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The following letter was published in the New York Times. This initiative has been discussed and approved by both Nobel Peace Prize winner (1996) Jose Ramos-Horta and (Lord) Eric Avebury of the UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group. It may be able to promote pressure upon Burma, Indonesia, golf conglomerates and Nike as we approach Sydney 2000.
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From Roger Bunn. Dear Sirs, Whereas Tiger expressed himself reasonably well upon the continued entrenchment of racism in the sport, he did not conduct his thoughts on the Far East with any such knowledge or maturity. There are now over two million people in Thailand who cannot plant a second rice crop due to golf course irrigation and many of the courses being built by such worthies as Jack, Greg and Arnold are floated by the military on the stock exchanges of the Far East. Indonesia's military regime is a prime example of this "sporting duplicity" and golf is now the country's primary tourist investment. In the Golf Channel interview Tiger felt that his presence may "help improve things out there". But those that are aware of the situations re golf development and human rights in the Far East know that his statement is far from accurate. There are a growing number of Europeans (including some members of the PGAET) who consider that Tiger's participation as an unofficial ambassador for the sport and the USA to be another astounding piece of mismanagement by IMG. (Hughes Norton of IMG USA) Tiger Woods is half Thai. A public refusal by Tiger to compete in the Far East (until conditions for the population improve) would make a far more effective "statement"! No one likes taking our heroes to task, but it sometimes becomes necessary to remind the professional tours of many uncomfortable facts regarding the darkest side of the sport. The Dark Side of Golf : In 1994 Jack Nicklaus arrived in the UK to play in the Open Championship. We addressed the situation and he did not receive his usual adoring welcome from the public, or the UK media. Nicklaus builds courses all over the world. Nevertheless we reminded him that In the sixties no less a personage than the late Jimi Hendrix was made aware that Jack may have been involved in the forcible removal of Mustique natives off their land to build a "Nicklaus" golf course. In future the many Europeans that wish that the game is not brought into further disrepute ask that Tiger and his management consider conduct on a world stage as a knowledgeable humanitarian of far more importance than any winnings or professional reputation from playing the Asian Tour. As for Tiger Woods in Europe? We all hope it will not become further necessary to remind the young man of his own lack of wisdom. But as Tiger recently traveled to Thailand to be awarded golfing "citizenship", it seems his management (IMG International) regards world condemnation and protest confrontation as some sort of perverted "good publicity" for their clients. You can now fax your own comments to Hughes Norton IMG Cleveland USA on (216) 522 1145.
Sincerely,
THE RULING CONGLOMERATES Tiger Woods: "That's not what I'm doing at all...If I let people just think that I was African American(i.e the first African American to do this, the first to do that) then that would be disrespecting my mother and ignoring the other "half" of me...and I won't do that, because I love my mother to death, she's my mommy and she's a big part of me." TA- WHAT Tiger was really saying is that he is using his mom an excuse to link with the Asian Tour. Golf in the far east causes more damage than benefits to the local communities. As over 2,000,000 Thai citizens cannot plant a second rice crop every year due to golf course irrigation, it is obvious to us that either Tiger does not know his arse from his elbow off course or that he does not care a toss about ordinary people outside his range of vision. Tiger had power before he gave it all away to his management company IMG, Nike and Titleist / Cobra both subsiduaries of ADAMS TOBACCO. Now its easier for him to fall back on the same old boring excuse that so many of the Tour Pros used to use before we started to plant the odd minefield or two. "I just play golf" ===================================excuse? "" Woods is one of the best in the world. "" ""There are way, way too many people on the Tiger bandwagon. Many with only a vague understanding of the game, it's roots, heritage and history! It's what's cool now! Hell, I see it everytime I walk in to a fast food place! "You play golf?" "Wow, Tiger is something, huh?" Remember, most of those not on the bandwagon played golf BEFORE it was cool. I think Tiger may be good for the game from a competitive standpoint. I believe he may be good for the game for the media exposure golf has received. My problem is not with Tiger, but what he represents. Nike was one of the "guiding lights" in turning the NBA from a great game into the WWF-wannabe it is now! I don't want to see golf in general and the tour in particular to be the next sport to fall. "" TA- THE Thin End of the Wedge??? Why don't you tell the people responsible? THE RULING CONGLOMERATES Don't cha know how to fight? ====================================== WURRING MY SLERDS? 1. Have you ever seen any Pro player consume alcohol during an officially sanctioned event? (If so, how often, who, etc., etc.) THE INCREDIBLE BRIAN BARNES : The man who beat Nicklaus twice in one day during the Ryder Cup frequently used to take a long snort or two before, during and after. Friend had a lesson from him last year and he is now prominent on the Seniors Tour, now somewhat chilled out. But seriously Big Brian, what a waste of talent. Incidently, Barnsey's father in law is one MAX FAULKNER. Any historians out there? 2. Is it against the rules for a Pro player to consume alcohol during an officially sanctioned event? TA- Should'nt think so after all "most of'em" are on beta blockers already and the two just would Not mix. People would start diving into lakes, dancing on the greens and all that sorta stuff ====hic======splash==========huh? In all the events I've been to and the Pro/Ams I've never seen a Pro consume alchol during a round. I believe it's an unwritten law that they don't. In the old days when I used to caddy in the California desert for the tour players [late 50's , early 60's there were a couple of those old timers who carried flasks in their bags, but not anymore. Back then they didn't have to worry about TV coverage and their corporate image. Larry Clark TA- Image? In vision? Probably the screen gets a little too FUZZY? ""However, I am glad though that they both decided that the media need NOT get involved in their meeting to "kiss and make up"."" Scott
TA- ONLY worth a million to the FuZZ right? Nothing really, huh?
""Ken Green drank a beer during the 1997 Masters while playing with Arnold Palmer. He was fined by the PGA. PGA policy prohibits the consumption of alcohol during competition."" TA- They would have loved Barnsey!! Interesting subject. Did Arnie turn him in to the law? ===================================== Confused? ""Tiger Woods has a nice disposition, but his mother who is Thai is (said to be) Chinese and his father who is Cherokee is part-native American and NOT Chinese!"" TA- Back to school? ==ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQURSTXYZ===huh? CHRIST WAS A CANADIAN? "Christ, some of you Canadians just can't hide your derision for the U.S.... "" TA- O C'mon, the rest of the world thinks too y'know, we ain't all fans of the CIA and Sniffy Klinton, American oil companies, illegal arms sales, transport of huge quantities of narcotics and a few other "minor" items of foreign policy ""what is it that bothers you so much?"" TA- State Terrorism as practiced in the USA. "" Your moose-head nickles not accepted in our vending machines? Our watered down macrobrews taking over your fine Canuck beer?"" TA- This is not personal taste here, American beer is awful. Canadian beer is fine and British (and imported) beer is twice the price. Seems unless one lives where life is cheap. (In a brewery?) One needs a contract with Nike and Old Kentucky just to get high (in the tournament or off course)....tax? We addressed that question : Tax all private golf!!! NOW. hic========================tax? "" I'll be back here waving my little "stars and stripes" watching Tiger and the boys dismantle a faded war machine. I am thrilled Tiger will get to cut his little professional teeth on some Valderrama meat. TA- In your d.r.e.a.m.s buddy...chomp chomp, love that US tee-bone.... Don't fore-get. Polish the silverware. Don't need your yankee grime chaps.....xxx Olive... ======================================== WHEN WILL THE GOLF CHANNEL ACT WITH TRUE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND INSTEAD OF FORCING US TO WATCH ACRES OF SALESMANSHIP AND BULLST PROVIDE FIGURES AND FACTS THAT COVER THE DARK SIDE OF THE "SPORT"? As for Tiger Woods in Europe? We all hope it will not become necessary to remind the young man of his own lack of wisdom.
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