Bivens Article

[Buzzer]

Twitter about-face is just the latest errant shot by LPGA commissioner

Posted by Mike Tokito, The Oregonian June 09, 2009 17:20PM

Categories: Mike Tokito's divots
Carolyn Bivens is the commissioner of the LPGA Tour, so let's consider her stint in that job in golf terms.
Bivens repeatedly slices into the woods and is constantly scrambling to save par.
The latest example came last week when Bivens told Bloomberg News that she would "love it if players Twittered during the middle of a round."

That's right, Bivens, who is in charge of the most prominent women's professional league in the world, advocated that her players take time in the middle of their rounds to fire off a few quick thoughts on their cell phones.
You wonder why some don't take golfers seriously as athletes. Imagine Lisa Leslie scoring a layup, then not running back on defense because she was busy thumbing, "OMG, that almost spun out ;)"
About five years ago, before Bivens' arrival, the LPGA Tour took a strong stand against slow play, aggressively penalizing the tortoises. It was a commendable stance, but Bivens' Twitter idea flies directly in the face of it.
That group is 20 minutes behind? We'll let it slide. After all, they were all tweeting ...
Fortunately, Bivens' players have too much respect for the game to bite on their commissioners' idea. Two of the tour's young stars, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel, made their disapproval known by, fittingly, tweeting responses.
Tweeted Pressel: "NO I will not be tweeting while I play."
Added Creamer: "I will not be twittering in my round. It should not happen in any sport. The players have already told the tour no way."
That forced Bivens, in our golf analogy, to pitch out sideways from the deep woods she drove into.
"Comments that I made in a conversation with a writer last week regarding the importance of social media and tweeting have been taken out of context. We have not discussed tweeting or the use of handheld devices during tournament rounds with the USGA, or even within the LPGA, nor do we intend to."
Sorry, commissioner, but we don't do mulligans.
Does Twitter have a place in golf? Of course it does. One unintended fallout of Bivens' goof was that it exposed how Twitter is becoming prominent on the LPGA Tour. In addition to Pressel and Creamer, the Baltimore Sun identified Christina Kim, Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis and Suzann Pettersen as Twitter users.
And it isn't just young women in golf jumping on the bandwagon. Portland's Peter Jacobsen, at 55, has embraced Twitter (Peter Jacobsen (JakeTrout) on Twitter). Last week, he offered followers quick updates on his health after he played in the Champions Tour's Triton Financial Classic, his first start since having rotator cuff surgery in January.
"I played better each day but scored worse in Austin!" he tweeted. "Very happy with how I felt all week. Very excited!"
But he didn't do it during the round, something anyone with any respect for the game would never suggest.
The suggestion is typical of Bivens.
It started in 2006 at the Fields Open in Hawaii, when in the first tournament of her tenure, Bivens tried to institute a media credentialing policy that said the tour would own the rights to all stories and photos generated by those covering the event. Honolulu's two daily newspapers and The Associated Press declined to sign an agreement, and the first round was not covered by any print reporters. The policy was quickly changed.
That was followed by an office house-cleaning in which seven high-ranking members of the tour staff left -- some on their own, others reportedly via a nudge from the new boss. One was Barb Trammel, the senior vice president of tournament operations, who now heads the Oregon Golf Association.
Then there was last August's language flap in which Bivens tried to institute a policy requiring all players to pass an oral evaluation to prove they can speak adequate English or face suspension. Bivens announced the policy at a mandatory meeting for 40 Korean members during the Safeway Classic in Portland.
Bivens pitched out sideways again, rescinding the policy 16 days later.
All this comes as the LPGA Tour seems to be in serious financial jeopardy. This week, it will play one of its majors, the LPGA Championship, at Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, Md., for the final time with McDonald's as title sponsor. The tour does not have a sponsor or even golf course lined up for next year's version.
Overall, the tour could shrink to as small as 26 events next year. At least six events do not have a sponsor lined up for 2010. It seems a long way from 2005, when the LPGA Tour seemed ready to reach another level, with Annika Sorenstam at the height of her game, Lorena Ochoa preparing for her big run, and young stars seemingly emerging everywhere.
Certainly, the economy is the biggest culprit for the tour's current problems. But having a commissioner who can't seem to hit anything straight makes things much worse, no matter how you tweet it.
Mike Tokito: 503-294-7603; miketokito@news.oregonian.com



Tags: Carolyn Bivens, LPGA, Twitter
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COMMENTS (0)Post a comment

[MarinePaul]

Buzzer, I just know that Wiefan will find a way to spin this to make Bivens sound like she's being persecuted. It's hard to deny facts, but they've never seemed to get in his way when it comes to Bivens.

The reality is, Bivens should resign for the good of the LPGA as soon as possible. How many more "out of context" decisions can she make without completely ruining the LPGA?

[wiefan]

Hi ya Buzzer and Marinepaul....ahhh you knew I would respond....GOOD!!

ok....I have an idea...lemme know what you BOTH think....this idea is fairly easy and it should solve ALL Questions about whether or not Carolyn deserves the BOOT or not

here is my idea....Carolyn represents all of the LPGA Players....let them decide....let's wait and hear from them....using "Tainted Anti-Carolyn" articles is ONLY the writer's Biased views....hearing Your views and My views are also only BIASED Views

let see if we hear any views from the people that will MOST GET AFFECTED...the player's themselves

this should settle this FIRE or KEEP Carolyn question....tell me if I am WRONG....I am saying let the people that Carolyn is supposed to represent make this decision...after all, they have a stake in this....you and I do not have any stake in this...our's are just like that writer....merely Biased opinions

I say let the Player's themselves speak out as to whether or not Carolyn should be fired

If we do not hear from ANY Player or groups of players about Carolyn should GO...then wouldn't you think that perhaps THEY KNOW MORE THAN YOU and that there is a REASON there is NO Revolt movement

if you should come up with the notion that the players are scared....YOU are mistaken....Paula and Morgan spoke up in their twitter....and if you think veterans like Pat, Juli and other old timers are afraid...YOU are mistaken

if something was wrong and Carolyn deserved to be fired, you would have already heard from the Players.....Carolyn WORKS for the players...it is their decision and their livelihood that is at stake and directly involved

so I say this....if you don't hear of a "Player REVOLT"...then perhaps you should be thinking that your opinions are INCORRECT....and that these players know more than you BOTH do...or perhaps you both think you are MORE SMARTER and that you both KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM....Looking from the outside and not from their perspective

so whadda ya think fellas...are the both of you MORE Knowledgeable than the LPGA Players themselves...after all, whatever Carolyn does, affects them more than it does YOU....what makes you think that you Both know BETTER and that you both know what is good for the players themselves

by the way...so far, I haven't heard from any of the players about "Carolyn should be fired" campaigns...have you???...could it be that the both of you don't know what the player's themselves know

BLUE.....could you move this thread to the Carolyn Folder....I wanna hear from other posters about Carolyn should get fired or not....thanks!!

anyway....have a good day fellas...I personally don't think I am asking a hard question....Why haven't the Player's themselves revolted in Mass against Carolyn....what makes you Anti-Carolyn posters MORE correct than the players themselves....where are the Player's quotes about Carolyn should be fired or Quit???....see ya!!

[Buzzer]

Wiefan....I didn't write that, I only posted it for others to read.

Also, CB wasn't hired by the players, but by a Board of Directors(absentee landlords, if you will!), and so she doesn't work for the players. Ergo, she can't be fired by the players; so your defense has no teeth.

Besides, she has a contract that would cost the LPGA plenty if they fired her before the contract was up.

The By-Laws for the LPGA are far different than are those of the PGA Tour.

Viva Annika

[fuzzy logic]

What's is Mike's solution for the LPGA's woes. Is he trying to create a controversy for the job and pave the way for Annika to lead us to the promise land.

[wiefan]

Originally Posted by Buzzer

Wiefan....I didn't write that, I only posted it for others to read.

Also, CB wasn't hired by the players, but by a Board of Directors(absentee landlords, if you will!), and so she doesn't work for the players. Ergo, she can't be fired by the players; so your defense has no teeth.

Besides, she has a contract that would cost the LPGA plenty if they fired her before the contract was up.

The By-Laws for the LPGA are far different than are those of the PGA Tour.

Viva Annika

Hi ya Buzzer...ok so she was hired by the LPGA....wouldn't that mean that she represents the LPGA and it's players...after all the players do make up the LPGA...so in essense, whatever decisions Carolyn makes does indeed impact the players themselves

so tell me....A Player Revolt against Carolyn....do you think it would get her fired by the Board of Directors....also...doesn't the players have a "Player representitive" in this board of Directors....surely a complaint against Carolyn coming from the player's representative would indeed start the ball rolling to fire Carolyn

you are correct that the Player's themselves cannot DIRECTLY fire Carolyn....but they can start a Player Revolt of their dis-satisfaction of what she is doing....and surely this revolt will get Carolyn fired....but Buzzer...I ask this

why has there been NO evidenced complaint from the players and/or their representative about Firing Carolyn...whatever Carolyn does reflects directly upon these players....as you and Marinepaul just love to expose Mistakes that you both seem to think is so so damaging and worthwhile of getting Carolyn Fired....Why haven't the player's themselves picked up on this....for sure they know all about the complaints that you and Marinepaul keeps sputtering....but WHERE is the COMPLAINTS from the players

where is the "FIRE Carolyn" Movement by the Players, that you and Marinepaul so wish to happen....what makes your line of thinking MORE correct than the players....

if I see a Player revolt against Carolyn, then I will say that the both of you are correct in your opinion....but until I see this revolt....I will continue to believe that the players themselves KNOW A LOT MORE THAN YOU BOTH DO....tell me I am incorrect

ok...you have talked about contracts....I do not know when Carolyn's contract is up....but I will bet that it get's renewed....if it doesn't get re-newed...then I will say that you and the Marine are correct....but if it does get re-newed ....will either of you say that Carolyn must be doing ok....I DOUBT THIS....I doubt this from either of you because you both are TOO DEEPLY ROOTED against Carolyn...regardless of what happens...shame really!!

anyway...how do you know how "Plenty" the amount will be if they fire her before her contract is over....how many more years does Carolyn have on her contract....is Carolyn costing the LPGA BIG TIME BUCKS NOW that a firing might save big bucks in the future...what factual evidence do you have supporting this...if so....do you think the Players and/or Board of Directors DON'T KNOW whatever evidence you conjure up

Buzzer...I know that you "Just" posted the article...but I am going on your past comments about Carolyn that this "negative Carolyn article" was done intentionally to promote more "Anti Carolyn" feelings

anyway....have a good day Buzzer...see ya!!

[wiefan]

Hi ya Blue...way to go....good job moving this thread here...thanks!!!

[Blue]

Originally Posted by wiefan

Hi ya Blue...way to go....good job moving this thread here...thanks!!!

I am at your command, Wiefan.

[MarinePaul]

Wiefan, how mny fiascoes will it take for you to realize Bivens isn't doing an especially good job. The media credentialling was a fiasco, English only, a fiasco, Twitter, a fiasco. You can defend her in your twenty page rants forever, but that doesn't make you right.

[wiefan]

Originally Posted by MarinePaul

Wiefan, how mny fiascoes will it take for you to realize Bivens isn't doing an especially good job. The media credentialling was a fiasco, English only, a fiasco, Twitter, a fiasco. You can defend her in your twenty page rants forever, but that doesn't make you right.

Hi ya Marinepaul....here is what makes me MORE right than either you or Buzzer....just the point that the player's themselves have not formed a Massive "Get Carolyn OUT" Rally....after all, they have more at stake in this than any of us...or wouldn't you agree....if everything you despise about Carolyn was true...why haven't the Players themselves jumped on your band wagon....do you think there is a possibility that they might know something that you don't....if you think you are absolutely 100% positive that you are correct, then why haven't the players acted or said anything in your behalf....why haven't the players "LYNCHED" carolyn....answer this if you can...if you say that they will, well all I have to say is that they haven't yet...I wonder why this is

anyway...have a good day...see ya!!