LPGA Language Policy

[RosaL]

Should female golfers have to speak English?

[Oki alumni]

Should female golfers have to speak English?

This is a "trick question", right?

[jthizz]

This is a question for the 8 Ball

[P_chan]

Does it really matter?

[Crazysix]

to answer this question..............no
almost like saying do you have to black to play Basketball

[Sex Wax]

to answer this question..............no
almost like saying do you have to black to play Basketball

Wait....what? You mean I can play basketball also if I so choose? Sweet. NBA....here I come !!!!

[Muku]

Does it really matter?

LPGA backs down from English language policy (http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26550941/)
I agree it shouldn't matter but since the LPGA needs it's sponsors to survive it is rather easy to me anyway to understand why they wanted to insitute this policy in the first place. I dont agree with it, yet I understand why.

The sponsors fund the tour, without them there would be no tour, and they, the LPGA make plenty of money by having pro-am tournaments and a great many of the players now on the LPGA tour come from non-English speaking countries.

And when a sponsor wants to play in a pro-am with so and so from whatever country and that player can't communicate with the sponsor, the sponsor gets his or her butt out of shape and they are the one's that pressured the LPGA to try to institute this policy.

Plus more and more tournaments are being won by foreign players and on the 18th green after the tournament is over the sponsors dont like the "image" :rolleyes: that the tour is portraying by having golfers need a translator to answer the interviewers questions.

Plus according to NPR anyway, the average American viewer on TV doesnt want to see a player who just won a tourney not speaking English in the interviews and they change the channel, which means money lost for the LPGA.

Damn hard headed American LPGA golf viewer's:rolleyes::argh14:

Personally it's all bullshit to me, but then I only like watching the Japanese ladies tour and Ueda Momoko<3

http://img.timeinc.net/golf/i/tours/2007/11/nov3_udea_299x425.jpg

[P_chan]

All she needs to do is wear a skirt and I'll watch it:thumbup:

[Jazz]

White Men Can't Jump!

I think all golfer's should have to at the very least be able to say "It's your home ball, are you too good for your home" in English. That and maybe "you eat pieces of shit for breakfast".

[Muku]

All she needs to do is wear a skirt and I'll watch it:thumbup:

Sorry P:crying: She usually wears shorts when she plays in the summer.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2551462050_46c371022d.jpg?v=0

[mikersoft]

All she needs to do is play without pants & I'll watch it:thumbup:

Exactly!! :thumbup:

-Mike

[socalheart]

As long as the player understands the rules, it doesn't matter what language the players speaks. Sponsors should be all over marketing their products to a new market. Translators need work too. Hire one or learn the language yourself, if you want to market your product to the fans of the player you sponsor. If it's the sponsors having a problem with the language thing, then they need a new advertising/marketing department. :rolleyes:

[Muku]

As long as the player understands the rules, it doesn't matter what language the players speaks. Sponsors should be all over marketing their products to a new market. Translators need work too. Hire one or learn the language yourself, if you want to market your product to the fans of the player you sponsor. If it's the sponsors having a problem with the language thing, then they need a new advertising/marketing department. :rolleyes:
Actually Socal the market that the sponsors are targeting is the English speaking market called the United States.

At least that is what NPR reported. Plus they want to use the foreign players in their marketing but it doesnt go over well with the US market if the foreign player can't communicate in English.

The sponsors pushed too hard in my opinion and were overly arrogant in thinking that they could actually get the LPGA to push this rule through. :thumbdown:

[donden76]

In actuality i understand the concept. What they are asking is that the players learn passing english so they can actually communicate with the sponsors. They are not asking them to speak nothing but during tournaments or when they are playing, but that be able to convey their questions to the rules officials and sponsors with out having to use or wait for their interpretor to arrive to understand a ruling.

[RosaL]

Maybe I'm an idealist, but I thought that excellence in sport didn't just mean pleasing corporate sponsors.

[Muku]

Maybe I'm an idealist, but I thought that excellence in sport didn't just mean pleasing corporate sponsors.
Good post in reply, but here is something to consider as well....

I agree, however the problem is that without the sponsors the tour would not exist.

So do the sponsors dictate what the tour players should or should not do, or do the players in the tour decide?

Without the sponsors who would be playing in the tournaments in the first place?

[Oki alumni]

Good post in reply, but here is something to consider as well....

I agree, however the problem is that without the sponsors the tour would not exist.

So do the sponsors dictate what the tour players should or should not do, or do the players in the tour decide?

Without the sponsors who would be playing in the tournaments in the first place?

I'd think if sponsors wanted the BEST representatives available in a given sport, THEY (the sponsors) would be the ones to make needed "accomodations" such as translators, etc.

Just an "outside" opinion from a NON sports enthusiast.

-Oki Alumni:old:

[donden76]

I'd think if sponsors wanted the BEST representatives available in a given sport, THEY (the sponsors) would be the ones to make needed "accomodations" such as translators, etc.

Just an "outside" opinion from a NON sports enthusiast.

-Oki Alumni:old:

I do see your side, I was not taking sides, just saying i see the point and explaining the facts. HOWEVER, The LPGA is not a global run organization although there is a truly global representation ON the tour. Just like the PGA tour is a US tour with global representation because it is the Majors vs. the other tours are minor league or triple a if you will. The sponsors can make some demands and/or pull out and let the tour dry up. It could happen.....may take a few years, or maybe the global players could find their own sponsors and hold tournaments elsewhere in the world, if they could communicate with the CEO's and get them pay the prizes. :smile4:

[Oki alumni]

I do see your side, I was not taking sides, just saying i see the point and explaining the facts. HOWEVER, The LPGA is not a global run organization although there is a truly global representation ON the tour. Just like the PGA tour is a US tour with global representation because it is the Majors vs. the other tours are minor league or triple a if you will. The sponsors can make some demands and/or pull out and let the tour dry up. It could happen.....may take a few years, or maybe the global players could find their own sponsors and hold tournaments elsewhere in the world, if they could communicate with the CEO's and get them pay the prizes. :smile4:

And I see YOUR side also!:thumbup: It works BOTH ways doesn't it? No disagreement with you either, and I didn't mean to come across as contrary. I too, was just trying to present the "other side". My thanks!

-Oki Alumni:old:

[donden76]

OKI,
Wasn't taken that way, I do however like the ability to show both sides of a "situation". I do find it amusing that the only opposition, at least what i have read, to come out of the suggestion is from the Korean's, they feel targeted. I do also see some Korean's that speak or are learning the language find it a useful policy and speak ill of those who do not want to learn.....? Looking forward to coming to the island soon. It has been something we have been working towards for a few years. Want to live in the local area and learn, even at our age....and doing a little traveling also, maybe to korea, mainland Japan, australia maybe even to walk the wall in China. cheers

[RosaL]

Lorena Ochoa also protested (in Spanish, I think), and some have wondered whether it's just a ploy to eliminate South Korean women who are now threatening to dominate the sport.

I speak English, hate golf, and have no interest in lusting after the female players, so maybe my opinion could be said to be less partial than some other forum members.

At the same time, I wonder what the effect might be of sponsors requiring soccer players and Olympic athletes to speak English at future games.

[OtisPMerriweather]

I think it's just another form of racism/Bush-era xenophobia. They can't come out and say "this sport is supposed to be for rich white people only" so they have to find ways to justify excluding people by default.

All these "english requirements" in our society today are just thinly veiled racist attacks on anything that is perceived to be "not American" in certain people's eyes.

Nobody gave a damn if golfers spoke english before. So the more appropriate question is..."Why now??"

[Muku]

I think it's just another form of racism/Bush-era xenophobia. They can't come out and say "this sport is supposed to be for rich white people only" so they have to find ways to justify excluding people by default.

All these "english requirements" in our society today are just thinly veiled racist attacks on anything that is perceived to be "not American" in certain people's eyes.

Nobody gave a damn if golfers spoke english before. So the more appropriate question is...

How in the world can you include Bush in this incident? I suppose you blame Bush for your hemorrhoids too:rolleyes:

Do you commonly try to find conspiracies behind every piece of dust?:thumbdown:

[Crazysix]

How in the world can you include Bush in this incident? I suppose you blame Bush for your hemorrhoids too:rolleyes:

Do you commonly try to find conspiracies behind every piece of dust?:thumbdown:

**** dude when I cant get it because I drank too much...I
blame bush
when I t goes up and will not go down......I blame bush
so in a nutshell.,......fackbush

[OtisPMerriweather]

I said "Bush-era" xenophobia. Which is exactly what it is..a fear of anything that is in any way, shape, form, or fashion different from what "middle america" deems acceptable. I didn't blame this issue on Bush himself.

Do you commonly make arguements for the sake of being argumentative? Or just being pissy today?

[Muku]

I said "Bush-era" xenophobia. Which is exactly what it is..a fear of anything that is in any way, shape, form, or fashion different from what "middle america" deems acceptable. I didn't blame this issue on Bush himself.

Do you commonly make arguements for the sake of being argumentative? Or just being pissy today?

Actually whether or not it has anything to do with Bush era or otherwise is not a part of the reasoning behind the LPGA's decision. You brought Bush into the discussion.

Oh and when it comes to argumentative I usually take this stance with people who knowingly rip off and deceive others.:thumbdown: (http://www.japanupdate.com/forum/showpost.php?p=147251&postcount=21)

[OtisPMerriweather]

Heh. So now you have a connection inside the LPGA that makes you privy to the reasoning behind whatever dumb ass rule they eventually rescinded anyways? I mean, since you seem to really know what the hell you are talking about...or do you?

See, before you started running your mouth, you failed to read, understand, and educate yourself on the issue. The issue being that players play "pro-am" games prior to competitive play. Those pro-am games cost thousands of dollars to participate in. Players play with sponsors who foot the bill for these pro-am games, which in turn, provide the prize money for LPGA tournaments.

Now, the issue, dear Muku, is that of the top 120 players (you know, the ones that get sponsored...keep following me) only 12 would not meet the basic English only requirement- and all 12 are Korean. Now, here is where your ignorance comes into play:

Actually Socal the market that the sponsors are targeting is the English speaking market called the United States.


I agree, however the problem is that without the sponsors the tour would not exist.

So do the sponsors dictate what the tour players should or should not do, or do the players in the tour decide?

Without the sponsors who would be playing in the tournaments in the first place?

The problem with this reasoning is that most of those 12 Koreans are sponsored by Korean companies, not American. The top two Korean players are comparable to Tiger Woods or someone of that stature in Korea, so they really don't need to know English to appeal to their corporate sponsors, do they? Oh, and BTW, The LPGA's single biggest source of income is not U.S. television, but Korean television.

So it would appear that your contact in the LPGA has to flesh out that "reasoning" a little bit better than that. I take it for what it is- a justification for discrimination. The numbers of international players (particularly from Asia) are going up, the prize money is going up, and instead of encouraging stiffer worldwide competition and growth, they are looking for excuses to limit the number of eligible players. Oh, BTW, how many Americans have won on the tour this year? I'll tell you- 3. So maybe we should require the American winners to learn a little Korean.

Again, you are a funny little guy- always quick to jump on evil Americans who rape and pillage sunny Okinawa, then on the other hand, when there is obvious discrimination in other areas, you turn a blind eye- and this is not the first time. Maybe your wife taught you to hold a grudge against Koreans when she was teaching you how to say "hai-sai"??

Anyways, you can play this little game with me if you want to Muku, I promise you, I talk a lot of shit and a lot of times don't take myself seriously, but you better get your game up if you want to dick around with me.

[Muku]

Anyways, you can play this little game with me if you want to Muku, I promise you, I talk a lot of shit and a lot of times don't take myself seriously, but you better get your game up if you want to dick around with me.

Really now making threats here OPM? You know what happened the last time people tried doing that around here.:rolleyes:

Heh. So now you have a connection inside the LPGA that makes you privy to the reasoning behind whatever dumb ass rule they eventually rescinded anyways? I mean, since you seem to really know what the hell you are talking about...or do you?

Didnt read through the thread here did you? I am the one who provided the first link about the policy being rescinded there OPM. Go back and read.:rolleyes:

See, before you started running your mouth, you failed to read, understand, and educate yourself on the issue. The issue being that players play "pro-am" games prior to competitive play. Those pro-am games cost thousands of dollars to participate in. Players play with sponsors who foot the bill for these pro-am games, which in turn, provide the prize money for LPGA tournaments.

Now, the issue, dear Muku, is that of the top 120 players (you know, the ones that get sponsored...keep following me) only 12 would not meet the basic English only requirement- and all 12 are Korean. Now, here is where your ignorance comes into play:

Talk about running off at the mouth, sounds to me like you are shooting off your mouth here OPM before you read the thread. Again read through the thread.:rolleyes:

You can not refute that without the sponsors that the LPGA tournaments would or would not survive. Nice try at a smoke screen.

Again, you are a funny little guy- always quick to jump on evil Americans who rape and pillage sunny Okinawa, then on the other hand, when there is obvious discrimination in other areas, you turn a blind eye- and this is not the first time. Maybe your wife taught you to hold a grudge against Koreans when she was teaching you how to say "hai-sai"??

You dont know how ignorant you make yourself sound here. I am actually laughing my ass off right now reading this. Kind of hard to respect what you have to write when you've got no respect for the people around you in your owm community OPM.

[donden76]

soooo.....do y'all golf?

[Muku]

soooo.....do y'all golf?
I usually do when I am back home.:thumbup:

Too damn expensive here for me.:crying:

[Jazz]

So if non-English speaking people were prohibited from playing in the PGA, would Bush be prohibited if he played or wanted to play in the PGA?

[Muku]

So if non-English speaking people were prohibited from playing in the PGA, would Bush be prohibited if he played or wanted to play in the PGA?

Ryu in this case it's the LPGA and there seem to be plenty of non-native English speaking players on the men's tour anyway.

Over again I think that it was a stupid move by the LPGA in the first place to try and enforce this rule in the first place.

It's obvious to me at least that their marketing people didn't do a good enough job in researching the feasibility of this action by looking at the sudden backlash and responses it has gotten.

[OtisPMerriweather]

Well, while you are laughing your ass off, it's funny that with all your eye-rolling and whatnot that you neatly sidestepped the fact that you didn't know what you were talking about initially, as evidenced by your previous statements, which I quoted.

But you know what, I sense something more at work here. You've been quietly following me around, making little snide comments on all my posts ever since I called you out about the "towel head joke", even though I stuck up for you at the end, that just rubbed you a little raw didn't it?? Now, you got some kinda little grudge against me, and it's really cute.

So, I'm not making threats, Muku, I'm just letting you know that I may be a lot of things, but I'm not a f--king idiot, and if you want to do this little dance with me where you try to run around and troll my posts or whatever, come on with it, cause I promise you I'll make you look stupid without even rolling my eyes once.

Oh and when it comes to argumentative I usually take this stance with people who knowingly rip off and deceive others.:thumbdown:

Heh. Another thing...who really gives a shit what "stance" you take in an internet forum?? Is it anything like Larry Craig's wide stance???

http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/6d83dc7f6d7bb4e63e532661ff4ed20b.jpg

[Blues]

I don't think it would be right to require them to speak English. If the best players are all around the world, they should be able to play. Their performance on the course speaks for them.

[donden76]

and then there is the real world....:star:

[OtisPMerriweather]

I don't think it would be right to require them to speak English. If the best players are all around the world, they should be able to play. Their performance on the course speaks for them.

My point, exactly.

Another thing to consider. 10 of the 33 tournaments the LPGA plays are overseas. Using this logic, with nearly a THIRD of the events being held in other countries, maybe the English speakers should be required to learn the language of the hosting nations- you know, to please the "home" audience and TV people.

Another thing wrong with dumb ass knee-jerk reactions- only 14 rounds spread over 8 tournaments will be televised this year in America. Were I them, I'd be encouraging all the international players- and subsequently foreign market exposure as possible.

[Muku]

Well, while you are laughing your ass off, it's funny that with all your eye-rolling and whatnot that you neatly sidestepped the fact that you didn't know what you were talking about initially, as evidenced by your previous statements, which I quoted.
Really? Selective quotations here OPM you disappoint me I thought you were smarter than that.

First off...

Originally Posted by Muku
Actually Socal the market that the sponsors are targeting is the English speaking market called the United States.

You missed the rest of the quote in your hurry to try to make your point. Here is the rest of the quote to refresh your memory;

At least that is what NPR reported. Plus they want to use the foreign players in their marketing but it doesnt go over well with the US market if the foreign player can't communicate in English.

The sponsors pushed too hard in my opinion and were overly arrogant in thinking that they could actually get the LPGA to push this rule through.

Next.....

Originally Posted by Muku
I agree, however the problem is that without the sponsors the tour would not exist.

So do the sponsors dictate what the tour players should or should not do, or do the players in the tour decide?

Without the sponsors who would be playing in the tournaments in the first place?

Where have you placed anything to refute the fact that without sponsorship the tour being able to survive?

The other two are questions not statements, I am sure that even you know the difference, even though you tried to make it seem that I was making a statement. :rolleyes:

[Jazz]

Ryu in this case it's the LPGA and there seem to be plenty of non-native English speaking players on the men's tour anyway.

.

I know, just trying to mix some light ignorant humor into an otherwise serious yet neglected by many, topic.

I hope all those hot little asian golfers will be able to play in the states, that would mean a bigger chance of more asians living in the states, which would lead to them popping out daughters who in time would add to the population of hot asian babes in the states. Of course I'll be living here but it would be nice to see them when I go to the states to visit. LOL

[OtisPMerriweather]

Where have you placed anything to refute the fact that without sponsorship the tour being able to survive?

I'm not refuting that at all...I'm saying that Korean sponsors are putting more money into the LPGA these days, so why the English requirement?