Comments on: Speak English Or Take A Seat, LPGA Says

Women's Pro Golf Tour Wants All Players Conversant In English By 2009

[cusefanjapan]

Same for any other league wholly operated within one country, I think.

Posted by cusefanjapan at 12:04 PM============Actually, I''m wrong there. The basketball and baseball leagues here don''t require it. Same for many other leagues around the world. We''ll just say I flubbed that one.

[gwagener]

I''''m sick and tired of having to select an option for English or Spanish only

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Posted by Credibility2 at 12:04 PM : Aug 27, 2008

It is capitalism. The press 1 thing is about making money. if you hate capitilism, get out of my country!

[credibility2]

English is the universal language in business, the airline industry, and many other industries. I commend the LPGA for taking this stance. I don''t play golf, but I''m sick and tired of having to select an option for English or Spanish only, or having to listen to a rambling message in Spanish. Can''t abide by the rules and regulations, too bad, so sad.

[cusefanjapan]

Well, I think it''s good. It''s already being done right here in Japan. All sumo wrestlers have to be FLUENT in Japanese. They want people to be able to give coherent interviews without the help of a translator. As for the person who wondered what would have happened had China made speaking Chinese mandatory at the Beijing games, they do not have that authority. The Olympic Games are run by the IOC. They have jurisdiction over the entire process so no one nation can institute rules like that. Besides, the Games are held at a different location every 4 years. It would be impossible to get all athletes to learn the host nation''s language. The LPGA is run by an American entity and is played primarily in America. They can change the rules as they see fit. Same for any other league wholly operated within one country, I think.

[gwagener]

Why should I have to press "1" for English? I live here!!!
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Posted by shawnp20 at 11:42 AM : Aug 27, 2008

You cannot claim to love America and hate capitalism.
The company you are calling spent money put the press 1 for English in the menu. They did that because it helps them make money.

[ladyraestewa]

This should be mandatory for the entire country -- can''t speak English but want to live here, you have 12 months of classes you pay for to learn, no English as a Second Language or multiple language choices. No one brought you here by force -- you came here, you learn to read, write and speak English and you never get to bad mouth this country under any circumstances!

[joker1944-2009]

It is only in the U.S. that whining libs complain about restrictions of any kind.
Posted by michaelm07 at 11:31 AM : Aug 27, 2008

Oh, shut up you clueless moron. I''m liberal and I believe the LPGA should run it''s business as it sees fit. I have no problem with this whatsoever.

Not everything that happens on this planet is a political cudgel, idiot. Give it a rest already

[pcunio-2009]

How many second languages do the American players know.

[Syndicate]

If air line pilots and air traffic controllers are required to learn English why not highly paid golfers. Its actually in the LPGA interest to have their golfers be able to give interviews to the press. I don''t know about you but if I had to talk through an interpreter to some mid level player I would probably just move on to the first one that spoke English.

[michaelm07]

All you whiners calling everyone xenophobic are ridiculous. English is spoken all over the world. I live in a foreign country and for licenses, permist and registrations I must take tests and communicate in the local national language, that is the way it is - period. Most other nations worth being in also have immigration rules also. It is only in the U.S. that whining libs complain about restrictions of any kind. Good for the LPGA.

[edward1975-2009]

Too bad we don''t adapt this policy for ourselves. You wanna live here then speak the language. You came here to be an American, then be one. That way we can get rid of that *** press 1 for English.

[Razzl]

btw, to the majority of Americans golf is a green screen saver for television...

[xlib]

Good, about time.

[Razzl]

Pretty insulting, but maybe to be expected from a sport still being played in racially segregated country clubs. If players have caddies who are fluent in English, why should they have these barriers put in front of them? And are American players going to be required to be fluent in what passes for English in the highlands when they want to play at St. Andrews in Scotland?

[nolalou]

Imagine if China said all foreign athletes participating in the Olympic Games had to speak Chinese fluently enough to answer questions from sponsors or journalists! We would be outraged! This ruling is just as arrogant , and shows this country is becoming isolationist and xenophobic!

[michaelm07]

Hey wangbang747,

So you need to start name calling and referring to white trash yet you accomplished showing yourself to be a major league loser in the process. I would say you ranked yourself as trash with your comment regardless of what color you might be. I mean is that necessary, I can pass an English exam but I also learned how to communicate and usually someone who has to resort to the f-bomb and name calling demonstrates an inability to have intelligent conversation or dialogue. Thanks for showing your true colors, it just goes to show that even dirtbags can speak English. Best wishes and hope you get over your issues.

[horse3farm]

This isn''''t even about this country - it''''s about foreign athletes. You language bigots are nothing but a bunch of crazy xenophobes who have latched on to this non-issue to feel better about your discomfort at being ignorant and afraid.

You should take up a hobby - hey why don''''t you learn a second language?
posted by jumkey

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The LPGA is an American entity. Can you spell "idiot?"

[gwagener]

I hope you were trying to be funny or do you not know that LPGA is "golf"?
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Posted by MyOpinion381 at 11:00 AM : Aug 27, 2008

My bad. I don''t know why I was thinking tennis. But the point is still sound. Golfers do not need to be smart except for course management. All you need to know in golf is when it is your turn to hit the ball. You do not need to speak the language. I played golf with a Japanese tourist on vacation once. I had little use for the words "birdie" and "par".

Look at the NFL and NBA. You have native Engish speakers who cannot put together a grammatically correct sentence.

[rocketjl]

Not enough information as to why invited international players would be required to speak English. If it is essential, then let them be accompanied by an English speaking assistant. To me and the world, this could look like an attempt for the LPGA to only have US players winning.

[jumkey]

About time some organization had the nerve to do it. Congratulations LPGA!! Note to school systems - can you do it too????

Posted by bob5ford

You mean force adult foreign nationals to speak English?

Um, probably not.

Is that what you think the public school system is for?