The LPGA will require players to “speak English” beginning in 2009.
Why?
It’s about marketing.
Well let’s switch this argument to baseball. There are plenty of players of all nationalities who don’t speak the King’s English. Whether it’s Yogi Berra or El Duque – what does it matter?
The marketing comes down to charisma and winning. People like Pedro Martinez. I’m not sure he should teach high school English (but he would do better than I would at teaching high school Spanish) – but it doesn’t mean he isn’t charasmatic or marketable or a star.
Short sighted by the LPGA – and likely to create a firestorm of negative publicity that will wind up as the following: Who cares about the LPGA?
