Social media responds to the death of Chi Chi Rodriguez with love, affection and great tales

Photo: Hunter Martin/Getty Images
Word broke Wednesday night that Chi Chi Rodriguez had died at 88 and the tributes began pouring in soon thereafter for one of golf’s great showmen.

Rodriguez, who hailed from Puerto Rico and came from humble beginnings, was a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

But his comedic antics, especially his signature sword dance, made him a crowd favorite. Later in life, Rodriguez made it his life ambition to give back to the game that had given him everything, creating the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation in 1979.

He often credited a meeting with Mother Teresa for his inspiration to give back, but his support of the common man dated back to his father, who labored in the sugar plantations of his hometown and never earned more than $18 a week.

Bob Harig, now of Sports Illustrated but writing in 1991 for the St. Petersburg Times, tells a great Chi Chi story that sheds light on why he became one of golf’s great humanitarians.

“He has told the story several times, about how his father woke him one night when he heard someone trying to steal bananas from the tree in their yard. His father asked the man for the machete.

“The guy could have killed him, but he didn’t,” Chi Chi said. “He handed over the machete. My father went and cut the banana bunch in half. He gave the man half and said, `Now, whenever you want bananas and I got ’em, if you want half, you can have half.’

“I learned from his example. I believe in helping people. I believe that if a kid needs help and I can help him financially or any other way, I will, because when a person suffers, I suffer. Why, I don’t know.”

PHOTOS: Chi Chi Rodriguez through the years

Here are some of the memories of what Chi Chi meant to everyone from the greats of the game to the common fan.

JJ Spaun’s childhood memory
I met Chi Chi at a senior event at Rancho Park golf course in LA when I was 6 years old. Earlier that week I fell down the slide at my school and had a massive black eye. After his round he was signing autographs to a crowd 5 or 6 deep. He saw me and my bruised eye behind the… https://t.co/UOWXEagkMH

— JJ Spaun (@JJSpaun) August 9, 2024

Gary Player remembers his friend
Chi Chi was a very dear friend of mine and we have so many great memories together with countless laughs. Chi Chi gave people pleasure, and what more can you do than give people happiness? Happiness is contagious and Chi Chi had an abundance of happiness. I will miss Chi Chi… pic.twitter.com/tGJsGP54AS

— GARY PLAYER (@garyplayer) August 9, 2024

Jack Nicklaus praises Chi Chi
Jack Nicklaus reflects on the passing of golf legend & Ryder Cup teammate Chi Chi Rodriguez. pic.twitter.com/m4ciGCWreB

— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) August 9, 2024

Geraldo Rivera’s tribute to a fellow Puerto Rican legend
RIP Chi Chi Rodriguez He was more than an enormously talented, at the time relatively rare Puerto Rican golfer. He was an ebullient entertainer, an eight-time PGA Hall of Famer and the pride of PR spectators like my pop.

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) August 9, 2024

Recalling one of the LOL scenes from WKRP in Cincinnati
Today we lost the great Chi Chi Rodriguez. Many of you of a certain age will remember this from Les Nessman from WKRP in Cincinnati🤣 pic.twitter.com/QvLoqO1t09

— James Reyes (@jamesreyes) August 9, 2024

Chi Chi’s cross-over appeal in pop culture
Chi Chi Rodríguez. An amazing career and the only @PGATOUR golfer to appear on the cover of a Devo album. Rest in peace, Juan. pic.twitter.com/ZylyCG6xGb

— Laury Livsey (@LauryLivsey) August 9, 2024

Crowd favorite
My first ever interaction with an athlete was with Chi-Chi Rodriguez.

I was 5.

He was doing a showcase at Ancil Hoffman in Carmichael.

I followed him like a puppy dog and he gave me a ball and a tee and tousled my hair.

That’s my entire story.

pic.twitter.com/fT6KbhwawU

— Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) August 9, 2024

Chi Chi’s “first pitch”
RIP 1992 @GolfHallofFame Chi-Chi Rodríguez. I truly enjoyed our conversations, his unbelievable sense of humor and love for baseball. And most importantly his mission to help needy children. I helped organize his day at Citi Field where he “threw” out the first pitch. QDEP🇵🇷pic.twitter.com/yUUERvlwr5

— Danny Torres (@DannyT21) August 9, 2024

Remembering Chi Chi’s win at this week’s PGA Tour tournament
51 years ago, Chi Chi Rodriguez won @WyndhamChamp at Sedgefield CC in a Monday finish.

Contenders included Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and 60-year-old Sam Snead.

It was his seventh of eight @PGATOUR titles.

Rest in peace to one of golf’s great characters and philanthropists. ❤️ https://t.co/7Rfbqm5TMf pic.twitter.com/KmvCIVXYDM

— Kevin Prise (@PGATOURKevin) August 9, 2024

Game respects game
Sad to hear the passing of Chi Chi Rodriguez. He was a character, showman and had a passion for giving back. RIP #golf

— Annika Sorenstam (@ANNIKA59) August 9, 2024

Champions Tour tourney director remembers Chi Chi as “the rock upon which the tour was built”
Remembering the great Chi Chi Rodriguez today. He was the first champion of our ‘93 Burnet Senior Classic, our first Senior PGA TOUR event managed in my career. He, along with Arnie, Jack, Gary and Miller, were the rock upon which the tour was built. Many of us owe him! RIP

— Tracy West (@tracywest11) August 9, 2024