Michelle on Ryder Cup Team !

[iacas]

I voted for Teenage Dream. There's really nothing more to it than that.

This is interesting. I love how most everyone frames it as if she came up with it on her own. If someone asks me if I'd like to be a huge success some day, I'm not gonna say "no, just small potatoes for me, thanks."

Still, she could have said "It'd be nice, but that's so far ahead of what I'm working on now that I don't think about it much. I won't rule it out, but I don't give it any thought now, either." That may have been the best answer. But if she was asked - i.e. the media was trying to prompt her into saying something dumb - she sure as heck wasn't gonna say "no, I just want to be an average pro golfer" or something along those lines.

[ragontona]

This is interesting. I love how most everyone frames it as if she came up with it on her own. If someone asks me if I'd like to be a huge success some day, I'm not gonna say "no, just small potatoes for me, thanks."

You are correct in that most everyone frames this discussion to lead down a path towards "Michelle Wie talking nonsense yet again."

You know as well as anyone -- context is everything. Here's the actual exchange: You are part of a new breed of young women who are becoming increasingly competitive in golf - do you think there could ever be a time when women could qualify for the Ryder Cup? Hopefully I will be able to do it one day, that would be awesome. I think it is totally possible. Anything is possible in the future. I think players, both women and men, are getting better and we are starting to get stronger and work out more and are mentally tough and we can do it. The entire interview can be found here .

[allin]

I agree with most of the other posts. Some dreams (fantasies) should remain private. If you get to the point where it is a possible goal, then you can express it. For Michelle that would mean after she has won on PGA tour and is at least in the top 20. I don't believe that will ever happen, but don't begrudge her trying. I also wonder if her parents and agents etc. are advising her on stuff like this. Sixteen year olds always have fantasies, mine were quite different That doesn't mean you really expect most of them to happen.

[Rafcin]

.. I also wonder if her parents and agents etc. are advising her on stuff like this...

that's exactly the point I was trying to make. They HAVE to advise her. She has pub relation person, marketing people + parents - they all make HUGE amount of money, at least they can do is get the kid out of the spotlight! Unless they think publicity is good for their bank accounts and they enduce this kind of statements.

[elivate]

that's exactly the point I was trying to make. They HAVE to advise her. She has pub relation person, marketing people + parents - they all make HUGE amount of money, at least they can do is get the kid out of the spotlight! Unless they think publicity is good for their bank accounts and they enduce this kind of statements.

Amen to that...

[Thrash13]

Unless they think publicity is good for their bank accounts and they enduce this kind of statements.

That's pretty much what I was thinking about the situation. I can't wait until she is at least an adult and can talk on her own. Then we will know more about her actual persona.

[ragontona]

I can't wait until she is at least an adult and can talk on her own. Then we will know more about her actual persona.

The fact that she's a mouthpiece for her handlers will not change when she's an "adult." There's a reason that professional athletes make boring interviews -- they're full of stock answers given to them by their agents, managers, coaches, handlers, etc.

But this goes back to what I posted earlier, for the purposes of this thread (Michelle and the Ryder Cup), I thought she gave an honest answer to a question. You are part of a new breed of young women who are becoming increasingly competitive in golf - do you think there could ever be a time when women could qualify for the Ryder Cup? Hopefully I will be able to do it one day, that would be awesome. I think it is totally possible. Anything is possible in the future. I think players, both women and men, are getting better and we are starting to get stronger and work out more and are mentally tough and we can do it. I mean, what else was she going to say? I'm discovering that part of the reason that I've ended up liking Wie so much is that she irritates so many people by just existing. She can't do anything without pissing somebody off. Michelle Wie: "I think I'm going to show up and breathe some air. That'd be awesome." Wie-Haters: "She's breathing the air that a MAN would be breathing. F**k her." As an aside, I'd be curious to see what the main demographic is of the Michelle Wie Hater Camp. I have a feeling I'd know how that'd break down.

[scottishgolfer121]

Wie why is there such a big thing about her what did she end up for the 2 days +15? and she wants 2 be in the ryder cup team ha i dont think so USA dont have a clue u leave out 1 of the stronger members in Davis Love ha what a joke , we will tear u apart, 1 more ryder cup for Tiger 2 choke and Big Fat Phil 2 shout at every1!

[iacas]

Wie why is there such a big thing about her what did she end up for the 2 days +15? and she wants 2 be in the ryder cup team ha i dont think so USA dont have a clue u leave out 1 of the stronger members in Davis Love ha what a joke , we will tear u apart, 1 more ryder cup for Tiger 2 choke and Big Fat Phil 2 shout at every1!

In English, please?

[Thrash13]

As an aside, I'd be curious to see what the main demographic is of the Michelle Wie Hater Camp. I have a feeling I'd know how that'd break down.

That's a pretty shady comment.

I'm certainly not a Wie supporter, and I don't think that makes me a bad person. Then again, if not supporting Wie makes me a jerk, then I guess I'm a jerk. It really isn't that big a deal that some people like the girl and some don't. I'd be interested to hear your demographic breakdown.

[ragontona]

That's a pretty shady comment.

This is pure hypothesis, but:

I've got a feeling that age and gender probably have a lot to do with who does and doesn't support Wie in her desire to play against PGA players. I'd be willing to bet that if a poll were taken among men, say, 30 and older (arbitrary), the level of support for Wie would be pretty low. If that same poll were conducted among women aged 21 and under (again, arbitrary), the level of support would probably run pretty high. (And I'm aware that there are men that support Wie, and women that don't...) I'd also be willing to bet that the majority of the men who have strong opinions on this topic are golfers themselves. As a group, we tend to be a stubborn lot. Our opinions only become stronger when the issue at hand seems to contradict tradition. The casual sports fan is probably a stronger Wie-supporter, as indicated by increased television ratings and attendance at PGA events where she is playing. It has nothing to do with being a bad person -- I'm not in the position to lay judgement on who is or isn't a "jerk." I'm just saying that the vast majority of people who choose not to support Wie are probably men. Those who do are probably women... and younger ones at that.

[Thrash13]

Ragontona, those were definitely good observations. Thank you for answering so quickly, and you are probably right for the most part (although I'm 24 and a non-Wie supporter).

[The Turlock Kid]

Ragontona - interesting demographic breakdown. I always find it interesting that there are some people don't like her based on the fact that she's a young chick. That's stupid. I'm personally a non-Wie fan because she hasn't proven anything to me on the "big stage" yet. When she does, more power to her. But tagging her as the next big thing when she hasn't done anything yet is kind of stupid, don't you think?

I'm also down for some members of the Solheim Cup playing on the Ryder Cup if it helps us win. Heck, why not put some of the better members of the PGA on the Solheim Cup Team, just to make it fair? If Wie wants to play with the men, can't it go the other way? (see Supreme Court case: Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan (1982).)

Anyway, I can't hate Wie for being Wie, or because I'm a man, or because I'm 27 and white. I am just waiting for her to prove her worth. Like my grandpa used to say, "A pile of potential isn't worth a damn."

[paulk]

She is only 17 and is better at this point than Tiger was.
Anything is possible!!

[PutterHead]

I am not a supporter or non supporter. She is obviously a great golfer for her age, but will she achieve the kind of stardom she looks like she deserves on the path she is being led on. I personally don't think so. Win @ your level first before biting off more than u can chew...She is getting criticised for bad decisions she (or someone else) has made. Trying to make the cut on the PGA, now the Ryder Cup thing. She looks like she is a spoiled brat who seems to think she can just wake up one morning and be a female Tiger. If Anika or Lorena were to have said that, most (guys) would still probably not agree with it, but they wouldn't be laughing! Just my 2 cents, but i think she is being badly managed.

[ram22592]

i can see why she would want to, who wouldn't, but she hasn't even won a tournament on the women's tour and she plays in so many men's tournament and doesn't make the cut, so why even say that publicly. she has a good swing and all, and tons of power, but until she can handle pressure, she shouldn't even mention the ryder cup.

[ipark1303]

You are correct in that most everyone frames this discussion to lead down a path towards "Michelle Wie talking nonsense yet again."

I think that Michelle Wie really needs to get a better PR team (I heard that she recently changed manager... hopefully (for her) he/she will guide her better)...

She is still young and naive. The media formulated a 'tricky' question and she got into the journalist trap. I am sure that if the same tricky question would have been asked to Tiger or a more experienced person, he/she would have looked at the journalist with a sarcastic/puzzled expression and ask in return: "do you really think it is going to be possible for women to join the Ryder cup?"

[Maverick]

I personally hate polls like this..no offense. Not sure why she is even in school if she can't play on the team..at least Tiger played. I am not a fan of Michelle Wie.