LPGA: Learn the Language … Or Else
Golf, Race August 26th. 2008, 1:45pm
On the heels of this morning’s very un-American debacle in Connecticut comes this rather shocking stance from the LPGA, as reported by Golf Week Magazine:
Learning English no longer is a tour suggestion; it’s a requirement. At a mandatory South Korean player meeting Aug. 20 at the Safeway Classic, the tour informed its largest international contingent that beginning in 2009, all players who have been on tour for two years must pass an oral evaluation of their English skills. Failure would result in a suspended membership.
Worth repeating: Players won’t be fined; they will be suspended. That’s beyond huge. You know what? We absolutely love this. At the risk of going on a political rant, we’ll leave it at this: It makes sense. What would happen if MLB attempted to do the same? Should it?
LPGA to demand English proficiency (Golf Week)
77 Responses to “LPGA: Learn the Language … Or Else”
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August 26th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
achtung
August 26th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Gino’s in Philly agrees!
August 26th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Someone mind filling me in, did TBL give Kobe any credit for the US winning the Gold or was it all due to LeBron?
August 26th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
“What would happen if MLB attempted to do the same?”
I think they would have a better chance of mandating Spanish at this point.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
@cbh: D-Wade
August 26th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
D-Wade was the man, but Kobe carried them in the 4th quarter.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I still haven’t seen a single highlight from the Gold Medal game. Except for that flash graphic of the dunk on Howard.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
im about as big of a golf addict as there is, but there’s no way on god’s green earth ill EVER watch an LPGA or Champions Tour event.
therefore…fuck the LPGA.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Karl Malone would have never lasted past his rookie year.
Sportsgal would be the only one left
August 26th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Everyone that is a permanent resident in the United States (where residency is defined as living here without an exact, known date for leaving) should be required to speak English. I love this rule, and wish it would be expanded like crazy.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Except for that flash graphic of the dunk on Howard
greatest dunk ever in the history of the Olympics
/TBL
August 26th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Everyone that is a permanent resident in the United States should be required to speak English.
I’d like to welcome Lou Dobbs to the site.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
That’s beyond huge. You know what? We absolutely love this. At the risk of going on a political rant, we’ll leave it at this: It makes sense.
Jesus Christ, TBL. In addition to being routinely banal, you’re also xenophobic. Good to know.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I would like to orally evaluate Natalie Gulbis
August 26th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
WNBA > LPGA
/fuck ‘em both
August 26th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
YYSA +1
August 26th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
either our gov’t should adapt to a similar policy or we can continue to have to press different numbers just so we can listen to people speak english in our own country…
August 26th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Next up, all the Asian chicks have to tape their eyes wide open to even out the playing field. It’s unfair that it’s easier for them to focus.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Unless the English competency requirement is at an insanely low threshold, this seems retarded.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
What is the official language of the United States?
August 26th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Why?
August 26th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Why on Earth should anyone be forced to learn our language no matter where they “make their money”??? Hey TBL, how many languages do you know? Also, would you like it if you went to the “Land of Prosperity” only to be told you must assimilate or be banned? I would be upset that a land full of FAT under educated bastards had the stones to tell me to learn their impossibly retarded language.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I didn’t realize the LPGA made a stop in Michigan.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
We still use feet for Christ’s sake?!! We are too fucking lazy to learn the metric system!! I hate this whole debate. It all hinges on U.S. laziness, inability to want to become more well-rounded and well educated and the “I want to know if they are making fun of me” thing, here is a clue, THEY AREN’T!
August 26th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
What is the official language of the United States?
There isn’t one.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
@August: Not retarded at all. I have been periperally involved a couple of times with male and female golf events, most recently a benefit by Morgan Pressel in Boca in January.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/lpga/2008-01-07-pressel-charity_N.htm
The problem is that 29 of the Top 50 ranked women are Korean/Asian, do not interact with anyone but themselves, and are terrible at the “Corporate Events” (Pro-Ams) where the LPGA is trying to garner interest. It is truly like having “two tours”, where one group interacts, and the other group in on the range beating balls, getting better, and dominating the Tour, but giving nothing back.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
They should want to learn the language, not be forced. If I moved to France it would be in my best interest to learn French. If I didn’t want to, fine, but I’m the one that will suffer.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
There isn’t one.
Exactly
August 26th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I am guessing that if China becomes the world power and they force us to learn thier language that we bitch a blue streak about it and call it unethical and immoral.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
They should want to learn the language, not be forced.
Exactly. Immigrant populations always end up speaking english, and every generation speaks it a little more clearly than the previous. Forcing it isn’t practical or productive on a governmental scale.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
spot on.
the other big problem is the amount of time on the greens it takes these players. because they have trouble communicating, it’s harder to allow someone to tap in because they don’t know how to communicate properly with another player.
/actually not true, the reason the LPGA is so slow on the greens is BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR FUCKING CADDIES LINE THEM UP FOR EVEN A 2 FOOTER. FUCK THE LPGA…DO SHIT YOURSELF. IT’S A FUCKING GOLF LEAGUE RELIANT ON FUCKIGN EQUIPMENT SO THAT A FUCKIGN 6,000 YARD COURSE ISN’T TOO LONG FOR THESE SHORT HITTING SOUTH KOREANS.
it’s fucking true god damnit, and i dont care what country they’re from…babe zaharias used a mens set, lorena ochoa uses blades, same with paula creamer and morgan pressel. fuck the LPGA…
August 26th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
“land of fat uneducated bastards”
Rush Limbaugh is deeply offended
August 26th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
It’s a marketing issue, plain and simple. If 4 of your top 10 on any given leaderboard don’t speak the language, how do you market the game here?
What I do disagree with is Clown trying to get all of MLJ to write only in Spanglish.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Immigrant populations always end up speaking english eventually
/fixed
August 26th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Plus, as long’s they ain’t spaeken englush, they kain’t take ma job!
/fuckin’ hell
August 26th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
DEY TOOK ‘ER DOO!!
/fucking goobacks
August 26th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
This is more of a business decision than anything and probably a good idea. I haven’t heard a lot of bitching from the Koreans including Se Ri Pak so that should tell you something. Making this out to be a debate over ugly Americans telling the world what to do is laughable.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I love diversity, but some part of me longs for the day we naturally fuck ourselves into being one color and having one language so we can just focus on hating people who wear their collars up or follow the LPGA.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Many people in the LPGA are very turned off by the fact so many Koreans are successfully competing on the Tour. That is clearly informing this latest move.
TBL, you’ve hinted many times at your distaste for illegal immigrants, and now you’re on the English-only wagon. What gives, man?
August 26th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
@August
Awesome, well said.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I’m going to echo Nick P. Why does this make sense? Did Alicia Sacramone or Lebron have to learn Chinese for the Olympics?
August 26th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Trent, he didn’t “hint” at anything. He distinctly said, “My name is TBL, and I hate all non English-speaking fence climbers - especially if they have dark skin.”
I think it was in a PM Roundup.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The LPGA should just quietly offer ESL classes to its foreign players and address the entire issue without going political. The mandatory thing is nonsense and really bad PR.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
That’s not even remotely the same issue. If LeBron played in a Chinese league full-time and was one of its biggest stars, they’d probably expect him to be able to communicate and conduct interviews in Mandarin. The issue here is marketing and prize money - with so many non-English speaking Koreans playing full-time on the US LPGA tour it’s difficult for them to raise money and market these girls/women in print/television media.
Look at how many French-Canadian/Russian/European players are in the NHL. After a year or two, they are all conducting interviews in English. That’s all the LPGA is asking.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Like any of you guys care if a woman speaks… come on!
August 26th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
If LeBron played in a Chinese league full-time and was one of its biggest stars, they’d probably expect him to be able to communicate and conduct interviews in Mandarin.
You kidding me? You think US basketball players in Europe learn the language of whatever country they play in enough to do inetviews?
August 26th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
@Roethlishotdog–You’re wasting your time using logic in your argument. For some, anything that hints of American superiority makes them feel icky.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
@I pulled a Groin
See now you are throwing stones. I told you I never start this shit. Turd.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I’ll give you the hockey player example, but MLB and the NBA aren’t impressed.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
For some, misplaced jingoism and xenophobia makes them feel icky.
/that’s more like it
August 26th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
When did I mention your name Maggs?
August 26th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Who exactly were you talkng about? I don’t know, I am too retarded to figure it out. You are a tool.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I don’t spend one minute of any day thinking about you, Maggs. Get over yourself.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Too cool.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Kobe learned Italian while his dad played there.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Sooo… MLB is starting instant replay this thursday! How about that!
August 26th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
@Maggs… Don’t worry if I pulled doesn’t think about you. Spence and I do, at least generally, when we think about how those poor scUM bastards will be taking a beating this fall.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Good to see that Mags is once again proving that is thinks he knows more than everyone else out there. The LPGA is a PRIVATE enterprise. Therefore, they can mandate the people who choose to compete in their tournaments speak the language of where they are conducting business. In this case, English.
Mags - why should the LPGA be required to have translators, or multi-lingual rules officials on course?
August 26th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
@Hawk eye
A) I never said I think I know more than anyone, matter of fact I am no I don’t. The fact that you think I do stems from your own insecurities and isn’t my problem
B) Why should any sport have amneties of any kind. Hell why do they put toilet paper in public restrooms? I don’t know? Because it makes people feel less shitty? HA HA HA LOLOLOL. Moron.
C) If you don’t like what I post then don’t read it and further more don’t post some BS about me and how I think I know this and that. I am expressing what i feel and I feel it shouldn’t be any sanction about language by the “Leaders of the Free World” because that seems crazy to me.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Kobe learned Italian while his dad played there.
Because he was like 10. Children learn new languages almost by accident it’s so easy…
August 26th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
That’s it. You got me, Postman. I’m xenophobic. Neither of my parents were born in this country, I’ve had at least eight aunts and uncles and about 17 cousins come into this country in the last 20 years (all legally) and adapt to the language, and I could go on, but I’ll stop there.
I take it you didn’t read the Golf Week article? Several other commenters summed it up nicely.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Trent - Changed my stance a year ago.Spoke with friends who are on the frontlines - three teachers, two doctors - and they say it is a problem that is spiraling out of control and tremendously underreported. If you want to talk further on email, that’s fine, but I’m getting into it here.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
TBL, congratulations on the second-generation immigrant status. Double congratulations on the gigantic family ties. You’ve had more relatives immigrate than I have relatives.
I fail to see how that justifies compulsive English proficiency, especially when we’re talking about grown women who play a game that has nothing to do with how well you can conjugate verbs. I assume your teacher friends who work on the “frontlines” routinely work with ESL students, but I think you’d find most school districts adapting to the greater need for ESL rather than complaining about having to teach it. It’s called an education. Everyone in America deserves it, no matter what language they speak, provided they’re hard-working, tax-paying, and law-abiding. The lack of empathy here — especially for someone with such a wide net of immigrant acquaintances, and from your teacher friends — is pretty shocking.
Also, one more point: It’s pretty lazy to just say “We love this,” but then refuse to go into why you love it. If you love it so much, surely you’re interested in sharing your thoughts. If not, it leads one to believe that the only reasoning behind it is, in this case, baseless xenophobia, and there’s enough of that on the internet already. We don’t need it on a sports blog.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
way, way too much generalizing here. I’m with you on the ‘tax-paying’ part, though 100%.
Oh ‘we’ don’t? So should any further non-sports observations - whether you find them lazy or otherwise - be vetted through you in the future?
The great thing about the internet is that everyone has an opinion. Thanks for sharing yours.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
You don’t have to vet anything through me. The problem is not that you failed to check with me if you could post an observation, the problem is that you don’t have an observation. You can leave out the “we don’t need it on a sports blog” part if you want and you still haven’t resolved the issue at hand.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
When did vetted become the new “it” word to use.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Postman: Other commenters said it better than I could. I hope this will suffice.
@August: Not retarded at all. I have been periperally involved a couple of times with male and female golf events, most recently a benefit by Morgan Pressel in Boca in January.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/lpga/2008-01-07-pressel-charity_N.htm
The problem is that 29 of the Top 50 ranked women are Korean/Asian, do not interact with anyone but themselves, and are terrible at the “Corporate Events†(Pro-Ams) where the LPGA is trying to garner interest
It’s a marketing issue, plain and simple. If 4 of your top 10 on any given leaderboard don’t speak the language, how do you market the game here?
This is more of a business decision than anything and probably a good idea. I haven’t heard a lot of bitching from the Koreans including Se Ri Pak so that should tell you something. Making this out to be a debate over ugly Americans telling the world what to do is laughable.
It’s me (TBL) again. Have their been any complaints from female golfers yet?
August 26th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Most of them speak Lesbianese, doesn’t that count for something?
August 26th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
AW - This is classic. Well done. You could write for Colbert
Everyone that is a permanent resident in the United States should be required to speak English.
I’d like to welcome Lou Dobbs to the site.
August 26th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Postman: Other commenters said it better than I could. I hope this will suffice.
And so it ends, like so many TBL posts before it: “My commenters shall do my work for me.”
August 26th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Geez PostmanE, did TBL bully you in school or something?
August 26th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Yes. I needed that lunch money.
The discussion has been tops, but I’m off. Kthxbai. xoxo
August 26th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
What can I say - I’m a lucky guy. A blog is only as good as its tipsters, right?
And no, Pulled. I couldn’t have bullied anyone - i was always one of the shortest kids in my class. And I’ve never really felt the need to hammer or insult other bloggers, so it’s unlikely you’ll see me call another blogger ‘banal.’
August 26th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I can understand the business side of this being you pay a couple grand to play with a tour pro (pro-am) who doesnt say a word to you for 5 hrs, you probably wont come back next year. That being said there are better ways to help the players learn English than resorting to the threat of pulling their jobs.
August 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Thanks for the props TBL, and the good point about doctors and emergency workers. A little explanation of ideas goes a long way sometimes.
I still disagree, I just like to know that others have thought through there positions as well… it’s amazing how many times people haven’t, so they can’t defend their statements!
August 26th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
LeBron learned Italian while he was in daycare.
TBL
August 26th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I think all the Koreans should learn how to speak Rhyming Cockney, if they HAVE to learn ENGLISH.