Let's talk about the shovel. OK. Team Wie opts to avoid amateur match play competition that include Wie's age pears. That's a fact -- not spin by me.
Once again, "Team Wie" is your phrase not mine but she certainly opted not to enter any junior events this year. Yessir, you got 'er dead to rights there. Pure fact, stick to that kind of thing and we're perfectly in agreement.
Another fact -- Wie would be overwhelmingly the favorite in such events. Why the ducking?
I can't address "why the ducking" because that's a term you seem to like for its negative connotation. You see "ducking" and I see "bigger fish to fry". Both are just our individual interpretations of her not playing junior golf any longer. Just like you might see a golf course as "a fair and solid challenge" and I might see it as "just plain old ugly and hard". The same course, two different responses.
Another fact -- Team Wie (Dad and the folks at IMG) are carefully orchestrating this parade of events and what will happen. If you don't think this is happening then you are in major league denial land. Ask the folks at McDonald's if they had any discussion with Michelle's Dad concerning her exemption into a previously LPGA pro event only.
What does "carefully orchestrating" mean exactly? I'd think those words mean they deliberately sat down months in advance and planned out Michelle's summer schedule to take advantage of as many big tournaments (including all four majors, not just the McDonald's) as possible. If that's what you mean then I'd imagine you're correct. You seem to be implying some sort of nefarious conspiracy when in fact I've not heard any denial that Mr. Wie did indeed talk to the sponsors of the McDonald's and many other events in planning this summer. What's wrong with that?
Oh, of course Brent -- I'm spinning more BS when I say that marketing and the $$ that will come her way has anything at all to do with this. There is an objective reality and I have address it -- because it differs with your take is not my concern or problem.
I agree that much money will come to her on the day she gives up her amateur status. That's maybe not a fact but it surely comports with external reality and would be a major, major shocker if it doesn't come to pass. As for "has to do with all this" I'd say that most of "all this" is coming from you. The Wie family's stated position is that they want her game game to progress as quickly as possible by playing against the best players in the world every chance she gets. The money will come and I've not heard them deny that but when they claim that the competition and her learning are the main priority and there's no objective reality that contradicts them where do you get off screaming Liar, Liar, It's all about the money!
Brent -- The Wie camp sees amateur competition and avoids it. Better to play in another stroke play events that provides the appropriate cover. I salute Michelle's talent but I know a dodge ball game when I see it. Maybe you're the one who needs to take off the dark glasses and see the motives that are taking place.
Well, she didn't play in amateur events other than the (men's) Publinks so that's a fact. The part about "dodge ball" is made up by you and has no particular basis in fact. As for my seeing those sinister "motives" you talk about, it sounds like you have on those X-ray glasses they used to sell in the back of Boys Life. I have no idea what the Wie family's motive are and neither do you. You're just imagining it and then asserting that your imaginings are reality. Whatever floats your boat, buddy, but it's nothing that anyone but you can logically discuss.
I just believe it would be nice to see Michelle earn a national championship through the USGA and the Girls Junior and Women's Amateur would be wonderful be vehicles to demonstrate that she can win when played against the peers she will be competing against for the long haul.
OK, that's clear enough. I wouldn't notice if she won or lost at the Girls Junior. I've never cared about that tournament before and wouldn't care about it if Michelle Wie was playing in it. But if that would be cool for you to see, that's your preference. I'd rather have seen her with at Birkdale. Winning a junior tournament is "dog bites man", winning a grown-up major would be "man bites dog" in spades.