A golfer friend named Will related this great Jim McMahon story to me. Will lived in Chicago and worked for a large company. With a little research into Jim McMahon, we have a fun story about a true NFL character.

Will’s job description included entertaining his companies’ big clients on the golf course. He had the opportunity to participate in many celebrity/charity golf events sponsored by his company. Will used the tournaments as a PR opportunity for the companies’ best customers. He had the option to invite a few of his personal friends to complete a foursome from time to time. The celebrity would join the group; they would play as a five-some.

At a large annual charity event, Will’s group drew former Chicago Bears QB, of the 1985 Super Bowl winner, Jim McMahon, as their celebrity.

Will said, “McMahon was a wonderful athlete and a very fine golfer who sported a +2 handicap. But he had several quirks on the golf course that some “gentlemen golfers” found offensive.

“He always played golf barefooted and his stated goal was to drink a-beer-per-hole during every round of golf. The more he drank the more off-color his variety of NFL stories became. Oh yes, Jim McMahon also openly smoked a joint or two during his round.”

Authors Note: McMahon uses cannabis to treat the chronic pain and arthritis that he suffers as a result of his football career.  He calls cannabis a “godsend” that allowed him to eliminate his painkiller habit which he says included 100 Percocet pills a month. McMahon has been active in speaking about his experience using cannabis, serving as spokesperson for the Cannabis Sports Policy Project and a member of the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition along with several other former NFL players. McMahon and Bear’s team members also were famous for “The Super Bowl Shuffle” in which he proclaimed, “I’m the punky QB known as McMahon.”

Needless to say, his colorful personally and propensity to smoke dope during his round did not sit well with some of the members of the foursome in that first year. They wanted nothing to do with this NFL rebel on the golf course. McMahon and Will had a great time.

The following year, the charity organizers asked Will if he would mind playing with McMahon as the celebrity, again. Will told them, “I have no problem playing with Jim McMahon, I’m just an average golfer and I love to have a few laughs on the golf course.”

One of Will’s best friends was a HUGE McMahon fan. Will asked him to play and the invitation was quickly accepted. He wanted to play with McMahon, his hero.

Will smiled as he said, “From the first handshake to the last hole we had an absolute blast. McMahon did not disappoint. He was hilarious. Playing barefoot with a beer in one hand and sometimes a joint in the other. He was telling wild tales one minute and driving the green on a par-4 the next. We had a terrific day. My buddy, the McMahon fan had so much fun, he was jumping around looking like he won the lottery.”

Will went on to tell me that on their final hole Jim’s wife, a beautiful woman, who was also his secretary joined the group. He said that asking for an autograph or a picture was frowned upon and that normally he would never ask for a picture on the course. But his friend was so worried that it may be our only opportunity to get a picture with the famous McMahon. Will asked Jim’s wife if it would be okay. She smiled and said he’d love it!

So, Will got the foursome together and asked Jim for a picture. He smiled then I tossed the camera to McMahon and asked his wife to join us.

Everyone was stunned… Will said “Come on, what’s the problem. I want to tell our friends that Jim Mc Mahon took OUR picture.” There was an awkward pause. His wife started cracking up, laughing. They almost fell out of the cart. Will’s friend turned purple with embarrassment.

McMahon looked at Will. He looked at the camera in his hand…band he smiled and got a great laugh at his own expense! The group got a picture with Mrs. McMahon and another with Jim.

The following year, Jim McMahon asked if he could be put with Will’s group again. Will said, “He may not fit in with the ‘suits’, the bankers and accountants, but we all enjoyed his personality!  We had a fantastic day.”

Will never saw McMahon again, but said he was a good, crazy guy.