Michelle Wie’s announcment that she will return on May 28th to play in Annika Sorenstam’s Ginn Tribute leaves me cold. Maybe in the past I didn’t express it in these exact words, but Michelle Wie is a circus act that is going nowhere. Yes, she has talent. Yes, she can hit the ball 300 yards. Yes, she is reasonably attractive. All these I accept.
What I don’t buy is the circus act that has been created around her. She’s accomplished nothing on the LPGA and even less on the PGA and I predict that she never will. Her return, which will be trumpeted by the media as the return of the female wunderkind and the savior of ladies golf, will be a non-event. She’ll make the cut, place somewhere in the top twenty, and say things like “the layoff has set me back and I’m just now starting to get my swing” or “I was feeling pretty good out there, but just missed a few putts that would have kept me right up there.”
The wrist problem she’s been experiencing is just an easy way to get her out of the limelight because each time she is in it, especially when playing on the men’s tour, she does nothing to help herself or women’s golf. Giving her a break from the tour may have been the first smart thing that “Wie, Incorporated” has done in a long time.
To play whenever it works in her schedule will never accomplish anything. Tiger is constantly tweaking his game. VJ Singh practices 8 hours a day. Phil is always wondering how to make his game better, even after his wins a major. Playing 10 times a year and practicing when it is convenient will never make Ms. Wie a consistent contender. Lorena Ochoa, Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer all play the tour full-time and you are starting to see that these ladies are the future of the LPGA. Natural talent only takes you so far. You earn your place on the leaderboard each week. Not when it’s convenient.
Back on June, 2006 in my post “The Exploitation of Michelle Wie”, I took Michelle Wie’s father, BJ to task because all it seemed that he was interested in was the money. He, being his daughter’s manager, seemed to want to push her far faster than she was able to handle. Somehow he thinks that she can be both a major LPGA star and a normal Stanford college student. It ain’t gonna happen my friend. Ask Britney how well living a normal life as an uber-celebrity has worked.
“Wie Incorporated” and the LPGA, are starting to look like laughing stocks in a similar way that John Daly is starting to look like a caricature. The PGA Tour is rightly distancing itself from Mr. Daly because of his book revelations, he sordid past, his bad decisions and his lousy play. For different reasons, the LPGA appears to be distancing itself from Ms. Wie because of her age, limited playing schedule, poor showings on the LPGA Tour, and the embarrassing outings she’s had on the PGA Tour.
Don’t get your hopes up that Michelle Wie will win the upcoming tournament or many after that. Yes, she’ll get all the attention. Yes, she’ll be the lead story into all the media coverage and yes, all the Wie Warriors will be predicting victory. Once reality sets in on Sunday, someone that we barely know like Birdie Kim will probably be victorious and Michelle Wie will have a new set of excuses why she didn’t do as well as advertised.
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In your blog you made the allegation of them getting her out of the limelight, suggesting that she wasn't injured. Perhaps you could furnish the evidence for this, copies of scans, maybe a tape of her doing something that she shouldn't have been able to do with an injured wrist. Do you have this proof or are you just brandishing unsupported accusations.
It's easy to make accusations. I heard some guy talk about Annika, and how her injury came when she was about to lose number 1 and how the injury was an excuse for her poor play. He also complained about she had a brace on for the camera and then it was gone at her academy, and things like that.
It's easy to make these accusations. People could make accusations about yourself, maybe say you were a child abuser or something similar. That doesn't make it true, it just makes the people who made these accusations into scum. And that's what you are by making the accusations you have made.
So unless you have some tangible evidence, perhaps you could desist from what you are doing.
I appreciate the passion in which you responded to my post. That's why I like Worldgolf.com, because of the readers. Yet, you seem to be over reacting to my entry. Let me quote from it:
"The wrist problem she’s been experiencing is just an easy way to get her out of the limelight because each time she is in it, especially when playing on the men’s tour, she does nothing to help herself or women’s golf."
Nowhere do I say in it that she is faking. I'll keep that opinion to myself. Nowhere do I say that she isn't hurt. All I said was that it was an easy way to get her out of the limelight.
Calling a certain blog writer "scum" by misreading his post would be a more accurate example of a strongly-worded accusation.
Bruce
I apologise for over-reacting, I thought you were incinuating that it was just invented so that she wouldn't have to play events. Apologies again.
Instead I'd like to refute some of your other claims:
"She's accomplished nothing on the LPGA and even less on the PGA and I predict that she never will."
I won't bother with the pga because whether you think she has achieved anything depends on what you think a 15 year old girl should achieve on such a fine stage and that's just a matter of opinion.
So when you said "She's accomplished nothing on the LPGA ", that's just ridiculous.
How about 3 top 5s in majors in 2006. How about 6 top 5s in majors in her first 12 events.
You might say, where is the silverware. Well I'm not sure, but there has been some photos like at the lpga championship where Sorenstam 1st, Wie 2nd and Creamer 3rd all got some kinds of trophies for being the top 3 at that event.
Then there is the issue of leading amateur at majors. When she was an amateur, she won leading amateur at 6 different major tournaments, and those are coveted especially at the US and British Opens.
She also has the best placings ever for amateurs at all 3 of the 4 ladies major tournaments and shot the lowest 4 round score of any amateur at a major championship.
She is the youngest qualifier to an lpga event, youngest us open cut maker. She has achieved much on the lpga tour.
Mention Michelle Wie in an article and it is worth a few thousand hits. Michelle Wie signs up for an event and the TV promos start two weeks before the tournament.
The gate is larger at events she appears in and TV ratings climb when she is in the field. I believe the LPGA misses Michelle much more than you realize. How many other non-tour members have a bio page at the LPGA website or their stats posted on the PGA site?
The word is Michelle received a conference call before the announcement of her appearance at the Ginn Tribute, do you have any guesses as to whom was calling?
Their first names begin with A, B, and C.
Which begs the question, what the heck does MW have to do with Bruces business of commenting on Golf Gear? I never saw him mention Nike in there anywhere.
Ahh, well, I'll leave it to Alex and his troop of virgin old maids to fabricate more fanciful rhetoric to generate the hits that Mr. Stasch seems to crave.
If anything but a win is nothing, then I guess Michelle Wie has accomplished nothing on the LPGA--but since there isn't anything that is less than nothing it makes no sense to say she has accomplished even less on the PGA.
As far as being a consistent contender is conerned, Michelle Wie already achieved that last year with top 5s in all of her first six events.
Do you really think the future of the LPGA rests with swimsuit models like Natalie Gulbis who never win any tournaments? The ONLY rap against Michelle Wie is the lack of a win. Please do not knock Michelle Wie and sing the praises of someone who is much older with much more experience and NO WINS either.
When was the last time Miss Wie missed a LPGA cut?
Was she 13 years old or something like that?
How many LPGA full time players have gone over three years without missing a cut?
Not many I would guess.
Would it be fair to say that Miss Wie can walk on any golf course with the best women professional golfers and hold her own in the eight events she is allowed to play each season?
To state otherwise is quite disingenuous and misleading.
Will attending Stanford cause Michelle problems with her golf game?
Since this season (once Michelle starts) could be an example of what her annual schedule will look like, I don't think it will matter much. She will load up on events during her vacation breaks and play in all the LPGA events she is allowed.
Stanford has a first class golf course and training facility, so keeping sharp through practice will not be a problem for Michelle.
I think Michelle is very gifted player who needs to play full time in lpga tour to maximize her skills. I think her father is hurting her progress."
It wasn't Mr. Wie that negotiated Michelle's contracts, she did. The Nike and Sony suits were quite surprised how well she handled herself.
Mr. Wie does not decide what events Michelle plays, she does.
Michelle chose to go to Stanford, when her golf idol Tiger attended Stanford. I think she was ten at the time.
It was Michelle who wanted to use sponsor's exemptions to pro events on the mainland to underwrite her appearances in amateur events. Rule 2 of the RoG allows sponsors of pro events to pay airfare for the amateur golfer and one adult (if underage) plus rooms, courtesy cars and meal expenses for amateurs invited to their events.
Paid travel to the mainland is a big asset and you might have noticed Michelle's amateur appearances were linked to her pro appearances as an amateur. Hey if you are already there, why not play.
Everyone believes Mr. Wie runs Michelle's life completely, but the truth of the matter is she makes her own decisions with her parents support and guidance.
Pass the pipe please...I'd like a hit!
"she negotiated her own contracts! The suits were impressed with how well she handled herself". There's no other way to express it ...that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard/read/seen related to the Wie debate. Just plain DUMB!
She competed in the maximum number the LPGA allowed last year. In my opinion she should have played more in the euopean women's events instead of the men's.
_____________________________
Gasp.
So Michelle with 3 top 5s in majors in 2006 has achieved nothing, but Natalie 130+ events without a win is the future of the tour along with Lorena.
I wonder how you calculated that. What criteria did you use?
How about you look at some facts.
* Natalie has been a member of the lpga tour for what 5 years or so. In that time she has played full season of what 20+ events per season. She plays the toughest events and the easiest events, and she won zero titles in that time frame.
* Then the example of Michelle Wie. Up to turning age 17, she played about 33 events, not sure of exact number. I do know she played 3 of those as a 12 year old, 7 as a 13 year old and so on. So it's fair to say her first events
were played at a really young age.
She also had limited exemptions so only played in the very top class events with the best fields and aquitted herself very well.
So in summary, you said that someone who hadn't won up to turning 17 has done nothing. By the way, nobody else in the history of the womens game had won at that age either, or indeed before turing 18 either.
Yet Natalie as a full time golfer with 5 years of full time lpga experience and no wins is the future of the lpga in your opinion. That's very interesting.
Don't ever try to use logic or anything even close with these guys cause they march to a different set of drums.
One-Putt
Pass the pipe please...I'd like a hit!
"she negotiated her own contracts! The suits were impressed with how well she handled herself". There's no other way to express it ...that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard/read/seen related to the Wie debate. Just plain DUMB!"
All Mr. Wie did was sign the contracts for Michelle after she and WM reps had worked out the details with her sponsors. BJ was in attendance, but was not the lead negotiator for the family, fifteen year old Michelle Wie was.
Michelle alone chose to go with William Morris as an agency, when BJ was encouraging her to go with IMG after they laid out a 50 million dollar agency guarantee over five years on the table.
It was Michelle on the phone with Phil Knight the evening before the announcement, when Nike negotiations were breaking down over schedule control. Michelle controls her own schedule after the conversation.
Both Phil Knight (Nike) and Sir Howard Stringer (Sony) agreed at Michelle's request their contracts would not interfere with her attending college full time. They both embraced the idea of Michelle Wie the college student.
Mr. Wie signed the contracts for Michelle only after she was satisfied with the terms.
It was also Michelle who decided to give 500K to the Katrina Relief Fund (to the shock of her parents at the amount). Michelle wanted to donate an amount that would encourage others to give. William Morris nor the Nike/Sony execs knew about the donation until the day prior to the announcement at her press conference.
Yep, the Nike suits "found themselves at quite a disadvantage dealing with a savvy fifteen year old high school kid" (Phil's words, not mine).
Phil who?
Lopez in LPGA tour or Wie on PGA tour
Honolulu, Hi. - MW insults Hawaii.
You named three players as the future of the LPGA including the current number one in the world. When Michelle Wie plays this year, let us compare how well she does compared to those three.
One-Putt: " (Phil's words, not mine). "
Phil who?"
Phil Knight at Bighorn watching Michelle play in her first pro event the Samsung. He flew in to watch her play.
Really??? I'm not sure how or why you would think that someone who has not proven they can win on the LPGA let alone even make a cut on the men's professional level can strike fear into the hearts of anybody, but to each his own. I think the only people who live in fear are Michelle's delusional fans who fear that she is exactly what she has shown herself to be and that is a solid women's player, capable of contending for LPGA titles, nothing more nothing less. There is no shame in the fact that she is good, but not great. The desperate need of some to hold her up as the future of golf is confusing and a bit sad. How can she ever truly excel when there are those such as oneunder who insist on mentioning her in the same breath with Bobby Jones--I think it is plain to see that the burden and weight of these unrealistic expectations is crushing this poor girl. How many of you "fans" out there truly believed that Michelle would still be searching for her first title 4 years after bursting onto the scene as a 13/14 year old who already was contending for titles on the LPGA? Honestly how many of you thought she would still be missing cuts on the men's tours by dozens of shots after her performance at the Sony in 2004? Myself and the random few who questioned Michelle's career path, desire to win and overall game were blasted on this site for years for simply suggesting that she was not as she appeared--Now here we are years later and she is still winless and further away from ever making a cut, let alone contending on the PGA level and yet bloggers are still hyping her as if she is the second coming...Hey we all back the wrong horse sometimes. I actually thought Ryan Leaf would be a better NFL quarterback than Peyton Manning. We all make mistakes it's time to give up on the dream of Michelle being anything more than a good women's player.
I gotta say you are the first post in this discussion that seems to get my point. Ms. Wie is a good LPGA player and hopefully, will improve. But she is not the second coming of Bobby Jones or Babe Zacharias. She's been pushed too far too fast. She (and her managment team) have gone after the money, and don't seem to be patient about playing, and winning, tournaments. If she keeps up at this pace, she'll be known, like Phil Mickelson before her as "the best female golfer never to win a major" (Phil did win 20+ tournaments before winning his first major). And that statement would be a stretch because she hasn't won yet on the LPGA. Sergio was hyped as one of the young guns to challenge Tiger. In spite of winning a few tournaments, he isn't even mentioned in the same breathe as Tiger, even though the media keeps trying to hype the rivalry. Ultimately, it's not how much potential you have or your driving ability. It's how many tournaments you have won. Like former Oakland Raiders owner said: "Just Win, Baby".
It would seem that several, if not all, of the first generation of Wie Warriors have either gone into hiding or have seen the light.
Folks like Ghet Rheel, Alan, and the erstwhile Norman, who predicted earth shaking results for Bubbles by this time, have literally nothing to say about her poor play of late.
Even Golf Channel commentators Mark Rolfing and Brandel Chamblee have drastically curtailed their incessant hyping of Bubbles. For instance, Chamblee once gushed that he wouldn't be surprised that once she got untracked she might win six, eight , or ten times a year.
But like all cults, the Wie Warriors have acquired some new blood.
Oneunder has been known to make some aburd remarks concerning Bubbles' yet unproven ability, but Mark is a Wie newbie who bears watching.
His observation that soon the courses will have to be re-designed to contain the superhuman game of Bubbles will be difficult for any budding Wie-wee's to top.
On several occasions, I have written that in my opinion Bubbles had the game to be a force on the LPGA tour, but that her potential cpuld not be realized by continuing her circus act of trying and failing in events that were previously strictly for men. My remarkd were scorned by the Wie-wee's
These characters are in the Cult of Wiedom because they have taken the bait, they have absorbed the hype, and they have developed the ability to shut out any and all criticism of their idol. Reading their posts makes it all too obvious.
I knew you couln't resist, Lexy old bud.
You'll jump on any band wagon that is hammering the kid as long as you get your 15 seconds of anonymous and infamous fame.
The whole point of the discussion is ludicrous at best. No other female has won an LPGA title before their 18+ 9 months birthday.Just because you attach your expectations to the Hype, doesn't make them any more valid than the hype itself. If she hasn't won by the same age that Paula and Morgan won, then your arguments start to take on some validity. Until then, it's all about hit counts for the media types.
But ever since the media gagged us with the "hype" machine, you've all been whining about a 15, then 16 and now 17 year old not proving she can win on the LPGA. You're all nuts.
The whole exercise seems to be about hits for nincompoops like Stasch, McDonald and the Baldwhine and comments bordering on outright hatred from goofs like Alex and the ratpatrol of virgin old maids.
So, you don't like the hype machine? Live with it. You guys are all guilty of perpetuating that same Hype.
But then logic was never a strong suit of the Wie bashing crowd.
While the rest of the Wie-wee's of old have sensibly gone into hiding, you seem to be coming on like bad breath and stinky feet.
What's with your overuse of "rat patrol" and "virgin old maids?" Are you having trouble thinking up new material?
Here is where you can find out about the reference to your personal storyline.
http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/chris.baldwin/2007/04/15/annika_sorenstam_s_injury_no_big_wie_blo
Oh, and go wash your feet, your stinkin up the neighborhood again. Put your falsies in a glass with some strong vermin killer and you'll be right as rain come tomorrow. ( Wonder why your wife hasn't called you on your halitosis or why she hasn't demanded that you change your socks. Oh well, she must be a masochist.
Looks like you can't think up your own material
As I said before, Alex doesn't bother with logic when he can obfuscate with incessant rhetoric and stupidity.
As hard as I try, I can't make heads or tails of your recent posts.
They sound like you've started drinkin' mash and talkin' trash. Or are you smokin' hash and talkin' trash?
My apologies to the bear.
Please do not be fooled by Ford's post. He sometimes posts like a concerned passerby, like when he said: "I think it is plain to see that the burden and weight of these unrealistic expectations is crushing this poor girl."
Please do not be fooled by this. He has sometimes dropped his guard before and spoke his true feeling about Michelle where he insulted her looks in a way that no decent adult would do about a 16 year old girl, as she was at the time.
So cut the crap Ford about your so called concern. Regular posters know what your posts are really driven by.
When did you invent the psychologically induced falling on ones wrist syndrome? Is this a new condition, perhaps something you came up with when lying in bed or on the toilet perhaps.
"Injuries" that occur and are enhanced psychosomatically are a very real phenomenon.
Teenage girls are especially susceptible to these "injuries."
Volumes have been written on this very subject by respected professionals in this field. I strongly suggest that you read some of this material if you doubt that psychosomatic illness and "injury" exist.
In your recent postings you have at least shown dignity in the way you have posted so lets call it a clean slate on any negative comments you've said before.
I have no problem with anyone questioning Wie's career path, her results etc. Where I have a problem with people is if they insult her looks, the way she talks ie like a teenager, or other similar petty things.
On the points you have raised, you do appear to be calling some sort of victory for yourself because she didn't win for 4 years. Well to put it in context, that takes a time when she was 13 years old, up to turning 17.
So how did she perform in that time on the lpga tour?
2003: 9th, 28th, 33rd, 39th, 52nd, 69th, mc.
2004: 4th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 13th, 19th, 33rd.
Obvious progression from 2003 to 2004, you won't argue with that.
2005: 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 12th, 14th, 23rd, dq.
Again the progression was obvious.
2006: 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 5th, 5th, 17th, 26th.
Again there was more progression, because her top 5s were actually contending performances. She was within 2 of the lead in 5 events in 2006. Whereas in 2005, despite her high placings she actually only contended once. She had distant 2nd places which weren't really contention spots in 2005 to Paula and Annika.
So every year on the lpga tour, she has obviously got much better. Given the facts, I doubt you would disagree. She also played very well to get so close to winning in those 2006 events, and was usually bet by great players, for example, Annika, Karrie twice, and Se Ri Pak. It's doubtful you would argue with the lpga form anyway, it's obvious that has improved, so the mens events are more likely what you would argue with.
Well, basically she played 4 poor mens events, the Omega, Lumber, Casio and Sony. That's 4 events, hardly a cause to start ringing alarm bells. Of course she would have liked to have performed better, but even so, it is far too early for you to be trying to make inordinate claims about what it means.
Perhaps you should wait until she plays 4 ladies events in 2007 and then judge her level of performance, and then people in general will be in a better position to say how her game is at that stage.
Nice stats but how about simply reviewing her finish in the Sony. This should tell all that is necessary. She did well as the carefree fun youthful golfer.
As the pressure increased and then turning Pro the continual failings in men's events has taken a mental toll. In the last Sony she appeared tired, stressed and no longer having any fun.
I hope the break will do her good but I hope the attempt at men's events os over for now. Learn how to win on the LPGA Tour and then see where her game can take her. Unless she begins to win she will never reach her potential.
Your statement of "how about simply reviewing her finish in the Sony. This should tell all that is necessary".
One event doesn't tell all that is necessary. Even 4 events doesn't tell all that is necessary.
In the way I detailed results of 2003 to 2006, 2007 should be detailed in a similar way. That will give an accurate impression of where her game is at that stage. Some people are really jumping the gun on their opinions. Give it a series of events before judging it either way.
I agree with you generally but you miss my point. Rather than get tangled in a lot of details and data the Sony results tell a simple but particular story. Especially if you see her in person in these events. Each year she gets further away on the men's cuts and looks increasingly unhappy and stressed. She played better as an unstressed happy young golfer with great potential. Experience should help her improve her game but the mental side is at least as important as the physical side.
I don't agree that she was getting further away on the mens events each year. Sure the end of 2006 mens events were very bad, but people sometimes quote it as if it were a general trend and it wasn't up until that stage.
Her performances in early 2006 in mens events were generally pretty good. She had a very bad first round at the Sony, but her 2nd round was her best pga round yet, not only because she had 7 birdies but also because the nature of the birdies were that they were made by hitting very good iron approach shots. She didn't make a birdie putt over 14 feet, so it shows she wasn't chipping in or knocking in monster putts.
Her US Open local qualifier to shoot level par in very windy conditions on the Turtle Bay course was very good as was her US Open Sectional attempt.
Her SK Telecom performance was also very underrated. Of course it is no pga tour event, but it a player still has to go out and shoot the scores if they want to do well.
So in my opinion, she was doing pretty well in mens events up to that stage. Of course it was bad at the Omega, Casio etc but I don't think it is advisable to rush to judgements on these, especially since she had plenty of other things going on at that stage.
For the record, I think she should concentrate on womens events until she wins also.
Halster, the people of Hawaii love Michelle and come out to support her in their droves at any event she plays there. I don't believe you are from Hawaii anyway.
Johnny N., I do live in Hawaii and can't help but hear about anything the underacheiving MW does. I didn't say that Hawaii is lacking in MW fans. Afterall they flock to the mall for Jasmine Trias autograph sessions for her 20,000 CDs sold. Hawaii craves fame of it's offspring or anyone remotely tied to Hawaii. But MW's stumbling, bumbling image still insults Hawaii for the rest of us who can see through the charade. For her it's all about the Benjamins. She uses novelty to compensate for lack of performance. Next thing you'll see is she changes her middle name to Sanjaya.
Waipahu, Hawaii
In a word...."sourgrapes"
As I recall, there was about the same kind of bs going on with Wayne Gretzky from age 14 to age 19. You could find as many people yapping and bitching about him in any bar or lounge in Edmonton at the time the Indianoplis Racers became the Edmonton Oilers.
Same goes for when he played AJHL in Brantford.
Guess what? Everyone was wrong then too. Get over it. Your ruffled feathers will lay smooth again soon as she starts winning or quits playing.
No sourgrapes here as you're the one that has her a winner at stake. She can quit now and laugh all the way to the bank with her $20 mil. And she'll thank her wanker supporters for keeping her in the media. In music they call them "one hit wonders". For MW, it's "no hit wonder".
If you carry on they way you are, you're only reinforcing the Wie delusional capabilities.
Well, I'm not so sure it's as bad as all that
According to Anthony Urquhart's blog, Bubbles' family have announced that she will not be trying to compete against the men again, at least temporarily.
With that in mind, even a Wie skeptic such as myself should be willing to see how she adjusts to the normalcy of playing among her peers
I agree that a lot of damage may have been done to her psyche, but she isn't even eighteen yet, She's a juvenile, and kids like that heal rapidly.
It might be similar to getting over an ex-boyfriend.
With the pressure off somewhat, her wrist "injury" might miraculously heal and she might regain some of that carefree form she exhibited at the 2004 Sony.
Johnny N never said any of that.
Need new glasses?
Your referrence to being insulted as a Hawaiin sounds like the thin skinned frenchies in Canada. Shane Doan supposedly insulted some jackass ref in a game in Montreal 18 months ago and now the frenchies are badgering the Canadian Parliament because Doan was made Captain of the Canadian Hockey team that is over in europe some place. Jeez, they have the Langauge police yapping about it for god's sake. ( Official Languages act)
If you are that easily insulted, then here's another insult. Take it like a man... erm, frenchMAN?
Your continuing references to Canada and Canadians have revealed that you are in fact Canadian. Excuse me if that was common knowledge. I hadn't noticed it before.
Are you from Edmonton and/or its environs? I was there for a week in August of 2001 for the World Track and Field Championships at Commonwealth Stadium.
It is quite a nice town. Enjoyed the casino action and the multitude of sports' bars.
Look at it this way. The Frogs have had a defeatist attitude ever since they went belly up to the Germans in 1940. Now they've finally found some people they can lord it over. Just joking.
putt4par,
"Now they've finally found some people they can lord it over. Just joking."
Sadly, you are too close to the truth for it to be much of a joke, at least not in Canada.
(Lord help me if some frenchie reads this, I'll be jailed and tortured for insulting them again, lol)
Yup, lived in Edmonton for 23 years.
Looking forward to going home to watch the ladies at the Mayfair this summer.
And no, it was no secret as far as I know that I am Canadian.
Actually, we are Canadian-Americans. If you were here in 2001 then you must know that there is very little difference between Canada and the US of A in Alberta....(actually, they are more like Texans here, full of BS, lol)
*************
It is now Mentally impossible for Michelle Wie to win On the LPGA. Her own mind will not let her win. Her Spirit is Broken. I do not dislike her. I just don't agree on the Path she has taken. Her Wie little Brain has been Broken. It's her Parent's Fault. They are supposed to protect her from The Wiebots and others who expect too much from her.
*************
The quality of the blogger is getting worse. Don't even get started on Halster.
At least Alex used to be good for some banter. What has become of the new breed of anti-Wie gang members?
Yeh, Alex and I get a bit heavy sometimes but he does at least entertain. I just went back and re-read Arts post. ( shaking my head over that)
Jeez, that's like Ford claiming the Wies were solely responsible for the Hype generate in the Media.... Sheesh!!!
I would suggest that Ford read that post.
While some small amount of the hype was generated by the Wies, the largest share was generated by over zealous reporters with a word quota problem (and sponsors needing big gate receipts). Why send in a short and to the point report when we can embellish it a bunch and really stoke the stories.
I will continue to roast you, make digs at you and shoot barbs at you Bruce, but mostly you tell it like it is, lol.
Still, your strength is supposedly Golf Gear, Now why was there no blurb for a gear maker/supplier? Surely you could have plugged Nike ( Note the tongue in cheek ) I mean after all, it's through their herculean efforts that so much has been said about you know who....ROFL
"I went back and read your Linked post again."
That above post should have been addressed to Bruce Stasch
http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/dot.wong?blog=36&title=michelle_wie_puts_playing_pga_events_on_&page=1&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1&disp=single#c50619
It seems that Michelle Wie is, for now, giving up on competing against men and instead focusing on the LPGA Tour - and her parents are fine with that decision.
Let's face it, this is a good decision: Wie, 17, who says she intends to one day play the Masters, has had a terrible record in the PGA Tour events she has entered, missing the cut 11 out of 12 times. In her last three men's events, she has come in near last each time. Maybe she is listening to Stuart Appleby?
Her coach, David Leadbetter, is putting a good spin on it.
"She hasn't got any PGA Tour events planned at the moment," Leadbetter is quoted in the Australian as saying today. "She's going to commit herself to the LPGA and play a number of events and next year she'll probably take up membership."
~~~
Johnny N. and putt4par, you need to stop picking on the Canucks and realize that the swing guru thinks otherwise of MW. His stake is that she pays him six figures $plus. Why do you continue with your venomous support. We are not Wie bashers. Like most Americans, we want to see winners. Who remembers who lost the Supre Bowl or World Series. So forget about who missed another PGA cut after given a free ride?
Waipahu, Hawaii
Bruce if you need a verification of how bad LPGA events need or desire to have Michelle Wie in the field, I suggest you read the following from the "legitimate media":
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/columnists/story.
html?id=7f1711f7-b67a-4fe3-8772-f6cb43605b62
Business owners, hoteliers, organizers and the media are all smiling in Edmonton. They have all been swept up by Wie Mania.
You really didn't have a clue Bruce? You should check your facts first.
The next time you interview Bobby Ginn (yeah right), ask him what Michelle Wie playing in the Ginn Tribute means to his event. It was important enough for a conference call to Michelle from Annika, Carolyn and himself to ask her to play.
As Laura Davies once said to Wie detractors, "Are you nuts?". I think "The shoe fits" in this case.
Do you include Chad Fujikawa in the group of "Most Men" or is he merely a boy who hasn't yet learned the meaning of the word.
I know you guys were worried you would go nearly a whole season without watching Michelle play another men's event, fortunately for you all, there is still some hope. :-)
"Most men golfers live in fear that she may be the real deal."
Do you include Chad Fujikawa in the group of "Most Men" or is he merely a boy who hasn't yet learned the meaning of the word."
Is Chad, Tadd's older brother?
I really do hope that Bubbles tees it up one more time in a PGA tour event.
I can use a few more laughs.
Will Bubbles bring along her own ambulance and paramedics?
One-Putt,
I really do hope that Bubbles tees it up one more time in a PGA tour event.
I can use a few more laughs.
Will Bubbles bring along her own ambulance and paramedics?"
I'm not sure Alex her entourage is becoming a bit overwhelming. The Gulfstream V is getting quite close to being over-grossed, so if she were to bring an ambulance along she would need to lease something a little larger.
I could get her a deal on an AN-122 out of the Ukraine and she could take along some friends with her medical staff plus field equipment. We could also schedule a stop in San Jose to offload her college gear at the new house in Sharon Heights.
The house has a nice view of the Stanford campus and another golf course for Michelle to practice on besides the Stanford course.
Sounds like a plan.
It's good that Bubbles has a golf course on which to practice.
From the way she has been playing, she can use a lot of practice.
She had better be on her guard for the return of "heat exhaustion."
It's good that Bubbles has a golf course on which to practice.
From the way she has been playing, she can use a lot of practice.
She had better be on her guard for the return of "heat exhaustion."
Wie will always have her blind fans or whatever you call it, whether you like it or not.
The South lost the war, get over it...
What a brilliant retort!
Your remarks are a textbook example of the results of your not going to school for very long or very often.
When you have time, explain your remark about the South losing the war.
This should be good.
Brilliant? not close...Take off your hood and get to the presence....
Shut up! Your liberal mindset is devestating to the preservation of traditional values...
Does Mucha have a liberal mindset?
How can you tell?
I can't make heads or tails out of his/her gibberish.
Mucha, you is one big dum-dum. Who turns your computer on for you?
One-Putt,
It's good that Bubbles has a golf course on which to practice.
From the way she has been playing, she can use a lot of practice.
She had better be on her guard for the return of "heat exhaustion." .......I'll only respond once Alex :-)
"Practice makes perfect" Alex.
"she negotiated her own contracts!
Ok, Thanks for the laugh! I needed it, after the week I've had!
"Ok, um, with um, regards to the, um, um, like, Force Majeure clause, ya know? Is like, um missing like whatever um, the cut, covered under like that thing and stuff? Or, like is that covered in the um, like Mutual Indemnity rider, that um, I had marked like up, um for the last like, meeting?
You may not want to outright say she is faking the injury -- not sure why you're afraid, but it's your right I suppose -- but I will. She is faking it. There was no injury. It was done to give her a burned out and losing teenager a break from golf so she could enjoy her senior year in high school. For some reason, just saying she was taking a break wasn't good enough for the over-driving Wie parents. If she had a legitimate injury, her people would have spoken to the press and said what the diagnosis was and what the treatment was and even had their story straight about when she injured it (at first they said Honolulu and then they switched this to California, when they realized that she was actually in California on the day she was supposedly injured. The truth will come out in the end and it will not be pretty.
tournament today due to an impending
tour-disqualifying 88, or a wrist injury--take your
pick