It's been a week since the LPGA brain trusts unveiled their grand plan to save the tour from obsolescence: implement a language requirement that will almost certainly have no bearing on ratings, but will guarantee that the amateurs in the pro-ams will have a good time. Well-reasoned. Predictably, the blowback was immediate and relentless (well, except from Tiger, who was out of the country during the initial announcement and had no comment. I can only assume "out of the country" means "making babies," which, by the way, is an infinitely better answer).
There was the question of legality, not to mention the obvious issues foreign-born players might have with the new rule.
This all starts to make sense when you consider that LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens, apparently golf's version of Matt Millen, fancies making seemingly arbitrary decisions that benefit no one. From the Scotsman:
Just last week, Givens went even further down the road to nowhere when she announced that all media would have to undergo "background checks" in order to cover an LPGA event. On a circuit already gasping for the oxygen that is publicity, this is nothing short of madness.Givens was also responsible for banning caddies from "retrieving and returning balls to their players on the practice green." Jeebus.
Oh yes, one last thing. When Givens recently spoke with the assembled band of Koreans she did so in, you guessed it, English. No bilingual requirement for her; no sirree Bob (American for, "this is all about us.")
No worries, though; Givens plans to save the tour by doing away with galleries and canceling the current television contracts to give the operation a more "grass roots" feel.Or something.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-03-2008 @ 2:32PM
Todd said...
you said "will almost certainly have no bearing on ratings." it is obvious from this statement that you are completely out of touch with reality or just ignorant. Making sure all players speak fluent English will no doubt help ratings. Have you ever watched a South Korean be interviewed after a win? Yeah, not in awhile, b/c most of them now don't speak English. Now, if you're talking about Se Ri Pak, it was different when she won, because she cared about speaking well. Do you really think Bivens doesn't have the best interests of the players in mind when making this rule?
Oh, and what do you mean by "the blowback was immediate and relentless?" I haven't heard a single player come out and express absolute disapproval. Ochoa only said that while she didn't think it was discriminatory, it was "drastic." That's it. Is that the relentless blowback you're talking about?
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9-05-2008 @ 3:23AM
Dr Bugs said...
How dare the LPGA to try to make players speak English! The US is so over rated & if you travel the world you'll see, we are not that big or important! The US is a melting pot of folks & there are many area's where only, chin., ger. Jew, span, Kor ETC. where folks are proud of their country's & golfer's live there too! Shame on the US, for not learning about differant cultures, instead of making these gals into robot's! Dr Bugs
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9-11-2008 @ 10:05AM
fred said...
I don't disagree with your comments, but when you can't even get the name of the Commissioner correct, I can only guess you are one of those folks that just likes to blow hot air out his mouth, not even bothering to remotely educate yourself.
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