A Magical Weekend
Left: Ginella joins Walker (purple tie) in the booth with colleagues Dwayne Ballen (far left) and Eddie Robinson Jr. (far right)
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In 1992, Jay (Sky) Walker led the Howard University football team over Jay (Hollywood) Roberson and Alabama A&M, 28-7. Back then, Walker and Roberson were two quarterbacks battling on the field, unaware that one day they would be good friends using golf to satisfy their competitive spirits.
"It's not like we're in good enough shape to still go out and play football," says Roberson, the asso-ciate athletic director at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. "But we'll always be able to compete on the golf course."
After college, Walker went on to the NFL for a few years. He's now a Maryland state representative and does college-football commentary for ESPN on the weekends.
Walker and Roberson didn't actually get to know each other until 2000, when both were working at the Magic City Classic football game (Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State) in Birmingham.
The Magic City Classic is a five-day party, culminating Saturday afternoon with the 67-year-old foot- ball rivalry. There were 69,113 fans in the stadium and about 65,000 more outside enjoying the tailgate with countless portable barbecues and an unlimited supply of ribs.
On the third weekend of October for the past six years, Walker and Roberson have coordinated a golf buddies trip around the Magic City Classic. In Birmingham they can choose from four courses on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail: three at Oxmoor Valley (Ridge, Valley and Short) and Ross Bridge, which tips out at 8,191 yards.
Roberson submitted details about the trip to Golf Digest Ambush. His itinerary called for golf on Friday, followed by the Magic City Classic on Saturday and more golf on Sunday. When Friday's golf was rained out, the former quarterbacks called an audible, heading to the famous Dreamland BBQ for some racks of ribs. That's where I ambushed them, paying for lunch, dinner and their golf on Sunday.
The night before the big game, Roberson and I ended up on stage with deejays Doug E. Fresh and Biz Markie. On Saturday, Walker worked the game for ESPN.
The golf and "Jay Rivalry" resumed Sunday afternoon. They had two foursomes of friends at Oxmoor's Valley course (****, $64). It's a narrow layout, with plenty of elevation changes. The group preferred the Ridge course (****, $64), but they considered all the courses great values.
"Jay Walker was one of the premier quarterbacks in the country," Roberson says, "but we're pretty close in golf. I just need to get rid of my slice."
Roberson and his slice shot a 96. Walker had a good back nine and shot 90. Roberson was disappointed with his loss and says he'll be making some swing adjustments. "I'm finally going to go get some lessons."
Senior Editor (Travel) Matt Ginella might ambush you. Submit your buddies-trip itinerary here.
