WHEW! New LPGA Commish Unleashes All Of The Essential Business Jargon In First Press Release!
I was worried we might get some straight shooter but judging by his first press release quote, new LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan is going to pick up right where the Brand Lady left off, at least in the B-speak department. More on that momentarily.
Ron Sirak's story about the Oct. 28 announcement calls the naming a "bit of a surprise." Golfweek was first to post to break the news by a few minutes, linking Beth Ann Baldry's story noting Whan's bio.
Whan, believed to be 44, most recently has been president and CEO of Mission-ITECH Hockey. The 1987 graduate of Miami (Ohio) University served as executive vice president/general manager of North America TaylorMade Adidas Golf from 1995 to 2000, and he also worked at Wilson.
I received the press release dated October 28 and it notes a few key details, such as this pertaining to the Rear Admiral and interim Commish, Marty Evans:
Evans will work with Whan during a transition period before he officially assumes the Commissioner helm in January 2010. Both Whan and Evans will attend the LPGA Tour Championship Presented by Rolex the week of November 16 in Houston, where a player meeting will be held and the 2010 LPGA season schedule will be released.
“The LPGA is a resurging, resilient association, and Mike will be a leader around which the wonderful LPGA staff and all of our stakeholders—players, fans, sponsors, TV partners, tournament owners and others—will rally,” Evans said. “Mike will enjoy working within the reenergized climate of collaboration that we’ve all worked so hard to create this season. I’m looking forward to working closely with him during the transition period as we celebrate the close of a tremendous season and look forward to the LPGA’s 60th year in 2010.”
Re-energized climate of collaboration? Militaryspeak translation: mopping up post-Brand Lady will make Mike look like a genius, all thanks to me.
As for the new Commish and his first words...
“It is rare to work for an organization that combines all the passions in your life, but with the LPGA, I feel I’ve been presented with the unique opportunity to do just that,” Whan said. “First, this is an association surrounded by passionate, value-driven people. Second, I’m energized by brand building and the work involved in marketing and growing a sport. Third, I simply love the game of golf—both the life lessons it teaches and the friendships it helps create.”
He's energized by brand building...he's talking life-lessons and dropping the essential G-word...but an organization surrounded by passionate, "value-driven" people? Now that's special. To slip the V-word in so artfully speaks to the great potential this man has.
Nice work committee. The blogosphere thanks you.
And by the way, don't write to tell me that he meant value in the sense of morals, character, etc... That would have been values-driven people.
By the way, anyone care to share their definition of value-driven people? I looked it up in Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary. No luck.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 08:24 PM
Reader Comments (23)
Obviously no benefit of the doubt to be given him, just rip into everything he says even before he speaks...
Nothing speaks to the great American ideal of freedom of speech than the ability to do that which so many in the media do so cavalierly... Of course I still read what you have to say; I wonder what that says about me?
Heck, this was probably written a few weeks ago and they just inserted his name into it.
The LPGA combines all of his passions? Golf. Women. I wonder what the others are.
"believe to be 44" ? Did Whan come out of the Cuban baseball league ? For all the weeks this search has been going on and all the silly questions and articles that have been put out about all of these candidates, it seems like a basic bit of information to have on hand. Hey Ron - if you don't know - leave it out. His age isn't central to the story.
Thank God - they have apparently dismissed all support for the "LPGA must speak English" campaign the Brand Lady floated.
It's not a typo, as FX notes, many have their hands on these things and the release now posted says value-driven.
If you weren't so eager to lecture, you'd note that this is beautiful metaphor summing up the wonderful state of affairs in our world. Value-driven is the new values-driven. Read it and weep. And spare us the lectures.
It was you who lectured as you took him to task for the statement. You ripped into it by defining what was meant behind the verbage without giving the man the chance to even say it himself. The fact that a number of hands were on the release means nothing and doesn't prevent it from being a typo. That does happen quite often. It has happened to me in something I wrote that more than half a dozen people reviewed before it was printed.
I think he needs the benefit of the doubt for at least a single day. If that can't be given then it calls into question the open-mindedness one has in what they report.
For what it is worth, your still my second favorite golf writer...
And Phil, for what it's worth, it's "you're" still my second favorite, etc.
If you must be snarky about grammar and punctuation, attend first to thine own.
Out.
BG Marty
Sir, you are so right, sir...
"It is rare to be able to post a comment on a blog that combines all the passions in your life, but with geoffshackelford.com, I feel I’ve been presented with the unique opportunity to do just that,” RM said. “First, this is a blog read by passionate, value-driven people. Second, I’m energized by the brand building Geoff has done and the work involved in marketing and growing this blog. Third, I simply love this blog—both the life lessons it teaches and the friendships it helps create."
Amen
Farmingdale, God helps only those who help themselves. Which would seem to leave the LPGA out in the cold...
And I notice that the General must be a real General since he did not say "over and out."
This is just unbelievable...