Tim McDonald

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12 comments

1. § Florida Mike said on : 08/03/06 @ 21:32
   Tim, Me and you have disagreed in the past, but that column was right on. I encourage all readers of these blogs to read your column and give their opinion. I have already stated my views on the LPGA and it's relations with Ms Wie. I know we disagree on her career path, but she has fans that the LPGA doesn't and to not take advantage of her tremendous popularity to bring these fans onboard is ludicrous.
2. § Florida Mike said on : 08/03/06 @ 21:34
   error: (me and you) / You and I
3. § Bob said on : 08/04/06 @ 00:06
   This guy doesn't research or write, he copies old articles. Boring....
4. § Joe Cool said on : 08/04/06 @ 00:32
   Tim,
   Good article about Biven...the "witch from inhuman resources"...I doubt there were many wet eyes when she left her last job. I know the type and unfortunately they are becoming very popular in American big business. The old "my way or the highway" seems to be the cool thing now days. Who said..."give them enough rope" etc.
5. § Ghet Rheel said on : 08/04/06 @ 03:45
   The LPGA is so rootbound in old deals with old cronies that they are almost certainly finished. Any organization that can't adapt to embrace an international star (read Wie), who would bring untold millions to the table, is senile. Look what happened to purses and endorsements for ALL PGA golfers when the PGA finally (somewhat) accepted Woods. TV isn't 3 networks anymore - its hundreds. Mass viewership wants Wie whether old cronies like it or not. Mass viewership demands to watch Wie. Whether the LPGA delivers (highly doubtful), or new blood (a new tour) packages the events is the biggest question facing Bivens.
6. § ToddCommish said on : 08/04/06 @ 13:32
   This is a subject that Wie Warriors, Wie bashers, and Wie skeptics all agree on.
   
   Let the kid join the LPGA. Obviously, the public wants this. Let her play full time. Take advantage of the buzz. If she hasn't won in another year (which I doubt, but is looking more possible with each passing tournament), the buzz will be gone. Either Bivens has NFI what "marketing" is, or is a just an unlikable ratbag. Either way, she's screwing up the LPGA more each day.
7. § Jim C said on : 08/04/06 @ 15:14
   Bivens wanted Wie to join the LPGA. For all we know, she might have offered Wie membership in the LPGA based upon her high finishes in 2005. But Bivens does not want Wie to compete against the men thus supporting what she sees as competition for the LPGA.
   
   She started by lecturing LPGA players to the effect that they should not criticize Wie who was their meal ticket. Then she got all snotty--if she doesn't want to be on the LPGA, maybe it is best that she just go her own way. Perhaps Wie hsd turned down an offer of membership or near membership in the LPGA in return for the right of Bivens to control what Wie did in non-LPGA events.
   
   I'm sure Bivens supported the recent change in the World Rankings. She would not want a non-LPGA with a chance to be number one. The other Tours gladly supported the change.
   
   Until the change, playing on lesser women's tours involved a risk of her dropping down in the ratings. Now with the minimum divisor of 35--playing on other women's tours can only help build up her ratings. The dynamics are now much more in favor of Michelle playing on other women's tours. Even if she doesn't win the tournament, she will almost certainly boost her world rating which has to be some kind of a plus for her.
   
   With Wie playing in their tournaments. other tours could begin to make inroads into the LPGA's dominance.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. § putt4par said on : 08/04/06 @ 15:21
   I think Dottie Pepper has the right o it. Bivens attitude of "my way or the Highway" is tearing the LPGA apart. It's time that the membership step in and demand a new commish.
9. § Wie fan said on : 08/04/06 @ 15:51
   The mere fact that Michelle got no coverage at all during the 1st round yesterday should have gotten Bivens the axe.
   
   Michelle's your meal ticket Ms Bivens and you are supposed to be a marketing whiz.
10. § putt4par said on : 08/05/06 @ 12:56
    Hey Tim, here's another one to add to your list of Bivens Dippy Debacles !
    
    An excerpt from an interview
    http://www.inbusinesslasvegas.com/2006/08/04/qanda.html
    
    
    In Business Q and A
    
    Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events
    
    Interviewed by Richard Velotta / Staff Writer
    
    Las Vegas lost the Takefuji Classic LPGA golf tournament in April. Why did that fail and what efforts are being made to bring an LPGA event back to the city?
    
    You know, I don't believe it failed and I don't agree with the commissioner in moving the event. It grew the last couple of years. The management of it improved tremendously in the last couple of years. I thought it was successful. You'll have to ask her (Commissioner Carolyn Bivens) why we lost it. I don't know what we can do to bring it back. I thought they did a good job. We'll support it if asked again.
    
    (My way or the Highway?)
11. § Ralph said on : 08/05/06 @ 13:18
    Column on Bivens was dead on the money. She is a tyrant in a world in which consensus building skills are of paramount importance. Rather than treat the tournaments as equal partners, she seems to view them as underlings that need to be controlled. She is heavy-handed and bull-headed. Not only does she make no apologies for that, she wears it like a badge of honor.
12. § JONinFLA said on : 08/08/06 @ 20:33
    Bivens tried to put in place the same media restrictions that the NFL and NASCAR have in place. The PGA Tour has its own production company that controls all event footage. This change will come, in the same way that the NFL has just eliminated all local cameras from the game sidelines.
    It is simply a technology and ownership issue that arose with the internet.
    
    The TOA needs a wake-up call. Tournaments can, and will, move if the best interest of the tour is not taken into consideration. The care that the Trump group shows in its handling of the season finale is a great example of what level these tournaments need to achieve.
    
    Michelle Wie is a fulltime high school student and her parents have made it clear she will finish school and play a limited schedule until then, revolving around some majors and summer events. We will see her sooon enough fulltime.
    
    Bivens will come in, affect unpopular change, and move on. Then another cycle of golf-playing and hand-shaking commissioners can come aboard and make funny speeches and start to build consensus. From a business perspective, you better strike while the iron is hot, and lots of folks are just not going to get on the bus.
    
    And make no doubt about it, the bus is leaving, with or without Dottie.

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