David C:
My issue deals with a few of the people on this site who BIT on the Michelle Wie situation hook, line and sinker BEFORE she actually piled up wins to show she could really seal the deal. People got way ahead of themselves and no doubt the uncanny nature of Michelle's swing is something to behold in person.
However ...
Michelle Wie has a very basic 101 level putting and short game expertise. She needs to develop a touch / feel that can work at the highest levels of women's golf - forget the men's for now.
Michelle became the "show" and was managed / directed by her parents and all the assorted characters connected to Team Wie.
Unfortunately, those who said otherwise about Michelle and the nature of this would turn out were accused of being harsh on Michelle and all such other drivel. The sad fact is those who saw it the way I do tried to provide some sort of reasonable perspective before the "hype bus" trekked further down the road.
David, the first time situation in Hawaii was something to triumph. I did. However, please open your eyes to the reality tied to when Michelle and Team Wie cleverly WDed from the LPGA event to avoid DQing the rest of the LPGA season. Very smartly played out and a sad day for LPGA brass to countenance such a situation. You then have the numerous ventures into men's golf that was a carnival / circus show tied to one thing ...
MAKE THE BIG BUCKEROOS !!!
Now, we have people falling back on the injury excuse when it's clear that injuries didn't stop Michelle from jumping ship at one event and then being on the practice tee at the LPGA Championship the next week. How does one explain that? Keep in mind, this gal has been given ENTRY to events simply on the promise of what might be. How bout she do what she did at the Women's Open -- qualify for a spot to gain entry. How bout she demonstrate the capacity to finish off an event with stellar play and show she can actually win.
David, I have huge respect for Michelle and what she can offer golf.
But, the hype needs to be placed in some sort of reality.
You define my view as "cynical." I beg to differ. I, along with the others who have said so from the get-go, believe that perspective is needed -- not just the gushing / fall over each other adulations that have had no boundary to reality.
David, final point, Michelle is now an adult and she should be the one that controls her eventual destiny. I'd like her to be all that she can be -- whether it's pro golf or otherwise. Michelle needs to demonstrate her own individual game plan and stop permitting others to manage and push her on a path that she may not really want for herself.
Nothing more ... nothing less.
John C:
Hold the phone amigo.
You spin the debate a bit too far cocnerning what I actually said.
I'm open to ANY comments - provided the same is done in return.
The pro-Wie forces were granting her sainthood LONG BEFORE she really had the WINS to back up all the claims. Much of that is not to be blamed on Michelle herself -- but Team Wie and those here on this site who were tripping overthemselves as they drooled and gushed about anything Michelle did.
I have a huge amount of respect for Michelle but when perspective and verifiable information has said otherwise concerning where Michelle is NOW in her career -- the pro-Wie side balks in terms of issuing a mea culpa on all the trumpeting of her as the next Tiger Woods from the female side and then decides to turn things around by focusing itself on the people who provided such balanced opinions from the get go.
John, being the gracious person you are I can forgive you for not seeing the topic so clearly.
Let's do the golf dimension when time / opportunity permits -- even in my favorite of golf states ... Florida !