LPGA Tour's controversial English ruling

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

With the Summer Olympics just leaving the world's stage, the Cold War reheating in Georgia and the Democratic National Convention in full swing, having the LPGA in the headlines last week meant commissioner Carolyn Bivens was having either a really good week or a really bad one.

Put it this way:

If this had been Olympic gymnastics, the degree of difficulty presented by the reaction to the LPGA's decision to impose English proficiency standards next year under penalty of suspension achieved its maximum value.

Rest of article (http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/story?columnist=sirak_ron&id=3564106)

[vinny_121_ND]

I think it's a dumb rule, but also a necessary one. The South koreans can talk in korean all they want, swear, curse, belittle other players who have absolutely no idea what they're saying. That would be hilarious if they were mic'd up on national tv and michelle wie cursing left right and center.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

Why is it needed?

Yeah sure encourage English to be spoken, provide course in the language but it should not be forced.

Should say for example a tournament held in Japan force everyone to speak in Japanese?

No other international sporting competition forces players/officials to speak in a certain language.

[vinny_121_ND]

LPGA backs down on English-only rule


(AP) — The LPGA Tour's "mea culpa" didn't need much translation.

Facing anger from lawmakers and bewilderment from sponsors, the LPGA Tour backed off plans to suspend players who cannot speak English well enough to be understood at pro-ams, in interviews or in making acceptance speeches at tournaments in the United States.

The policy has generated a storm of bad publicity since it was announced last month.
LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens said she would have a revised plan by the end of the year that would not include suspensions, although fining non-English speakers remains an option.

"We have decided to rescind those penalty provisions," Bivens said in a statement. "After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every tour player."
Bivens disclosed the tour's original plan in a meeting with South Korean players two weeks ago at the Safeway Classic in Portland, Ore., Golfweek magazine reported. The policy, which had not been written, was widely criticized as discriminatory, particularly against Asian players.

The LPGA membership includes 121 international players from 26 countries, including 45 from South Korea. Asians won three of the four majors this year.

The reversal was quickly hailed by two California lawmakers who challenged the original policy.
State Sen. Leland Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco, had asked the Legislature's legal office to determine whether the English policy violated state or federal anti-discrimination laws. If it was deemed legal, Yee said he would have pushed for legislation banning such policies in California.

The LPGA Tour plays three events in California, including its first major championship.
"I'm very pleased that the LPGA saw the wisdom of the concerns that we raised," Yee said. "It's a no-brainer for those of us who have been the recipient of these kinds of discriminatory acts."
State Assemblyman Ted Lieu, a Democrat from the Los Angeles area, said he would target corporate sponsors if the LPGA Tour persisted with its English requirement.

"I'm pleased they have come to their senses," he said.
Bivens' announcement came two hours before the Asian Pacific American Legal Center planned a news conference in Los Angeles to demand the LPGA overturn its policy.
"Until they completely retract it, issue an apology to the players and the fans, I think we'll remain very concerned and interested in what happens," said Gerald D. Kim, a senior staff attorney for the center. "The LPGA has gone about this totally the wrong way."

One of the tour's title sponsors, State Farm, said it was perplexed by the original policy. State Farm spokesman Phil Supple said earlier Friday the company asked the tour to review its decision.
Contacted via e-mail when the policy was rescinded, Supple said: "We're encouraged the LPGA is looking at other alternatives on this issue."

Bivens said the tour will continue to help international players through a cultural program that has been in place for three years and offers tutors and translators.

Earlier this week, Bivens sent a 1,200-word memo to the LPGA membership to outline the goal behind the new policy. She said players would never be required to be fluent or even proficient in English, but rather would be asked to get by with the basics of the language.

She argued that international players who could communicate effectively in English would improve the pro-am experience, sponsor relations and could help land endorsements for the players.

"We do not, nor will we ever, demand English fluency, or even proficiency, from our international players," she wrote. "To the contrary, we are asking that they demonstrate a basic level of communication in English at tournaments in the United States in situations that are essential to their job as a member of the LPGA Tour."

Yee said he understood the tour's goal of boosting financial support, but disagreed with the method.
"In 2008, I didn't think an international group like the LPGA would come up with a policy like that," Yee said. "But at the end of the rainbow, the LPGA did understand the harm that they did."

The lawmaker said he will continue with his request to the Legislative Counsel's Office, as a way to prevent similar policies in the future.

Grace E. Yoo, executive director of the Korean American Coalition in Los Angeles, said corporate sponsors are not only American but from around the world, yet players don't learn the languages of the countries where they are headquartered. The LPGA plays in such places as Singapore, China, Thailand, South Korea, France and Japan.
"We have a long fight ahead of us," Yoo said. "This is not over."
http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1839072,00.html

[BearInBunnySuit]

I think it's a dumb rule, but also a necessary one. The South koreans can talk in korean all they want, swear, curse, belittle other players who have absolutely no idea what they're saying. That would be hilarious if they were mic'd up on national tv and michelle wie cursing left right and center.

You bring up an interesting point. I wonder how many out of the 45 Korean players are born and bred in Korea and cannot speak English? Except for a few, I would think that great many of them, if they are good enough to play in the LPGA, usually have trained in the U.S. with American coaches and have played overseas before. A case in point is Wie, who although ethnically Korean, was raised in Hawaii and in many ways comes across as All-American. Besides, from what I have seen, it seems most guys are not that interested in what she has to say but what she's wearing. p-)

[Bia]

Why is it needed?

Yeah sure encourage English to be spoken, provide course in the language but it should not be forced.

Should say for example a tournament held in Japan force everyone to speak in Japanese?

No other international sporting competition forces players/officials to speak in a certain language.

Exactly... yep.

[vinny_121_ND]

When I was golfing in hong kong, I spoke zero cantonese. All the caddies were laughing so hard on why this 'gwai lo, or foreign devil' sucked so much. It was all fun and games till I nearly killed some hong kong government official. If it wasn't for the bunker, he would have been dead. So I got my translator to tell him I was deeply sorry for my golf game, or lack of.

[digrar]

Why is it needed?

Yeah sure encourage English to be spoken, provide course in the language but it should not be forced.

Should say for example a tournament held in Japan force everyone to speak in Japanese?

No other international sporting competition forces players/officials to speak in a certain language.

The LPGA is a business, not a charity. You don't employ Icelandic speaking car salesmen in Sydney, you'd still sell a few cars, but it would slow your business down. Same applies for the LPGA.

[Supplanter]

The LPGA is a business, not a charity. You don't employ Icelandic speaking car salesmen in Sydney, you'd still sell a few cars, but it would slow your business down. Same applies for the LPGA.

Yep, it's a business based in America with American sponsors, American viewers. and questions will be asked by members of the American media. So members of the LPGA should learn/know English.

Just as foreigners playing soccer in the Bundesliga should learn German or baseball in the NPB should learn Japanese.

If players don't choose to learn the local language on their own then rules should be put in place to force them. It's all about making the most money.

In the words of the great Wu Tang Clan:
"Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar, dollar bill y'all" :)

[timetraveller]

bizarre rule in some respect ..

But there is nowt worse with those that speak english that feel the need to speak there own lingo .. so others do hear what there talkin about .. especially in a workin enviroment ..

out on the course its different kettle of fish