Talk Me Off the Ledge?

[virginian]

Listen,

I know I'm a knucklehead. And I know that I don't know as much as I think I know. And I know that if you folks were to see me standing on a ledge 50 stories up, just as many of you would yell "Jump you Son of a..!" as would yell "Dont Jump!" But I could really use some encouragement right now.

Have I been so wrong about Grace?

Honest to goodness ... I know some of you will think I'm crazy, but even over the last 2 and 1/2 years, I have sincerely believed that Grace would contend for a top 5 finish, if not win every tournament she has entered. I have believed that she is that talented. And each week, I have believed that would be the week she would figure it out. I have believed it, that is, up until today.

I know there have been times when she has had physical hindrances that have hurt her game. But I do not believe that is why she is where she is right now.

One of my favorite books is THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. In the final chapter of that book the Count writes a letter to two dear friends. The last paragraph of that letter reads as follows: "Live then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget that, until the day God deigns to reveal the future to man, the sum of all human wisdom will be contained in these two words: Wait and Hope."

For the first time .... ever ... I am beginning to lose hope for Grace's game. She is consistently closer to the bottom than to the top of the leaderboard. She's finishing closer to the bottom than to the cut line.

I have followed the thread regarding Nancy Lopez at Wegman's and have noted that many of you believed that Nancy would, in fact, finish at the bottom of the leaderboard. And I have winced as I have realized that there was a good chance Grace would not finish much higher than Nancy. And in fact, there are only 11 spots between Nancy and Grace on the leaderboard after the second round.

So, I'm thinking seriously about climbing out onto the ledge. The only thing that has stopped me so far is the faint notion that someone has put forth that Grace has given herself 3 years to return to her old form.

Should I "Wait and Hope"

[Blue]

Grace will probably never return to her old form. She's been away from it for too long. From what I have heard her training is also inconsistent.

Don't ask me why I picked her in this week's contest.

[NTB]

Hey Virg I have always admired G.P. I think maybe you depend on her success a little to much.
I really Like Little Kimmie I like her for whom she appears to be.
Win or lose doesn't matter to me. I really don't think about her all the time.
I think about the LPGA as a whole and wonder how a non-winning male golfer
can make more in a year by far then a winning member of the LPGA.
I must admit that bugs the H--- out of me.
All Annika has accomplished and there are many men golfers better off then her and they have only won a few times.
We will hear about Tigers knees from now on, anyone talking about Annikas back.
This is a puzzle that I wonder about a lot.
I am sorry Grace isn't winning but it really ain't that easy loads of talent out there.

[Blue]

Also, it is only golf. It's Grace's career and that's important to her. We're just fans. Don't take it too seriously.

[virginian]

Originally Posted by Blue

...From what I have heard her training is also inconsistent...

You know Blue, that is the impression I get as well. I have no inside information. But based on past interviews and what I see now, it is hard to believe that her heart is in her golf game. I get the impression she would rather be doing something else and she is doing this because it is expected of her.

And if that is true, it makes my heart sad. I honestly believe there is no athlete anywhere ... Tiger included ... who has more talent at what they do than the talent Grace has for golf. If she applied herself properly, I honestly believe she could have accomplished the kinds of things that Annika has done on the LPGA tour and Tiger has done on the PGA tour. That is high praise I know ... possibly undeserved. But it is what I believe. And to see that talent possibly being wasted is disheartening.

A little perspective is important. The world isn't ending and it is only golf. But still, if you're a fan of a sport that means it matters to you. And if you are a fan of an athlete, that means that athlete matters to you.

I hope she snaps out of it and realizes the gift she has been given. How many of us would like the chance to be as good at what we do as she has the chance to be at what she does?

[virginian]

notaxbill, Blue

You say you think Grace's success or lack of success might matter to me more than it should. I respect that opinion and from time to time give it serious thought. But we all have different personalities. When something matters to me it really matters, maybe more at times than some people think it should. But I am who I am. And I am comfortable with who I am. And I am satisfied that my passion for the things I like is not unhealthy.

As far as maybe turning my attention to other golfers, thereby diverting my attention, at least a little, from Grace. Again, I am who I am. I'm kinda like a swan, nowhere near as handsome or graceful, but every bit as loyal.

Stacy Prammanasudh is my second favorite golfer. After her, Cristie Kerr and Laura Diaz are probably tied. But if I ever give up on Grace, I probably will not be able to switch my allegiance. I will probably just fade away.

[MarinePaul]

I have to admit it. I was originally torn between talking you down and yelling "Jump." After giving it some thought, I think your loyalty is admirable, but possibly leaning a bit to the extreme. I don't know that Grace has gone beyond her ability, because a part of me would love to see her regain her old form. On the other hand, even if she never does, she's given us some great golf over the years. We should be grateful for that, and remember those days fondly.

[virginian]

Originally Posted by MarinePaul

I have to admit it. I was originally torn between talking you down and yelling "Jump." After giving it some thought, I think your loyalty is admirable, but possibly leaning a bit to the extreme. I don't know that Grace has gone beyond her ability, because a part of me would love to see her regain her old form. On the other hand, even if she never does, she's given us some great golf over the years. We should be grateful for that, and remember those days fondly.

MarinePaul,

Loyalty should always lean to the extreme or it is not loyalty at all. It is just interest.

If you see oil being mishandled and wasted, that would probably bother you. When you hear about the government pouring milk down the drain to preserve its price when hundreds of thousands of people go to bed hungry every night, that probably bothers you. Grace's fans can see her talent as easily as you can see oil or milk. It bothers us to see it wasted.

Now do me a favor, take something you like, something you really like and give it up. Right now, don't wait another minute. Give it up now. No doubt you will remember it fondly forever. But you will probably miss it forever as well.

[Paul S.]

I like Grace a lot and would love to see her return to her winning ways. But I also think we fans often take such things way too seriously. If an athlete seems to be "underachieving" we think of it as a TRAGIC waste of talent. We idolize the fiercest competitors, but in what other fields besides sports (and war) is fierce competitiveness--the intense need to win--considered a virtue? Think of the competitive drivers on our streets, for example. In business, competitiveness is certainly an ASSET, but an admirable personal trait? Not in my book.
I do love to watch the overacheivers, and they sell tickets, but the older I get the more inclined I become to forgive a player who lacks or loses that "edge" and no longer takes winning as seriously as his/her die-hard fans want them to. Only if Grace is agonizing over her descent--and if she is would she not train harder?--would I think of it as anything approaching tragic. As Bobby McFerrin said, "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

[NTB]

Virg Comparing sports stars to hungry folks ain't quite the same.
Grace is probably ok financially and will more then likely never go to bed hungry.
This golf forum is a way to vent so I am on your side there.
I look at sports stars as just plain ol people who have there own lives and could care less about mine.
Like Mp I like G. P. and I think if she does well and wins again it would be a real plus for the LPGA.
She is a beauty but I don't think she is going to ask anyone of us on a date nor get involved in lives . It seems being hook on anything in an obsessive way is very harmful.