# Congratulations Michelle Wie **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 17, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875 "2009-11-17T03:09:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/41 "2009-11-18T16:52:57Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Because he wasn’t good enough to compete at a high level on the tour. Not on the women’s tour, no. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/42 "2009-11-18T23:28:55Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Anna Kournakova never won a tournament. Never won a singles tournament; she won 16 doubles events. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/43 "2009-11-19T03:20:50Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Never won a singles tournament; she won 16 doubles events. This is relevant how, exactly? I mean, lots of people win at doubles that you never, ever hear of. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/44 "2009-11-19T03:48:10Z")
Kournakova was once rated the 8th best singles player in the world. She was rated the best doubles player in the world and won 2 Australian slams in doubles. She was a hell of a tennis player. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/45 "2009-11-19T04:15:43Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > This is relevant how, exactly? Because it is a correction of the statement that she never won a tournament - she won quite a few. I wish I were good enough “only” to win 16 doubles tournaments. And what **gonzomax** said (I can’t believe I’m saying that). ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/46 "2009-11-19T17:03:09Z")
Wie has actually been in contention a few times and fell back. That was a disturbing characteristic. If this victory gives her confidence to step up to the next level or not is undetermined. But it may. I would like to see her fighting for the lead on a steady basis. She would add interest to a tour that really, really needs it. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/47 "2009-11-19T17:53:20Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Because it is a correction of the statement that she never won a tournament - she won quite a few. I wish I were good enough “only” to win 16 doubles tournaments. And what **gonzomax** said (I can’t believe I’m saying that). It was only a “correction” if you want to split hairs. Most everyone in this thread understood that we were talking about her failure to win a singles tournament, which is why she has a negative reputation. Pointing out her doubles wins in just tedious, which is why I didn’t even bother to respond initially. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/48 "2009-11-19T19:23:09Z")
Wie may have to go back to playing in men’s tournaments in order to make a living - the LPGA only has 23 tournaments scheduled for next year, down from 27 this year and 34 in 2008. There were actually 31 events scheduled this year but four were cancelled, so there is no guarantee that there will be even 23 next year. The LPGA is really hurting. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/49 "2009-11-19T20:53:31Z")
They have a new commissioner, now, though, so hopefully new management makes a difference. They managed to save the Jamie Farr Classic in Toledo, despite the current lack of a major sponsor. That’s an improvement in and of itself. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/50 "2009-11-19T20:57:48Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > It was only a “correction” if you want to split hairs. Most everyone in this thread understood that we were talking about her failure to win a singles tournament, which is why she has a negative reputation. Pointing out her doubles wins in just tedious, which is why I didn’t even bother to respond initially. Would you suggest you do not have to be a good player to win doubles tournaments? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/51 "2009-11-19T21:00:38Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > They have a new commissioner, now, though, so hopefully new management makes a difference. > > They managed to save the Jamie Farr Classic in Toledo, despite the current lack of a major sponsor. That’s an improvement in and of itself. 🙂 They are in a perfect storm. Corporations do not have the money to toss into golf tournies. The top players are a group of Koreans who have built no fan base in America. They have lost TV coverage. They need Wie to get hot and pull in some fans. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/52 "2009-11-19T22:16:50Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Would you suggest you do not have to be a good player to win doubles tournaments? No, but I would suggest that you’re drawing rather inane conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/53 "2009-11-20T00:55:35Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > No, but I would suggest that you’re drawing rather inane conclusions. Would you? My conclusion was that she was a very good tennis player. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/54 "2009-11-20T01:14:41Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Would you? My conclusion was that she was a very good tennis player. I don’t really care whether she was or wasn’t. I’m simply talking about why people are comparing her to Wie. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/55 "2009-11-20T01:53:06Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I don’t really care whether she was or wasn’t. I’m simply talking about why people are comparing her to Wie. It was not me. Therefore I made no such conclusion. I don’t see a lot of similarity. I just don’t agree that she was a bad tennis player. She was a very good player. Wie until this week had weakened her position through poor play and a lack of contending for the leaderboard. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/56 "2009-11-20T02:04:49Z")
The LPGA is running into problems beyond just the economy. The leaderboard of many tourneys is dominated by non-Americans, mostly Koreans and other women from Asia. And American sports fans are not really into sports where foreigners dominate. Last year they had a big controversy where they were going to require all players to learn English but after a lot of complaints they backed down on that. Sometimes when the tourney winner is interviewed they need a translator. I can’t recall the last time a PGA tourney winner did not speak English. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/57 "2009-11-20T02:30:40Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Would you? My conclusion was that she was a very good tennis player. > [@gonzomax](#): > > It was not me. Therefore I made no such conclusion. I don’t see a lot of similarity. I just don’t agree that she was a bad tennis player. She was a very good player. > Wie until this week had weakened her position through poor play and a lack of contending for the leaderboard. I never said it was you. You just jumped on with a bunch of off-topic rhetoric about AK that had nothing to do with the thread. I don’t give a flying crap about her tennis game. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/58 "2009-11-20T02:40:02Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > ``` > Sometimes when the tourney winner is interviewed they need a translator. I can't recall the last time a PGA tourney winner did not speak English. > > ``` Angel Cabrera, but point taken. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/59 "2009-11-20T17:44:10Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > Say what you will about the physical abilities of women athletes (any one of whom is about 200 parsecs beyond me), it would really suck if girls had no professional leagues to aspire to. I don’t see why. Women have clearly demonstrated as a group that they don’t give a fuck about women’s pro sports, which is why the leagues keep going bankrupt. I doubt the WNBA has ever come close to supporting itself, the biggest women’s team league (soccer) folded from apathy, and the LPGA is dying. If women cared about women’s sports I agree it would be a shame to see them fail, but since women clearly don’t, seeing them fail elicitis a big fat “meh” from me. It does get me mildly annoyed by Title IX, though. Because women don’t care about sports, all sports rely on men to survive. The only way you’re going to get men to watch women’s leagues is if they’re hot, which is why the WTA is so successful. And also why Michelle Wie is so critical to the LPGA. Though in fairness, the LPGA has several highly talented of hot chicks on the tour and I still find it unwatchable. I watch little golf in general, and even less LPGA, but I am always struck by how comically easy the women’s courses are compared to the men’s. Tune in to a men’s tournament and it’s all narrow fairways, long rough, trees and doglegs, etc… Tune in to an LPGA tournament and the entire screen is a monolithic block of fairway as far as the eye can see. This is the overwhelming impression I’ve gotten over the years. In fairness, I’ve never tuned into a PGA non-major, while I assume the bits and pieces of LPGA events I’ve seen weren’t majors. Do non-major PGA events take place in super-simple beginner-level type courses in comparison to the majors? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875/60 "2009-11-20T17:46:51Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > In fairness, I’ve never tuned into a PGA non-major, while I assume the bits and pieces of LPGA events I’ve seen weren’t majors. Do non-major PGA events take place in super-simple beginner-level type courses in comparison to the majors? They aren’t super simple, but many are simple compared to the majors. That’s why the leaders of your average PGA tour event may be sitting at -27 by Sunday. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-michelle-wie/517875.md?page=4)