LPGA English Requirement Round Up

by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 2, 2008 12:11 AM EDT

Caught a couple of items coming back from vacation on this and wanted to follow up.

First, Golfweek is all over it this week and has an interview with Carolyn Bivens. Bivens - per usual - is defiant in her response. I can't find the quotes I want to share on their site, but on Golf Central, the anchor team basically read a quote from Bivens saying she cannot believe people are critiquing a policy intended to help the players in their commerical endeavors, endorsements, etc. You can probably catch the video read on golfchannel.com.

Second, caught John Huggan's reaction in the Scotsman and enjoyed it. He has the usual barbs that everyone who is utterly appalled by the policy would make, but I enjoy his writing style.

He also brought about a quiet FYI for the 30 of us that cover the LPGA Tour on a regular basis NOT writing only blogs. (As a heads up, blog writers do not get media credentials with the LPGA Tour. Actually, that's pretty true across the board - PGA Tour, too. Broadcasting and podcasting and freelancing get me into events.) But, get this:

Bivens 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.

I didn't get followed back on my drive from Vermont to home, so I suppose my background check is still yet to be scheduled.

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you see the Sirak piece?

She dragged the Wegmans into it there. Made me mad:

http://mlyhlss.blogspot.com/2008/09/paging-carolyn-bivens.html

by The Constructivist on Sep 2, 2008 8:46 AM EDT reply actions

reserving judgement

I continue to be surprised by the reactions/backlash to this issue – thanks for posting the links to other articles and blogs – it’s getting harder for me to figure out what is fact and what is speculation, opinion or just plain misinformation. I enjoyed (somewhat) reading John Huggan’s article, but I was disappointed by his comment that the policy is only meant for the South Korean players – I realize that it’s most likely that those Asian rising stars have been the catalyst to this whole firestorm, but every LPGA member will have to follow the policy, not just Korean members.

Thanks Constructivist on your blog link as well – good points, some of which I agree with and others that I just found interesting (it was a bit long so I just skimmed parts) – one thing I really agree with though is to reserve my final judgement until hearing the acutal policy and its implications.

by red tees on Sep 2, 2008 9:12 AM EDT reply actions

background checks

Biv mentioned that early on in her tenure. Yes – I can see the overwhelming flood of media crowding the players on the course every week. I don’t know how the players can get a moment of rest having to deal with all those thousands of media members wanting interviews. lol

She comes up with good ideas, but really needs someone to help her with media and public relations. People don’t want to dislike her – she just seems to have that way about her. When Hootie Johnson was in charge of Augusta National, he got a really bad reputation for staunchly standing his ground. He came from a generation that didn’t take crap from the media. His reputation everywhere else was that he was the consumate southern gentleman – a guy you wanted to sit down and have a drink with to hear his stories.

I’ve never met Bivens – but it’s a shame she comes across this way. Or maybe she has had TOO much time with the media and is already tired of their tricks….NNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH :-D

And as much as I like Huggans – stick to your third rate tour in Europe. If you can’t understand the problems the LPGA has with finances and sponsorships, keep your opinions to yourself.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Sep 2, 2008 9:44 AM EDT reply actions

that's Bivens, not Givens

Hard to respect Huggan’s take on this subject when he can’t even get the commissioner’s name right.

by hound dog on Sep 2, 2008 10:55 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, saw that...

It did bother me. But that’s an editor’s problem. :)

But, he pretty much summed up the whole thing well.

I don’t think he fails to understand finances, Court. I think he’s just someone who likes to spout, haha.

by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 2, 2008 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

he didn't get it right

As with most of the media – thanks to Beth Ann Baldry’s pitiful job of reporting – Huggans didn’t get it right. The Koreans were not singled out – the meeting was called just for them because there are so many Koreans on tour. It is much easier to explain to everyone at the same time than it is 41 individuals. Huggans just jumped on the band wagon of incomplete and incorrect stories and fell into lock step with the political correctness police. (I asked Baldry if she had talked to the players since none of them were complaining – meaning the Koreans since they have been the focus of this whole mess. Baldry replied with “Hilary Lunke”. OOooo-tay, Panky.)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Sep 2, 2008 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

They were singled out

Because of the large contingent of players. But, everyone simply should’ve been convened at the event, told of the policy, and a memo distributed. Bivens should then have had a meeting with any players concerned about the policy and its impact on them.

by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 2, 2008 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe so -

…but I’ll bet that the thinking was to be able to deal with one language at a time.

There are a lot of things that could have been done better in this situation – on just about all sides of the issue. Funny thing, it is the players who seem to have a better grip than the tour or the media.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Sep 2, 2008 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Question

Ryan wrote-

Bivens 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.

I didn’t get followed back on my drive from Vermont to home, so I suppose my background check is still yet to be scheduled.

Other than Huggan, is there any other confirmation for Bivens saying the media will have to undergo background checks?

by Bill Jempty on Sep 2, 2008 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

Bill, don't have anything extra

on that topic, unfortunately.

If I do find something more, though, I will definitely pass it along.

by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 2, 2008 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

nothing really new

once again, the tour is using terms that may not be well chosen. (I know you’re shocked) there is a page on the LPGA site for media credentials applicants. pretty basic – they just want to be sure that you are legitimate media and not some joker looking for a free pass and access to players. The page doesn’t lead you believe that they are trying to find out if you are a member of Al Kaida or the Republican party (or Democrat party – depending on which side of the “those guys are evil” political fence you’re on) or something like that. :-) (no clue as to how far up the food chain you have to be before you qualify)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Sep 2, 2008 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Been there down that

CG,

I’ve been credentialed to cover LPGA events twice. Once as a independent blogger, the second time as a freelancer for Newsweek. I’m well aware of the process involved. Heck I could write a couple thousand words on the subject.

Robert Cox Media of the Media Bloggers Association made a small mention of me in a SF Chronicle article last April.

The LPGA credentialed a blogger one year then refused the same writer the next year on the grounds that the LPGA did not credential bloggers.

The column was written and submitted before I eventually got credentialed again. Huggan’s article says Bivens “Bivens 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" Was this a recent announcement or just a statement on the LPGA’s current policy? I’m interested in learning.

by Bill Jempty on Sep 2, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

don't hurt your arm...

…patting yourself on the back. (j/k) That’s pretty cool getting a mention in the Chronicle. It sounds like you’re mad that they changed the rules on credentials – call the LPGA office. They’ll be happy to fill you in.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Sep 2, 2008 9:46 PM EDT reply actions