If you’ve played in a charity golf event the past dozen years, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Eric Tracy. You can’t miss him, really. He’s the guy in the Loudmouth clothes and the even louder voice on the microphone.
At least until a couple of months ago, that is. Things have quieted down a lot for Tracy – better known as the Mulligan Man – since he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a cancer in his neck and tongue where tumors have attached to his lymph nodes. He has been told that the cancer responds to radiation and chemotherapy and that his chances of survival are 80/20.
“The ‘20’ really has to do with what effects the radiation might have on other parts of my body,” Tracy said in late June. “Hopefully it doesn’t spread and they got it.”
To focus on regaining his strength (and voice), the former radio personality has put his Mulligan Man duties on hold until September. That’s when he hopes he can return to the job he loves, which is helping charitable organizations raise money through golf. He was able to fulfill his duties for the seven events he had scheduled in May but knew most of his tournaments in June, July and August couldn’t be done.
“I shut down my business for the summer months,” he said, “but I have about 10 events in September, October and November, and I will return for those.”
The idea for Tracy’s Mulligan Man gig occurred while he was part of the Dodgers radio team in the 1980s and ’90s. Before leaving his pre-game and post-game job in 1997, he was involved in several charity golf tournaments involving the Dodgers and, in 1999, started Mulligan Man to be part of some of the thousands of charity events each year in Southern California. Since that time he estimates he has worked at 600 tournaments, with upwards of $6 million being raised at the outings. His primary jobs are consulting with tournament organizers on how to approach potential sponsors in addition to being the event’s emcee and auctioneer. Besides wearing Loudmouth apparel, events with Tracy on board are known for a variety of games and contests inspired by outside-the-box thinking.
“I know we make a difference at these events,” he said, adding that the ones that raise $20,000 are as important to him as the ones that raise $200,000.
When he’s back on his feet and back at the course, Tracy, who lives in Woodland Hills, would like to create a tournament for City of Hope out of appreciation for the care he has gotten during his many medical visits. And that’s the thing about so many of the charity tournaments held each year – they mean so much to the people involved. The causes, whether it’s for a medical cure, youth shelters or educational programs, can seem overwhelming to attendees but often bring out the best in people in a rallying way to help others. And you get to play golf as well, so hopefully it turns out to be a win, win situation. Doing my Editor’s Note this month on Tracy’s situation fits in well with our annual Front 9 theme that highlights Southland people doing innovative and inspiring things in the golf industry.
“Golf is the most philanthropic sport there is,” said Tracy, who also likes to tee it up when he can. “There are 140,000 charity golf tournaments a year in the U.S. that raise over $3 billion. What other sport does that? Golf is the best.”
