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Monday, 01 September 2008 |
Making the cut in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) may soon not be determined by how well you play the game, as beginning next year players will have to pass an English proficiency test or face suspension.
Although this is likely to spark legal ramifications, it is almost unthinkable (except that this is golf) that a sporting fraternity would even dream of such a policy.
Never mind globalization and the global economy.
According to the LPGA’s Player Executive Committee president Hilary Lunke, entertaining sponsors is as important as shooting under pars. And with the big dominance so far this year by overseas players, some of whom speak little or no English, the powers that be are citing that it’s hurting corporate sponsors’ relationship.
But critics are saying that because the sport, which is heavily backed by American corporate sponsors, is being dominated by other nations with ethnic groups like Asians, the LPGA by trying to enforce their English policy is just looking to ethnically purge the sport.
Currently on tour are 120 golfers from 26 countries of which 45 are Korean and so far this year of 25 winners only three are Americans. It has long been rumored that Asians are killing the tour because of what some term as lack of emotion and sex appeal and their refusal to speak English.
But one would think that sports, which is considered universal and speak no language, should remain gentlemanly pure (abiding by rules and conduct) and to be decided by merit through one’s talent and not ones color, race, creed or dare I say whether one can speak English or not.
The LPGA which takes its act across the world to countries like Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, France, Great Britain, Canada, China, Korea and Japan, should take its cue from other sports and know that in this day and age we are living in a small world which is fast becoming all inclusive.
The National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL) and Major League baseball are all trying to reach out across the world in promoting their sports on foreign soil as they seek to maximize on corporate sponsorship and television deals. The LPGA is already on foreign soil, so if sponsorship is really the issue they should take a page from these other sports and rather than applying what seems to be their weeding out policy, get more creative in packaging their brand.
Sure, the way the game is played, corporate interaction plays an important part and language can be a hindrance to its poetry in motion; but if the LPGA can be clever enough to think of their “English proficiency” policy, surely they could come up with ways to circumvent the language barrier while enriching the sport. When other nations are involved it helps to bring a more global viewership which only could mean bigger exposure for the American brand. So, is it really about ‘corporate sponsorship’ or is the sport just trying to remain in its own little world?
Although it is sacrilegious to mix sports with politics (al la the Olympics), the LPGA should realize that the world is changing when the likes of a Barack Obama is a front runner for the presidency of the United States of America. Now is not the time to be institutionalizing divisive strategies in the hopes of maintaining the status quo. In the true spirit of sports, everyone should have their fair shot at the prize.
And, at a time when Tiger Wood sits on top of the golfing world, the LPGA should loosen up and broaden its mind and horizon. If its claims are true about corporate sponsors, American corporations are not the only ones in existence. It’s called globalization, stupid!
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