A Scathing Review of Michelle Wie
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 5, 2009 3:19 PM EDT
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PrintBrad Zimaniek of the Montgomery Advertiser covered the LPGA Tour's Navistar LPGA Classic for his paper. He got a taste of how the ladies of the LPGA Tour treat their fans and the small media that cover the Tour regularly.
His takeaway? Lorena Ochoa is the embodiment of all that is right with the Tour's product. Michelle Wie is not.
The LPGA future is Wie.
She wears a stone cold arrogance of putting herself on a pedestal above everyone else.
On camera, she's all smiles and pleasant. Out of the spotlight, it's not always the same way.
There's no doubt there might be scars. I almost hope there are. At least, that would give her some excuse for her indifference to how she treated some -- not all -- volunteers, fans and media here this week.
Her sport, which is struggling in this economic crisis, needs her to be better than that.
I don't know how much experience Brad has in dealing with players, but the world of professional golfers vary wildly in terms of how they interact with fans and media.
Some players will sign autographs forever, give great answers to the media, and be largely dislike by their peers. See Mickelson, Phil.
Others are very shy, hardly say anything, and are a nightmare for PR if they win. So many golfers are introverts because of the loner nature of the sport. It is not in their nature to do the kinds of things that make Ochoa so appealing.
And then there are the ego types, like Camilo or Wie (if you accept my and his biases). They've been told from a young age how great they are and will be. Their view of themselves is way bigger than perhaps they deserve. The end result is a warped view of their place in the golf world. That doesn't mean that they're not decent or intriguing human beings - just not looking in the same mirror as the rest of us.
While I agree that golf needs more Mickelsons and less Sean O'Hairs - in terms of fan interaction - that doesn't mean that all player archetypes cannot be appreciated and molded to be a positive for the tour and the sport.
After all, even golf has a place for bad guys.
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Are you making an excuse for Wie ? That’s what this sounds like. “David Simms” was a character in a movie (Tin Cup if you weren’t sure) – and we all know that people like that exist – but do we have to tag Wie like that a few days before she turns the ripe old age of 20 ? Nobody wants to turn out like “David Simms”.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
This reads like a typical small-mid market reporter who got shot down for an interview w/Wie and ‘took it out’ on her via his coverage. I’m not a Wie hater or fan…just saying, I’ve seen plenty of this behavior and given the scarcity of any facts, anecdotes or even amusing snarkiness to support his premise, it just reads like sour grapes.
he sounded pretty clear that he was talking about his observations of Wie when she came in contact with volunteers.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
He said this: “At least, that would give her some excuse for her indifference to how she treated some — not all — volunteers, fans and media here this week.”
So I would say to him — Ok dude, so what did you see? Did you interview any of the fans/volunteers etc? What were their impressions? What was her behavior w/the media that was so reprehensible? You’re a reporter after all…share it!
At best it’s shoddy, bushleague reporting/commentary. At worst it’s just a guy with an axe to grind and no credible facts to support his argument.
Comparisons, comparisons
I suppose it’s human nature, but sometimes we get a little overboard holding people up to the standards we create by comparing them to people they’re not. Michelle Wie is not Lorena Ochoa. Sean O’Hair is not Phil Mickelson. Tiger Woods is not Boo Weekly.
Human beings are highly unique. Some are more introverted. They don’t like dealing with reporters or signing autographs. That doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate fans. Some are extroverted. Some huge celebrities will pretend that they want their privacy but then conspicuously eat dinner on the patio of whatever restaurant all the paparazzi hang out at. Some golfers enjoy signing autographs for every last fan, and some players want to retreat to their hotels and families as soon as they can.
The question of “why can’t Michelle Wie be more like Lorena Ochoa” can be easily answered: because Michelle Wie isn’t Lorena Ochoa. When we expect a group of people of diverse personalities to live up to the way we think they should act, we’re going to be disappointed every single time.
Upon further review...
…I read this a couple more times – and this reads less and less like a “scathing review” of Wie than a reminder to Wie that the LPGA needs its players to be friendly and open with the public. They don’t have the wiggle room (OR waggle room) the PGA Tour has for its biggest attractions to be cold to the public. He was clearly appreciative of her talent on the course.
By the way – did anybody see if Wie’s ankle was wrapped or if she was limping at all ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
If I wrote it, I would agree with you because I say whatever’s on my mind. But this guy has an editor. A call out piece in a decent sized paper is pretty scathing.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 5, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
found a good picture...
…and yes, Wie’s left ankle was taped.
(went to LPGA.com, the tournament’s page, Navistar, official page, media, and photos links to go through some pretty darn good pictures from the tournament)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Media Transformation
Yes Ryan, as we’ve been discussing at length for a while, Journalism/Media…whatever you want to call it… is undergoing this major transformation before our very eyes.
An editor?… a decent sized paper…? Can’t you smell the fear out there? You’re being naive if you think that the old journalistic ethics still automatically apply. These people are competing with bloggers and Twitterers who can say what they want with immediacy. These people might well bend towards a “scathing review” or something sensational rather than something keeping it in perspective and not having a story. Because their livelihoods depend on it and whether a golfer is friendly or cole is largely perception anyway.
Perhaps the gentleman writing this came across in a way that made her uncomfortable, perhaps he was observing her interaction with the fans at a time she was being pressured, we don’t know …neither does his editor… so why should we be quick to put it out there as a scathing review of Michelle Wie?
Personally, I met Michelle Wie and found her to be funny and accessible and very warm. I didn’t have an introduction either just went up to her.
The ironic thing is: I also met Lorena Ochoa in much the same situation and quite frankly, found her perfunctory and cold. To the extent that I was kind of surprised. But, as someone who has been around tournaments and has met quite a number of players, I was able to deduct that the situation was probably just one that didn’t lend itself to more interaction. I imagine she had constraints to her time, and/or things on her mind that distracting but weren’t visible…and these things didn’t allow her to interact freely at that time. I could have written that she was cold it would have been quite a story, but I didn’t, and she remains one of my fave players today. (Also, I was speaking to her in Spanish, maybe she found my accent creepy or something) :o)
Lots of men have a deep resentment for Michelle Wie whether they’re journalists or not, and they can’t let go of it. they’re naturally going be influenced by that when they see her in person, and communicate that when they write.
A Scathing Review of Michelle Wie will probably get a lot of attention but at this point I’m not sure it’s an accurate representation of anything other than one guys personal feelings.
Patricia, I largely agree with what you wrote about changes in the media. This is definitely just one man’s opinion. I’ve never met Ochoa or Wie up close and personal, so I have no clue how they actually are. I don’t even think meeting them once would tell me much, to be honest.
I can understand that the media feels under some serious pressure from outlets that don’t have a traditional form of editorial control, news process, etc. It’s real and it’s out there. The thing is, I don’t think that necessarily makes what this guy or some guy in his basement say necessarily responsible. And I definitely don’t want to condone the notion of taking things way out of context and losing perspective.
Just because we can doesn’t mean we shouldn’t. I don’t mind a cheap shot, and I don’t mind making fun (at all), but I also like to believe that these kinds of things needs to be kept in perspective – even if we can have an immediate reaction.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 5, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
How did I know it would come back to the “men are sexist” angle ? A newspaper writer makes his observations and writes what he sees – so naturally he “creeped her out” – right Patricia ?
“Men have a deep resentment for Wie” – how about making a case for that statement ? What do you do with the women who resent Wie for making lots of cash before accomplishing anything ? It’s cliche and unprovable.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Dismissal of an opinion as predictable and cliche-ridden is hardly an effective counterargument. In fact, it is little more than appeal to ridicule.
by Charles Boyer on Oct 6, 2009 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions
MW etc
I am never surprised at the reaction to interviewers/observers. I get a lot of teasing and friendly abuse on the 1st tee of our club – which I love and give as good back as I get. My husband loathes it, no matter how much I try to assure him that it is a sign of friendliness – he is not English and such familiarity is not part of his culture.
CG – Patricia can defend her opinions perfectly well, but I would say in the 3 years I have been following World/Travelgolf, etc, with v. few exceptions (I can’t actually recall any, but just to be on the safe side) all negative comments have come from men, whether in regard to participation in PGA events, invites, or money, etc. OK – it’s only one website, but we are talking about K’s of posts.
I don’t resent MW (or Patricia for that matter!) for being so much taller, younger, prettier, richer and more talented at golf than I, but then I’m pretty comfortable in my own skin.
"All" is a dangerous word...
You can’t be shocked that a majority of responses against getting invited to play in PGA Tour events came from men. Men are the majority of golfers. The point is that most of those objections were correct. She had not earned a place, nor was she worthy of a place in a PGA Tour event. But women, instead of supporting the right or wrong of the issue – pulled the “sisterhood” card and howled that the was the savior of women’s golf – never stopping to think of the ridiculousness of that statement.
Let’s turn the table a little bit – when one man said it was discriminatory that women could demand that men open up tournaments to them, but a man couldn’t try to qualify for a women’s tournament – there was no end to the wailing and threats of law suits. If women want to have a women only club or gym or school or whatever – women expect and demand that they be allowed to have whatever they want. But god forbid if a man says that he wants something for men only. Courts are overrun by discrimination law suits filed by women demanding their side of a double standard instead of admitting that men need their space just like women.
Are you SURE Patricia can defend her comments ? She hasn’t stepped up. Pretty silly to make that statement when nobody knows. Maybe YOU could try to defend a statement like that – though from the things you usually write, you would never have to – but it’s up to Patricia to back up her words.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Patricia Stepping Up :o)
Actually Court, in response to your 10/5 4:58 comment: I didn’t say men had the market cornered on “creeping out”. In fact I even speculated that I may have had that effect on Lorena with my awful accent in Spanish.
On the resentment issue, I said many Men, not ALL men, but I probably should have said exactly what Wendy said (sisterhood), ie “…all negative comments {I’ve heard} have come from men, whether in regard to participation in PGA events, invites, or money, etc.” then prefaced it. as Wendy did with (I can’t actually recall any {exceptions}, but just to be on the safe side).
And yes, 80% of golfers are men but the fact remains I never recall hearing a women criticize MW, least of all, the LPGA players. All the players I’ve met, and I’ve met a few, have had only positive things to say about her. Across the board, they respect her and they acknowledge that what she did was not only benefited her but the entire tour…and that it wasn’t a walk in the park, at age 17… to go out there repeatedly and handle the vitriolic criticism that she did. As far as most of the players are concerned the attitude seems to be (from what I heard on a number of occasions) “I wouldn’t want to do that … but I’m glad someone did.” The thing is …and this is a generalization… women don’t have their egos attached to money the way men do…and the idea that other women “resent her for making lots of cash before accomplishing anything” is definitely coming from a male perspective more than a female one. Yes, everyone wants to make more money. But as I said, the players acknowledge that what she did was good for everyone’s bottom line.
Finally to address the “men in womens tournaments” issue. I think it was the PGA that invited first Annika, then Michelle, to participate in their tournaments, not the ladies who asked to participate. The Men knew it would increase the viewership, and profile of their events, and it did. As it increased same for LPGA events. And both tours no doubt encouraged MW to participat in PGA events for that reason. Way back after Annika had paticipated in the PGA event the then LPGA commissioner was quoted as saying:
"If this is what captures the public’s imagination, if this is what brings eyeballs to the LPGA, anyone who questions the good of this is being shortsighted." I’d venture to say that’s more true than ever in this economic climate.
As far as I know, the LPGA Tour hasn’t extended an invite to any men and the PGA Tour hasn’t encouraged them to do so. Probably because it just would’nt be particularly compelling to watch.
I think in the end a lot of what we’re talking about comes down to (and this IS cliched- but still) the Mars /Venus nature of Men/Women and the way that come out in the way we see things. And to that I can only add…and I’m sure Wendy will agree…Venus RULES !!! ;o)
Whoa - bit chippy, CG?
Simply must respond to you CG before reading my sister’s post (oh wait .. my sister Patricia, – honest – doesn’t even own a computer!).
I’m not shocked that the majority of responses against MW getting invited to PGA events came from men. I sympathise with many of the points they make, but for me pragmatically it comes down to the point that the PGA (and other tours) issued the invitations to her for financial reasons, (rail against them) and at her age and with the money on offer, why the hell not accept them – tho’ whether it has benefited her in the long run is doubtful. The sheer venom of many of these posts IS shocking, however. You have implicitly agreed with Patricia that (some) “men do have a deep resentment for Wie” and have given reasons why thls should be so.
Your subject title was “All is a dangerous word” but in your first para you make the sweeping (and unsupported) statement that "Women, instead of supporting the right or wrong …. pulled the sisterhood card……!!! You provocative little devil you! :)
Actually I would LOVE for a PGA tour member to receive an invite to play in a
LPGA event …. can you imagine the sheer terror for the poor bloke?! NO , Sisterhood – you cannot have Adam, Sergio, Camillo – they wouldn’t have the ……..umm ….guts to accept anyway. Let’s face it, even seasoned-pros like Annika or Laura losing badly to the fellas is not as ego-busting as the aforementioned losing to (even one of) the ladies.
Male/female private associations/clubs no problem over here, although I do take the mickey out of the (UK) golf club which only allows women on the course if playing with a “male member” (that one’s for you, Patricia) and forbids entry to the all-male dining room – make mine a takeaway bacon butty then. Pity the poor man who inadvertently takes his female partner there for a round of golf and hasn’t read the club “terms and condtitions” – possible loss of membership?
This must be my longest post on anything – think I’ll just have the ONE more glass of wine then ….over to you Patricia.
want it all you want – the LPGA will never allow a male touring professional to play with the women. playing 700 to 1000 yards less course and slower greens, the man will destroy the field – you can take his driver away if you want. it’s not chauvanism – just statistical facts.
I’ll have to look around for the discussion, but the topic was Touring pros playing regular golf courses under regular play conditions. Breaking 60 wasn’t uncommon.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Agree/Disagree
Think Double Eagle has explained very clearly what I was trying to say about interaction between interviewer/interviewee (Patricia/Lorena), 1st tee banter, etc..
If I were a LPGA player, I might possibly feel some resentment towards MW, (even my favourite golf player, Stewart Cink, can get shirty about lack of TV coverage) but I’m not and I don’t – and believe this goes for most women, rather than a sisterhood thing.
Of course VENUS rules, Patricia – until MARS plays a lot better and wins the £1 club pin back, (and we are talking gross – hah!).
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