Mike O'Connell

I have come across several eyebrow-raising headlines this week along the lines of “Muslim woman in hijab featured in Playboy!!!”

This statement is technically correct, though about as disclosing as when I say I was in Playboy. (Because I had a letter to the editor printed a dozen years ago.)

Noor Tagouri is a Muslim-American journalist “featured” in the October 2016 issue of Playboy. It’s about a three-paragraph blurb on page a million in an article—I do read the articles—introducing half a dozen other “renegades” from skate boarders to game designers. Yes, Ms. Tagouri is wearing a hijab. And jeans and sneakers and a leather jacket. (The other guys in the piece are similarly beclothed.)

Hijab and nothing else? There’s a story. Even a hijab and a bikini. This one, though? Nothing to see here. (I wish I meant that literally.)

A more interesting element from this October ’16 issue is not who is featured but who is not. A certain Mr. Hefner makes no appearance whatsoever, other than the fact his name is on the masthead and he is mentioned casually in a letter to the editor. Not even a from-the-vaults pic of The Man, as has been the custom in the past few issues. No Hef Sightings, no Hef celebrity pics, no nothing. I’m curious why, 63 years into its run, has Playboy Inc. squeezed out is founder. Perhaps I’m looking too much into this.

Better peek through the issue again. You know, for clues.

Tragedy in Miami, jubilation in the Meadowlands, a heavyweight fight on tap at Hofstra tonight… all of it takes a backseat to the passing of one of my heroes.

Arnold Palmer, one of golf’s great champions and a beacon of sportsmanship and integrity in the modern world, died yesterday at the age of 87.

Winner of 62 PGA tournaments and seven major championships, it was Palmer’s legacy off the golf course for which he will probably be best remembered. He was a one-man multinational corporation, back before anyone could have conceived of such a thing. His business interests ranged from golf courses to motor oil, and his name graces both an airport and a children’s hospital. The amount of money he and his various charities have donated over the years is virtually incalculable, and yeah, there really is a drink named for the guy. Legendary status confirmed.

Over the next few days you will hear much about Arnold Palmer and his hundreds of accomplishments on and off the golf course. The lists will be far more comprehensive than what I can put together here. In brief, he was an ambassador of his sport, greatly responsible for its growing popularity (and financial possibilities) in the 1950s and ’60s. In 1968 he became the first man to win more than $1 million in career prize money on the PGA Tour. His heirs can now pick that up in a weekend… thanks to him.

The Associated Press named him “Athlete of the Decade” for the 1960s. He’s on a very short list of athletes who could claim to be the greatest sportsman of the century.

Was he cool?

The man flew his own jet from tournament to tournament, back to business meetings, back to tournaments.

Sportsman. Idol. Friend of presidents.

Nickname?

Quite simply, “The King.”

Long live the King.

When I was a kid we learned that Fall begins on September 21.

The scientists this year tell me that Fall actually begins tomorrow, September 22, at 10:21 a.m.

Approximately.

You want to know when Fall really begins?

When you give up on baseball.

Hasn’t happened yet.

I had it written.

I had today’s post written last night about 10:00 when my beloved New York Yankees were cruising to victory over the pesky Boston Red Sox.

Well, the Sox got a little peskier after that, jumping on the Bombers for five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to escape the first game of their series with a 7-5 win. As I always note, you can’t say these two teams don’t play entertaining ballgames.

With 16 games to go in their season, the Yankees play six against the Red Sox, and the remaining 10 against the rest of the AL East. This will make for some exciting playoff drama, no doubt, as the Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, and Yankees are all still in contention for postseason spots. (I had planned to write how last night’s victory bolstered the Yankees’ chances… so much for that.)

Known as they are today as the “Baby Bombers” (given their influx of new young talent), I barely recognize those in pinstripes these days but pull for them nonetheless. Most noticeable to my eyes, of course, is their venerable manager, Joe Girardi, who should be considered for 2016 AL Manager of the Year.

On tap? Three more games between the Yankees and Red Sox this weekend, including a marquee matchup Sunday night on ESPN.

Think I’m going to let my own baby bomber stay up for that one.

Cruel and unusual punishment is the way I’d describe the second weekend in a row in which I must watch an entire day of games before my favorite team opens its season the following night. Last weekend it was Notre Dame kicking off on Sunday (bizarre) and tonight it’s the Washington you-know-whos opening the 46^th season of Monday Night Football.

For what it’s worth yesterday’s NFL action was amazing, of course, with 10 of 13 games being decided by a touchdown or less. Tonight, though, I could care less whether it’s a good game, just a winning game.

People around here be real crabby when the ’skins lose.