Despite New York Times' call, Tiger firm in stance
I can appreciate the Times for wanting to wade into the debate over Augusta National, but I really feel that putting the onus on Tiger Woods to carry their water is uncalled for. Tiger, like any golfer, has the right to act (or not) on his beliefs, whatever they may be. To attempt to paint him into a corner is unconscionable.
Whatever your beliefs on whether or not Augusta National should be forced to admit women, there are a few things that should seem pretty clear. One, there are a number of people (Hootie Johnson and Martha Burks, f'rinstance) who have their egos all in a twist over this issue. It's become a zero-sum game. For one side to win, the other must lose- big, and neither side is willing to take the risk of losing some serious face. So what we have is the equivalent of a Chinese finger trap- the harder you pull, the tougher it is to extricate yourself.
Two, lost in this whole charade is that the dinosaurs who run Augusta National are clearly out of the mainstream. Hootie Johnson is a walking, talking PR nightmare and a laughingstock to boot. What makes it worse is that he seems not to care. I think the best way to deal with these dinosaurs is to simply treat them like the troglodytes they are. Perhaps they'll cave in eventually, perhaps not, but eventually they will depart the scene and a younger, hopefully more sensitive generation will take over at Augusta National.
Three, expecting golfers to boycott the Masters is simply not a realistic goal. Professional golfers are independent contractors. By asking them to boycott the Masters, you're asking them to take a hit in their pocketbooks. Come on, folks; how many of y'all would give up all or part of your paycheck in order to make a point? I doubt the mortgage company would appreciate or understand your point of view.
Finally, the people who can- and should- make a difference are the patrons who buy the tickets and watch the tournament on television. A ticket to Masters weekend is the Holy Grail for golf fans. The thousands of fans who storm the grounds at Augusta National every April are the ones who provide the funds to the troglodytes who run the tournament. This is especially true now that the Masters committee has cancelled all of it's endorsement contracts. If you believe strongly that the leadership of Augusta National should allow women as members, then back up your beliefs by keeping your money in your wallet. For those of you who don't have tickets, don't watch the CBS broadcast of the tournament. The only pressure that will make a difference in the final analysis is financial. Cut off the money flow, and before long, Hootie and his fellow troglodytes will have no option but to adapt or die. Now, whether that is proper or not is another story, but in the end money talks.
Until you (and the New York Times) are willing to forego buying tickets to the Masters or watching the CBS broadcast, don't expect anything to change. Expecting Tiger Woods to do your dirty work is both hypocritical and wrong. Voting with your pocketbook is an age-old tradition in this country. Perhaps the editorial writers at the newspaper of record forgot to mention that....
