The PGA has announced that Frank Chirkinian will be inducted the World Golf Hall of Fame the week before the Players Championship on May 9. Nicknamed the Ayatollah by his CBS bretheren, Chirkinian is responsible for dramatically changing the way golf is viewed on television. Most notably, the relative to par scoring we see on television today. He has never minded saying that “[he] was probably the most innovative and brilliant son of a bitch that ever worked in television. I've done so damn many things I can't remember half of them."
The hall call came in an emergency session to induct Chirkinian due to his battle with lung cancer. Tim Rosaforte was with Chirkinian when he received the phone call and reported this response:
"Considering my current health situation, this has given me an incredible boost in my attitude toward life because this award is the most coveted in the game of golf," he said. "I am so proud to be a major part of that story."
As far as being called the Ayatollah, he noted as saying, "I accepted that as a compliment. It means you know what you want and how you want it."
Long live the Ayatollah.
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