Even In A Sling, Scribblers Try Twisting Norman's Arm

While Bob Harig reminds us of Greg Norman's history with the Presidents Cup (playing a 22-year-old Tiger, supporting the idea of the event), Steve Elling says that no one heard much of what Norman said today about his surprising selection of Adam Scott because he was too busy evading questions about the breakup with Chrissy.

As he promised via his publicist when the separation was announced, Norman was quick to distance himself from the marital issue, which doesn't mean it's going away anytime soon. They were, perhaps, the ultimate sports power couple -- modern-era icons in their respective sports and Hall of Famers.

"Well, first of all, about that, I'm not going to make any comment on that," Norman said.

Norman said that the 12 players on his team hadn't asked him about his disintegrating relationship nor apparently offered much in the way of condolences, either. Everybody seems to be on eggshells about it.
"We haven't even talked about it," Norman said. "We talked about my shoulder, absolutely, it's pretty hard to ignore that. But at the end of the day, somebody's private life is their private life. They respect that.

Maybe that's why he didn't pick Rory Sabbatini?

Sam Weinman offers up the Cliff's Notes version of the press conference questions--including the three different tries to get a Norman comment on Chrissy--for those of you hanging on the Shark's every word.

Lawrence Donegan wants to respect Norman's privacy, however...

but showing respect for someone's privacy doesn't preclude pointing out how hypocritical it is for celebrities to court the media when it suits their purposes only to then turn around when it doesn't suit them and say...well, see above.

Comments

[Fo Shiz]

Frankly, I had no interest in hearing about their marriage (damn you TNT's 2008 Open coverage!), so I also don't have any interest in hearing about their separation.

Speaking of the Fed Ex Cup, Greg could win the equivalent of TEN FEC's just by reconciling with Laura!

But I don't need to tell Greg that. He's a financial genius...

[thusgone]

while i generally agree with donegan's "in for a penny, in for a pound point," the president's cup is about something besides norman and his ridiculous private life. that's why i think it is appropriate for him to refuse to discuss the divorce at press events set up to discuss the president's cup. just think of the lambasting he'd be getting if he used this forum to cry the blues about no longer getting to sleep with his tennis instructor.

[court]

I think Mr Donegan needs to have someone follow him around 24/7, looking for something that might be embarrassing or awkward if it was put out in the public's view. Then, we should have Mr Donegan on stage to have the same question asked 25 different times in 25 different ways in hopes of getting him to slip up and say something embarrassing or just not for public consumption because of legal considerations - or even better - get him to lose his temper on camera. Now THERE'S a highlight, right Mr Donegan ?

The media is out of control and doesn't do their job very well anymore. There is no respect from the media to anybody anymore - and that's a real shame. The media was specified in the Constitution not for the purposes of titilation, but for reporting and digging out corruption and telling the truth.

[Tighthead]

Is that a picture of the Golf Wing of the Divorce Hall of Fame?

Very lifelike.