ACCLAIMED WRITER RETURNS TO CAPE

As far as the sports world is concerned, Tom Cushman has travelled to distant lands and walked with kings.

He watched a 19-year-old Jack Nicklaus roll in an 8-foot putt to win the U.S. Amateur Championship, watched "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali in his crowning moment of glory in the Thrilla in Manila, and felt the ground move beneath his feet at Candlestick Park in the 1989 World Series.

And as an award-winning sports columnist, Cushman has made a living by documenting his travels, writing about people and their feats.

Thursday night the former Cape Girardeau Central High and Southeast Missouri State University graduate addressed a crowd of approximately 450 at the Copper Dome Dinner as the guest speaker at the Show Me Center.

Prior to Cushman's address, Michael Dambach, chairman of the Copper Dome board of directors, announced $2.4 million has already been raised in the current year. Dambach added that the Copper Dome currently boasts a record 2,453 members.

But for much of the program, the microphone belonged to Cushman, who obtained his first paid journalism job at the Southeast Missourian around 1950.

He obtained a bachelor of arts degree in English from Southeast in 1955, and after a stint in the military, graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a journalism degree in 1959.

The journey in sports journalism wasted little time in taking Cushman on a wild ride.

After obtaining a job at the Gazette-Telegraph in Colorado Springs, Co., his first assignment called for a feature story on a young, upstart golfer in the U.S. Amateur Golf Tournament.

Cushman smiled when he recalled the first time he saw the young golfer putt at the Broadmoor Country Club. He misplayed the break caused by the mountains and his putt rolled 20-feet off the green.

"I called my editor and said, `This guy can't even play,'" said Cushman. "He said, `Do a story anyway.'"

Cushman did as he was told and wrote the feature on Jack Nicklaus, who went on to win the tournament.

"It made it more special to be at Augusta in 1985 when he won his sixth Masters," he added.

Cushman's self-deprecating humor spilled into other sports, most notably hockey.

Working for the Philadlphia Daily News as a columnist, Cushman, not having seen his family for three weeks, said he was wanting to cut out of Lake Placid and leave the 1980 Winter Olympics early.

Not knowing a lot about hockey, he asked a colleague if the United States had any chance against Russia. His colleague assured him the United States had no chance.

Cushman left the games early and found himself watch the "Miracle on Ice," from the comfort of his own living room, which quickly lost its comfort when the U.S. stunned the Russians to win the gold medal.

While Cushman was able to laugh at his news judgment at times, his ability as a sports columnist was more than made clear by Southeast President Kala Stroup, who introduced him.

Cushman was named the Sports Writer of the Year in both Colorado and Pennsylvania. He also won the 1981 Nat Fleischer International Award for Distinguished Boxing Journalism. He had covered a total of 10 Olympic Games, 16 World Series, 20 Super Bowls, 23 NCAA Final Fours and fights on five continents.

However, his greatest single achievement may have been developing a "close relationship" with Indiana coach Bobby Knight, a notorious indignant toward the media.

"We spend a lot of free time together when we get the opportunity," said Cushman.

He also spent a day sailing with Dennis Connor, another media indignant, and spent the afternoon sliding from one side of the boat to another in the face of 30-foot swells.

"I was convinced as I ever was in any situation that this was the day," said Cushman.

He joked he was so scared that he forgot to get seasick.

He talked of building rapport with players such as Philadelphia Phillie star Richie Ashburn and how times have changed.

"It doesn't seem like we have enough fun in sports anymore," said Cushman. "When I first started we had a good relationship with athletes. It sort of deteriorated over the years and its unfortunate that what we're reporting on now is drugs, rudeness, labor strikes and orange hair."

Afterward, Cushman blamed salaries for the detoriorating relationship between the media and athletes.

He said his columns focus on people, often focusing on unusual athletes and overachievers.

Cushman on other people and games he's witnessed:

Jack Nicklaus -- "Nicklaus is high on my list. He handles himself so well and cares about the game. And he's a great family man."

Muhammad Ali -- "He cared about people everywhere." Cushman said his son fainted after an Ali training session. Ali wanted to fly in a helicopter for help. Ali called Cushman the next three days at the office to check up on his son.

Greatest team -- Villanova track team (middle distance). Once had four runners finish 1-2-3-4 in sub-four-minute miles at the prestigious Penn Relay.

Greatest boxing match -- Thrilla in Manila. "It was so brutal I had to turn away a few times."

Favorite basketball game -- Villanova's upset victory over Georgetown in the NCAA national championship basketball game.

Greatest football game -- Nebraska's 35-31 over Oklahoma in 1971. The teams were ranked No. 1 and 2 at the time.

Greatest baseball game -- Bob Gibson two-hitter against Philadelphia.