"Good thing they only hold the P-Cup every two years, because it's obviously a tremendous strain on the public-relations brain trust in Ponte Vedra."

In his Up and Down column, Steve Elling tries to figure out the Michael Jordan/Presidents Cup mini-drama:

The PGA Tour's handling of Michael Jordan's presence didn't get much play, but it was ham-handed, myopic and indicative of the blunders the tour has made with regard to publicity over the years. Argue if you want about whether Jordan should have been there as a "volunteer assistant," an invitee of Fred Couples, in the first place, but it's awfully hard to hide a 6-foot-6 Hall of Famer on a golf course once he shows up. The tour tried. Jordan told one print outlet that he had been asked by the tour not to conduct interviews. Yet the tour used Jordan's comments in an "exclusive" interview in Q & A posted on its website Monday. Nice double standard. The tour apparently didn't want Jordan to become a distraction and also barred him from participating in the opening ceremonies, causing complaints from players and caddies, who scribbled his old number, 23, on their hats. He represented the definition of a distraction, of course, and making him off-limits made it even more of a circus. Still, Jordan's presence gave the tour a rare chance to reach across golf's limited boundary ropes to snare a casual sports fan. The tour butchered the opportunity, then hosed the print media who spent the money to cover the event by making Jordan unavailable. Then they allowed him to participate in the closing ceremonies, where he sat on stage with the team. Good thing they only hold the P-Cup every two years, because it's obviously a tremendous strain on the public-relations brain trust in Ponte Vedra.
 

Comments

[Smolmania]

"Public relations brain trust. . . ." Objection, your honor. Assumes a fact not in evidence.

[Wisconsin Reader]

Decision making by the PGA Tour has a long history of being narrow minded and arbitrary. . . The Ponte Vedra brain trust - A remarkably homogeneous group of men - is always hesitant to welcome views from the "outside". . . Recall the reaction when Greg Norman dared to suggest "world golf championships" years ago. . . They maintain power because they have had the very good fortune to have had Palmer, Nicklaus, Norman, Mickelson and Woods as the face of the Tour - Men who have been the top endorsers in the sports world not just the golf world - Men who have brought money and prestige to the rank and file players - Men who have also convinced Tour executives they are the geniuses who created such success. . . Recall Jerry Krause - former Chicago Bulls General Manager - who famously said the Bulls organization (which he of course headed) was responsible for their six NBA championships and not just Michael Jordan . . . Michael Jordan? - whatever happened to him?

[court]

Just once, I'd like to see the PGA Tour hand over these things to guys like Elling and Van Sickle. Let them make their plans, carry them out, then let the PGA Tour offices pick them apart and ask why they didn't do this or that, or how incompetent they are because they did or didn't do this or that.

I agree that not having MJ at the opening ceremonies was ridiculous. Everybody knew he was an assistant. Him NOT being there was more noticable than if he had been there.

Go sit down, Elling. Writing stuff like this doesn't make you a big man.

[smails]

guys-Ty was in Copenhagen. if he had been there all would have gone smoooooothly.?!?