Volume II No. 24
 01-18-04
 Michelle Wie Leads The Way
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2004

 Change may occur with a glacial slowness. Other times, it's an 
 overnight phenomenon. Or instantaneous like fireworks in the 
 midnight sky. Similarly to 14 year-old Freddie Adu's effect upon 
 the world of professional soccer, 14 year-old Michelle Wie sent
 shock waves through the stodgy world of the men's PGA Tour. 
 Wie picked up where Annika Sorenstam left off last year, and 
 destroying age-old stereotypes with every stroke of her club, 
 the six-foot tall child prodigy shot a 2-under-par 68 and missed
 the cut by one stroke at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

 Wie's accomplishment would be remarkable for any woman. But 
 Wie, obviously, is not yet at the age of majority. She's in the 
 ninth grade. She's a kid. A baby. -- Before Sorenstam in 2003, the 
 last woman to play against the men was Babe Zaharias back in 
 1946. 

 At this rate of improvement of her game, Michelle Wie she is going 
 to destroy the women's professional tour, and then no one will be 
 able to come up with a legitimate reason for keeping her off of the 
 men's tour "full time" if she wanted to. As difficult as this is to 
 comprehend, Michelle Wie's impact upon the entire game of golf,
 may end up being far more dramatic than that of Tiger Woods.

 Tiger Wood's most certainly will win more tournaments. But the 
 barriers { social and otherwise } that Michelle Wie is likely to
 break down may ultimately be more important. She may become 
 the Jackie Robinson of her generation. Not the first. -- That's 
 already been done. But the first who was consistently competive.

 The men's PGA Tour deserves the comeuppance that it is about 
 to get thanks to the impressive Wie. Martha Burke { head of the
 National Council of Women's Organization } and who is responsible
 for leading the cause against the exclusionist membership policies
 of the Augusta National Golf Club, is viewed by too many important
 people - including prominent men's sports writers - as an annoyance. 
 She is rediculed in the national press and on television talk shows 
 as a publicity hound. Despite the legitimacy of her arguments, that 
 Augusta Nation's policy is just plain sexist. Anachronistic. And not 
 to mention, pig-headed as well.

 If Wie opens the door to female members on the men's professional 
 tour, Augusta National's policy will have to change. Otherwise, the 
 club members will be exposed as a bunch of misogynistic dinosaurs.

 Although all society benefits when barriers that no longer make 
 sense are broken down. In this instance it must be noted, professional 
 golf is not boxing. Sad will be the day when a man and a woman are 
 trading punches in the ring. That's not sport. That's exploitation.

 Neither is golf equivalent to tennis. The power, strength, and quickness
 of the opponent across the net is an important factor in determing 
 the outcome of any match. Thus, it will be a long time coming before 
 a top-ranked female tennis player will be able to successfully compete
 on the court with just an average male professional tennis player of 
 similar age and talent. -- In tennis the physical differences between 
 the sexes matters.

 Basketball?

 If Shaquille O'Neal fouled some 5'5" female point guard coming 
 down the lane. He might well break her arm in half. The public 
 doesn't want to see that. And for good reason.

 So, in reality, golf is unique amongst the major professional sports.
 Men and women may well be able to compete in golf on a fairly equal 
 basis. Michelle Wie is not so much competing against the stronger 
 sex, as much as she is competing against the course, itself. 

 It is the social implications of women golfers on the men's PGA 
 tour, that have a few prominent names on edge. They are upset 
 because their precious men's-only club is about to be crashed.

 It's not about Michelle's or Anneka's anatomy, Vijay Singh. It's
 about their skill. Their talent. If these women { and the many who 
 are sure to follow } are amongst the most talented golfers in the 
 world.

 Then regardless of their sex. They deserve to compete against the 
 best.

 What is wrong with that?
 

 ReadingPost.Com
 © Copyright 2004

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