RIP, Seve.

Legend.



Sad day for not only golf but also anyone who appreciates true competitors, no matter the sport.  Severiano Ballesteros passed away in his home in Spain at the age of 54 after fighting a brain tumor for several years.  In this era of fantasy sports, huge arenas and stadiums, free agency, steroids and ignorant and selfish superstars without titles, this generation might not fully appreciate the greatness of Seve.  Outside of Tiger, it's quite possible nobody has played a more colorful and charismatic style of golf...ever.  Outside of Tiger, Player, and Nicklaus, there probably has never been a more intense competitor on the links.  Sometimes controversial and flamboyant yet always brilliant, Seve altered a country club sport back in the late 1970's and throughout the 1980's.  The drama, intensity, patriotism and downright pride shown in the Ryder Cups of recent decades is nearly entirely due to Seve Ballesteros, who forever changed the level of play and competition in those bi-annual events when players from outside of Great Britain & Ireland were included to make up the European team in 1979.  Hopefully the sports community of today will put down their iPads, Twitter feeds, $8.50 beers, and pending fantasy trades to truly appreciate someone who competed with an intensity we'll never see from an NBA superstar that "doesn't get along with his coach" or "wants to play in a bigger market."

You'll be missed, Seve.