agree w/ you on some things. I just think the foreign thing is coming, and it will not help the Tour in US fan popularity. Like baseball and hoops, golf is growing more outside the US than inside it.

LPGA will morph into a “world tour” with events in the US and abroad (mainly Asia). It has to or it will be gone.

this may sound insensitive, but i don’t care if the LPGA folds, and if it does, it’s for the better. the LPGA is a shittily run organization, with problems stemming directly from the top (commish bivens) that have trickled down in such an extreme manner that it’s killing the sport despite the fact that there are more quality players now than ever before. the LPGA DESERVES to fail, because of their narrow view on promotion and their abhorrance to put a premium quality product out there.

the PGA’s problems are a lot more cyclical in regards to the economy. yes, there are a few sponsors who are having problems that go beyond the scope of promoting an athletic event, but you know what? if the pros have to sacrifice a little bit, that could be GOOD for the game. PGA pros are pampered babies with disconnect to the real fan…maybe if they actally have to WORK for their paycheck, the game will improve tenfold.

but therein lies the biggest abyss between the PGA and LPGA…the PGA puts out a product that its target demographic eats up with a knife and fork…the LPGA has NO target demographic beyond butchy dyke golfers and the most masochistic golf fans. the article mentions that the PGA does a fantastic job pandering to the affluent 35-65 year old demographic, and there’s no way that’s going to change. just like college football will always have the regional ties, pro golf will always have the corporate ones.

the PGA, which includes the nationwide and champions tours under its umbrella, is just fine. when a sport is so tied to their sponsors, it’s only natural to see a little downturn when the economy is struggling, just like in the early 00’s when the tech bubble burst. did the PGA survive? absolutely, and that was during tiger’s drought when you had the shaun micheel’s, rich beem’s, ben curtis’ and todd hamilton’s winning majors with only vijay being a real perennial contender.

THAT’S why i think men’s golf is going to be fine. people always want to see the best players play on the best courses, and there’s always going to be an audience for that. the LPGA’s game is hermetically flawed, reliant on technology and, frankly, staid. the PGA doesn’t suffer from that as there’s a field of 150 players who have teh ability to win any given tournament, and the competition is typically intense.

even if there are cutbacks that kill off a number of tournaments, the big 20 or so that are truly can’t miss will survive with either their typical sponsors or new ones who’ll relish the opportunity to put their name on something. the majors aren’t going anywhere, neitehr are the players, quail hollow, memorial, arnie’s event at bay hill, the now four WGC events, the four FedEx Cup events, and the other five or so tour stops that annually end up rewarding their sponsors handsomely.

in short…men’s golf is fine with an influx of new stars and old. women’s is in shambles and will, most likely, die off in the next decade outside of their four major events. but, again, this is not a bad thing. while it’s nice for the ladies to have their tour, unless it’s run well and puts a premium on promotion and corporate relations, it’s eventual demise is somewhat welcome, as it’ll provide an example for the PGA to follow as to what NOT to do.

Orlando versus Lakers in the Finals. Orlando take Cleveland in 6, Lakers win again in 7. Oddly enough, Cleveland would have matched up better against Boston.

My over/under on number of players suspended or ejected in the Lakers-Nuggets series is 2. Any bets? I am taking the under due to Stern’s likely meddling to keep the series going to seven games again.

I guess we just look at it differently. I’ve read about the sponsors being forced to cut way back, even on the spreads themselves, so as to not look like they are wasting money

While I would NEVER advocate an article written in Pittsburgh, I just saw this one that really talks about the things I mentioned regarding sponsors and foreign golfers. From the article…

Some critics say the tours’ wounds have been self-inflicted, especially by the women’s circuit. They worry the LPGA runs the risk of expanding too far into South Korea, Thailand, Japan and China — moves that cut U.S. TV time and speed the influx of Asian players difficult to market to American audiences

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_612898.html

yes, the pga tour is currently in a state of disrepair when tiger’s not in the field. but since he’s still around, there’s still a window to repair the game from the inside out and make it more exciting and different with different scoring formats and promoting different players.

honestly, i can’t imagine golf ever losing a serious amount of sponsors just because of the business ties these tournaments have. it’s not only the sport, but these companies who sponsor the tournaments use it to their full advantage, and as long as there are premium, well attended events to sponsor, the money will always be there because of golf’s networking aspect.

i just don’t think the tour is in that much trouble. sure we might lose a few fall or early spring events, but who gives a shit about those anyways? those are nothing more than for the fringe players to get their money list ranking higher…getting rid of those events would strengthen the game…which is great because there are far too many events on the calendar as it is.

i have no idea if i stayed on topic or not, or if this was just one big rambling mess, but im not concerned for golf’s future in the slightest.

Also, the wave of foreign/non-speaking winners isn’t here yet, but, again, was my point. They’re coming.(see Y.E. Yang winning Honda). KJ Choi, now Yang. Yang himself said there are literally thousands of guys waiting for enough signs that they could make it here. It’s happening, just like the LPGA 10 years ago w/ Se Ri Pak.

The US will not “buy” foreign superstars except for an occasional exception. Look at soccer, men’s tennis and hockey and it’s popularity in the US, with no “home-grown” superstars, none of these sports has developed any traction with fans/viewers, or advertisers.

if anything, the focus is going to be even more intensified on the american side as the company that used to own the Race to Dubai just got bought out by the UAE…which is putting it’s future in serious doubt even after one year.

meanwhile, tiger is still stateside, which counts for A LOT. that, and there isn’t this wave of foreign, non-english speaking players like in the LPGA. there are way too many young superstars to attract a global audience, and regardless of how well the minor events are attended and sponsored (there are WAY too many events as it is…paring down would be a good thing), the majors are still going to draw ridiculously high ratings.

i’ll agree with you on tiger tho. i bet he gets to 20 majors and calls it a career. then again, with his current swing, winning another major would be a huge feat.

The LeBronoliers just dominated a below .500 team and a team that wouldn’t have made the playoffs in the West

Pistons and Hawks. Try to keep up, Slowhio.