PGA TOUR SLAMMED ON APPEAL: In Denver, Terry Frei noted
the PGA Tour's appeal of the Casey Martin case and wrote
that the Tour "should have concentrated on establishing a
sensible standard" for those who could use a cart during
events, "rather than drag" the Martin case to the Supreme
Court (DENVER POST, 7/9). In Pittsburgh, Sam Ross wrote
that by "pushing this to its limit," the PGA Tour
"reinforces the stereotype of golf as an elitist sport. ...
Already the PGA Tour is being tried in the court of public
opinion. Here, as in the judiciary, it is losing"
(Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 7/9). In UT, Doug Robinson
wrote on the PGA Tour's appeal: "Talk about hitting one way
out of bounds." Robinson suggests the Tour "throw in the
towel" and drop the case: "You're losing face. ... Casey
Martin isn't hurting the PGA. He's helping it. He's giving
the game a face and a heart. Fighting Martin is bad PR, and
it makes no sense anymore" (DESERET NEWS, 7/10).
STATE OF THE WNBA: In Sacramento, Ailene Voison wrote
on the WNBA and noted that the league "will continue to
evolve, but as what? A league of 10,000 or so fiercely
loyal fans, perhaps the most realistic of projections until
women's sports take their next giant leap? Or something
more, something grander?" WNBA President Val Ackerman: "I
don't have the answer, but we have a very good game to sell.
It's a gradual process, like all start-up leagues"
(SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/7). In Salt Lake City, Gordon Monson
wrote, "Personally, I enjoy the WNBA -- at least in theory.
I want to like it." Monson noted that the Starzz' average
attendance of 5,200 "seems generously inflated" as "even on
nights when corporate entities have sponsored ticket
giveaways, few have partaken." Monson: "What does it say
about the viability of a pro franchise when tickets cannot
even be fruitfully handed out?" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/9).
NOTE: In NC, Mike Mulhern wonders whether "there is
more" to the two deaths at the NH Int'l Speedway in the last
two months "than something mechanical." Mulhern: "Should
NASCAR officials be taking a larger look at the issue of
driver safety? NASCAR's accident-investigation procedures
are being hotly questioned by Winston Cup teams, who want
more openness and less secrecy" (W-S JOURNAL, 7/11).
