Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Wednesday 3 July 2019
XFL's plans for

upcoming season

starting to take shape

By JOE REEDY prospects.
AP Sports Writer Los Angeles, New York,
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) Washington, Seattle, Hous-
— Oliver Luck's first year as ton and Dallas featured
the XFL's commissioner has 100 players, who were in-
mostly been confined to vited by the league, but
the office and getting the last weekend's showcase in
league's framework set up. Tampa had 150. Luck said
The next couple months the league will begin sign-
are what Luck refers to as ing players later this month
the fun part of preparing after the final showcase is
for next year's return. held in St. Louis July 13.
"We're still a long way from Some of the prospects
a football game but we played in the Alliance of
are starting to see more of American Football, which In this Feb. 25, 2019, file photo, XFL Football Commissioner Oliver Luck talks to reporters before
what we are trying to do," lasted only eight weeks, introducing former NFL football quarterback Jim Zorn as the head coach for Seattle's XFL football
Luck said. but some former NFL play- team, in Seattle.
The league — which will ers have also participated,
begin play the week af- including wide receivers in 2013. "It's good just to positions. cause Luck said they al-
ter Super Bowl 54 — is in Hakeem Nicks and Robert know you still have an op- "We have some guys who ready had a large amount
the middle of conducting Meacham, quarterbacks portunity to play if you still left the NFL on terms that of film. Many have won-
"Summer Showcases" in Landry Jones and Ryan have some juice left." were not their own but still dered if 2012 Heisman Tro-
the eight cities where it will Mallett and tight end Fred Luck is optimistic that the have 2-4 years left of play- phy winner Johnny Manziel
have teams. The showcas- Davis. "You get a lot of reps. quality of players, especial- ing. It gives me hope that is on the league's radar,
es are similar to pro days on For me, there is a chance to ly at quarterback, will be we can play solid football," but Luck said that remains
college campuses and the put film out there and show better than the AAF. Luck he said. to be seen. Manziel played
NFL Scouting Combine as I can still play," said Davis, points to the league being Some players were not two games in the AAF be-
coaches get to work with who last played in the NFL able to offer more at skill invited to showcases be- fore the league folded.q
PGA TOUR would be No. 29 when he with a spot in the British
Continued from Page 18 arrived Monday morning. Open, Masters and PGA
Lashley was a junior at Ari- One problem. Championship.
zona in 2004 when his par- His golf clubs never made "I'm just thankful I got in the
ents and girlfriend died in the connection in Dallas tournament," Lashley said.
a plane crash on their way and Berganio didn't get Berganio never felt so hap-
home to Nebraska after them until Tuesday night. py for not being able to
watching him play in an The course is occupied all play, but only to a point.
NCAA regional. The mental day Wednesday with the The text messages kept
anguish was more than he pro-am. pouring in Sunday night
realized. Lashley struggled "I wasn't able to play a and into Monday, all filled
upon turning pro, dabbled practice round," Berganio with amazement that a
in real estate during a said. "A friend of mine al- withdrawal could change
break from golf and then ways says, 'Fail to prepare, someone's life.
began the slow climb back prepare to fail.' I'm 50. I "I didn't change his life,"
through five tours over the know some kid behind me Berganio said. "I didn't hit a
next decade until reaching was waiting to get in, and shot."
the PGA Tour as a 34-year- I didn't want to take up a All he did was unwittingly In this July 1, 2001, file photo, David Berganio, Jr. of Granada
Hills, Calif., drives off the sixth tee during the final round of the
old rookie in the fall of 2017. spot. And then this hap- provide an opportunity. Greater Hartford Open golf tournament in Cromwell, Conn.
Lashley wasn't in the field pened. He's a former Wild- It just happened to fall to Associated Press
at Detroit. He didn't make cat, as well. The situation Lashley, who took it from
it through Monday qualify- couldn't have been better." there. Berganio took it from there. eventual winner, 21-year-
ing but stuck around as an Lashley followed that 63 Berganio knows all about He was a two-time winner old Masters champion Tiger
alternate in case his luck with a 67, and then he blew opportunity. of the U.S. Amateur Pub- Woods. Five years later, he
changed. open the tournament with He was born to a 15-year- lic Links and played on lost in a playoff at the Bob
That's where Berganio en- another 63 to build a six- old mother on welfare and the winning Walker Cup in Hope Classic to Phil Mickel-
ters the picture. shot lead. He started the raised in a housing project 1993, partnering with Todd son.
Berganio has been on a final round with two birdies in Pacoima, California. A Demsey to win a foursomes "I wasn't trying to beat No.
medical extension since in three holes and was on priest from the Guardian match against a team 50 in the world or No. 150
2004 because of a bulging his way to a six-shot victory. Angel Catholic Church that included Padraig Har- in the world," he said with
disk in his back that took 11 His sister, Brooke, flew in gave him a starter set of rington. a laugh. "It was either No. 1
years to be diagnosed as a from Phoenix, along with a Chi Chi Rodriguez clubs In three full years on the or 2."
problem in his hip. He has host of friends and family when Berganio was 12 to PGA Tour before injuries Berganio doesn't spend a
played only 28 times in the from Arizona and Nebras- keep him off the streets. shut him down, Berganio lot of time looking back at
last 15 years on the PGA ka, to share an emotional "He gave me an opportu- had two good chances to what could have been,
Tour. moment. The victory gives nity to hit all the golf balls win. He played in the final because his past starts long
He was certain the new Lashley a two-year exemp- I wanted," Berganio said. group of the Byron Nelson before he even got on tour.
PGA Tour event in Detroit tion on the PGA Tour, along "He never hit a shot for me." Classic in 1997 with the "I'm not angry," he says.q