All sponsors of the LPGA are maintaining their support of
the tour in the aftermath of the recent controversy regarding the
impact of lesbianism on the tour, according to Bruce Horovitz of
the USA TODAY. LPGA Commissioner Charles Mechem said a "crisis
can sometimes be a positive thing. If anything this is
strengthening our relationship with our sponsors." Sprint
spokesperson Bill White said the company had no plans to alter
their intention to spend $1.2M on LPGA sponsorship this year.
Chrysler/Plymouth is in the second year of LPGA Tour sponsorship,
and spokesperson Mike Rosenau said the company will continue with
their support. The Golf Channel also will televise their
scheduled 10 LPGA tournaments for the year. Katharine Paine, CEO
of a crisis management firm, Delahaye Group, said if a sponsor
pulls out now, it would create more controversy. Paine: "It's a
rare instance where I'd tell sponsors to shut up, but the more
you talk about this, the worse it gets" (USA TODAY, 5/16).
LPGA UNDER THE SCOPE: In Washington, Tony Kornheiser notes
the muted reaction from the LPGA and some of its top stars in the
wake of the Ben Wright controversy. He writes, "Unlike Augusta
National, the LPGA has no leverage to make demands on CBS." As
to Wright's alleged claim that lesbianism hurts the LPGA's image,
the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Robin Kane accused the
LPGA of "homophobia" for not acknowledging it as an issue, and
added that there is a "huge lesbian following on the women's
tour." Kornheiser: "You'd think savvy corporations would see a
wide, new market to tap and run toward the LPGA tour, not away
from it" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/16).
