LPGA to Require English For International Players

[Moosejay]

The Korean players are pissed. They think they are being targeted.

The sponsors, who mean everything, state it is an American tour, and there are so many Korean players, most of whom do not speak English.

They want to communicate with the Koreans. they can't without English.

I think this is a good ruling.

What say you?

[Crossbow]

The Korean players are pissed. They think they are being targeted.

The sponsors, who mean everything, state it is an American tour, and there are so many Korean players, most of whom do not speak English.

They want to communicate with the Koreans. they can't without English.

I think this is a good ruling.

What say you?

The problem is not that there are one or two Korean players who take part, but that there are so many of them. If there is exceptional talent, no matter from which corner of the world, the viewers will want to see it.

I would therefore find it better if they introduced quotas for international players. (Just to be clear, this quota would not apply to the country that hosts the event, e.g. if Italy was to organise an Italian tour, they could have as many Italian players as they wanted etc.)

Ballesteros didn't speak English and letting him play did not do the game of golf any harm...

[youandme]

The problem is not that there are one or two Korean players who take part, but that there are so many of them. If there is exceptional talent, no matter from which corner of the world, the viewers will want to see it.

I would therefore find it better if they introduced quotas for international players. (Just to be clear, this quota would not apply to the country that hosts the event, e.g. if Italy was to organise an Italian tour, they could have as many Italian players as they wanted etc.)

Ballesteros didn't speak English and letting him play did not do the game of golf any harm...

[Moosejay]

The problem is not that there are one or two Korean players who take part, but that there are so many of them. If there is exceptional talent, no matter from which corner of the world, the viewers will want to see it.

I would therefore find it better if they introduced quotas for international players. (Just to be clear, this quota would not apply to the country that hosts the event, e.g. if Italy was to organise an Italian tour, they could have as many Italian players as they wanted etc.)

Ballesteros didn't speak English and letting him play did not do the game of golf any harm...

Yes...but there are not a zillion Seve Ballesteros' playing.

Check an LPGA box score in the paper...like, 1/3 or more of the players are Korean...like an infestation

[Moosejay]

Bahaha....classic!

yes.

[Michaeloz]

Still the sad racist I see

[Dreadlord]

The Korean players are pissed. They think they are being targeted.

The sponsors, who mean everything, state it is an American tour, and there are so many Korean players, most of whom do not speak English.

They want to communicate with the Koreans. they can't without English.

I think this is a good ruling.

What say you?

Too cheap to get translators?

[The_Punisher]

The Korean players are pissed. They think they are being targeted.

The sponsors, who mean everything, state it is an American tour, and there are so many Korean players, most of whom do not speak English.

They want to communicate with the Koreans. they can't without English.

I think this is a good ruling.

What say you?

these mutherfcuking Asians could never speak English right, even if they've been to the USA for years. that shit still remains a fucking Mystery to me

[The Coach]

The Korean players are pissed. They think they are being targeted.

The sponsors, who mean everything, state it is an American tour, and there are so many Korean players, most of whom do not speak English.

They want to communicate with the Koreans. they can't without English.

I think this is a good ruling.

What say you?

I got emailed this yesterday and I was going to post it but I get flammed enough on here for my golf posts. I still don't know what to think of it, part of me thinks it's wrong, but if you even watch the LPGA events like I do, you'll see that half the field is Korean and the majority are in the top 20 on the leader boards and it is a US Tour. The girl who won the Womens US Open last month was 19 and could hardly speak english without an interpreter.

[Moosejay]

Still the sad racist I see

Your political correctness holds you back, friend.

I get things DONE because I see and speak the TRUTH.

Get some,
Peace

MJ

[240 is Back]

it's not about "being able to communicate with sponsors", even if that is a nice way to be PC and not get sued.

It's because American viewers - and yes, the LPGA is an American sports body - stop watching when it's 5 s. koreans battling it out for 1st place.  American viewers want American heroes.  They want to watch athletes who are like them.  Sad but true.  Money talks, and ratings will always be higher for an all-American final 2 duking it out, than for an  all-Korean final 2.

[Moosejay]

I got emailed this yesterday and I was going to post it but I get flammed enough on here for my golf posts. I still don't know what to think of it, part of me thinks it's wrong, but if you even watch the LPGA events like I do, you'll see that half the field is Korean and the majority are in the top 20 on the leader boards and it is a US Tour. The girl who won the Womens US Open last month was 19 and could hardly speak english without an interpreter.

Racism, blah blah or whatever

The cold truth is,

The sponsors, who grease the wheels of the athletic machine with the almighty dollar, don't want them winning unless they can assimilate.

Anyone who calls racism or whatever either lacks introspection

or

is a jackass

[Moosejay]

it's not about "being able to communicate with sponsors", even if that is a nice way to be PC and not get sued.

It's because American viewers - and yes, the LPGA is an American sports body - stop watching when it's 5 s. koreans battling it out for 1st place.  American viewers want American heroes.  They want to watch athletes who are like them.  Sad but true.  Money talks, and ratings will always be higher for an all-American final 2 duking it out, than for an  all-Korean final 2.

That is truth, coach.

It's called 'entertainment ideation', and it means that when a person wants to escpae thru entertainment, they SEE themselves as Tom Cruise while watching the movie

They SEE themselves as Tiger Woods...and yes, he is Black, and that does not matter....even though they can't golf

They want to imagine themselves as heroes who look like them, speak like them.;

Huge, powerful, rich Madison Avenue PR firms have figured this out.

Most on this board have not.

[The Coach]

it's not about "being able to communicate with sponsors", even if that is a nice way to be PC and not get sued.

It's because American viewers - and yes, the LPGA is an American sports body - stop watching when it's 5 s. koreans battling it out for 1st place.  American viewers want American heroes.  They want to watch athletes who are like them.  Sad but true.  Money talks, and ratings will always be higher for an all-American final 2 duking it out, than for an  all-Korean final 2.

Oh thats horseshit Rob. I enjoy watching because these ladies have some serious skills. I personally like Lorena Ochoa (a Mexican) because of her amazing skills like being all of 120lbs and driving the ball 320 yards. Doesn't make any difference if they're american or not.

[Moosejay]

Oh thats horseshit Rob. I enjoy watching because these ladies have some serious skills. I personally like Lorena Ochoa (a Mexican) because of her amazing skills like being all of 120lbs and driving the ball 320 yards. Doesn't make any difference if they're american or not.

Coach, and respect to you, you are very knowledgeable, but I'd have to agree with Rob here.

[240 is Back]

Oh thats horseshit Rob. I enjoy watching because these ladies have some serious skills. I personally like Lorena Ochoa (a Mexican) because of her amazing skills like being all of 120lbs and driving the ball 320 yards. Doesn't make any difference if they're american or not.

You're a knowledgeable golf purist.  Do most fans watch because they love good mechanics?

Better yet, would you be more, less, or equally likely to watch if the top 50 golfers in the LPGA were from S. Korea?

After you answer for YOU, answer for most other casual viewers.  Would they rather watch 50 girls from Korea, or 50 girls from USA?

[kcballer]

Complete joke i would be surprised if it actually stood up to a court room challenge.  Just more American racism funny really considering most of America can't even speak English properly.  color? what the fu*k is that? haha stupid yanks.

[The Coach]

You're a knowledgeable golf purist.  Do most fans watch because they love good mechanics? Better yet, would you be more, less, or equally likely to watch if the top 50 golfers in the LPGA were from S. Korea?

After you answer for YOU, answer for most other casual viewers.  Would they rather watch 50 girls from Korea, or 50 girls from USA?

For the serious golfer, I'd have to say yes. When I watch a PGA or even LPGA event I like to see what I'm doing differently from them, I like to analyze the different swing mechanics, the women especially. I like to why a 120-130lbs women who is all of 5'3 can make it to the green in 2 shots on 590 yard par 5 when I have trouble getting there in 3 or 4 shots. Again, doesn't matter who is.

[kcballer]

You're a knowledgeable golf purist.  Do most fans watch because they love good mechanics?

Better yet, would you be more, less, or equally likely to watch if the top 50 golfers in the LPGA were from S. Korea?

After you answer for YOU, answer for most other casual viewers.  Would they rather watch 50 girls from Korea, or 50 girls from USA?

They are just killing their own product with racism.  Stupid business move.  That would be akin to the NFL bringing in a minimum IQ for it's players so they can sound educated when speaking to sponsors/TV stations etc.  Fact is in professional sports it's about the BEST product on the field.  It hasn't hurt the NBA that a whole lot of foreign players have come in and many speak broken English.  Nothing but white golf purists trying to keep golf that way.  

[The Coach]

Complete joke i would be surprised if it actually stood up to a court room challenge.  Just more American racism funny really considering most of America can't even speak English properly.  color? what the fu*k is that? haha stupid yanks.

I agree, and if it goes any further I'm sure it will.

[240 is Back]

For the serious golfer, I'd have to say yes. When I watch a PGA or even LPGA event I like to see what I'm doing differently from them, I like to analyze the different swing mechanics, the women especially. I like to why a 120-130lbs women who is all of 5'3 can make it to the green in 2 shots on 590 yard par 5 when I have trouble getting there in 3 or 4 shots. Again, doesn't matter who is.

here's where it gets interesting.

Let's pretend that 50% of viewers are serious golfers, and 50% are casual golfers or fans.

The 50% who are watching for mechanics and to learn - you're going to watch no matter what, right?  You're not exactly going to move to S. Korea to watch the game.  You'll watch the best players available on your TV.  They don't lose you as a viewer by kicking out the wave of foreigners.

The 50% who just watch to identify with sports heroes, learn a bit, waste a little time, follow the standings - they'll actually GROW in numbers/viwer retention when they see pretty smiling americans on the screen, as opposed to unfamiliar foreigners.


it's all marketing decision based on viewer retention.  The serious 50% aren't going anywhere.  But the casual 50% might just get bored when they can't tell the golfer apart by name or face.

[The Coach]

You're a knowledgeable golf purist.  Do most fans watch because they love good mechanics?

Better yet, would you be more, less, or equally likely to watch if the top 50 golfers in the LPGA were from S. Korea?

After you answer for YOU, answer for most other casual viewers.  Would they rather watch 50 girls from Korea, or 50 girls from USA?

Doesn't matter, people who know golf like to watch GOOD competitve golf.

[kcballer]

I agree, and if it goes any further I'm sure it will.

Exactly and you know the first thing that's going to come up? Why English? America doesn't even have an 'official' language so what exactly is their basis for choosing it? Majority of speakers? If that's the case in 15 years Spanish will be the language they will all have to speak right?

[240 is Back]

They are just killing their own product with racism.  Stupid business move.  That would be akin to the NFL bringing in a minimum IQ for it's players so they can sound educated when speaking to sponsors/TV stations etc.  Fact is in professional sports it's about the BEST product on the field.  It hasn't hurt the NBA that a whole lot of foreign players have come in and many speak broken English.  Nothing but white golf purists trying to keep golf that way.  

NBA and NFL are working like crazy to become international games.

From what I can see, and what the analysts are saying on ESPN, the LPGA is trying to stay in USA, and NOT expand.


And is it *really* the best product on the field?   They kick out talented players with behaviour problems all the time.  This means it's more about best *image* on the field.

[240 is Back]

Doesn't matter, people who know golf like to watch GOOD competitve golf.

Are the koreans that much better than their american counterparts? (i don't watch)