Michelle Wie attempts to qualify for the U.S. Open today. It’s a 36-hole event. If she finishes in the Top 18 of the 153-person field, she’s in. ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski says it’s too soon for all of this. A snippet…
Wie keeps cutting an unprecedented path because her talent allows for it. When that replaces common sense and good judgment as the barometer, you’re throwing a young athlete into harm’s way
The golf isn’t going to be the problem for Wie. It’s everything else around it, beginning Monday morning with a carnival at Canoe Brook Country Club, a sectional qualifier to get her to the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. If she were to get there, and it’s a big if, what a spectacle of epic sporting proportion that would be.
Great for golf, I guess. For a 16-year-old, don’t be so sure. Pass or fail, what will assuredly come with all of this for her is a resentment on the men’s and women’s tours, two worlds of pros that will be slow to embrace her. That’s life. That’s human nature. And that happens with the prodigies in everything, but to expose her to all of this now, asking Michelle Wie to take on what will come with success and failure now, is sure asking a lot. And for what?
This is a hell of a burden for the biggest and best golf’s ever developed — let alone a kid still waiting to get her driver’s license.
It’s certainly fair to question it, and I’m not saying that Wojnarowski is wrong, or that I disagree with him. I just don’t know the answer. I don’t think there is one. No one’s ever been in those shoes before. And while I understand the questions, I think it’s awfully presumptuous for anyone to put themselves in BJ Wie’s position and say definitively, “Yes, I know the right thing to do here, and you are wrong.”
I’ve never really seen any signs that Michelle Wie is an ill-adjusted kid. Yeah, it would be a lot to ask of her to take on the pressure of either pro tour, and possible resentment of other pros (which I don’t think would be that bad). But she’s had to handle a lot of things already, and she’s done it. She seems like her head is screwed on right. And if her parents have done a good job in all other areas of her life, and they’re going to continue to do so through the whole thing… hey, there’s always a first person to do something, and it’s never easy for any of them.
Dave141 Says:
June 5th, 2006 at 11:14 am
mjd,
I think you are being way too kind to Wojnarowski. It’s outrageously presumptuous on his part, and is typical of the kind of blather that is far too prevalent on ESPN.com. Imagine if somebody had said the same things about Tiger when he was a young phenom, only substitute the word “African-American” for “woman.” Gee, I wonder how that’s turned out?
Michelle seems like a very well-grounded young lady, and I’m sure she and her parents can decide what’s best for her. They’ve been able to get by without Adrian Wojnarowski’s help so far, and I doubt he’ll be around to do any heavy lifting later on. As a society, we seem ready to complain that the youth don’t really want to work hard enough, and then as soon as somebody shows real drive and determination, we try to hold them back.
Like I said, this is why I really can’t stand ESPN.com anymore. Outside of John Clayton, Andy Katz and a few others, there are just too many blowhards.
Bouj Says:
June 5th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
I see Adrian’s point, kind of. Unfortunately, his employer IS the problem here. If the Disney Sports Channel wasn’t shoving Wei/LeBron/etc. down my throat, maybe I would like them more.
I remember when Tiger burst on the scene. I did, and still do, like Tiger. A lot even. As much as the hype machine was on, it wasn’t as bad in 1997 before he won at Augusta because the Disney Sports Channel hadn’t ruined sports. But Wei and LeBron are suffering from oversaturation. If I have to hear Sammy Davis Scott tell me, in poetry form, that LeBron is the greatest thing in the history of ever one more time, I am going to have to V-Chip “Sportscenter”.
Yes, with a couple of minor exceptions (golf etiquitte related), Wei has been doing a great job of handling everything. Her father isn’t Richard Williams either. My only beef with them is that it seems it’s more important to her to run than walk. C’mon, try winning on the LPGA Tour before competing with the big boys. Look at what Annika did.
Rob Says:
June 5th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
I can’t help but compare Wie’s situation with Michael Jordan playing baseball. MJ was ridiculed and it seemed all the ESPN types birthed bovines over his decision.
I always respected it. Jordan put himself in position to conquer one dream (NBA) and pursue another (MLB). The latter didn’t work out, so we went back to bball. In both cases, he chased a dream.
Wie dreams of being a player on the men’s tour. Good for her. I hope she reaches the level to break the penis only rule at Augusta. Even if she never wins on either tour, I envy her talent and challenges. If you’re gonna climb a mountain, make it one worthwhile.
datCity.com Says:
June 5th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
Michelle Wie is a great golfer! There is no doubt she is going to go far! There is little or no difference between Mens Golf and Womens Golf now. Its not like football or basketball where there is too much contact. Go Michelle Wie!
-www.datcity.tv
Online TV talk show and Entertainment
Join us!
flubby Says:
June 5th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
Wie is looking to improve upon her record for most cuts missed by a woman on the PGA Tour.
fredwilo Says:
June 5th, 2006 at 5:14 pm
Just like any sport, Michelle Wie will get better by playing the best players and the toughest courses. Both of those are found on the mens tour — which is why I have absolutley no problem with her trying to compete against the men. She can learn more from trying to qualify for the US Open and playing in mens events than playing in second tier womens events. This whole “she should win on the women’s tour first” argument is bullshit. It is like telling Rafael Nadal to win the French Open juniors before entering the French Open….
Moonshine Mike Says:
June 5th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
MJD - will you wait until wie turns 18 before you add the ‘trim’ category to her topics?
the mighty mjd Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 12:41 am
I think that’s probably a good idea.
Bouj Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 2:05 am
Moonshine indirectly brings up a good point: would people care as much if Wei looked like Laura Davies or Lindsay Davenport? I think we all know the answer to that. Being cute is definitely advancing her cause.