Michelle's Many Options - Confessions of a Wie Warrior

As golf purists regurgitate righteous indignation and the Kornikova/Capriati comparisons fly, Michelle Wie has got to be weighing her options, and wondering where to take this crazy thing that's become her life.

It got substantially more complicated yesterday following her withdrawal from the Ginn Tribute, and subsequent accusations allusions that it was not prompted by a tweaked wrist injury as claimed, but rather concocted to circumvent a silly little-known LPGA slaughter rule; the 88-and-out rule, which would have barred her, as a non-tour member, from all LPGA events for the rest of the year, if she shot more than an 88...and admittedly, yesterday afternoon in SC she seemed well on her way to doing just that.

On the surface, Michelle seemed nonplussed "I had issues with my wrist," she explained "Shooting 88 is not what I think about." However, one can only imagine that the 17-year-old must be wondering what's next. In the press, she and her team are being portrayed as cheats, or at the very least, master manipulators, and dark predictions are being made about the future of her golf career. Some are speculating that she has problems that go way beyond golf... to her parents, sponsors and lifestyle.

I have a different take on this whole story. You see, though passionate about golf, I'm in no way a golf purist. I just love the game, and I'm one of those fans they dismissively call a "Wie Warrior". I'm fascinated by everything about Michelle Wie: her big, amazing golf game...her unique statuesque beauty...her celebritant status. And, I'm not at all worried about her. She's a beautiful, talented, fabulously wealthy, 17 year old sports celebrity... who was recently admitted to one of the country's most prestigeous and outstanding Universities. She's got so many options. She can: A. play in major golf events on exemptions, B. strut the red carpets and runways of celebrity soirees, C. settle into the awesome life of a Stanford freshman, D. Any combination of the above. So no, I don't feel sorry for her at all. She's probably a bit confused right now, as allegations swirl, but she's got too much going for her to let it get her down for long.

Is it fair that this girl has so much while others struggle? Of course it's not, but we're living in a country that prides itself on pure capitalism. Lots of things aren't fair here... and I can think of about 1000, right off the top of my head, that are far more disturbing than anything about Michelle Wie. I'll tell you a little secret too. Despite what others may say, I'd love to see her playing next week. Yeah, sorry, but I'm definitely a Wie Warrior.

The Wie Warrior is Back

...and the wounded warrior is me.

I sometimes hate to admit it, but I'm still a huge Michelle Wie fan.

Yes, I know her 2007 season sucked was a total disaster...and that she was way over-hyped by her handlers, her sponsors... and the media.

Many of her fans jumped ship in 2007. It was a year of missed cuts and unseemly incidents, as the once promising Ms. Wie plunged into a downward spiral of staff resignations, dubious withdrawals and "tweaked" injuries. By the end of it, she was just going through the motions. Then she ducked out of site for a while amidst talk of an emotional breakdown.

But it's 2008. A new year and a new golf season have begun,and Michelle Wie is back in the news, playing this week in the LPGA Tour's Fields Open in Hawaii. Granted the coverage she's getting now is a far cry from what it was last year, as she prepared to take on the men at the Sony Open. But for the time being men's events have been put on the back burner and Michelle is playing on an xx exemption with a very elite field of women.

No one knows what to expect either. Many scoff at her return and question her ability to even make the cut. She's already said that her wrists are not 100%, adding that they'll probably never be like they were...before. Well, before was then, this is now, and I'm hoping like hell heck Michelle plays decently.

I want Michelle back in the game because I love her star quality. OK I'm shallow and superficial and naive. So be it. Annika is an extraordinary player, a legend in her own time, but she leaves me cold. There, I said it. No more secrets.

The Golf Channel recently interviewed Wie at Stanford. The interview will be featured in three parts on "Golf Central'' Saturday (10:30 p.m.), Sunday (9 p.m.) and Monday (8:30 p.m.). and from what I've heard you'll be seeing a more mature more, thoughtful Michelle.

I, for one, wish her the best. After all, I'm a Wie Warrior.

Michelle Wie Wins - Wie Warriors Celebrate

I've always been a huge Michelle Wie fan... Always.

Over the years curmudgeons and critics called us the "Wie Warriors". We who believed that Michelle would soon prevail were accused us of being in denial... Which really wasn't a problem in my case because I actually liked the Wie Warrior label and knew I wasn't denying anything.

The haters sometimes called themselves purists, and maintained that Ms. Wie... because of her unconventional career path... would never learn to win and would be relegated to the role of also-ran in men's tournaments. They blamed her parents... and others... but mainly her parents.

When asked about her parents today her response was definitive and delightful:

"Yeah, I think it's just so awesome, seeing them on the 18th green and hugging them. You know, we have been through a lot as a family, and it's just so great that they are here to share my highs and to keep me up from the lows, as well. But you know, I have to thank my family: Nike and Omega and my sponsors, and IMG and my friends and my fan base and everyone. They all feel like my family. We all have been through a lot, even through my lowest point, they have always been there for me. They have always supported me, and you know, I just feel so grateful for my family, which includes everyone, my sponsors, my friends, and my management company and my fans. So I'm just lucky to have such a great family."

For me, seeing the photos of Michelle Wie's parents, B.J. and Bo, celebrating with their daughter made her awesome win all the more awesome.

Wiegate: Michelle Wie and Women's Golf...It All Just got a Whole lot More Interesting

There's no denying it, we live in a pop culture world. A world where negative publicity is often more valuable than no publicity at all, and a hot babe pretty girl trumps a noble deed any day of the week. We may claim not to like it but most of us play into it to some degree. The golf blogs are currently having orgasms fun with headlines like, "Catfight! Annika vs Wie", or LPGA Catfight, Sorenstam Calls Out Wie, or Annika Sorenstam takes a swing at Michelle Wie. They're generating lots of page views and comments too. Because a catfight is much more interesting then girls behaving like ladies and playing serious golf. At least for the majority it is.

As golf blog reviewer Heather McMichael said recently, "With the U.S. Open right around the corner, golf bloggers are talking about ... everything but the coming major". Maybe that's because there are no catfights looming there. Nothing scandalous or salacious to report at all. The proverbial "Tiger/Phil duel"? Mmmmm, maybe. Kind of hard to write a compelling headline for that one though. Those guys are just too well behaved to conjure up exciting images for anyone other than die hard Tiger/Phil fans.

And that's part of why Michelle Wie's larger than life, heat-seeking persona causes consternation, criticism and probably a degree of self loathing among some golf bloggers and their commenters. They're reluctant to admit that they're fascinated by what they perceive as a teenage train wreck, but they clearly are. Or at the very least, they feel she and her potential cat fights are the most interesting story coming out of Havre de Grace, Maryland right now.

I can only imagine fans will flock to the gallery as Michelle tees off tomorrow in the LPGA Championship, and this will probably provoke further wrath as more "worthy" players are ignored. However, the way I see it...IMHO...this is ultimately good for the LPGA. Blogger Chris Baldwin, no Wie Warrior he, succinctly summarizes the situation in this perceptive post from Bulle Rock. And...we'll see what tomorrow brings.

The Golf Poet Pens Panegyrical Prose for Michelle Wie

It was almost three years ago that I first came upon Golf Poet a delightful golf poetry/golf history blog that always lifts my spirits.

The editor is Leon White, a true Renaissance man with a passion for golf and a love of poetry... and the generosity to share both in frequent, cleverly-crafted posts on his enchanting blog.

Almost a year ago, in April 2011, the Golf Poet released Golf Course of Rhymes - Links between Golf and Poetry Through the Ages a wonderfully rich and engaging book, based on his blog. 

Last week I received an email from Mr. White.  The multi-faceted scribe had just written a poem for Michelle Wie in honor of her upcoming graduation from Stanford University... and he remembered my well documented years as a Wie Warrior.

"I thought she deserved poetic recognition for her achievements and best wishes for a great post-graduate career in golf and otherwise."

That's the way the golf poet puts it on his blog and the resulting poem is... to use an over-used word... awesome.  Read For Michelle Wie here.

The Awesomeness of Michelle Wie

Yay!

Finally I feel like I can write multiple, euphorically adoring Michelle Wie posts without being accused of being some kind of warped Wie Warrior. (not that I ever minded that title)

If anyone's still wondering what I find so fabulous about "The Big Wiesy" check out the above video. And wonder no more.

As you can imagine, I'll have my fingers crossed that all goes well for Miss Michelle this weekend.