Jan 16

At least Peyton Manning's always won more than Michelle Wie

Peyton Manning’s taking a lot of heat right now for coming up small in another big game. Deservedly so. And it didn’t help that Manning tried to shift the blame with a weak, “I’m trying to be a good teammate here, but we had some protection problems.”

Hint: If you feel the need to start a sentence with “I’m trying to be a good teammate” or “No offense intended, but", it’s probably better kept to yourself.

Still, at least Colts fans can take solace that Manning’s shown himself to be more of an winner than a pure marketing machine creation. Like, oh I don’t know, Michelle Wie for example.

Manning’s more like Phil Mickeslon before he won that first major. He’s won plenty of games, he just hasn’t won the big one yet. Whereas Michelle Wie’s would settle for a Scrabble victory about now.

Manning won plenty of high-profile, pressure games as a top quarterback prospect in high school. Sixteen-year-old Michelle Wie is now O for 31 in her pro career. The Sony Open makes 25 LPGA tournaments and six PGA events for the seasoned excuse maker.

Peyton only wishes he had that many playoff chances. He could have used Wie’s “I want some chocolate” line after his Sunday of spraying passes. Might have saved him some trouble.

Of course, Manning cannot just shrug off losses. He’s worried about a legacy, not just a fortune.

Michelle Wie’s place in golf history? That’s sort of laughable right now. But not really her fault. You can chalk that up to the vaunted Team Wie.

« Phil Mickelson's season debut gives Bob Hope Chrysler Classic intrigue

Despite Bob Hope Classic easy rep, Palm Springs golf carries bite »

16 comments

Comment from: Kenji [Visitor]

Going with your football comparisons - if they dropped 16 year old Joe Montana or Johnny Unitas in the NFL today, they'd look very, very bad for the first 7 years. (Unitas' first NFL pass was an interception).

The point is, Michelle is too young for anyone to make a realistic projection right now. It's not as though she's peaked, she's still developing.

Personally, I think she shows more potential than anyone I've seen. But that means nothing right now.

2006-01-17 @ 00:01

Comment from: Vernon W [Visitor]

Yeah-- how many pro football games did Peyton Manning play, much less win, by the time he was 16? Good thinking, Baldwin!!

2006-01-17 @ 03:31

Comment from: John D [Visitor]

At age 16, Manning's wins were with the local HIGH SCHOOL team. As all 16 year old's wins should be. 16 year olds should not be allowed to compete with Pros. By not interacting with children of their own age, shows lack of social behavior and inter-personal skills.

2006-01-17 @ 05:19

Comment from: El Cheapo [Visitor]

Johnny Unitas was originally on the Steelers, by the way. Which makes me think this one thing:

Go Steelers!!!!!!!

El Cheaperino

2006-01-17 @ 06:24

Comment from: 17.ks [Visitor]

Comparing someone's count of victories in football to someone else's victory count in golf is absurd. In a football game half of the participants get a victory. In a golf tournament only one person wins. Tiger Woods had 6 victories last year in 24 events. If Payton Manning had put up such numbers he wouldn't even make the playoffs.

2006-01-17 @ 10:41

Comment from: June [Visitor]

Good Call, 17.ks.

But still give Baldwin some credit. At least he did stay away from Wie-bashing one day. ANd that's something from Baldy.

2006-01-17 @ 10:56

Comment from: Shanks [Member]

Somebody tell Cheap Bastard that the Steelers drafted, then cut Johnny U. He never played a down for them. Brilliant!!!

2006-01-17 @ 11:05

Comment from: Ron Mon [Member]

Baldwin would say that don Quixote had a better record than Michelle Wie, not counting the match with the windmills. And, with Sancho Panza as his caddy, could have won a major had he been less old. His pathetic analogy was almost revealed as crap by John D., who forgot to capitalize the critical word TEAM, not high school. Wie goes it alone, whereas Peyton has men strong like bull up front to protect him. In fact, our boss has recently informed us that McDonald, Shanks, Mario and I will either form the front four to protect Baldwin, or lose our jobs. Not much choice, huh?

2006-01-17 @ 22:13

Comment from: Vernon W [Visitor]

There you go again, John D, saying things you know nothing about. Peyton Manning had plenty of help, at least 21 other guys. Ever hear of Tracy Austin, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Serena Williams, etc.? They all played professionally as teenagers. How many of them have or will have a college degree? Wie will. Want to make a bet? How do you know Wie does not interact with youths of her own age? Her school, Punahou HS, with 3,700 students from kindergarten to 12 grade, is one of the best schools in Hawaii. Ask Barack Obama. Ever talk to any of her friends there or anyone who knows her personally? So how do you know that she "lacks of social behavior and interpersonal skills?" I have only heard of one golfer, amateur, PGA or LPGA, who played with her since she was 10, who was not impressed by her talent, poise and maturity.

2006-01-18 @ 05:43

Comment from: Under Par [Visitor]

Ask Barak Obama-Banana? I wouldn't ask that fool for the time of day.

2006-01-18 @ 12:15

Comment from: Kenji [Visitor]

Mr. Baldwin: Your comparison would be fairer if we used Manning's pro rookie stats. Hmmm let's see, in 1998 22-year old Manning's pass comp % was 57%, ave pass = 6 yds. Threw 26 TD passes, 28 interceptions. Colts were 3-13.

John D: Yeah, competing with girls their own age does wonders for social behavior and interpersonal skills. Hey, isn't that Morgan Pressel making creepy comments about Michelle in S.I.? There's Morgan throwing a tantrum on live TV! What a credit to womanhood!

Cheap B: I hated the Steelers since the day I witnessed, live, the 'immaculate reception'. (I was a Raiders fan). I've been emotionally scarred since. I can still hear Curt Gowdy intoning "I can't...believe...what we've witnessed...here today."

2006-01-18 @ 18:13

Comment from: Vernon W [Visitor]

Under Par,

If you weren't a bigger fool, you would not have to ask him for the time of day. At least he is a US Senator. Who are you?

2006-01-19 @ 02:34

Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]

Michelle Wie has improved dramatically. Last year George claimed that Ryan Leaf was better than Michelle. Now Chris Baldwin is comparing her to Peyton Manning.

2006-01-19 @ 13:01

Comment from: george [Visitor]

** Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
Michelle Wie has improved dramatically. Last year George claimed that Ryan Leaf was better than Michelle. Now Chris Baldwin is comparing her to Peyton Manning. **

The scary part, Jim, is you probably believe there's actually some sort of logical progression one could discern between the Leaf-Wie and Manning-Wie comparisons.

-George

2006-01-19 @ 19:33

Comment from: John D [Visitor]

Point is that kids need to be kids. They should play, and/or compete with other kids.

Know what Ah mean, Vern?

2006-01-20 @ 08:00

Comment from: Earl T [Visitor]

John D. you are an idiot. Michelle Wie goes to a regular high school (not some golf academy) and interacts with hundreds of kids her own age every day. That is why she doesn't play junior golf full-time (there is no junior golf circuit in Hawaii). She simply doesn't play GOLF with other kids her own age.

Chris, it's so sad that you have to beat up on a talented 16 year old(you started at this when she was 14!) who's only "crime" was to want to play against the best competition she can find. If she was a guy, you would probably find that heroic. Actually, you show thank Michelle -- before she came along nobody ever gave a damn what you wrote.

2006-01-29 @ 02:15

Comment feed for this post