Featured Story /// Golfing with Jim Riek
Are we playing golf or just talking?
Story By: Jim Riek
Generally speaking, I enjoy playing golf at a brisk, steady pace. Often it deviates by weather or slower players. Seldom does it grind to a complete halt for a photo shoot, not to mention a trivia contest! My three playing partners in this article are lifelong friends. We don’t take anything said too seriously!
Chris Gervino was the longtime sports director at both Columbia TV stations. Tom Whelihan was the Mizzou football kicker who still in 1986. Bob Brendel is the longtime sports information director at
similarities of swinging his wedge and swinging his leg. “Head down, look at what you’re hitting, shoulders or leg through. Trust your swing, and don’t look up too soon,” described a strutting Whelihan. Of his nickname, was the kicker’s collegiate highlight. Incidentally, the Tigers lost that game and many others. When asked what his sec- ond-best Tiger memory was? Wheels responded there wasn’t one. “We didn’t win enough games in my four years to count on both Tom enjoyed talking to reporters, but we know many athletes and coaches don’t. Remember “Silent” George Hendrick with the Cardi-
100 /// September 2025
for Tiger athletics. His title used to be Sports Information Director, now Strategic Communications. Think about how many Mizzou ath- letes passed through that campus during his tenure. He remembers the good teams as well as the poor. His sports trivia knowledge is uncanny. Seriously, when I post sports trivia on Facebook, I often add, ‘Bob Brendel, you’re exempt!’ of golf but settled on... which Tiger garnered the most media at- tention? He gave me a short list of four. I was caught by surprise attracted attention for a variety of reasons. Besides being a home-
“The quarterback has to accept the roll of team spokesman”
town hero (Columbia Hickman) and an exceptional player, he was was articulate, always with a smile on his face, and the media liked and he accepted that and never said no.” Bob put two more Tiger standouts in that category, Brock Olivio and Melvin Booker.
“Brock was a compelling story with his work ethic. Melvin was the symbol of the 1993-94 undefeated Big Eight team. Both were great with the media and didn’t shy away from the attention.” Brendel
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