every single thing I was taught (in basketball) is counterproductive in this sport. Strength, speed, overpowering your opponent." While he admits he likes the game, he says golf "drives me crazy!"
What if the golfers on the pro tour could talk trash like you did during basketball games?
"The ratings would be up even higher. But it wouldn't be considered a gentleman's game anymore."
Why did you start playing golf?
"I wanted something to do where I could hang with my guys and compete and hanging with my guys wasn't at night anymore. It's fantastic for camaraderie. That's one of the main reasons why I started. It's because I wanted something to do ... when basketball was over I could still get out there with the fellas, hang out, compete and just have a good time."
What is the most memorable shot you've ever hit on a golf course?
'I chipped one in from 70 yards. I felt like it was a hole in one. I went crazy, man!"
Are kids playing basketball enough these days?
"This is like the video game generation. So where as when we had extra time we were going out in the street playing, going to the recreation center playing, whatever it is you're playing you're out ... being active on the streets. Now these kids are just sitting in front of the TV screen, (playing) video games."
See previous episodes of The 19th Hole on a special section of CBSDenver.com.
