Shane reasons this out very thoughtfully. Being on the keyboard end of things, as you have, Bill, for 40 years, you must develop a sensitivity about your subjects. You have written about some of the game’s top stars (Arnie, Seve, and a Fleck of Golf History) for years, but I think the pros you were writing about came along in a different time, a different era when the relationship between journalist and professional might have been under less pressure. More of a partnership that could trace its roots to OB Keeler and Bobby Jones.
There is an awful lot of money in the sport today. There is social media to contend with and its great tribes of “haters”; there are the unanticipated consequences of legalized sports betting to contend with. Many athletes are getting threats from people whose bets were fouled because the athlete failed to perform in some way. Whether this is true with pro golf I cannot say.
Pressure from agents, pressure from family, pressure from sponsors, pressure from the Tour, pressure from fans… it is no wonder these guys can sometimes be short or downright rude.
As for the scribes, demands for content, demands to get a story, deadlines, temptations to cut corners with the truth, or with sources, rejections from subjects or their agents… it all adds up.
Shane is right to note that each side sort of provides checks and balances within its own community. Loudmouthed or rude pros will never find favor. Likewise scribes who continue to turn out mediocre, slanted or hurtful content will find themselves shunned, no? Their work regarded as suspect? You must, over the course of your career, have seen this happen to some.
I have no experience talking with pro golfers or professionals from any sport. That has not been my career. I only write from what seems a logical, if sunny and optimistic, perspective. There are some good people out there. (Rich Lerner gave me more than 90 minutes on a phone call when I had hoped for 15, tops. A very patient and easy-going guy helping a lowly newsletter hack tell a story about telling stories.)
A little respect goes a long way. Colin may not feel he owes anybody anything, but with all the money he makes from his tournament appearances and victories and sponsorships, I might argue that he does. The game has been good to you, so do your best to identify those scribes who are trustworthy, who do their homework and are, in turn, respectful. Might they write an unflattering truth occasionally? Perhaps, but we must take our heroes with a grain of salt, understand that they, too, have flaws and are but human beings after all. Unflattering truths can be told with a dash of humility and understanding.
Natural enemies? Not at all. Colleagues, I’d argue. One to provide the heroics and the drama, tragedies, too, and the other to tell the story. Keeler and Jones. Jenkins and Hogan. Respect, trust and perhaps some mutual admiration for the other’s profession.
Wishful thinking, I suppose, given the long trajectory that has brought us to this point. But it only takes a handful of people to show how it can be done.
Since the tournament where Colin Morikawa made his comments was at Bay Hill why don’t we think for a minute what would Arnold have done?
Has there ever been a golfer who loved and appreciated the fans more than Mr Palmer? Did you ever get an autograph from him? Remember he’s the one who told the young players to sign your name so the person could read it. He brought the TV era into our living rooms with his charisma and dashing style. But, he also did it with basic courtesy to the folks who made it all possible - the fans.
I like Colin Morikawa a lot. I do hope someone tells him the truth - he needs to take the fans with him on his ride. He’s a great player but his journey will be a lot smoother if he gives the fans a peak into his world - just like Mr Palmer did.
What does anybody “owe” anybody? Civility, would be my answer. The national spear has become increasingly surly, and sports is certainly no exception. How the tour has handled the whole LIV/Saudi Arabia debacle has turned a lot of people myself included away from professional golf. Colin Morikawa doesn’t owe me anything, but I don’t owe him anything either. He’s a fine golfer, but they’re a lot of fine golfers. I’m increasingly focusing my attention on my own game, my pleasure in the game and my friends in the game. The rest of it is just becoming noise. The PGA tour needs to recognize that I am not an outlier and they need to get their heads out of their unit one and pay attention or suffer the consequences. Nice post here BILL
Ryan's article is dead on; and as golf reflects life, it resounded all too familiar with our political world and how sound bites rule the world, not effective, respective conversation. Sad on both fronts
Shane reasons this out very thoughtfully. Being on the keyboard end of things, as you have, Bill, for 40 years, you must develop a sensitivity about your subjects. You have written about some of the game’s top stars (Arnie, Seve, and a Fleck of Golf History) for years, but I think the pros you were writing about came along in a different time, a different era when the relationship between journalist and professional might have been under less pressure. More of a partnership that could trace its roots to OB Keeler and Bobby Jones.
There is an awful lot of money in the sport today. There is social media to contend with and its great tribes of “haters”; there are the unanticipated consequences of legalized sports betting to contend with. Many athletes are getting threats from people whose bets were fouled because the athlete failed to perform in some way. Whether this is true with pro golf I cannot say.
Pressure from agents, pressure from family, pressure from sponsors, pressure from the Tour, pressure from fans… it is no wonder these guys can sometimes be short or downright rude.
As for the scribes, demands for content, demands to get a story, deadlines, temptations to cut corners with the truth, or with sources, rejections from subjects or their agents… it all adds up.
Shane is right to note that each side sort of provides checks and balances within its own community. Loudmouthed or rude pros will never find favor. Likewise scribes who continue to turn out mediocre, slanted or hurtful content will find themselves shunned, no? Their work regarded as suspect? You must, over the course of your career, have seen this happen to some.
I have no experience talking with pro golfers or professionals from any sport. That has not been my career. I only write from what seems a logical, if sunny and optimistic, perspective. There are some good people out there. (Rich Lerner gave me more than 90 minutes on a phone call when I had hoped for 15, tops. A very patient and easy-going guy helping a lowly newsletter hack tell a story about telling stories.)
A little respect goes a long way. Colin may not feel he owes anybody anything, but with all the money he makes from his tournament appearances and victories and sponsorships, I might argue that he does. The game has been good to you, so do your best to identify those scribes who are trustworthy, who do their homework and are, in turn, respectful. Might they write an unflattering truth occasionally? Perhaps, but we must take our heroes with a grain of salt, understand that they, too, have flaws and are but human beings after all. Unflattering truths can be told with a dash of humility and understanding.
Natural enemies? Not at all. Colleagues, I’d argue. One to provide the heroics and the drama, tragedies, too, and the other to tell the story. Keeler and Jones. Jenkins and Hogan. Respect, trust and perhaps some mutual admiration for the other’s profession.
Wishful thinking, I suppose, given the long trajectory that has brought us to this point. But it only takes a handful of people to show how it can be done.
Since the tournament where Colin Morikawa made his comments was at Bay Hill why don’t we think for a minute what would Arnold have done?
Has there ever been a golfer who loved and appreciated the fans more than Mr Palmer? Did you ever get an autograph from him? Remember he’s the one who told the young players to sign your name so the person could read it. He brought the TV era into our living rooms with his charisma and dashing style. But, he also did it with basic courtesy to the folks who made it all possible - the fans.
I like Colin Morikawa a lot. I do hope someone tells him the truth - he needs to take the fans with him on his ride. He’s a great player but his journey will be a lot smoother if he gives the fans a peak into his world - just like Mr Palmer did.
The act of hitting a ball with a stick for lots of money to amuse people becomes less important when the hitter isn’t amused with the viewer.
What does anybody “owe” anybody? Civility, would be my answer. The national spear has become increasingly surly, and sports is certainly no exception. How the tour has handled the whole LIV/Saudi Arabia debacle has turned a lot of people myself included away from professional golf. Colin Morikawa doesn’t owe me anything, but I don’t owe him anything either. He’s a fine golfer, but they’re a lot of fine golfers. I’m increasingly focusing my attention on my own game, my pleasure in the game and my friends in the game. The rest of it is just becoming noise. The PGA tour needs to recognize that I am not an outlier and they need to get their heads out of their unit one and pay attention or suffer the consequences. Nice post here BILL
Sphere not spear lol
Ryan's article is dead on; and as golf reflects life, it resounded all too familiar with our political world and how sound bites rule the world, not effective, respective conversation. Sad on both fronts