Talk of the Town

Blue · 07-13-2010, 01:10 AM

Every year the day after the US Women's Open, I scour the media for reports of the tournament and the winner. If I'm at the tournament, I check out the local media. And, I'm always disappointed. Even when the tournament has taken place in a relatively small place like Bethlehem, PA, it's like no one knew it happened.

Not so this year. Paula Creamer's win was splashed front and center on all of the local Pittsburgh papers that I saw, from the Post-Gazette to the local Oakmont area paper. Driving around the city, I was switching radio stations and both sports talk channels I hit on were discussing her win. Later tonight, I went to dinner in a restaurant downtown and overheard some local businessmen discussing the tournament and Paula's win. I took a walk in a local park and heard some tourists from the south who not in town to go to the tournament discussing it.

Why the sudden interest? It should be obvious. An American winner at a time when people had come to accept that Americans would not dominate women's golf again, or not for a long time. An appealing unblemished figure at a time when the most prominent figure in golf is anything but that. A win overcoming adversity (people love that, especially Americans). A win on a legendary course.

DJGOLFER59 · 07-13-2010, 03:05 AM

Good to hear. A great win for her, a great win for the USGA and a great win for the LPGA.

MarinePaul · 07-13-2010, 07:10 AM

Blue, I'm not sure that the talk is only because Paula's an American player. When the Giant Eagle was in this area, it was covered extensively by the local media all week long. We're only about an hour away from the Pittsburgh area. We also have several radio and tv programs dedicated to golf in this area.

I can't speak on what coverage it got around the rest of the country, but our area is fortunate to get pretty good coverage of the LPGA in general, and fairly extensive coverage any time there's an event near by.

Blue · 07-13-2010, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by MarinePaul

Blue, I'm not sure that the talk is only because Paula's an American player. When the Giant Eagle was in this area, it was covered extensively by the local media all week long. We're only about an hour away from the Pittsburgh area. We also have several radio and tv programs dedicated to golf in this area.

I can't speak on what coverage it got around the rest of the country, but our area is fortunate to get pretty good coverage of the LPGA in general, and fairly extensive coverage any time there's an event near by.

Add "great golf fans in Pittsbugh" to the list in my post which included: she's likeable, she overcame adversity, she won on a legendary course. And she's American.

I'm also going to add: slow sports week (All-Star break, World Cup over, nobody cares about the Tour de France, nothing happening on the PGA Tour, LeBron drama thankfully over).

It seems to be a national story also. She was also on the cover of USA Today yesterday.

The only media that didn't apparently was not clued in was, ironically, the Golf Channel. On Sunday after Creamer win, I turned on GC and they popped in with "Golf Central Update." The lead story was Steve Strikcker winning the John Deere with a 3-second mention of Paula Creamer winning the US Women's Open. Unbelievable.

cleo · 07-13-2010, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by MarinePaul

Blue, I'm not sure that the talk is only because Paula's an American player. When the Giant Eagle was in this area, it was covered extensively by the local media all week long. We're only about an hour away from the Pittsburgh area. We also have several radio and tv programs dedicated to golf in this area.

I can't speak on what coverage it got around the rest of the country, but our area is fortunate to get pretty good coverage of the LPGA in general, and fairly extensive coverage any time there's an event near by.

I remember the Giant Eagle since I was there in 93 and 94 but even with Annika there in 93 the coverage in Pittsburgh was nowhere near like it's been for last week's Open at Oakmont.

The press this got in the Post-Gazette was about as much as the Steelers and Penguins got for winning championships.

Ricearoni · 07-13-2010, 12:50 PM

2 of our local TV sportscasters gave her decent coverage on Sunday. These fellows play golf and are aware of the pros who live here or are are native to the area.

MarinePaul · 07-13-2010, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Blue

Add "great golf fans in Pittsbugh" to the list in my post which included: she's likeable, she overcame adversity, she won on a legendary course. And she's American.

I'm also going to add: slow sports week (All-Star break, World Cup over, nobody cares about the Tour de France, nothing happening on the PGA Tour, LeBron drama thankfully over).

It seems to be a national story also. She was also on the cover of USA Today yesterday.

The only media that didn't apparently was not clued in was, ironically, the Golf Channel. On Sunday after Creamer win, I turned on GC and they popped in with "Golf Central Update." The lead story was Steve Strikcker winning the John Deere with a 3-second mention of Paula Creamer winning the US Women's Open. Unbelievable.

Did you expect TGC to actually give the LPGA more than a passing mention? Why should this week be any different?

MarinePaul · 07-13-2010, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by cleo

I remember the Giant Eagle since I was there in 93 and 94 but even with Annika there in 93 the coverage in Pittsburgh was nowhere near like it's been for last week's Open at Oakmont.

The press this got in the Post-Gazette was about as much as the Steelers and Penguins got for winning championships.

I don't read the Pittsburgh papers, so I'm certainly not in a position to make the comparison. What I do know is that, locally, the Giant Eagle always got good coverage. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that the Pittsbirgh area gave it any press, due to it being an hour or so away. That does show, though, that we may be the exception as far as coverage of the LPGA, or golf on general, is concerned.

Saint-Just X · 07-13-2010, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Blue

The only media that didn't apparently was not clued in was, ironically, the Golf Channel. On Sunday after Creamer win, I turned on GC and they popped in with "Golf Central Update." The lead story was Steve Strikcker winning the John Deere with a 3-second mention of Paula Creamer winning the US Women's Open. Unbelievable.

I'm surprised their lead story wasn't a slightly-flushed Kelly Tilghman breathlessly announcing that Tiger Woods had arrived at St Andrews...

Pax Vobiscum
Saint-Just X

Blue · 07-14-2010, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Saint-Just X

I'm surprised their lead story wasn't a slightly-flushed Kelly Tilghman breathlessly announcing that Tiger Woods had arrived at St Andrews...

Pax Vobiscum
Saint-Just X

07-13-2010, 01:10 AM	#1
Blue Forum Moderator Contests: Joint 3rd place overall winner 2009. Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,650 Images: 6	Talk of the Town Every year the day after the US Women's Open, I scour the media for reports of the tournament and the winner. If I'm at the tournament, I check out the local media. And, I'm always disappointed. Even when the tournament has taken place in a relatively small place like Bethlehem, PA, it's like no one knew it happened. Not so this year. Paula Creamer's win was splashed front and center on all of the local Pittsburgh papers that I saw, from the Post-Gazette to the local Oakmont area paper. Driving around the city, I was switching radio stations and both sports talk channels I hit on were discussing her win. Later tonight, I went to dinner in a restaurant downtown and overheard some local businessmen discussing the tournament and Paula's win. I took a walk in a local park and heard some tourists from the south who not in town to go to the tournament discussing it. Why the sudden interest? It should be obvious. An American winner at a time when people had come to accept that Americans would not dominate women's golf again, or not for a long time. An appealing unblemished figure at a time when the most prominent figure in golf is anything but that. A win overcoming adversity (people love that, especially Americans). A win on a legendary course.

07-13-2010, 07:10 AM	#3
MarinePaul Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Warren, Ohio Posts: 8,001	Blue, I'm not sure that the talk is only because Paula's an American player. When the Giant Eagle was in this area, it was covered extensively by the local media all week long. We're only about an hour away from the Pittsburgh area. We also have several radio and tv programs dedicated to golf in this area. I can't speak on what coverage it got around the rest of the country, but our area is fortunate to get pretty good coverage of the LPGA in general, and fairly extensive coverage any time there's an event near by. __________________ Happiness isn't getting what you want, it's wanting what you have.

07-13-2010, 08:38 AM	#4
Blue Forum Moderator Contests: Joint 3rd place overall winner 2009. Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,650 Images: 6	Originally Posted by MarinePaul Blue, I'm not sure that the talk is only because Paula's an American player. When the Giant Eagle was in this area, it was covered extensively by the local media all week long. We're only about an hour away from the Pittsburgh area. We also have several radio and tv programs dedicated to golf in this area. I can't speak on what coverage it got around the rest of the country, but our area is fortunate to get pretty good coverage of the LPGA in general, and fairly extensive coverage any time there's an event near by. Add "great golf fans in Pittsbugh" to the list in my post which included: she's likeable, she overcame adversity, she won on a legendary course. And she's American. I'm also going to add: slow sports week (All-Star break, World Cup over, nobody cares about the Tour de France, nothing happening on the PGA Tour, LeBron drama thankfully over). It seems to be a national story also. She was also on the cover of USA Today yesterday. The only media that didn't apparently was not clued in was, ironically, the Golf Channel. On Sunday after Creamer win, I turned on GC and they popped in with "Golf Central Update." The lead story was Steve Strikcker winning the John Deere with a 3-second mention of Paula Creamer winning the US Women's Open. Unbelievable.

07-13-2010, 11:35 AM	#5
cleo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: PA Posts: 1,494	Originally Posted by MarinePaul Blue, I'm not sure that the talk is only because Paula's an American player. When the Giant Eagle was in this area, it was covered extensively by the local media all week long. We're only about an hour away from the Pittsburgh area. We also have several radio and tv programs dedicated to golf in this area. I can't speak on what coverage it got around the rest of the country, but our area is fortunate to get pretty good coverage of the LPGA in general, and fairly extensive coverage any time there's an event near by. I remember the Giant Eagle since I was there in 93 and 94 but even with Annika there in 93 the coverage in Pittsburgh was nowhere near like it's been for last week's Open at Oakmont. The press this got in the Post-Gazette was about as much as the Steelers and Penguins got for winning championships. __________________ "There's no use arguing with a fool. He only rages and scoffs, and tempers flare."

07-13-2010, 01:03 PM	#7
MarinePaul Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Warren, Ohio Posts: 8,001	Originally Posted by Blue Add "great golf fans in Pittsbugh" to the list in my post which included: she's likeable, she overcame adversity, she won on a legendary course. And she's American. I'm also going to add: slow sports week (All-Star break, World Cup over, nobody cares about the Tour de France, nothing happening on the PGA Tour, LeBron drama thankfully over). It seems to be a national story also. She was also on the cover of USA Today yesterday. The only media that didn't apparently was not clued in was, ironically, the Golf Channel. On Sunday after Creamer win, I turned on GC and they popped in with "Golf Central Update." The lead story was Steve Strikcker winning the John Deere with a 3-second mention of Paula Creamer winning the US Women's Open. Unbelievable. Did you expect TGC to actually give the LPGA more than a passing mention? Why should this week be any different? __________________ Happiness isn't getting what you want, it's wanting what you have.

07-13-2010, 03:05 AM	#2
DJGOLFER59 Contest Statistician Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,685	Good to hear. A great win for her, a great win for the USGA and a great win for the LPGA.

07-13-2010, 12:50 PM	#6
Ricearoni Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 277 Images: 1	2 of our local TV sportscasters gave her decent coverage on Sunday. These fellows play golf and are aware of the pros who live here or are are native to the area.

07-13-2010, 01:07 PM	#8
MarinePaul Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Warren, Ohio Posts: 8,001	Originally Posted by cleo I remember the Giant Eagle since I was there in 93 and 94 but even with Annika there in 93 the coverage in Pittsburgh was nowhere near like it's been for last week's Open at Oakmont. The press this got in the Post-Gazette was about as much as the Steelers and Penguins got for winning championships. I don't read the Pittsburgh papers, so I'm certainly not in a position to make the comparison. What I do know is that, locally, the Giant Eagle always got good coverage. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that the Pittsbirgh area gave it any press, due to it being an hour or so away. That does show, though, that we may be the exception as far as coverage of the LPGA, or golf on general, is concerned. __________________ Happiness isn't getting what you want, it's wanting what you have.

07-13-2010, 02:57 PM	#9
Saint-Just X Senior Member Contests: Joint 3nd place overall winner 2010 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,674	Originally Posted by Blue The only media that didn't apparently was not clued in was, ironically, the Golf Channel. On Sunday after Creamer win, I turned on GC and they popped in with "Golf Central Update." The lead story was Steve Strikcker winning the John Deere with a 3-second mention of Paula Creamer winning the US Women's Open. Unbelievable. I'm surprised their lead story wasn't a slightly-flushed Kelly Tilghman breathlessly announcing that Tiger Woods had arrived at St Andrews... Pax Vobiscum Saint-Just X __________________ I have sent the most relevant posts you made about Paula Creamer to her lawyers. Hope they take action against your statements - Elf

07-14-2010, 02:19 PM	#10
Blue Forum Moderator Contests: Joint 3rd place overall winner 2009. Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,650 Images: 6	Originally Posted by Saint-Just X I'm surprised their lead story wasn't a slightly-flushed Kelly Tilghman breathlessly announcing that Tiger Woods had arrived at St Andrews... Pax Vobiscum Saint-Just X

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