It was just another day. I opened up my Macbook, logged into ESPN.com, the golf section that is, and saw displayed across the page Justin Rose as a 17-year old amateur at the British Open in '98. The article didn't grab me because, well, even though Rose has been in contention a variety of times in the last ten years, I feel like he hasn't done anything of true value to affect his status on the tour.
I have no desire to discuss my pet peeves with Mr. Rose, but instead to simply mention an observation I came to as I viewed the day's top stories. "Creamer shoots 60..." Now, lets just be honest, whether its the PGA's biggest name like Tiger Woods or a never heard of like Garrett Willis, when a man shoots anything under 65 (6 or 7 under par) they're picture is flaunted about the site. Below their picture is often a story about now just their round, but about their modest upbringing and how lucky they feel just to be playing the game, as if a monument should be erected for them. Sometimes they just make a mountain out of a molehill.
However, other times, some stories just don't get their due.
Of course Paula Creamer got a story written about her, and she even got a minute long video showing her make a mockery the par-71 Highland Meadows layout Thursday in the opening round of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. She set a course record, shot 11-under, and did it all with a pink ball.
Is there a sexist attitude embedded in golf that finds its way above the surface occasionally?
The way I see it, the wide and diverse aspects that make up American lifestyle are male dominated, which has ultimately created a patriarchy. Sports is one of those sections within our society that preaches equality and fair press for each gender within the sport, but realistically, we all know the truth. I'm not trying to start a controversy or expose some tremendous flaw in the golf section of ESPN.com. However, I think it is important to be fair and in this particular case, I don't think fairness is subjective or up to interpretation. Creamer performed beautifully and yet is only receiving second class coverage of what would be hailed as an unbelievable feat among the males on the PGA Tour.
Truth: There are multiple perspectives through which one could view this issue. Truth: Ochoa and/or Sorenstam have received considerable coverage on not only the golf site of ESPN.com, but on the worldwide golf scene, comparing their abilities and successes with great male performers like Tiger and Phil. Bitter Truth: The lack of attention being paid to Creamer's remarkable round exposed the harsh, sexist attitudes rooted in 'the greatest game ever played.'
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2 comments:
in golf, sex "doesn't sell," which goes against the grain of one of our normally sex-sells driven economy. In golf, the talk is about who will replace Tiger, not only with regard to who will win tourneys but more importantly who will "sell" the sport on TV, in ads, etc. Same with women's golf (basketball, volleyball, even tennis to some extent although tennis seems to be a "better" women's sport image-wise - and of course that is because there are fewer "man-looking" women in tennis or are there?)...there is no doubt we are a sexist society (poor Hillary!)and we will soon find out how racist we are ( Go Obama!), but when it comes to golf and women, i couldnt agree with you more...Creamer Creams the Course and the Record, should have been a major headline heard around the sports world, but it wasnt...it was just another story and that, my friend, is the story.
To say that sexism is something that surfaces "occasionally" in golf and to suggest that this particular instance is among the most glaring examples of it certainly overlooks the fact that the most famous golf course in the country, if not the world - Augusta National - does not allow women to play there. Granted, Creamer certainly deserved more "pub" in the sports world for what she did, but any serious discussion of gender inequality in golf must begin with Augusta National. In a slightly grander scheme, sexism is only one of the various forms of elitism - along with classism and racism - that run roughshod the hopes of so many in the game of golf. And in relating the world of golf to American society at large, the golf course can be, and often is, a place where the attitudes and prejudices thought to have been left behind in the yesteryear still dominate, comfortable enough to flaunt in broad daylight rather than hiding in the shadows of subversion.
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