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Dirk Nowitzki stands up in defeat, while Michelle Wie has Leadbetter make her excuses
Monday May 7, 2007 | 03:26:19 520 words, 6940 views
If Michelle Wie ever stood up and took responsibility for her own actions in defeat like Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki did, she’d be a whole lot easier to root for. The NBA MVP To Be suffered one of the most crushing defeats in sports history, helping his 67-win Mavericks get knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors. And not just knocked out - completely humiliated in every possible sense. David didn’t just hit Goliath with a slingshot. He pulled the giant’s pants down too. So what does Nowitzki do in the moments after the final buzzer’s sounded on the final wipeout of the series? He takes on all the blame, almost demands it. He doesn’t whine. He doesn’t offer excuses about a draft in the arena or a shot that just popped out or the age of his legs or a sportswriter who’s supposedly out to get him with a rules violation. In other words, he doesn’t pull a Wie. Instead he talks honestly, passionately and frankly. “Obviously, it would have helped if we had a low post presence,” Nowitzki said. “That’s why I take a lot of that on myself. That’s probably the weakest thing in my game right now, the low post game. That’s something I’ve got to work on.” Nowitzki lost. Big. But he stood up. Contrast that with the latest maneuverings from Team Wie. Rather than come out and admit she got in over her head herself, Wie had her coach David Leadbetter let it out that she’s reconsidering that taking over the men’s game thing. “She hasn’t got any PGA Tour events planned at the moment,” Leadbetter told an AFP reporter in Charlotte this weekend. “She’s going to commit herself to the LPGA and play a number of events, and next year she’ll probably take up membership.” Leadbetter went on to give himself credit for this bit of sense - like a string of collapses (including one with an actual stretcher) wasn’t enough evidence. “The thing I’ve tried to explain to (Wie) is that you have to work your way up the ladder,” Leadbetter told the AFP. “It’s all well and good to play a couple of (men’s) events as a novelty, now let’s look at a long-term plan.” Of course, being a member of Team Wie - a propaganda group that makes the old KGB look softcore - Leadbetter couldn’t help but throw in some ridiculous hyperbole for good measure. “Now is the time to establish herself,” Leadbetter also told the AFP. “My feelings are that if she plays week in and week out on the LPGA, she would win eight or nine times a year.” How about winning once in four years first? Anywhere? On any tour? In a game of softball? Checkers? But that’s the difference between Nowitzki and Wie. Dirk lives in reality, understands what he needs to do. You know he’ll come back better. Wie still lives in fantasyland - even as she’s being nudged away from men’s events. Who knows how she’ll come back? The only certainty is that she’ll have plenty of excuses ready. Bookmark/Search this post with:
Comments:
Comment from: Ray J. Annis [Visitor]
 · http://unknown
Why do so-called professional sports writers and bloggers hate Ms. Wie so much? It's like they are picking on your kid sister, the bunch of bullies, and in a game that won't let her be a true member for two more years, yet they resent her getting exemptions to play in games (mens or woman's), and that any game when which she is in, television ratings go through the roof....much like they do when Tiger Woods plays a PGA event. You guys know who you are, including the article writer, and yes you are a bully. Get over it.
She is young, cute, talented and it is only when she has fewer distrasions, she can only get better. IMHO, she should quit Stamford, like Tiger, and go pro, but that is a useless move now, because of the age rule, I believe...something like that. I know I will be watching whenever she is playing, and not the neaderthall one-browers that make up the LPGA now. I haven't seen a really good looking woman since I saw Nancy Lopez's smile 20 years ago.(That may be a bit of an overstatement...I do like Ochoa, and a couple of the top 10 women, including Anna, especially Anna), but Wei is something very, very special, like a Nancy Lopez smile.
Be a friend, write something nice. Quit beating up on teenage girls.
Ray J. Annis
2007-05-07 @ 06:22
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Hey Ray J.,
In case you don't know it, Bubbles has been a pro since October 2005.
2007-05-07 @ 08:19
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
And also, Ray, what's this about some game that won't let Bubbles be a "true member" for two more years?
She could apply for an exemption for the 18 year old rule, just as Morgan Pressel did, and become an LPGA member immediately with the stroke of a pen. Bubbles CHOOSES not to be a member as yet. By the way, the name of the college is Stanford. Stamford is a town in Connecticut.
2007-05-07 @ 08:25
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Ray J.,
Your post is hilarious. Definitely Alan Cup material. So you want Bubbles to quit Stamford(sic) and go pro, just like Tiger? Ray baby, she hasn't even STARTED yet at Stamford!
2007-05-07 @ 08:38
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Alex,
Michelle joining the lpga tour would not be JUST LIKE Morgan Pressel joining early. When Morgan joined, the tour started in February and she was less than 3 months shy of her 18th birthday. If Wie had joined as a 17 year old, she would have had practically the whole lpga season as a 17 year old. That's too young to be joining the lpga tour in my opinion and Bivens said much the same thing in a statement she made on the subject. You also said that she could join any time she wanted at the stroke of a pen. That's not true. She could have joined at the start of the season, using her 2006 results as qualifying her to do so, but she cannot just join mid season unless she were to win an event.
2007-05-07 @ 09:33
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Chris,
I don't know what your game is. Perhaps you are pro-Wie and thinking that wrtitting illogical rantings will lead to people getting annoyed with you and bring more fans to Wie. I don't know if there is any other reason you would write the nonsense you do.
2007-05-07 @ 09:35
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Norman,
Please don't read anything into my post that isn't there. Here is my contention: Bubbles could have applied for an exemption from the 18 year old rule. For whatever reason, she CHOSE not to apply. In any event, she should be an LPGA member before the end of 2007 according to the overwhelming opinion if the Wie-wee's. Almost all of you Wiebots are sure she will win an LPGA tournament this year, and Jim c has flat out predicted a win for Bubbles in the next Women's US Open. So she'll have that win and instant membership in the LPGA. there is no more point in debating the subject.
2007-05-07 @ 09:47
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Hey Ray J., Don't get too upset about Baldy. He rants like this all the time.
Same thing with ALex. Norman, by now you know tha the last possible thing that Alex or Baldwin would possibly consider is logic. Neither one of the has even the slightest knowledge of what Logic is, so just ignore them. Bruce Stasch, Stacy.... if you have any need to wonder why you bloggers will never be considered as "legitimate Journalists" for the sake of covering the LPGA, just look at what your bud Baldwin writes. Nuff said!
2007-05-07 @ 11:50
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
putt4par,
It looks like you have a new bedfellow, Ray J. Annis. Do you agree with your new buddy that Bubbles should quit Stamford and turn pro like Tiger?
2007-05-07 @ 11:57
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
putt4par,
It looks like you have a new bedfellow, Ray J. Annis. Do you agree with your new buddy that Bubbles should quit Stamford and turn pro like Tiger?
2007-05-07 @ 11:58
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Oops! Sorry for the double.
2007-05-07 @ 12:03
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
Chris,
As you probably know, there are very simple explanations for the behavior exhibited by Bubbles and the Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler of the Wiebots, David Leadpoison. First, her marketability, her stock, is based on an illusion: That she is far better than she is, an Amazonian golfer for the ages that has the potential to vanquish the boys. Thus, if the Bubbles camp came clean, her stock would drop precipitously. He who exalts himself will be humbled, but the die has been cast, and to cease the exaltation would mean exposure of the charade and a loss of credibility. Leadpoison also has these concerns, but he embraces them more out of enlghtened self-interest. If he refused to be a sycophantic leader of the Wiebots, if he spoke the unvarnished truth, he'd lose his chief frog. I don't imagine that someone is kept around for very long if he steps on the Wies' toes, do you?
2007-05-07 @ 12:17
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Another thing Alex does so well is ask useless and nonsensical questions, to which the answers would be wrong no matter what you say.
Just consider Alex to be an extension of Baldwins silliness.
2007-05-07 @ 12:24
Comment from: Jim C [Visitor]
It is my understanding that Wie's 2006 results entitle her to LPGA membership not a the beginning of the year, but on her 18th birthday.
The LPGA wauved the 18 year old rule for Aree Song as a 17 year old high school graduate, but refused to do the same for Morgan Pressel as a 17 year old high school student--until the Pressels threatened the LPGA with a lawsuit. If the LPGA does offer Wie an age exemption, they would prefer not to do so while she is still a high school student. Don't be surprised if Wie is given an age exemption in time for the Solheim Cup.
2007-05-07 @ 12:44
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
putt4par,
What Ray J. Annis and I want to know is this: If Bubbles quits Stamford and turns pro like Tiger, will she get to play in next year's Master? After all, she has said many times that she wants to play in the Masters', and what Bubbles wants, Bubbles gets. Besides, if Zach Johnson can wins the Masters', it should be a piece of cake for a superstar like Bubbles.
2007-05-07 @ 12:55
Comment from: Stanley [Visitor]
Jim C,
I emailed the lpga tour before, asking them about Wie joining the tour and if she could use the fact that she qualified at 17 to join later. They said she could have petitioned but since she didn't, she cannot carry it over. If she wants to join, she will have to qualify again.
2007-05-07 @ 13:11
Comment from: Ken McLaren [Visitor]
wow! o ruler all the Wie, hateful ()spiteful males out there. God! can't you give it a rest your worse than bullies,.In the game of cow pasture pool..I never watch golf but I loved the thought that some girl would beat the ass of some spoiled men born with silver spoons in their asses and most of you just carry the clubs anyway.just give it a rest and maybe more people will watch your sport or more bulls and! mouthy men
Ken
2007-05-07 @ 13:37
Comment from: Stanley [Visitor]
Baldwins story was about excuses.
How about these 3 gems of excuses taken from the golf channel boards. * She didn't win in 2006 due to wrist injuries. * She didn't win in 2006 due to training which gained her more muscle and so she had to adjust to that. * She didn't win in 2006 due to playing with a pink ball in the last round of tournaments. Of course those 3 gems of excuses were for Paula Creamer AKA, Chris Baldwins pin up player.
2007-05-07 @ 14:34
Comment from: One-Putt [Visitor]
According to Rich Lerner of Golf Central he spoke with David and Michelle is still considering playing in the John Deere Classic in July.
I guess David really didn't have all the facts. This should make Alex's day. :-)
2007-05-07 @ 14:55
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Ken McLaren,
I have read, or rather I tried to read your post, and all I can say is Whaatt? Here's a helpful hint: Try writing your posts in your native language, whatever that might be. There are plenty of interpreters out there.
2007-05-07 @ 15:23
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
One-Putt,
What? Bubbles mught have a go at the John Deere? Better get the Intensive Care Unit on alert for Bubbles' imminent arrival!
2007-05-07 @ 15:26
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Cow patty flinging 101. Professor Baldwin and his everfaithful sidekick, the green disk tote bag man, Alex.
Sounds like a perfect picture to me. Thanks Ken. Cow Pasture pool, rofl. Nice image. I think you have it wrong tho. Sounds to me like Alex and Baldie are steers, not bulls.
2007-05-07 @ 15:30
Comment from: Mucha [Visitor]
One mere mention of Wie, the anti-Wie-wieners come up in drove like zombies to jump all over anyone who dare to disagree with them.
Why so insecure? The world as you know it no longer exists...
2007-05-07 @ 16:37
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Mucha,
What! Another semi-literate Wie Warrior? Mucha ,(that's housefly in Slovak), the world as you see it does not exist, nor will it ever.
2007-05-07 @ 17:48
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Attention!
Add the illustrious names of Ray J. Annis, Ken McLaren, and Mucha to the distinguished list of Wie Warriors Geniuses all.
2007-05-07 @ 17:58
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
putt4par,
When you took Ford to task for what you perceived as some bad grammar and punctuation, you set yourself up as the arbiter of proper composition. But now we have newbie Wiebots Ray J., Ken Mc, and Mucha, nice guys but they couldn't spell "CAT" if you gave them the "c" and the "t", and you're strangely silent on the subject. I wonder why?
2007-05-07 @ 20:08
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
I believe you just did. No need for duplication.
2007-05-07 @ 21:22
Comment from: Mucha [Visitor]
Two-men army marching down Main street, totally oblivious and ignorant about the sentiment of the people around them and the environment they are in.
In medical term, that is called delusional and denial.
2007-05-08 @ 09:17
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Mucha,
All right kiddo, the jig is up! You have been outed. Nobody could possibly be as dumb as you're pretending to be.
2007-05-08 @ 09:59
Comment from: Mucha [Visitor]
Alex,
I might be dumb, but I ain't no delusional....
2007-05-08 @ 13:39
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Mucha,
All your delusions are belong to us.
2007-05-08 @ 17:11
Comment from: Tom [Visitor]
Wiesy and the Guys is not over.
------------------------- The headline was intriguing and not totally unexpected. "Wie to focus on women's events: coach" screamed the menu page on Yahoo late last week. The link carried the reader to an Agence France Presse story in which David Leadbetter was quoted as saying 17-year-old Michelle Wie "hasn't got any PGA Tour events planned at the moment." There is just one problem with the story. It's not accurate. http://www.golfdigest.com/newsandtour/index.ssf?/newsandtour/gw20070511wie.html
2007-05-09 @ 00:09
Comment from: Jim C [Visitor]
The John Deere is a possible option for Michelle Wie to add to her plans, but it does not appear to be in the plan as of yet. I consider Leadbetter's comments to be accurate, if not complete. Certainly Wie will be cutting back from her 2006 number of tournaments against the men.
2007-05-09 @ 08:34
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Jim C,
What would you say is the grand plan of Bubbles? She won't play any competitive golf for about five months. As far as playing against men, it's beyond my comprehension why she, her handlers and parents, or her fans would want her to take that. It has been said a few times on these threads that she had back-to-back poor showings at the Omega and the 84Lumber. Not mentioned was her bomb out at the Casio, 17 over for two rounds without a single birdie. And she didn't exactly light it up at the Samsung, either, finishing 17th in a twenty person field, and 21 shots out of the lead Remember Jim C, all this poor golf was played before her "injury" and the subsequent long layoff. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for Bubbles to get in the fields of some LET or JLPGA events to try to hone her game for upcoming tournaments against the best that the LPGA has to offer. I'm no fan of Bubbles, and I think her carreer path was entirely botched. Also, from what you guys say, Leadbetter is a combination of idiot and con man. But I have to agree with him on this one. But if you fellows want to see you idol embarrassed and humiliated even further, then I suppose you'll be ecstatic when she fails to make the cut once again at the Deere. It doesn't seem like much fun to me, but then, I'm not a Wie-wee.
2007-05-09 @ 09:34
Comment from: Jim C [Visitor]
Michelle Wie hurt her wrist in the first round of the Samsung--she then had another wrist injury running backwards. The Casio was after this first injury. The Omega and 84 Lumber were on very long courses which Wie will undoubtedly avoid at least for the prsent. Her focus will be the LPGA.
I would be happy if she played well at the John Deere even if she narrowly missed the cut. Missing a PGA cut by a stroke at 17 would be an achievement--but not as impressive as doing it at 14. I have no problem with Leadbetter. I think the problem last year was that Michelle Wie tried to do too much, and I suspect the person responsible for the decision to do so was Michelle Wie. I doubt that forged metal irons were Leadbetter's idea. But I have no problem with a person who dreams big. You develop by daring to try things.
2007-05-09 @ 15:03
Comment from: totoks [Visitor]
Jim C:
In re: to "...suspect the person responsible for the decision to do so was Michelle Wie.." I would have to agree with you. I'm not a golfer, not even a bad golfer. However, once upon a time i was a decent billiards player. And as my game improved, so did my desire for better equipment. And since I could afford it I purchased a custom made cue for my stance, feel, etc. Did it help my game? Probably not. Did it help my attitude? Absolutely. So, 'wot H'im sayin', bloke, is that MW could afford clubs made out of moon rock if she wanted. Would it help her game? Hmm. ‘nother story. But --- she could use house clubs and have more game than most. “It’s not the wand, it’s the magician behind it!”
2007-05-09 @ 16:27
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
The reason why Bubbles will not dispense with her perverse ambition to compete with men is that her mind-set has been masculinzed through an improper upbringing. What I mean is that she cannot be satisfied dominating the women (something she hasn't done yet) because she's not satisfied to dance on the mediocre stage of the LPGA. She has been told growing up, "You can do anything a boy can do," and it her case it stuck.
I'll place it in perspective. Would any normal male pro be satisfied competing with and dominating the women? Of course not -- they're girls. Unfortunately, because of her poor upbringing, her mind-set is similar, as strange as it sounds. And this brings to light a problem with the modern woman paradigm. Bubbles has been damned to exist in a state wherein she'll never achieve career satisfaction, because what is a prerquisite for it in her mind is also an impossibility. Success against the little old girls will leave her empty, and the only thing that would seem fulfilling -- success against the boys -- will always be beyond her grasp. Perhaps all you dads should think about this before you inculcate your daughters with the equality fiction.
2007-05-09 @ 20:12
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Judge Smails,
Jim C in his last post said that if Bubbles narrowly misses the cut at the John Deere, that would be an "achievement", but it wouldn't be as "impressive" as her missed cut in 2004 at the Sony. Using those words to descibe missed cuts is playing fast and loose with the English language. Jimbo does seem like a nice fellow, but I fear that he is losing his grip. On another thread, Jim described the fantasy of Bubbles winning eight or nine times a year as a "modest" goal. He says that she may reach these stratospheric heights by as early as 2008. Bubbles won't have even play competitively in five months and the have her doing the near-impossible. I personally look forward to the bat s**t crazy insanity emanating from the Wie-wee's if and when she actually wins one.
2007-05-09 @ 20:45
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Alex said:
"I personally look forward to the bat s**t crazy insanity emanating from the Wie-wee's if and when she actually wins one." Well, it seems you've never needed to wait for anything be "bats**t crazy" and insane. Seems like you've already won that round.
2007-05-09 @ 21:30
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
putt4par,
I see that you're still having trouble thinking up your own material. You could probably use a course in creative writing at the local community college in Edmonton.
2007-05-10 @ 07:58
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
putt4par,
I see that you're still having trouble thinking up your own material. You could probably use a course in creative writing at the local community college in Edmonton.
2007-05-10 @ 07:58
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Alex. Oh ye of peurile wit,it seems you
have a one trick imagination. I'm certain that you can come up with a better quote than this, Alex. In the mean time, go join your fellow monkeys on that keyboard. I'm sure your resulting novel will make interesting butt wipe.
2007-05-10 @ 09:23
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
putt4par,
We all make typos from time to time, but when one uses an uncommon word like "puerile", that person should spell it correctly.
2007-05-10 @ 09:58
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Nitpicky little bastige aren't you?
I'm sure you got the message, dim as you are.
2007-05-10 @ 10:23
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
putt4par,
Don't you get tired of having Alex dance rings around you? He is draining birdies and shooting lights out while you're leaking oil and making bogies.
2007-05-10 @ 19:01
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Judge Smails,
You can blame p4p's gluttony for punishment on the Canadian educational system, the long winters up north, and an overdose of Wie koolaid.
2007-05-10 @ 19:09
Comment from: R.L. [Visitor]
I need someone to clarify something for me. When and if Wie wants to be a full time member of the LPGA tour, does she still have to go through Q school?? I don't think she would have a problem with that. But I also don't think she should be able to bypass that. Pressel had to go through that. She got through of course but did not play up to her ability. If you recall, Miyazato was top girl there by six shots. Of course, Morgan has had the better pro career so far. So Michelle still has to go through Q school doesn't she?
2007-05-10 @ 23:20
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
R.L.,
"Q" school stands for "qualifying". Pressel, Creamer, and Miyazato had to go to "Q" school since they were peasants, not the royalty that Bubbles is. She definitely will NEVER attend "Q" school.
2007-05-11 @ 07:33
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
putt4par, Don't you get tired of having Alex dance rings around you? He is draining birdies and shooting lights out while you're leaking oil and making bogies. Muahahahahahah ! Alex needs your kind of help! ROFLMAO Hey, Alex.. You're self estemm bothering you again? You keep sinking to new lows.Now you are making bigotted remarks about my country. Such a sad wee (or is that Wie) man??? that you are.
2007-05-11 @ 08:02
Comment from: R.L. [Visitor]
I was fine with Morgan having to go to Q school after having a near Bobby Jones summer of winning the US Amateur and narrowly losing the US Open. Rules are rules and she should have attended inQ school, which she did.
Which brings me back to Michelle. She really should be required to get through Q School.................R.L.
2007-05-11 @ 10:39
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
R.L.,
I agree that Bubbles should be required to attend "Q" school. I also think that she would make it through with flying colors. But don't expect the Wie Warriors to have anything but contempt for such an idea. They believe that Bubbles was and is entitled to every exemption from qualifying that she has ever received And they further believe that her placings and money won with those pressure-free exemptions should give her a permanent exemption from qualifying. Sadly, they a probably right in their thinking. Don't look for Bubbles to attend "Q" school. Rules are made for mere mortals, not a transcendant princess like Bubbles.
2007-05-11 @ 10:50
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Actually,Alex, I agree with you on the "Q" school for MW.
I don't care for the idea of rookies backing into an exempt status card thru high money standings. Winning a tournament is one thing, money standings just means the player was close which shouldn't merit an Exempt status card. As for the exemptions she gets now, those are entirely up to the sponsors. Whether we agree with them or not, you and I have absolutely nothing to do with how they are handed out. As long as the sponsors are paying the freight, then they can Exempt whomever they wish. He who has the money, gets to make the rules.
2007-05-11 @ 11:11
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
putt4par,
We agree on something! Amazing! Be careful that the ceiling doesn't fall in! Sure Miss Wie should go to "Q" school. She no doubt would lead the field of be very close to the top. For this reason alone, the positive PR such a move would generate, she should go the "Q" school route and silence some of her critics, such as myself, at least for a while. I don't believe she will, but I hope I'm wrong.
2007-05-11 @ 13:04
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
She is supposed to have a PR management group at her beck and call.
Too bad they weren't more than titular advisors in all this. They either aren't doing their job or the Wies aren't listening. In which case, the money they are wasting would look good in my pocket. I could sit and do nothing and accept the big bucks too, lol
2007-05-11 @ 13:42
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
R.L.
The rules are the same for Michelle as anyone else. She would have to go through q school unless she either won an event, or won enough money as a non-member. Tiger Woods qualified for the pga tour in that way, and so didn't attend q school. Neither did Phil Mickelson or Justin Leonard. Wie earned enough money in 2006 that she could have taken a tour card had she been over 18 years of age. So she wouldn't have had to go through q school. If she was to do a similar performance in 2007 she would get a tour card without going through q school for the lpga tour. Although Morgan Pressel did take maximum exemptions in 2005, she didn't earn enough money to bypass q school. The rule was there for her though. Had she earned enough money, she could have bypassed q school.
2007-05-11 @ 18:02
Comment from: R.L. [Visitor]
Thanks for clearing that up for me. And I do agree that Michelle would have no trouble with q school. In a way, it is dad she will not get to go. I think something like that would be a good experience for her. Show she can be a "one of the regular girls." Good PR and also mature her and maybe toughen her up a bit.
A teaching pro was quoted last week as sayinn Morgan is "as tough as a nickel steak." Quite a compliment from an experienced older guy. Now some that don't like her would probably want to point out that she gets teary pretty easily sometimes. Then again- any of you who remember when Mark Messier returned to the Rangers from Vancouver in the NHL, will recall that he blubbered for 15 minutes and it was not even over a tough competition. They don't make athletes much tougher than former great Mark Messier...........RL
2007-05-12 @ 01:25
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
R.L.
Wie could still be entering Q-school. In order to avoid it she would have to make a lot of money is a few particular events. I'm not sure which events count or don't count, but I think the British & US Opens don't count for it. I think there are others that don't count either. For Morgan Pressel, I'm not convinced about her. She makes far too many 3 putts, and particularly she makes a nice few from 12 feet or so. At the Kraft, she got her speed better but in tournaments after it, she appears to have gone back to old habits and really has trouble with the speed of her putts. Unless Morgan can fix that, she won't consistantly contend in my opinion.
2007-05-12 @ 12:16
Comment from: One-Putt [Visitor]
"Comment from: Norman [Visitor] Email
R.L. The rules are the same for Michelle as anyone else. She would have to go through q school unless she either won an event, or won enough money as a non-member. Tiger Woods qualified for the pga tour in that way, and so didn't attend q school. Neither did Phil Mickelson or Justin Leonard. Wie earned enough money in 2006 that she could have taken a tour card had she been over 18 years of age. So she wouldn't have had to go through q school." Actually Michelle was within the top 40 on the money list before the 2006 Corona Championship and earned a two year exemption (2007-2008) if she joins the tour before the end of 2007.
2007-05-12 @ 20:12
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Norman,
There is one distinct difference in the paths taken by Woods, Mickelson, Leonard, Pressel, and the last to do it, Ryan Moore. All those golfers were US Amateur champions with exemplary amateur careers, and so were given the maximum exemptions because of their demonstrated prowess at the sport. Bubbles, on the other hand, has been granted far more than the normal number of exemptions, even a slew of exemptions to men's tour events not because she dominated the juniors or amateurs. She got hers as the result of an unprecedented amount of hype and the resultant creation of an illusion of greatness credited to Bubbles, an illusion which has proven thus far to exactly that.
2007-05-12 @ 20:52
Comment from: R.L. [Visitor]
Morgan's problems putting I think are in the process of being solved. Most of the time her speed is off is because she has a very solid putting stroke. She also tends to be too bold and ends up knocking it four or five feet past. Tiger tends to do that still on 12 footers on the flat. he is much more cautious when he hits a long putt or one downhill. I think he thinks those 12 footers are gonna roll straight in. Morgan has the same mindset. Not that I am comparing her to Tiger. Although Tiger would gladly trade places with her this week. Morgan is a pretty savvy kid. Her putting will be fine. I mean I think that is the way it will all work out. Of course she is the one putting and will need to make these adjustments.......ducks
2007-05-13 @ 01:41
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Alex:
All those golfers were US Amateur champions with exemplary amateur careers, and so were given the maximum exemptions because of their demonstrated prowess at the sport. _______________________ And Alex, Michelle was given her lpga exemptions, because she QUALIFIED for two lpga events as a 12 year old and QUALIFIED for the US Womens Open at 13, became the youngest usga winner of an ADULT event at 13 years old, and got a top 10 in a MAJOR as a 13 year old. That kind of unprecidented performance at that age lead to getting her more exemptions, and the exceptional and brilliant performance displayed in using those exemptions lead to her getting more exemptions. Alex, if you want to argue against her DESERVING pga exemptions, please do, you will have a very good case. If you want to argue against her DESERVING lpga exemptions, please don't, you don't have a leg to stand on in that case.
2007-05-13 @ 11:13
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Norman,
If you want to argue that Bubbles had SOME VERY GOOD performances in using her numerous exemptions in LPGA events, please do, you will have a very good case. If you want to argue that Bubbles' performances in those numerous exemptions were EXCEPTIONAL and BRILLIANT, please don't. You won't have a leg to stand on . Winning an LPGA event might be considered exceptional and brilliant. Paula Creamer has won five times worldwide, three of those on the LPGA tour. She might qualify for those glowing adjectives. Morgan Pressel won a major LPGA tournament at age 18+ years. That is exceptional and brilliant. There is nothing exceptional or brilliant about finishing top ten or even top five. Very good or maybe excellent would be a more appropriat description. Let us not play fast and loose with my native language.
2007-05-13 @ 12:03
Comment from: R.L. [Visitor]
I don't think anyone would dispute the fact that Michelle had excellent abilities at a very young age. She also has shown flashes of brilliance in many competitions.
Winning an adult event at an early age is good. The fact the win was in a very minor event has to be mentioned also though. If and when she gets out on the LPGA tour this summer and wins an event, that would be quite something. Let's see when and if that happens.
2007-05-13 @ 12:54
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
R.L.,
That criterion, that Bubbles actually wins one, will be good enough for me, as ot os for you. But the Wie-wee's adamantly refuse to view winning as any sort of benchmark. To Norman and the other Wiebots, she has already proved herself to be exceptional and brilliant. Norman has said so on this thread. And if she never wins an LPGA tournament or makes that elusive PGA cut, he will still believe that she is the greatest golfer to ever come down the pike.
2007-05-13 @ 13:09
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Norman... How much do you want to bet that if any one of Alexs daughters had performed the same as Michelle, that Alex would be singing a different tune?
2007-05-13 @ 13:50
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] | ||||||
