PR and money-hungry folks rush to score on Michelle Wie's good name

Michelle Wie’s continued escalation into becoming “The World’s Most Important Human” seems to be going smoothly, as the young star continues to amass headlines and controversy around the globe.

Ok, no victories as of yet, but lots of headlines and controversy.

First, we get a Sports Illustrated reporter calling out Wie on a nothing foul, getting her disqualified from her first pro tournament. One TravelGolf.com writer has gone so far as to say that the SI reporter did it solely to promote his new golf book, and that the golf book might be the worst piece of literature since “Psychiatrists are Devils: Scientology for Dummies". (Ok, I’m the TravelGolf.com writer in question and I haven’t actually read the book, just going on a blind assumption that it sucks).

Recently, however, Wie has seen something happen to her that can only happen to Super Famous people: A guy in South Korea claimed to be her uncle and used that lie to claim 14.7 billion won ($14 million) from investors.

According to a story in the JoongAng Daily it seems the man, who has the last name “Wie” and grew up near Wie’s grandfather, took money from 970 investors, promising them large profits from investment in a shoe sterilizing business.

This really drives the point home regarding Michelle Wie’s fame: Exactly how famous do you have to be to have someone use your name to get people to fork over mammoth amounts of won for a “shoe sterilizing business?”

Anyway, the 46-year-old man in question has been arrested and will likely face stiff penalties (Don’t worry about him too much, he’s in South Korea, the public beheadings are done in the other Korea.)

All I can say is get used to it, Mi-Wie. Such things are par for the course when you achieve hyper-fame. People will come out of the woodwork to make a buck on your good name. Hopefully, she’ll find helpful advice in my new, soon-to-be-released book Michelle Wie May or May Not be My Secret Love Child.

–WKW