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ing the board to thwart the snook’s objective. Finally, we wore him down, and when he tipped the scales at 25 pounds, I realized how fortunate I was.

My friend exclaimed, “People come down here and fish for years and never catch a fish like that, and you catch a prized snook on a backlash.”

I immediately realized the significance of the axiom, “I’d rather be lucky than good.”

Spring training offers the opportunity to play golf in the morning and enjoy an afternoon at the ballpark, but I prefer to fish, take in a museum such as the Edison Ford Museum in Ft. Myers. That is where Thomas Edison and Henry Ford spent their winters for many years. The museum tells their stories which are fascinating.

Naturally, Florida is more convenient than Arizona, but I prefer the sunshine state anyway because of fishing options. Serious anglers tout the lakes around Phoenix and the Salt River as outstanding, but Florida has greater appeal, convenience and more pleasant weather if it isn’t raining.

Inland Florida is where you find pickup trucks, camouflage clothing, scrub oaks and the best habitat for turkey hunting. One spring I met up with a friend in Palmdale, Florida, and he arranged for me to hunt for an Osceola turkey with a guide who could really talk to these wily birds.

Up long before day break, there was coffee and country music to help start your day You ride deep in the woods in a Polaris ranger and find a meeting place where the guide puts out decoys and then retreats to a small camouflage tent with windows where you can see out but the cagey Osceola’s can’t see any movement inside. It doesn’t take much to spook a turkey.

Accompanying me was Brandon Storey, a guide who can literally talk to a turkey. At first light, Brandon said, “Here they come.” He could hear them sashaying through the brush. They gathered around the lone hen. Soon one separated and fortunately my aim was expert and I owned a beautiful Osceola prize. Then I headed back to where I was staying, cleaned up and began singing, “Take me out to the ball game.”

Then there were times when a mutual friend, sportscaster Lindsey Nelson, arranged for me to meet up with the Great Red Grange at Indian Lake Estates in Central Florida. For about a half dozen years, I visited the Galloping Ghost at his home in March and tape recorded him a few times.

Spring Training is a very enjoyable experience, but the side benefits are what makes a trip to Florida in March so emotionally uplifting.