What we knew about Chi Chi Rodriguez, and what we didn't

When you think of Chi Chi Rodriguez, you think of humor, and that's exactly how he would have wanted it. The 88-year-old passed away in Puerto Rico earlier this month, and left behind a legacy that is as much about his famous showmanship as it was about his playing record—a modest resume that includes eight PGA Tour wins and a sparkling senior career. What we remember most vividly about Rodriguez is his famous putter-sword dance, or the endless repertoire of one-liners he kept in his back pocket for fans. As an entertainer, if not a golfer, he was unparalleled.

But the jokester persona was never the full picture of Chi Chi Rodriguez. He grew up in poverty in Puerto Rico, where he helped his father work the sugar cane fields for extra money before he discovered that he could make more as a caddie at a local course. That brought golf into his universe, and in the sport, he found a match for his natural athleticism, his relentless energy, and his unwavering ambition. Even when he quit school in 11th grade and signed up for a two-year stint in the U.S. Army soon after, he always had his eye on the prize of becoming a professional golfer. An older Tour pro named Pete Cooper who worked in Puerto Rico became his mentor, and would eventually facilitate his trip to the U.S. (with a little financial help from Laurance Rockefeller). From there, although Rodriguez never lit up the Tour, he also rarely faltered, putting together a solid 20-year career that segued effortlessly into his time as a super senior.

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Despite the constant joking and the elaborate celebrations (before Chi Chi used his putter as a sword, he would actually place a hat over the hole after making putts and dance around it, to the consternation of his fellow pros), Rodriguez was something of a loner. He had few friends, and when he wasn't spending time chatting with the kids who came to see him play, he was off by himself, watching TV in his motel room.

There was a hidden loneliness to Rodriguez, and while his constant humor came from a legitimate place of wanting to entertain, it also served as a cover for an interior life that not many were ever able to see.

On this week's Local Knowledge, we examine both sides of Chi Chi—the consummate performer, and the interior man who channeled the difficulties of his own childhood into an affinity for other troubled kids, and who pursued charitable means to help them. The question of who Rodriguez really was requires a close look at multiple sources, and ends up revealing far more than meets the eye. Listen below, or wherever you get podcasts.

MORE: World Golf Hall of Famer Chi Chi Rodriguez dies at 88