Was Melvyn in the Press Pool

[Matt_Ward]

Melvyn:

I never condoned the throwing of his clubs -- however -- should you want altar boys on the competitive stage then look elsewhere. Remember what I said -- soccer players, baseball players -- many others as well -- if the walls could talk on their off-stage antics it might surprise you. I am not that naive or so singularly focused to expect perfection from human beings.

Lighten up Melvyn, most people who come to see Tiger come to see what he does with a golf club -- they are bit more knowledgeable than looking for divine guidance from the time he enters the golf course to the time he leaves it.

[Mac Plumart]

Say what you will...agree, disagree, hate or love...

Melvyn has a gut-busting passion for the game of golf.  I respect that.  I don't agree with everything he says or how he goes about saying it sometimes...but I respect his passion, his beliefs, and his staunch defense of those beliefs.  And I agree with most of his ideals/beliefs.

I hope my passion and love for the game burns as hot and as long for the game as his does.

[Eric Smith]

I never condoned the throwing of his clubs -- however -- should you want altar boys on the competitive stage then look elsewhere.

Matt,

Why do you have to say that, you know, go to the extreme?  How would you teach/hope/expect your son or daughter to compete on the golf course? 

I would love to send my girls to the MHM School of Golf each and every summer.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Matt

I want no boys be they alter or not , though my wife has suggested at times that she might trade me in for a younger model.

As for the human spirit, Hope springs eternal I believe and we are so much better when cool calm and relaxed. As for lightening up I do not smoke so no need, as for Tiger or anyone else behaving badly on a golf course, I say to Hell with them for ruining my game be it as a fellow golfer or spectator.   I know what Tiger can do with a golf club both in his hands and through the air, but here’s hoping that he cuts out his Airmiles claims and keeps his clubs in hand.

We want no Divine guidance nor the sight of the Grim Reaper on our golf courses if we can help it as I would prefer to Walk off the course at the 18th Green.

Enjoy your evening Matt

Melvyn

[Garland Bayley]

I have zero interest in Tiger's off-course shenanigans.  But I do care about his on-course shenanigans.  Bob Jones and Jack Nicklaus, two out of the three greatest tournament golfers of all-time, knew that the traditions of this game honor sportsmanship, courtesy and good manners.  Tiger should care that his on-course reputation is as bad as his off-course one.

umm, Bob Jones was more volatile than Tiger early in his career...See, St Andrews, hole 11 walk off.

Bob Jones was also told by the USGA that if he didn't start behaving, they would exclude him from their championships. Now that the USGA and R&A are grossing big money partly from the interest Tiger has brought, do they have the cojones to do the same to him?

[Mac Plumart]

I love the Bobby Jones stories.  Hot headed, driven, and great.  Perhaps like Tiger.  Tiger has the ability to clean things up on the course and I see him getting better almost every tournament.  Let's see if he can turn it around like Bobby Jones did.

[Anthony Gray]

But Tiger was my hero, I had his poster on my wall, I wore a red shirt every Sunday, even to church.  I bought a Buick and a Tag Heuer because of Tiger.  I drank Gatorade because of Tiger.  I copied his swing and his fist pump.  I paid up to try and get into his Pro-Am group.  I  bought his rookie card, as well as an autographed Old Course Scorecard.  I filled out 100 different entries in the Amex challenge to play with Tiger.  I collect miniature stuffed Tigers.  On days other than Sunday I wear a TW hat.  I had my golf clubs customized to match his set.  I paid up on ebay for a replica Cameron putter.  I even legally changed my name to Tigerman. He has destroyed my image of him and let me down to the very fiber of my being.  Boo- Hoo......

  Best post!!

[Matt_Ward]

Eric:

People need to get off the silly and somewhat tired notion that sports stars are some sort of role models. Maybe parents needs to direct the focus of their children to others who can command that lofty and deserved status.

I would hope that kids would look towards their parents and other local contributors for the guidance you seek.

I simply said that Tiger is a sportsmen -- I watch him for that dimension. If and when I need someone to provide me a moral compass I have other candidates that I turn my attention to.

Eric, the major flaw with Tiger and Team Tiger is the carefully cultivated fraud of him being a family man and then comes out all news that says otherwise. I see that clearly -- but when and good many others tune in for a telecast in which he is performing I don't give a rats behind what he does off the course. It's the same way I felt about Frank Sinatra -- I loved the music he provided -- I could care less about who he slept with or the assorted shady types he shared his time with.

[George Pazin]

Might be kinda nice if we swore off goading Melvyn this week, given what week it is.

Best wishes to you, Melvyn, hope you enjoy the event, regardless of the outcome.

[Colin Macqueen]

RJD,

"I mean cum'mun mahn, aihteen feckin 'oles ou'in'na winds an'na fieu wee drams o'whiskey an'na gullun o'ginger beir, an'na can'na hul'dit in en'na longer laddie."

I was thinking that I needed an interpreter and then realised it was rolling off my tongue like fine malt. Was this from Robyn Williams' skit or do you just have the gift o' the gab?

Colin

[Mike Cirba]

George,

Actually, rather than goading Melvyn, I was sincerely complimenting him on his calling out of Tiger's on-course behavior long before it became fashionable.

When he was winning, and when we all still believed the myth he and his circle propagated, with the seeming blind acceptance of the media, I think we were all too willing to excuse a F-bomb, a thrown club, a glare to a unfortunate spectator, until those things became more the norm than the exception.

I think Melvyn made a great point very early on that no man is bigger than the game and we should hold everyone to a set of standards that is consistent with respect for what we all believe is clearly the best game man ever devised.