Whatever "a good walk spoiled" would be in Korean
August 27, 2008 3:19 PM Subscribe
Golf is boring in any language, isn't it?
posted by Flipping_Hades_Terwilliger at 3:38 PM on August 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Flipping_Hades_Terwilliger at 3:38 PM on August 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
"You don't want any barriers when it comes to what the LPGA does best, and that's to interact with fans, sponsors and pro-am players."
Translation: "The male executives at our sponsors are complaining that they're having trouble hitting on our players."
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:38 PM on August 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
Translation: "The male executives at our sponsors are complaining that they're having trouble hitting on our players."
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:38 PM on August 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
Wow, that's shitty.
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:45 PM on August 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:45 PM on August 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
One of the joys of sport, like music, is the chance for a shared experience that transcends language barriers. But I suppose you can always deliberately cripple it to prevent that feature. It wouldn't have occurred to me.
posted by Wolfdog at 3:49 PM on August 27, 2008 [5 favorites]
posted by Wolfdog at 3:49 PM on August 27, 2008 [5 favorites]
It's their gig. They can mandate Siberian Yupik if they want.
posted by RavinDave at 4:02 PM on August 27, 2008
posted by RavinDave at 4:02 PM on August 27, 2008
Very well chap, it looks like you struck that one right into the drink. Perhaps it is because you were drinking enough Johnny Walker to put Winston Churchill to shame. HA HA.
Am I doing it right?
posted by clearly at 4:06 PM on August 27, 2008
Am I doing it right?
posted by clearly at 4:06 PM on August 27, 2008
Can someone who knows about LPGA tell us what's really going on here? Is this about eliminating an unpopular player? Did someone spoil a corporate sponsorship by not saying the right line? Are the Korean players less attractive and thus bad for ratings?
posted by roll truck roll at 4:06 PM on August 27, 2008
posted by roll truck roll at 4:06 PM on August 27, 2008
"We're focusing on the fact that we're in the sports entertainment business and we have to interact with fans and sponsors," LPGA deputy commissioner Libba Galloway said.
I'd just like to point out that "Sports Entertainment" is also what professional wrestling is called, and that they call themselves this now instead of calling themselves a sport. Just sayin'.
posted by shmegegge at 4:34 PM on August 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'd just like to point out that "Sports Entertainment" is also what professional wrestling is called, and that they call themselves this now instead of calling themselves a sport. Just sayin'.
posted by shmegegge at 4:34 PM on August 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
Are the Korean players less attractive and thus bad for ratings?
A cynic would wonder if there's too many Korean women kicking American arses.
posted by rodgerd at 4:36 PM on August 27, 2008
A cynic would wonder if there's too many Korean women kicking American arses.
posted by rodgerd at 4:36 PM on August 27, 2008
roll truck roll: "Can someone who knows about LPGA tell us what's really going on here? Is this about eliminating an unpopular player? Did someone spoil a corporate sponsorship by not saying the right line? Are the Korean players less attractive and thus bad for ratings?"
The only thing I can see besides the whole 'YOU NEED TO SPEAK ENGLISH TO SELL OUR PRODUCTS' thing is that non-english speakers are winning more games than the american players. (Wiki link)
However, I think that it's about sponsor money more than anything else. Maybe the sponsors complained that the winners couldn't tell the press they won only because of X product.
posted by Memo at 4:42 PM on August 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
The only thing I can see besides the whole 'YOU NEED TO SPEAK ENGLISH TO SELL OUR PRODUCTS' thing is that non-english speakers are winning more games than the american players. (Wiki link)
However, I think that it's about sponsor money more than anything else. Maybe the sponsors complained that the winners couldn't tell the press they won only because of X product.
posted by Memo at 4:42 PM on August 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
Can someone who knows about LPGA tell us what's really going on here? Is this about eliminating an unpopular player? Did someone spoil a corporate sponsorship by not saying the right line? Are the Korean players less attractive and thus bad for ratings?
Well, there have been various grumblings about the Korean players in the past, grumblings about course etiquette and other things. The most serious have been accusations of cheating by Korean players, with the help of their families, who are perceived as stage-managing their daughters, like "tennis dads" do. Some of the cheating accusations have been fathers shouting out club selections and strategy, when that's only supposed to be done by the caddies, and serving as human yardage markers on the course.
From a sponsorship perspective, the players are already being fined if there are complaints from pro-am events (for those that don't know, a pro-am event is where a sponsor or some other exec type is paired up with a player for a day on the course. Obviously, the players hate it -- they'd much rather be practicing or resting). So, it's likely that the Koreans are generating more complaints because they're not so buddy-buddy with the sponsors.
And let's face it ... the LPGA is dominated by lesbian cliques. I'm sure that plays into it, too. The LPGA has been a closed little system for quite some time, just puttering along at its own speed, and then along comes this "Korean invasion," so to speak.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:49 PM on August 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
Well, there have been various grumblings about the Korean players in the past, grumblings about course etiquette and other things. The most serious have been accusations of cheating by Korean players, with the help of their families, who are perceived as stage-managing their daughters, like "tennis dads" do. Some of the cheating accusations have been fathers shouting out club selections and strategy, when that's only supposed to be done by the caddies, and serving as human yardage markers on the course.
From a sponsorship perspective, the players are already being fined if there are complaints from pro-am events (for those that don't know, a pro-am event is where a sponsor or some other exec type is paired up with a player for a day on the course. Obviously, the players hate it -- they'd much rather be practicing or resting). So, it's likely that the Koreans are generating more complaints because they're not so buddy-buddy with the sponsors.
And let's face it ... the LPGA is dominated by lesbian cliques. I'm sure that plays into it, too. The LPGA has been a closed little system for quite some time, just puttering along at its own speed, and then along comes this "Korean invasion," so to speak.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:49 PM on August 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
What ain't no country I ever heard of! They speak English in What?
posted by bwg at 4:50 PM on August 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by bwg at 4:50 PM on August 27, 2008 [2 favorites]
Clearly, old chap, I bally well think you need to pop a bit of the P.G. in the old noggin, what? Preferably with a G&T or B. Mary well in hand.
I know. Any bally excuse to say "bally well." I've no shame.
As for the LPGA, though they can if they want to as a private organization, English needn't be required. Seems to me that if a golfer feels she's losing money because she doesn't know English, then common sense (or her agent) will get her in ESL classes pretty damn quick.
posted by droplet at 4:51 PM on August 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
I know. Any bally excuse to say "bally well." I've no shame.
As for the LPGA, though they can if they want to as a private organization, English needn't be required. Seems to me that if a golfer feels she's losing money because she doesn't know English, then common sense (or her agent) will get her in ESL classes pretty damn quick.
posted by droplet at 4:51 PM on August 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
Tiger Woods seems to sell a shit-load of everything and I've never heard the guy so much as make a peep. He might grunt and holler like a macaque for all I know. He just hits the ball and looks into the camera. He rarely even appears directly with the product, except in the Buick ads.
This is stupid. The Korean golfers should just hire a voice actor who will speak for them whenever necessary.
posted by GuyZero at 4:51 PM on August 27, 2008
This is stupid. The Korean golfers should just hire a voice actor who will speak for them whenever necessary.
posted by GuyZero at 4:51 PM on August 27, 2008
Imagine if the English Premier League tried to adopt something as inane as this. I challenge them to name one other professional sports league that suffers due to language barriers.
posted by Brocktoon at 5:04 PM on August 27, 2008
posted by Brocktoon at 5:04 PM on August 27, 2008
I challenge them to name one other professional sports league that suffers due to language barriers.
That's what seems to weird about it to me. It seems that diverse backgrounds are a lot of what makes sports interesting. Part of what makes pro sports exciting are the stories. A Taiwanese immigrant, a former Sudanese refugee, a drafted-from-high-school golden boy, and a grizzled old timer can play together on the same team. If you can't make money off of stories like that, then get the fuck out of advertising.
DISCLAIMER: I HAVE NEVER WATCHED GOLF.
posted by roll truck roll at 5:13 PM on August 27, 2008
That's what seems to weird about it to me. It seems that diverse backgrounds are a lot of what makes sports interesting. Part of what makes pro sports exciting are the stories. A Taiwanese immigrant, a former Sudanese refugee, a drafted-from-high-school golden boy, and a grizzled old timer can play together on the same team. If you can't make money off of stories like that, then get the fuck out of advertising.
DISCLAIMER: I HAVE NEVER WATCHED GOLF.
posted by roll truck roll at 5:13 PM on August 27, 2008
It's really not so bad as it seems, guys. The policy states that they work with people who fail the oral competency test, and it only applies to people who have been playing longer than two years. If you click on the "you" link, you'll find out that there really are problems with not being able to understand rules and whatnot; one young lady drove 400 miles back home, checked the internet, and found out the tournament wasn't over yet, then had to drive 400 miles back to finish up. That's absurd.
I'm rather shocked to finally find something I disagree with the ACLU about, but honestly, as an American ex-pat living in Japan, I think it's shameful if someone has lived in a country for a substantial period of time and still can't even speak the native language well enough to figure out the basic rules and format of a game. The association explicitly states that it will help those who fail to better succeed, and it's all done in a very fair fashion. From where I'm standing, all the disagreement with the policy sounds like "I don't wanna have to study" whining on the part of some very lazy athletes.
Maintaining one's culture is of the utmost importance, but so is integration with your new host country. This really does seem to be in everyone's best interests, and even if there is racism afloat at the events, that doesn't appear to be the motivating factor behind this.
Not to me, at least.
posted by GoingToShopping at 5:48 PM on August 27, 2008
I'm rather shocked to finally find something I disagree with the ACLU about, but honestly, as an American ex-pat living in Japan, I think it's shameful if someone has lived in a country for a substantial period of time and still can't even speak the native language well enough to figure out the basic rules and format of a game. The association explicitly states that it will help those who fail to better succeed, and it's all done in a very fair fashion. From where I'm standing, all the disagreement with the policy sounds like "I don't wanna have to study" whining on the part of some very lazy athletes.
Maintaining one's culture is of the utmost importance, but so is integration with your new host country. This really does seem to be in everyone's best interests, and even if there is racism afloat at the events, that doesn't appear to be the motivating factor behind this.
Not to me, at least.
posted by GoingToShopping at 5:48 PM on August 27, 2008
I'm a huge sports fan, and am glued to the Sawx-MFY game right now (well, after this pitching change, thanks for the runs Sir Sidney). However, were I never to hear a professional athlete speak again, it wouldn't diminish my enjoyment of sports one bit. I don't want to watch Nobel Prize winners play baseball either.
posted by Ella Fynoe at 5:55 PM on August 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Ella Fynoe at 5:55 PM on August 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
Ok, reading again (just woke up), it seems like the only people actually complaining are the ACLU and some journalists hunting for a story. All the players actually seem to support this.
posted by GoingToShopping at 5:56 PM on August 27, 2008
posted by GoingToShopping at 5:56 PM on August 27, 2008
Føkk dætt sjitt.
Yes, my Scandinavian pronunciation of encouragements to have sex with dung has saved my golf career oh so many times.
posted by Dumsnill at 5:57 PM on August 27, 2008
Yes, my Scandinavian pronunciation of encouragements to have sex with dung has saved my golf career oh so many times.
posted by Dumsnill at 5:57 PM on August 27, 2008
Yes, my Scandinavian pronunciation of encouragements to have sex with dung has saved my golf career oh so many times.
Ironically my mock-scandinavian cursing has gotten me into trouble a couple of times.
posted by ~ at 6:08 PM on August 27, 2008
Ironically my mock-scandinavian cursing has gotten me into trouble a couple of times.
posted by ~ at 6:08 PM on August 27, 2008
If Scandinavian is a language, then I think golfers should speak it.
posted by leftcoastbob at 7:22 PM on August 27, 2008
posted by leftcoastbob at 7:22 PM on August 27, 2008
My favorite Norwegian word is søppelbøtte. Because it's pronounced 'supple butt'. As in, 'Jeg har a søpplebøtte!'
Completely on topic. Off to read the link now.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 7:24 PM on August 27, 2008
Completely on topic. Off to read the link now.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 7:24 PM on August 27, 2008
GoingToShopping: it appears that sports fans here on Metafilter are complaining about it, and I'm sure they are on other blogs as well.
"I think it's shameful if someone has lived in a country for a substantial period of time and still can't even speak the native language."
Of all the things to be ashamed of!
"Seon Hwa Lee, the only Asian with multiple victories this year, works with an English tutor in the winter."
You mean, the players were already trying to learn English?
posted by Brocktoon at 7:42 PM on August 27, 2008
"I think it's shameful if someone has lived in a country for a substantial period of time and still can't even speak the native language."
Of all the things to be ashamed of!
"Seon Hwa Lee, the only Asian with multiple victories this year, works with an English tutor in the winter."
You mean, the players were already trying to learn English?
posted by Brocktoon at 7:42 PM on August 27, 2008
to me this smacks of passive aggressive xenophobia gussied-up as well-meaning help; good luck proving it.
posted by Challahtronix at 7:48 PM on August 27, 2008
posted by Challahtronix at 7:48 PM on August 27, 2008
Maintaining one's culture is of the utmost importance
Nah.
posted by Citizen Premier at 12:49 AM on August 28, 2008
Nah.
posted by Citizen Premier at 12:49 AM on August 28, 2008
Cool Papa Bell has it, pretty much.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:54 AM on August 28, 2008
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:54 AM on August 28, 2008
Translation: "The male executives at our sponsors are complaining that they're having trouble hitting on our players."
I don't think it's the language barrier that's the problem there.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:32 AM on August 28, 2008
I don't think it's the language barrier that's the problem there.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:32 AM on August 28, 2008
They should all learn Esperanto.
Like I was forced to by some misguided idealist 3rd grade teacher.
posted by eye of newt at 8:39 AM on August 28, 2008
Like I was forced to by some misguided idealist 3rd grade teacher.
posted by eye of newt at 8:39 AM on August 28, 2008
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posted by Dumsnill at 3:36 PM on August 27, 2008