CAN LPGA TOUR FORCE PERSONALITY? GOLF WORLD's Tim
Rosaforte writes on the LPGA's Danielle Ammaccapane's
comments last week at the LPGA Tour's Titleholders event
that the Tour was lacking personality among its top players.
Karrie Webb was "most offended" by the remarks: "When you're
growing up, your coach doesn't say, 'OK, after you make this
putt, you have to practice smiling, so when you're out
playing professional golf, you'll be able to do it.'"
Rosaforte writes that today's top players are "doing their
best," but "even if Webb, [Annika] Sorenstam and [Se Ri] Pak
did a better job of reaching out, it wouldn't create a
women's golf stampede" (GOLF WORLD, 5/14 issue).
NO PAYNE, NO GAIN: Payne Stewart "hinted he might
become the first high-profile player to openly join the
insurgent" Tour Players Association (TPA). Stewart: "A lot
of the points raised by the TPA are valid, especially the
issue of who controls what on our tour. Do we have the best
people possible marketing our game?" (GOLF WORLD, 5/14).
POWER IS GOOD, POWER WORKS: David Falk is interviewed
in the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Asked to respond to reports
that he negotiated Celtics F Antoine Walker's last contract
for free, Falk said, "Absolutely, categorically, we have
never agreed to negotiate his last contract for free. ... I
would never represent a player for free." Asked if he has
too much power, Falk said, "I think you can never have too
much power. This issue is not how much you have, it's how
you use it -- or abuse it" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/17).
NEW FOOTBALL LEAGUE: In Toronto, Marty York writes that
there "seems to be a great deal of substance -- a lot of
money, too -- behind plans to start" a new football league
next spring. While former World Hockey Association Founder
Dennis Murphy is organizing the league, York writes that
Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner, "Disney people" and CNN's
Larry King are also "involved" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/18).
