NiceBallz - Play Ballzy

I am not a big man…but I will be 1/2 a man and admit I was 1/2 wrong.
 
Ever since Commissioner Carolyn Bivens of the LPGA came out with a comment saying she would be in favor of LPGA players tweeting during a round I have defended the idea.  On twitter, on discussion boards, in emails, over beers with @GolferWriterGuy, on the beaches of Normandy, I fought fought and fought!
 
“You don’t get it!” I would proclaim. “You’re a dinosaur.” I insisted…”It’s another level of connection!” I cajoled.
 
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
 
With so many LPGA players coming out in clear opposition to the idea, it’s time to give up the ghost – at least for now.
 
I realize now what infatuated me with the idea so much was the fact that Bivens was (and I hope remains) willing to try new things.  Which, when it comes to social media  has served the LPGA well thus far.
 
LPGA players have hands down become the best collective group of professional athletes using the social media service today.  While you can argue individual athletes may provide more/better entertainment factor (e.g. TheRealShaq, PGA_JohnDaly), as a group no other sport comes close to having as active participation and interactivity with fans as the LPGA.  Period.
 
Given this, why is the idea of using twitter during tournaments doomed (for now)? And where/how did Bivens misstep?
 
- In an exchange I had with Ryan at WaggleRoom I suggested that Biven’s remark was ‘off the cuff’.  Having worked with my share of spokespeople in the past, when I say ‘off the cuff’ it is short hand for when your spokesperson basically says something you wish they hadn’t.  A more appropriate description would have been – ‘off script’ (which I later added on twitter).  I obviously wasn’t in the room during the interview but the nature of Biven’s remark reads to me like someone who was caught up in their excitement over the momentum the LPGA has enjoyed from social media and failed to pump the brakes before going too far with the ‘tweet during rounds’ idea.  Whoops.
 
- When it first came out the reaction was mixed but there were certainly some voices in favor, mine included.  So the LPGA didn’t back away from the prospect quickly. But over the course of the next several days more and more PGA and LPGA players who USE twitter (and let’s not even get into what players who don’t use twitter must be thinking) began to poo poo the idea.  This was the death knell, and is why you haven’t heard much from the LPGA in defense of the idea.  In short, they probably hope it goes away rather quickly if you don’t mind, thankyouverymuch.
 
- And the above reveals Bivens other error and why I believe my first point is accurate re: letting her enthusiasm getting the better of her mouth  She didn’t know if she truly had the support of some/many of her players for the idea.  I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt that she simply made a bad assumption or was ‘riffing’ and wandered into brainstorming territory during the interview.  Baaaad idea.
 
One saying that sticks with me when it comes to communications and building a coalition of support for an idea is: “Have friends before you realize you need them.” 
 
Bivens didn’t have many friends on this one and it showed -  quickly.
 
So the idea is dead, or it will die soon. My one concern with this is again I hope it doesn’t cause the LPGA to get too conservative in their efforts to make the game more appealing and entertaining, especially on TV.
 
@GolferWriterGuy/Corey suggested to me that if the LPGA got some fundamentals down that may be a great start before they ventured into twitterland on the course:
 
- Mic players and caddies.  Who doesn’t like the give and take that sometimes is picked up on tour? Mic ‘em up and slap a 5 second delay on if you’re worried about a potty mouth or two.
 
- Between 9 interviews. Great quotes can be found shortly after rounds why not between nines?  Don’t give me the slow play thing.  We’re talking literally a 90-120 second interview.  And don’t give me the ‘ruins focus’ bit either. Other sports do it between quarters/periods/halves etc. with coaches and athletes.  It’s doable and you’re not entering a new medium – the TV cameras and reporters are already there, en force.
 
- Quit scrapping for airtime on ESPN/Golf Channel etc.  Brandon Tucker had an idea that didn’t make me laugh epiphany that the LPGA should look for a different opp with VS. or another network.  Why not?  Golf Channel seems to give a semi-lukewarm approach to covering the LPGA.  Why not go for the more average looking guy who tries harder?
 
There you have it.  An admission that I was wrong.  In round tweeting on the LPGA or PGA probably isn’t the best idea right now.  Not because of the slow play issue – sorry but I still am not buying that as a deal breaker. It could be managed. But mainly because for an idea like this to work, any tour would need solid support from its players and right now, the LPGA doesn’t have it. 
 
Hack
 
Hack can admit he’s wrong…can…when it happens…which it rarely if ever does. Follow more of his rationalization and denial at http://twitter.com/NiceBallz or his more level headed, less obstinate collaborator Corey at http://twitter.com/GolferWriterGuy, and of course find them both at http://blog.niceballz.com/.