Only Two Things - The Talk Show About Golf & Sex

We've all heard it: "Golf and Sex are the only two things you can enjoy without being good at them."

Hall of Fame golfer Jimmy Demaret said it first, but it rings true for many, and it's become one of the world's most popular golf quotes.

It's also the basis for a new call-in show I'm doing at Sports City Chefs on Blog Talk Radio.

"Only Two Things" will be live on BlogTalkRadio every Wednesday evening. ~ Tonight's show will be a kind of "preview" and it'll air beginning at 8:00PM ET. Starting next Wednesday we'll move to 10:00PM ET.

The format is simple; we'll start with a brief recap of the week's current golf stories... culled from the many unique golf blogs. We'll even pull from Twitter and other social networks. There are so many awesome and entertaining voices out there... and they often tell the stories traditional media is overlooking.

Then we'll move on to a topic du jour. Which can be anything that brings together... the two things: Golf and Sex. Some of the subjects I look forward to discussing are ones I've touched upon here at Golf Girl's Diary, such as:

*Golf groupies and eye candy caddies - entertainment or exploitation?

*Country club dress codes and ultra revealing golf apparel. Where do you stand?

*Early retirement for female pros, is it inevitable?

*Is there discrimination against women on the golf course & in the club house?

*The Tiger Woods aftermath - Are men just wired that way?

And lots of others... I want your ideas too. I'm hoping the discussion will be... um... animated and fun? Listeners are urged to call in and join and voice their opinions. You can also follow along and contribute via the chat room. So join us tonight at 8:00 ET for the preview show.

Only Two Things
Call-in: (917) 889-9592

Only Two Things - Nudity & Nude Golf International

.

Tonight on "Only Two Things" we're going to lay things bare... so to speak... on the topic of nudity.

Several days ago I came upon an announcement for a very unique golf tournament, Nude Golf International.  It's an annual event that takes place in New Zealand and yes, as the name implies, the dress code is quite... um, relaxed. ~ With the majority of players opting to play entirely in the buff there'll be no need to post rules regarding skirt length... and there certainly won't be a cargo pants controversy either.

The 2011 tournament is coming up on February 11, at the Wairau Valley Golf Club in Marlborough, New Zealand's picturesque wine producing region.

In ancient times, athletes competed nude at the Olympics and Pan-Hellenic Games in almost all disciplines, however today, nudity tends to make people uneasy... to say the least... particularly when it involves an individual who is not classically beautiful.  Earlier today I asked friends and contacts on the social networks if they would ever consider playing in a nude golf tournament.  Responses included numerous jokes, and replies that varied between "willing to give it a try" to "why on earth would anyone want to?"... with quite a few "it would depend on who else was playing" variations thrown in. 

"The Searchers" by Paul Milosevich

Tonight on "Only Two Things" we'll be welcoming the founder and organizer of Nude Golf International, Kay Hannam, to talk about her unusual tournament... why people participate, and how people react to it. Kay and her partner run Wai-natur Naturist Park, a clothes-free resort so she's uniquely positioned to speak on the subject of nudity, and keeping with the nudity theme we'll also be talking to award winning golf artist Paul Milosevich, whose work hangs in many national museums and a number of golf venues, including the USGA Museum, The PGA of America and the World Golf Hall of Fame.  He'll be speaking about his beautiful and evocative series of female nudes called "The Golf Widows".

It promises to be a provocative and interesting show and and we'd love to have you join the conversation with comment or questions... on-air... by using our call-in number, which is: 917-889-9592...  or, weigh in at the chat room.  So join us for "Only Two Things" tonight on Blog Talk Radio. We'll be live at the Sport City Chefs channel from 9:30 - 10:30 ET.

Warning! Links contain nudity. 
Nude Golf International
Wai-natur Naturist Park
Wairau Golf Club

"Only Two Things" - 2010: The Year in Golf & Sex

Back in early June we aired our first episode of "Only Two Things".

Our inspiration was one of golf's most popular quotes: 

"Golf and sex are the only things you can enjoy without being good at them."    

Our formula was a half hour review of the week in golf, followed by a half hour discussion of a "Mars/Venus" topic of the day .  Over the ensuing weeks we covered some controversial topics... and we were often joined by guests who brought a special insight to the issue at hand. 

Liza Churchill, a respected golf media producer and "proud former beverage cart girl" joined us for an episode on "The World of a Beverage Cart Girl" while Christina Ricci author of A Girl's On-Course Survival Guide spoke with us about playing from the correct tees in "Of Red Tees and Big Egos".  We had Ethan Johnson from the popular blog Mister Women's Sports on to talk about the new sports media brand espnW and relations hip coach/former golf instructor Catherine Behan explored with us the potential joys of a golf date.  Recently Donna Tavoso the chief marketing officer at Playboy Golf was on the show to talk about the fun guys and girls can have at  Playboy Golf Scrambles.

It's been a great six months.  Tomorrow night on "Only Two Things" we'll be reviewing some of the year's best moments in golf... and we'll be revisiting some of the show's most provocative discussions.  Some of our past guests will be checking in with us,  and we'd love to have you join the conversation too... on-air... by using our call-in number, which is: 917-889-9592.  Or, weigh in at the chat room or on Twitter... or just have a listen on the Sport City Chefs network at Blog Talk Radio. We'll be live from 9:30 - 10:30 ET.

Only Two Things - The World of a Beverage Cart Girl

On a warm summer day, when you've got a couple of hours of golf ahead of you, there's no sight more welcome than the beverage cart.

As it pulls up to the tee... with an attractive young lady at the wheel... golfers tend to smile. The prospect of an icy brew and a bit of lighthearted banter is always inspiring.

But what's life really like for these peppy purveyors of on-course refreshment... and who exactly are they? One hears so many things. Are they the sweet, always-accommodating, golf goddesses, with a passion for the game and a deep respect for those who play it... or the modern, money-motivated pretenders, clueless about golf and disdainful of their sometimes effusive customers?

For the inside story, tune in tonight to "Only Two Things". ~ A special guest will be joining me for the show... and I do believe she'll be able to enlighten us on the cart girl lifestyle.

Liza Churchill describes herself as a "proud former beverage cart girl"... and with her long blonde hair and quick smile, one can easily imagine her gliding along the fairways in search of thirsty golfers.

Nowadays Liza is a respected golf media producer. She's got an amazing golf radio show that airs weekly on 95.5 WATD, one of the one of the most respected and honored stations in the state of Massachusetts... and her blog Goldie Bounce Golf, features video interviews with top golf personalities, reviews of new and unique golf products and personal anecdotes about the life of a golf reporter. It's one of most entertaining golf-reads on the Internet.

Liza will with me tonight at 9:30PM ET on "Only Two Things" to talk about her adventures as a beverage cart girl and her experiences in golf media.

You can join the conversation on-air by using our call-in number, which is: 917-889-9592. Or weigh in at the chat room or on Twitter... or just have a listen at Blog Talk Radio. Talk to you tonight.

Only Two Things: Are Americans Puritanical?

The best women golfers in the world are in Europe right now. They're in Evian-Les-Bains, a magically beautiful place between the shores of Lake Geneva and the towering peaks of the French Alps, getting ready for this week's the Evian Masters.

We'll be talking about this popular tournament in the the first part of our show tonight... as well the recent Open Championship and the upcoming Ricoh Women's British Open. And because it's being talked about so much lately, we'll also touch upon the increasingly global nature of professional golf.

Which leads us to the second part of our show and our topic: Are Americans Puritanical? And consequently, is "the-rest-of-the-world" much more open-minded and enlightened than we yanks are? That's what I'll be asking on the show tonight, inspired by the current international golf events and and by an experience I had over this past weekend.

We were in New York City for a dinner party on Saturday, at the new home of my college roommate, who originally comes from Denmark. She's lived in the US since she met her American husband here over a decade ago, and they recently bought an awesome UWS duplex. This was a housewarming of sorts.

Both Britta and David have international jobs; she works fora UN Agency and he's with an international bank. As a result their guests were from all over the globe. In fact, of the 16 of us, only four... including myself and our host... were US natives. The other two Americans were guys... one married to a Colombian and the other to a Russian... while my husband Nick, as you may already know, is French. There was also a British couple and a Swiss couple... and rounding out the multifarious mix, a Jordanian with his Finnish fiancee and an Italian whose date was from Singapore.

Everyone's English was quite fluent... made more so by the copious cocktails and excellent wine... and there was a lot of light-hearted banter about the cultural nuances expats encounter when living in the US. After dinner as we sipped coffee and Courvoisier, David... who tends to get very obnoxious verbose when he's blitzed had a couple of drinks... declared, "Americans are puritanical idiots whose judgmental attitudes lead them to pornography obsessions and psychiatrist's couches". Or something to that effect. Anyway, as you can imagine, his sloshy statement led to a very lively discussion... and made me think this would be a great topic for "Only Two Things". So that's what I'll be asking tonight. Are Americans in fact "puritanical" as a society and does this lead to hypocrisy and closed-mindedness? Did it perhaps, exacerbate the the consequences of the Tiger Woods scandal?

That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in, on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.

Join Us Tomorrow Night for Golf & Sex...

... on "Only Two Things", my call-in show on Blog Talk Radio.

I talked about it briefly last week. It's based on the oft repeated idea that Golf and Sex are the "only two things you can enjoy without being good at them" ...and so far the feedback's been great.

This week we officially launch our one hour show at 10:00PM ET on Wednesday, June 2!

We'll start with a recap of the latest golf news stories; the ones everyone's talking about... AND the more obscure, odd, idiosyncratic golf stories that may not have made it to everyone's radar. Call-ins are encouraged and I'd love to hear about any golf stories I may have missed. There'll also be a chatroom where you can sign-up then follow along, ask questions and make suggestions.

The second half of the show will be the "sex" part. Each week it'll be dedicated to a single topic that deals with the gender issues that sometimes... arise... in golf.

Tomorrow's topic is "Playing with the Opposite Sex" inspired by a provocative post written by popular golf blogger Heather Jones... over a year ago... for her awesome blog Real Women Golf. In the piece Ms. Jones, a very attractive married Mom of two, spoke about a first hand experience she had where she found herself matched up with a group of of random married guys for a round of golf... then later gossiped about for spending her days on the course playing golf with everyone's husband.

The response to Heather's post exposed lots of different opinions on this topic, and in conversations since then all of those opinions have all been echoed... in unpredictable. So, our topic is going to be "Playing with members of the opposite sex... when you're in a committed relationship."

So check out Heather's post and listen to the show tomorrow... and I'd love to have you call in and join the conversation.

Only Two Things
Wednesdays @ 8:00PM ET
Call-in (917) 889-9592

Only Two Things - Sexy Scrambles Gals Can Enjoy

.

In early October... right around the same time the Ryder Cup was taking place at at a rain soaked Celtic Manor...  Jordan and I spent a glorious Autumnal afternoon at historic Dellwood Country Club.

We were there for The New York Playboy Scramble. Part of what Playboy Golf calls the the nation's hottest golf tournament.  Our day at Dellwood had been postponed from earlier in the summer due to inclement weather and we'd been looking forward the rescheduled event. 

The Playboy Scramble is actually a series of regional events that take place on distinctive courses across the country... as well as in Canada and Australia...   leading up to a final competition (and VIP extravaganza) in Southern California, for the leading regional teams.

We got to Dellwood... which is about an hour north of Mid-town Manhattan... at about 11:00.  The teams had just taken off and the Tillinghast course was resplendent against a backdrop of rolling hills draped in peak fall color.  Before we hopped into our cart we were able to chat a bit with Ajay Pathak,  Playboy Golf's forward thinking President & CEO.

Though we'd been looking forward to this event, we told him we'd also been a bit hesitant, not knowing if... as women... we'd fit in.  In the weeks leading up to the event it was clear some of our friends and fellow golfers didn't think we would... at all.  There were some who surmised that a Playboy golf tournament would be like "a salacious strip club but with fairways and greens" and others who suggested that "any "normal woman" would feel intimidated by the beauty of the Playmate hostesses"... implying,  I suppose, that we were "normal women" and as such wouldn't enjoy the event.

And that's the thing.  As Mr. Pathak explained, Playboy golf events are fun, inclusive, and totally NOT intimidating.  They're set up in such a way that the most competitive players will be challenged, while beginners and less skilled golfers will also be able to have an awesome time.  Plus, Playboy's Girl's of Golf are perfect hostesses and they make sure the experience is stellar... for both men and women... from start to finish.

We saw all of this during our day at Dellwood, and that's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET.   The Playboy Golf experience and how awsome it can be for women... as well as men.  We'll be joined by special guest,  Donna Tavoso, Chief Marketing Officer for Playboy Golf, who we also met at Dellwood Country Club.  We look forward to talking to her tonight about some of the fun experiences she's had ... and the interesting people she's met though Playboy Golf.

It promises to be a fun show, and we'd love to have you call in and tell us about some of the unique tournaments you've participated in.  You can do that on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592.  ~ Or join the conversation in the chat room on the show page, or just listen at "Only Two Things" on BlogTalkRadio.

Only Two Things - Divergent Opinions on espnW

.

As you  may have heard,  ESPN is planning to launch a new brand. It'll start out online  - with a blog, social media and mobile elements - and it'll be known as espnW.  The focus will be sports programming for women.   It's a concept that's been incubating for a while with the "worldwide leader in sports" and the idea is that if things go well espnW will eventually sit side-by-side with ESPN2, U, Classic and News.

On the surface, it sounds awesome.  In the golf media realm we regularly lament the lack of coverage allocated to our talented female players, and unfortunately the situation is even worse in other sports. One can only surmise that this lack of coverage perpetuates a lack of interest, which perpetuates a lack of participation.. and maintains the vicious circle that keeps women's sports coverage in the shadows.

Surprisingly however, there have been divergent responses to the concept of a female-focused sports news brand... and there appears to be a hearty dose of scepticism on the part of some of those who've been the biggest advocates for the promotion of womens sports.  ~ What some fear is that the new network will be a fluffy, pink, fairy-princess version of the current ESPN; a girlied-up sub-brand, featuring programing that would pander to... and perpetuate... the idea that women only really like sports with sequins and sparkles.

USA Today reported some interesting facts in relation to this story.  The one I found most ...disconcerting... was that the ESPN produced programming that currently attracts the biggest percentage of female viewers is... wait till you hear this... The National Spelling Bee!  ~ Some people actually question whether or not golf is a sport, but... spelling?

That statistic alone conjures up images of a huge Mars/Venus dichotomy as in:  men like to slouch on recliners and couches, with beer and chips and buffalo wings loudly cheering an action packed game on a big screen... while women are entertained by a slow parade of polished children, laboriously stringing together vowels and consonants. And there's no need for a comfortable couch,  or a large screens or a plate of salty snacks, because the ladies are probably ironing while they watch. 

That's certainly not what ESPN has in mind. Their goal with espnW is nothing short of "a whole new world for women athletes and fans" and the focus will be on "cultivating a national sports conversation for women." To that end the espnW retreat was held recently at Torrey Pines to exchange ideas and lay the foundation for this new brand. Attendees included athletes from a wide array of sports, as well as sports marketers and ESPN executives.

And that brings us to our subject:  Do we really want or need a female-focused sports news brand... and eventually a network ? Exactly what market will it serve and how should it be executed?  That's what we'll be talking about tonight on Only Two Things.   ~ Ethan Johnson from Mister Women's Sports will be joining us and we hope to hear from an number of others who blog about women's sports. You can join the conversation too... on-air... by using our call-in number, which is: 917-889-9592. Or weigh in at the chat room or on Twitter... or just have a listen at Blog Talk Radio.
We'll be live from 9:30 - 10:30 ET.

Additional reading on espnW from: Women Talk Sports and Blogs With Balls and The Wrap

Only Two Things: A "Men Only" Grill - OK or No Way?

This is a touchy one. The Men's Grill, that bastion that exists at many clubs... it's often a bar/casual dining establishment... it may involve cigars and/or cards and/or a big screen TV or two.

The common denominator however is that women are not permitted inside. Sometimes they're given their own "room" sometimes not, either way though the "Men Only" room is off limits to the "fairer sex"... which many women find decidedly UNfair. Some men don't like it either but at the same time there are quite a few men... and women... who are fine with it. So what do you think?

That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in, on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.

"Golf Girl Junior" - Presenting Jordan Farr

As you may have noticed, there's lots going on in Golf Girl World these days. So much so that it's become tough to keep up! Which is quite frustrating.

To that end, I want to introduce you to Jordan... or Golf Girl Junior, as she's been calling herself... who from this point forward will be assisting me here at Golf Girl Media. As such she'll be making regular appearances on this blog and will also be a regular on "Only Two Things".

She officially started at the beginning of the week, and barring a couple of major mess ups minor mishaps, I've been pleasantly surprised at how imaginative and productive she's been. To the extent that I suggested she write her own Thursday column which she'll begin this week. So, without futher ado, here she is:

Hi! My name is Jordan, I’m going to be working with Patricia at Golf Girl Media as her assistant/intern/idea bouncer... Yeh, you get the idea!

I am delighted to be involved with Golf Girl Media and I’m really looking forward to working with Patricia on a wide variety of projects. I’m also looking forward to getting to know you... the Golf Girl readers/watchers/listeners.

I've graduated from mini golf, honed my swing at the driving range, and taken my game onto the golf course now I'll be working my shots and my scores while venturing into the golf media sphere. Part of that will be a weekly post, every Thursday, where I'll talk about the lates golf news topics, conduct a fun weekly poll, and dispense some insider information on what’s taking place behind the scenes here at GGM... and what we’ve got in the proverbial pipeline as regards future ideas and prospective projects.

Now that I’m a part of the Golf Girl Media Inc. community, I assume you want a bit more info on who I am:

I am currently working toward my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. I love working with kids and hope to work for a golf camp or junior program in the future. From reading Golf Girl’s Diary (and other golf blogs) I’ve begun to discover the unique nature of this game... and see how it can instill some great qualities in "little ones". So yeh, I’d love to help get a young generation into the sport of Golf... once I improve my game!

Additionally, I love exploring new things and researching on the Internet. When I am not doing that you can find me rollerblading, swimming, or dancing.

OK... this is the part I need help with readers! I’d love to hear some of your ideas on any topics that you’d like me to write about in the weeks to come. Leave me a note in the comments section... or shoot me an email at jordan@golfgirlmedia.com.

Before I depart, I’ve got my first poll question for you... I actually presented it on last night’s show but ... um ... unfortunately I had my mic way down low so it was barely audible (I think I almost got fired for that one) anyways, here it is:

"The latest season of the popular show DANCING WITH THE STARS began this week. There have been quite a few athletes on in the past, NFL and NBA stars... swimmers, snowboarders, etc, but never a golfer. So... WHICH GOLFER WOULD GET YOU HOOKED ON DANCING WITH THE STARS?" ... It can be a male or a female but... I suggest you think beyond Tiger Woods ;-)

I’ll announce the results next week on “Only Two Things”. Catch the show live on Blog Talk Radio every Wednesday evening at 9:30 PM ET.

That's all for now... Golf Girl Jr. signing off.

Only Two Things - Short Hitters, Big Drivers & Sexism

.

The photo's been confronting me for a couple of weeks now and I'm getting a bit really tired of it.

Now if you know me, you've probably noticed that I'm not particularly sensitive to many images and ideas that are deemed to be "sexist".  

I readily acknowledge that many sexual stereotypes are based on actual behavior, and whether the behavior is culturally imposed or genetically dictated, the results can be endlessly funny.  The fact is, as much as I hate housework,  I've been know to laugh at jokes that compare women with washing machines as long as they're told with a modicum of cleverness, class or taste.

And perhaps that's what I find so annoying, obnoxious, unfunny about "Tired of being a short hitter?" and the accompanying photo, in Golf Digest's November issue. 
    
Let me be clear there are lots of things I love about Golf Digest: their superlative travel stories... like Dom Furor's about playing golf in the Himalayas...  and their uniquely informed articles on golf history come immediately to mind.  ~ And because the readership of Golf Digest is approximately 94% male,  I understand that the editorial content... instructional articles, equipment reviews, news from the professional tours... as well as the flavor... design, humor, writing style... will naturally reflect a male sensibility. 

However, I feel that this particular piece, goes beyond "typical male humor" and veers perilously close to degrading, desperate and mean-spirited.  And I'm guessing it was at least mildly offensive to most men as well as to women. The article is not available online at this point, but I've spoken to a wide cross-section of golf acquaintences, male and female, who receive the print publication, and they all concurred (except for the one we affectionately call "Neanderthal Ned").

Numerous bloggers... including the awesome Emily Kay... weighed-in on the... um... tone-deaf, awkwardness of the story, and letter's to editor reflected a collective incredulity and disappointment, which brings us to the subject of tonight's show: Golf Digest's dude in pink and pearls: does anyone find it funny?   And was the editor's response to the criticism somewhat dismissive... or is this all just a typical Venus-to-Mars overreaction?  That's what we'll be talking about tonight Only Two Things.  You can join the conversation too... on-air... by using our call-in number, which is: 917-889-9592.  Or weigh in at the chat room or on Twitter... or just have a listen at Blog Talk Radio. We'll be live from 9:30 - 10:30 ET.

Ladies at the 19th Hole-Tonight on "Only Two Things"

The proverbial 19th Hole, that pub on or near the golf course where golfers go for a drink after a round. It's a fun place where the delights... and disasters... of the day can be rehashed, convivially, over a beer or cocktail. ~ But are ladies always welcome? Or, on the contrary, are they welcomed... a bit too warmly?

This debate arose out of a couple emails I received recently within days of eachother: The first was from a woman who wrote that she and her friends loved the idea of having a round of drinks after their round of golf, but that the bar at their club consistently attempted to seat them in an "isolated, undesirable corner of the room, far away from everyone else". She specified that she and her friends were basically the only women who ever patronized the establishment and whether it was busy or not, they had to lobby to be seated where everyone else was. ~ Then came a note that told a very different tale. This was from a gal who claimed she and her playing partners couldn't enjoy their post-golf cocktails at the course because they were continually "hit upon" by the "other" (aka: male) patrons.

So yes, there's definitely something to be debated here: When it comes to the "19th hole", are women less than welcome... or overly welcome? Or are they just making a big deal about nothing? That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". ~ We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET at SportCityChefs on BlogTalkRadio ...and as always, you can weigh in, on-air by calling 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter at #onlytwothings.

Only Two Things - Live from the Jersey Shore

As we always do on "Only Two Things", tonight at 9:30PM ET, we'll be talking Golf and Sex, but this week I'll be broadcasting from Atlantic City, New Jersey where I'm spending a few days at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Our provocative topic suggested by Brenda from Bryn Mawr, PA: "Are golfer's more likely than non-golfers to be unfaithful?"

In her email Brenda explained that the thought occurred to her when she found out that two of the men in her husband's Sunday foursome had been cheating on their wives. When the respective wives found out the first thing they blamed was golf. So that's what we'll discuss. Is there any truth to Brenda's supposition? Weigh in, why don't you?

Only Two Things - Who Cheats More - Men or Women?

This week an LPGA cheating scandal hit the internet.

In involves accusations based on secondhand accounts, and some suspect that an ugly element of anti-Korean xenophobia may have come into play because the accuser, LPGA caddy/blogger, Larry Smich has a history of "issues" with Korean players.

The situation is currently under investigation and I think it's wise to reserve judgment until the facts become clear, however I did receive an email not long ago from a reader/listener who asked, "Which sex is more likely to cheat, Men or Women?" She'd just played in a scramble at a golf event with some colleagues and was quite surprised to find what she described as "a culture of cheating among the men".

"Though it wasn't a highly competitive event," she complained, "there was a "nice prize" for the winning team, and as such the "so-called lite cheating" struck me and the other women who were playing as blatantly wrong".

My reader didn't go into detail, but from what I gathered the men had no such qualms, and that's what led to her question. In light of the LPGA incident last week, I think this makes for a very interesting topic.

So here's the question: "Which sex is more likely to cheat, Men or Women?" And we'll apply it not only to golf, but also to relationships, business and life in general.

That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.

Only Two Things - Golf Tennis Man Woman

.

A couple of weeks ago, Iain Carter of BBC Sports, wrote a thoughtful piece concerning the relative popularity... and more significantly, the disparity in earnings... that exists between men's /women's tennis and men's/women's golf.  The writer lamented the fact that in golf the women's game "continues to live in the shadow" of the men's, and that often the top-20 mens finishers make more than the winner, of the ladies event.

Mr. Carter suggested it might be wise for the LPGA and the LET to look at women's tennis, where women and men play their respective Grand Slam tournaments at the same event.  As a result, in tennis the large disparities in earnings have been eliminated and the profile of the women's game has risen to equal that of the men's.

The post provoked a spirited discussion across the golf blogosphere and on Twitter, where even former British Open Champion, Karen Stupples weighed in.

And we'll pick up on the topic tonight on "Only Two Things" , discussing the popularity of the two sports... and their best moves to ensure a healthy future. We'll have a couple of interesting (and interested) guests checking in with us,  and we'd love to have you join the conversation too... on-air... by using our call-in number, which is: 917-889-9592.  Or, weigh in at the chat room or on Twitter... or just have a listen on the Sport City Chefs network at Blog Talk Radio. We'll be live from 9:30 - 10:30 ET.

Only Two Things - Sluts, Stooges & Halloween Golfers

.

... on BlogTalkRadio

The 31st of October is just days away, and it got me thinking  of a post I did last year. It's on Halloween costumes and it makes a a good topic for our show.  Here it is:

Yes, that quaint American holiday where the nation's young people dress up as ghosts and goblinsPimps and Hos and attend Halloween Parties Pimp & Ho Parties is right around the corner.














Many have complained in recent years about the increasing commercialization of Halloween (it's now a $5 billion business in the US) and many more have voiced objection to the increasing sleazeification of the spooky holiday... and, let's face it, to a great extent the traditional favorite costumes of the past, such as ghost, princess, astronaut and cowboy, have indeed been replaced by slightly more... salacious... options: zebra pimp, fallen angel, charm school dropout, and the like.  ~ A reflection of our times, I suppose.

To that end,  I thought I'd do a quick search for "golf costumes" and see what's out there these days for the average person who just wants to be a golfer on Halloween.

I found quite a variety of choices, and in the ladies category they definitely lean towards the lugubrious as you can see in the montage above. I put it together from a variety of costume sites and you can call them racy, slutty, naughty or fun but there's no denying it... these outfits are sexed-up... to the max. 

The strange thing however, is that when it comes to the guy golfer's selection, there's nothing remotely racy available. In fact, all of the men's costumes seem to be inspired by the three stooges or outdated notions that golfers always look like dorks. (I have a friend who insists that guys find the Three Stooges sexy but I don't think I believe her).














Other male costumes have been "modernized". I found plenty of sexy policemen, and sexy cowboys and sexy football players, but I could find no sign of a sexy male golfer, though I suppose maybe one could adapt this costume. Golf did originate in Scotland, right?

Anyway, I can only conclude that if the Golf Sluts meet up with the Golf Stooges on Halloween, the girls will surely have to give the guys a few extra strokes.

So that's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things".

Why are men relegated to silliness  - while women are encouraged to sex it up.  Are there further iimplications?   And what would you let your teen or pre-teen wear?  You can join the conversation too... on-air... by using our call-in number, which is: 917-889-9592. Or weigh in at the chat room, or on Twitter... or just have a listen at Blog Talk Radio. We'll be live from 9:30 - 10:30 ET, hope to hear from you.

Only Two Things - Mars, Venus & The Favre Sext Case

.

There's been no shortage of sex scandals in the sports world of late. Some have flown under the radar, while others have dominated world news... and water-cooler conversation...  for days.

The latest...  now commonly known as the Favre Sext Case... has many of the elements seen in other recent scandals: a sexy sidelines reporter, a male athlete misbehaving and copious use of technology for intimate communication purposes.  And as different as the details may be in the individual cases,  they all seem to lend themselves to the question of sexism in sports;  in the reporting and presentation of sports by the media and in the behavior of athletes and officials... but also in the way sports are enjoyed by fans of both sexes.

Writing about this latest scandal, Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock declares that "The entire sports media industry is polluted by sexism" in defense of the latest "victim" Jenn Sterger, who's been painted as a ruthlessly ambitious gold digger/fame whore by some,  he decries the boys-will-be-boys-and-girls-will-be-eye-candy culture of the NFL, but acknowledges that it'll be difficult to change.

Bloomberg writer Scott Soshnick, actually sees this as a moment the to further engage what Commissioner Roger Goodell called the most encouraging new revenue stream for the NFL: no, not wireless... women.   Mr. Soshnick feels that not only do they need to continue stressing that men behaving badly won’t be tolerated but they also need to make the sport more "female-friendly" in a fan-engagement rather than a shrink & pink sort of way.  He's got some interesting suggestions.

It's a marketing strategy that's being looked at seriously... way beyond football.  Yesterday I attended a Playboy Golf event that was fun, sexy and... completely "female-friendly".  It can be done,  but how many organizations are ready to do it.  Do you feel these recent scandals have made sports organizations more aware of the issues the issues they have with some female fans?  Do they see the value in female fans and are they willing to risk the status quo to make changes? That'll be our topic tonight on Only Two Things.   You can join the conversation too... on-air... by using our call-in number, which is: 917-889-9592. Or... weigh in at the chat room or on Twitter... or just have a listen at Blog Talk Radio. We'll be live from 9:30 - 10:30 ET.

Only Two Things - The Female Sports Scribe's Plight

It's the water cooler topic du jour" ...and a great subject for today's show.

It's being called the "Ines Sainz situation" by some, Ines Sainz being the little known NFL sideline reporter who's found herself at the center of a Media Maelstrom after an incident on Saturday involving several NY Jets, a pair of skin-tight jeans, and some stereotypically boorish behavior.

The basic situation not new: a female sports journalist is subjected to lewd/lascivious/demeaning remarks by the players she's covering. It can happen on the field or in the locker room, and there are myriad variations, but what often follows is scrutiny and criticism of the reporter herself. And that certainly happened this time around.

However, the Ines Sainz story is not quite as formulaic as it initially seemed. This particular version of the "Female Sports Scribe's Plight" appears to have as much to do with the issues sports media is trying to work out with itself... as it does with any one journalist's brush with locker room lasciviousness.

From watching several of the Sainz interviews yesterday I was left with distinct impression that this incident may well not have ever even come to light had other journalists not gotten involved.

As Ms. Sainz tells it, she was doing her job on Saturday, without much regard for the player's loutish behavior. She admits to being aware of the catcalls, whistling and remarks... and realizing they were being directed at her.... but maintains that she had tuned them out and was going on with her business, waiting to interview quarterback Mark Sanchez, when a fellow reporter approached her and "apologized" for the frat-boy behavior that was being directed at her, insisting it was "unacceptable" and "not OK". Only then did the incident become an issue.

From what I understand, it was at that point that Sainz tweeted that she was “dying of embarrassment” and "averting her eyes" while waiting for Sanchez to arrive. Apparently he did and the actual interview went off without a hitch, because the reporter then tweeted "mission accomplished great interview"

Then a bit later she tweeted, "some media people are saying I was dressed inappropriately for the Jets locker room". She included a photo of the outfit she was wearing... and it was glaringly easy to see why traditional sports journalists might call it inappropriate.

Ultimately, what struck me was that Ines Sainz seemed more uncomfortable with the reactions of some of her fellow journalists ... and some of those fellow journalists seemed more uncomfortable with her particular style... than anyone really was with the sophomoric antics of a couple of NY Jets.

Once again it brings to light the fact that the very nature of sports media has changed... drastically... and many in the business, as well as many fans, are currently grappling with those changes.

In today's environment athletes and sports teams... not to mention their sponsors... want/need to get maximum exposure and to that end, award press credentials to a wide variety of media outlets

To me, this case is a picture perfect example of "INFOtainment" bumping up against "traditional journalism".

They're two very different forms of media... with different standards of dress and behavior... that suddenly find themselves sharing the same space. Nowadays they routinely vye for the same interviews and compete for the same eyeballs. Tensions and resentments are inevitable. I believe that's precisely what happened here.

As far as Ines Sainez is concerned, within 24 hours reports of the incident in the locker room had found their way to the The Association for Women in Sports Media... presumably communicated by a concerned fellow journalist... and on Sunday morning Sainez received a personal apology from the owner of the New York Jets. She thanked him and has spent most of the past 48 hours on news and entertainment shows confirming that she's "put the whole thing behind her".

The NFL, for their part, has launched an investigation into the reports of inappropriate behavior and the incident has become a referendum on issues like: "what is appropriate attire for a female sports reporter" and should journalists (male and female) be allowed in sports locker rooms at all". Some of the opinions and observations that have been voiced contain elements that are a tad bit disturbing, such as bombastic, blowhard Rush Limbaugh's use of the words "Bubblicious" "Bootylicious" to describe Ms. Sainz, and the Washington Redskins' Clinton Portis' rambling statements about how ..."You know, somebody got to spark her interest, or she's going to want somebody. I don't know what kind of woman won't, if you get to go and look at 53 men's ..."

So there's our topic, the so-called "Ines Sainz situation"

It's a big one... with lots of moving parts and I'd love to hear what you think about it. We'll be discussing it tonight from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET on "Only Two Things". You can weigh in on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen in at Blog Talk Radio Talk to you tonight.

Only Two Things - Do Guys Care What They Wear?

You've probably seen them at your course: Dowdy Dan and Sloppy Sam. Lumpy Larry and Baggy Bill will often round out the unfashionable foursome.

The clothes they wear are classic... but not in the good sense. No... I mean in the unimaginative, oversize sense... that such men swear by. Muted colors, conservative cuts... outfits that look like afterthoughts.

Meanwhile, many/most lady golfers dress for success... sartorially speaking... and now have an extraordinary choice of designers and styles. They shop at pro shops, or on the internet, and anecdotal evidence suggests most shop with some degree of enjoyment.

There are of course, guys like Ian Poulter and Rickie Fowler... fearless individualists who've never met a skittle color they didn't like. But many guys I know, when they're heading to the course, just throw on whatever they find in their closet that day.

So, do guys care what they wear? Or is it just not something that'll ever be too important to them. That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.

"Only Two Things" Golf on Mars vs Golf on Venus

Don't forget... this Wednesday evening at 10:00PM ET We'll be bringing you another episode of "Only Two Things". This Week's episode is called "Golf on Mars vs Golf on Venus" and it'll to look at the differences between the way guys and girls look at golf.

We'll ask questions like: "Is it ever a good idea for men and women to play together?"... "Do men really want to share the golf course with women?"... "Is there just too much competing for the average women's attention...can she ever enjoy (learn) golf?"... "Are men equipment-obsessed in a way women just aren't ?"... "Why don't women like to play for money?" ... "What is it with men and beverage cart girls?" Callers... as always... are encouraged to weigh in.