Sunday
Jul012007
"The USGA should be ashamed of itself for allowing this nonsense to happen despite the evidence of the Andrea Jaegers and Jennifer Capriatis of this world."
The trials and tribulations of Michelle Wie along with the appearance of Alexis Thompson prompted some interesting essays over the weekend.
Steve Elling put together the most powerful and entertaining summary of Michelle Wie's troubles while John Paul Newport weighed the pros and cons of the youth movement in women's golf.
Meanwhile Mark Reason in the Sunday Telegraph came out firing at the USGA, though I'm not entirely sure what he wanted them to do, other than not invited the 12-year-old Thompson into the press center.
The girl is portrayed as a smiling, pigtailed Disney character without a care in the world. Maybe she is or maybe she is a disaster waiting to happen, like so many other American sports-girls who were hot-housed at a ridiculously young age. I am just a year younger than Alexis's father Scott and I too have a daughter - but the thought of her playing in the US Women's Open before she is even a teenager makes me feel physically ill.
Does it sound normal to you when Scott Thompson says things like: "I gotta go tune up my daughter." Or when Alexis says: "I like seeing kids my age coming up to me asking for my autograph. It's really cool."
No it's not. It's absurd. Imagine other girls coming up to your 12-year-old daughter in the playground and asking for her autograph. Only Alexis isn't in a playground, because she's schooled at home. The USGA should be ashamed of itself for allowing this nonsense to happen despite the evidence of the Andrea Jaegers and Jennifer Capriatis of this world.
But it's worse than that - some USGA officials are even trying to prompt answers out of the girl in order to promote their sport. For pity's sake, isn't there anyone out there who is going to impose a sensible minimum age, like 16, and put an end to these potentially damaging freak shows?You might have thought that the sad sight of Michelle Wie would alert American officials to their insensitivity. Here is a girl who has been shamelessly marketed and now she is floundering.
Do you all think there should be an age limit for Open qualifyings?
Update on Monday, July 2, 2007 at 10:35 AM by
Geoff
Geoff
Thanks to reader Mark for spotting Gene Wojiechowski's column defending Wie.
Reader Comments (17)
Wie is a terrible counterexample. I mean, Brittany Lang is the only Super Soph it seems who's actually experiencing a sophomore jinx, but do you see anyone telling her to take a year off and come back when she gets her game back? Julieta Granada was in a terrible slump entering the Open and she may just have played her way out of it, the weekend notwithstanding. Of course young players are going to have ups and downs, highs and lows--what next, will people be asking Morgan Pressel to take a break b/c she blew up on the last 6 holes of the Open?
Maybe if the golf media figured out how to cover more than, like, 3 women golfers at a time, there'd be less pressure on the few they choose to shine the spotlight on. Solving that problem would do more than any of this concern trolling of Wie's or Thompson's lives and games....
If your child can play against the best golfers, you hold him or her back?
What has screwed Michelle Wie up is the marketing hoopla that comes with a prodigy turning pro, not the cometition against people twice her age. Mo' money, mo' problems. An age limit of 18 to playing sports professionally is in order.
I hear what you're saying about letting the Open be truly "open". In older times, this was not a problem, where thre were far feweer parents driving (or helping channel and support a child's enthusiasm, depending on your viewpoint) a child to be a complete enough player to have a shot at this level of golf at a young age. Today, though, there is the quest for the almighty $$$ and sponsorship and so forth.
In an idealistic sense, an open Open is fantastic. However, I think that the pushing and singlemindedness placed on children at such a young age to have them able to compete is wrong. The level of commitment for them is akin, in my mind, to what is done with child tv stars. Immersion in the sport and loss of a childhood.
I think we need to ask, "At what price?" Is it a neat story to see a 12 year old tee it up at the Open? Heck yes. BUT....what's her life like behind this story? I'm not dogpiling on here and saying that she IS overly immersed in her development, I don't know the family. I'd be concerned, though.
I agree that if someone is talented enough to qualify and play, they should be permitted to do it. It ain't like it's a new concept--Francis Ouimet played pretty well as a teen. Hawkeye is right. It's not the competition, it's the endorsement deal and all of the "celebrity" crap that is hurting Michelle Wie. If any kid is being hurt by this, the parents are the ones who are guilty.
As for Michelle Wie, big mistake by parents, player and the professionals around her. I can see their point about take the money and run but lets not throw the baby out with the bath water. She may be trying to keep commitments to sponsers by playing again for the money.
The professionals around her should take the blame or state the Wie decisions to go forward with competing. I am a retired coach and the trainer should be fired as well as the Doctors for releasing her. There are test trainers can run to determain strength after an injury. There are playing test a pro coach could have established prior to allowing her to compete. Such as Michelle lets play four rounds under 70 on a suitable course. Arrange some matches to test her competitive readiness.
As I said I am a retired college soccer coach and would never allow a player to practice even without being cleared by a competent Dr. and then by a trainer. There are devices to test even wrist strength and then as I said there are playing test.
There is definately a lack of integrity in the Wie Camp. If you are going to turn provessional then be a professional. Not I want to go to my High School prom or attend Stanford. It is obivous they just wanted the money. When you take money you have obligations.
And none of that is the fault of the USGA.
I really wish people would save their whining about the USGA for the important issues.
It is an Open championship, after all. Open to pros and ams alike. Open to all who can qualify.
Blame the LPGA and Team Wie if you wish. But don'tlame the USGA for holding an open national championship.
If you allow your 12-year-old to play in an Open, she goes to the interview room just like anyone else. Bringing a child to the interview room isn't any more obscene than a parent throwing their child into spotlight of a worldwide event. I would venture to say 12-year-olds cannot enter Open qualifying without a parent or legal guardian's permission.
If ya don't like dips, stay off the rollercoaster.
4p
I don't know, 4p, I think that's harsh. Maybe the press has the _right_ to ask her anything and do it in the interview room, but that doesn't mean that it's appropriate to do so. Golf is supposed to be a gentleman's (and lady's) game, and I think the journalists should show some class and deference to etiquette now and then.
Now, if you are 16 and take the 40 million dollar Nike deal, well then it's a different story.
Journalists are there to cover the news, and write what they believe people want to read. That's why very few stories are written for U.S. media outlets prominnently featuring Asian players unknown to the general U.S. public, which buys those newspapers. When Angela Park was in first place, the U.S. headlines instead read like "Ochoa, Kerr close to lead".
Plus, the language barrier makes it tough, too. There were eight Koreans who finished in the top 10 at Pine Needles.
I have found the best interviews are with players with whom you've established a rapport -- they know who you are and there's a degree of trust. It is not easy for Western journalists to establish similar relationships with Asian non-English speaking players, either. Just look at this blog from last week. I only remember one poster who was even slightly knowledgeable about the Korean players -- and that's because he is Asian, lives over there and has his own blog that spotlights play in Korea and Asia.
But I digress.
Next someone will say a 12-year-old should not have to face the watchful eyes of the galleries, either, so maybe we should clear of spectators each hole she plays -- as not to intimidate her.
Nope. The decision rests solely with the parents. If you want to 12-year-old to compete at that level, you can't pick and choose which aspects you like.
4p