Chris BaldwinThis Week at TravelGolf.com: Jan. 17, 2007

Can't we all just root for Michelle Wie?

There's far too much negativity in the world today. Everyone tries to pick out the bad, to accentuate the worst. Especially these grumpy golf writers who should be forever grateful they're not working the graveyard shift at Denny’s.

It really sickens me to see what's going on, as I'm sure it does you too, fellow compassionate citizens of the Internet. It's unfathomable what a sweet innocent girl with a multi-million-dollar-a-year Nike contract, a sparkly wristwatch and a dream is being put through.

Enough is enough. Like Jennifer Lopez in that bad movie that always plays on basic cable, I'm fighting back. Somebody has to say it: Why can't we all just root for Wie?

Sure Michelle Wie finished third-to-last at the Sony Open. Sure, by comparison, she makes San Diego Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer loom as a master of coming through in the clutch. Sure ...

Sorry that was the old way. It's easy to relapse. But much as George W. did after those hard partying forties, I've seen the light. And it's a teenage Hawaiian golfer with more guts than your average fire fighter, more brains than your average nuclear physicist, more pluck than your average American Idol winner.

All those critics are focusing on the wrong things. Wie shows up with her wrist in a wrap and she's accused of trying to create pre-tournament sympathy? Please, these old fools have no clue about teen fashion. Young people wear all kinds of things today. That wrist wrap is just another earth-shattering Wie statement that you'll see on the runaways of Milan in two years and go, "Ah."

And won't you feel stupid then?

Which brings us to another of the unenlightened ones' gripes: That Our Nike Goddess makes so many excuses for her poor play that her excuses seem to have excuses and notes from their mother. Again, you couldn't be more off the mark if you were Michael Jackson in a Myrtle Beach strip joint. Michelle is just exercising the creative speaking skills that will serve her well at Standford.

She hit one fairway in the Sony's first round. That's more than double none.

See, it's better to be a Wie Warrior. You feel good. Admit it. That's the power of Wie.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.



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