Body English
by Mulligan Stu on Jul 6, 2008 6:16 PM EDT
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PrintAnyone else remember how scared Seon Hwa Lee was when she won her first LPGA tournament? Not scared on the golf course, or because of the shots she had to hit - but scared to death by the post-round interview. Thinking back, it still fills me with sympathy.
Lee, at that time, clearly had just started trying to learn English. Having the on-course commentator stick the microphone in her face after the trophy presentation terrified her. But she had a trick up her sleeve. My interpretation of the situation was this: She expected to be asked the question, "How does it feel to win your first tournament"? (Because most of the time, the question the TV types ask is, "How does it feel?") And so Seon Hwa had thought up an answer to that question.
Then the reporter asked her a completely different question. Seon Hwa gave her planned answer anyway - probably because those were the only words she could get out in English in that situation, and probably also in part because she didn't understand what she'd been asked.
So her answer had nothing to do with the question, and was barely discernible anyway, but at least she made the attempt. But then something truly terrible happened: the reporter asked a follow-up. Poor Seon Hwa. She froze with a deer-in-the-headlights look on her face. It was tough to watch.
Seon Hwa Lee won again today, and this is first time I've seen her interviewed live since that first win. And she did a much, much better job. She's obviously been working hard at English, she didn't seem nervous or scared; rather, she seemed excited and happy and even charming.
I was watching the CBS streaming feed on LPGA.com, and Val Skinner asked the first question. Then ... the dreaded follow-up. It wasn't even a question, it was more a statement, something along the lines of, "Seon Hwa, congratulations and you're going to make a great champion for P&G." And she stuck the microphone back in Seon Hwa's face.
I tensed up. Would Seon Hwa freeze again? Would she be able to handle this silly "follow-up"? Lee appeared flummoxed. She leaned in toward Skinner, cocked her head a little, with a quizzical look on her face. As if she were thinking, "Val, what the hell???"
Then, from off to the side, someone said to Seon Hwa, "Say 'thank you'." And Lee said, "Thanks." And smiled.
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isn't that amazing ?
you’d think that these media “professionals” would know who they are dealing with and exactly how much English they speak. they follow a formula that makes about as much sense as a “zero tolerance” law. they tell us that they are interested in good television – but an interview with someone who not only speaks no English, but is scared to death of embarrassing themself is not good TV. they should know better.
if you are going to force the situation – at least have a translator on hand. they are horrible to listen to, but they are better than embarrassing the winner.
just wrap up the show – do some highlights – do anything – but DON’T embarrass the player for the sake of your precious formula. Annika has said that she threw tournaments her first couple of years on tour because she was afraid of the interviews and acceptance speeches. all these years later and the media wonks haven’t learned their lesson.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
learn from the Wegmans!
Sure, my buddy Dennis Williams had about as much trouble pronouncing Eun-Hee Ji’s name on the Wegmans webcasts as the CBS announcers did this weekend, but the folks at Rochester are a model for taking seriously the international nature of the LPGA. The organizers have a deal with U of R’s Simon School to have translators for all the players who need them there from the start of the week till the end of the tournament. Shouldn’t be too hard to do something similar elsewhere…
by The Constructivist on Jul 6, 2008 7:40 PM EDT reply actions
good for them
maybe they can offer their services to the “professional” broadcasters who can’t seem to pronounce those really tough, single syllable names.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
The media
I’ve been a credentialed member of the media at two LPGA tournaments. At one of them I overheard several members of the press corps making fun of the English used by one of the Asian players at an earlier press conference. Which is very childish. How many of these men and women can speak 2 languages? If they do, is their second as good as their native tongue? Probably not. The reporters were being childish, much like the kids who speak on another student who has a speech impediment.
Was some of this spilling over into yesterday’s interview? Who knows, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
not a chance
Bill – they aren’t making fun of the players who struggle to speak English – they are just following a formula. In their minds, they HAVE to have a post round interview, no matter how bad. They don’t think outside of the box and don’t have any other options ready. The interviewers are former players who have “normal” conversations with the current players on a player’s level away from the microphone. When they do the interviews, they are fed cliche questions (“how do you feel…”) that generally draw cliche answers – but they don’t have much leeway in the interviews.
I know what you mean about some of the media members in the tent. Half of them would rather be anywhere but there and could pretty much write their pieces from home reading the internet and watching TV. What amazes me is the arrogance of some of these people who criticize the tournament and the players who do things they couldn’t do in their wildest dreams. It’s a shame that they don’t enjoy being at so many great golf courses with the best golfers in the world.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Either he's dead or my watch has stopped.........
The Stanford Intl which I covered, saw the press take the tournament organizers to task for course setup and the length of time it took rounds to finish. I did think a few holes were ridiculous, and the speed of play was terrible, but was willing to give the tournament a break because this was a first time that hadn’t even six months to get organized. Was the media being unfair when they expect a masterpiece the first time around?
I made fun of the slow play, comparing it to a Marx Brothers routine
“Either he’s dead or my watch has stopped.”
Having passed to his eternal reward in 1977, Groucho Marx was not paired with any of the pros at the Stanford International Pro-Am. So it only seemed like eternity out there on the course today. With many of the celebrity amateurs doing their own impersonations of Marx’s “Dr. Hackenbush”, play went from slow to downright glacial here in South Florida. Suffice to say, its been no day at the races in Aventura with the pile ups on the course more reminiscent of a Mack Sennett film than a Marx Brothers comedy.
When’s the last time you heard the media invoke Groucho Marx when talking pro golf? Or discuss something other than the poor record of Americans in LPGA majors, or how Paula Creamer is the best woman golfer without a major? Last year in build up to the formation of the Solheim Cup team, I don’t recall one article talking about it or who team Captain Betsy King would choose as her Captain’s selections. I think there’s more stories that are out there to be told if the golf media would make an effort.
classic !
That’s a great piece ! Good one, Bill. yes – the Marx Brothers have moved on and are now playing at the Freedonia Country Club. :-)
You’re right – the media doesn’t dig very much. Unfortunately, they, and we to a great extent, have been conditioned to think that if it’s not a story about Tiger Woods, or the tournament doesn’t have him in it, there’s nothing worth covering. It’s not just golf – and it’s a real shame.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
ah, the Freedonia Country Club...
...my old home course (it’s real name is Hillview b/c it’s very flat). Shot a 66 there once (par 70). Never met a Marx bro there, though, and that’s a shame!
by The Constructivist on Jul 7, 2008 4:11 PM EDT reply actions
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