Cbs Repairs Damage Left By Wright
CBS Sports president David Kenin quietly slipped into Wilmington, Del., the other day and apologized to almost everyone at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship about the network’s mishandling of last year’s Ben Wright foot-in-the-mouth incident.
Wright, a CBS golf analyst, caused a commotion by telling (Wilmington) News Journal reporter Valerie Helmbreck, among other gems, that lesbianism was hurting the LPGA. Wright denied on the air saying all the published comments. It took almost a year, but CBS concluded Wright was wrong and bounced him.
After playing in the pro-am before this week’s tournament at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Kenin said, “We feel terrible about any harm that has been done to anybody.”
Inheriting Wright’s vacated analyst’s chair on this weekend’s McDonald’s telecast is former LPGA player Mary Bryan. In her fifth year with CBS Sports, Bryan says she doesn’t feel she is on the spot.
“I have a simple philosophy about doing golf on television,” Bryan said. “The players are the story. I’m there to just enhance it, maybe teach somebody something about golf, or tell you a little about a player and what’s happening.”
The winner’s share in the $1.2 million McDonald’s LPGA Championship, the second major of the season, is $180,000. To illustrate how far the LPGA has progressed, Bryan recalled collecting last-place money - $34.50 - in the 1971 LPGA Championship at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Mass. Being a good sport, Bryan put the check on the lounge bar and ordered drinks for everyone.
CBS will carry the tournament Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Melrose’s sweet advice
Speaking during an intermission of the PittsburghNew York Rangers playoff game Tuesday night on ESPN, analyst Barry Melrose suggested the Florida Panthers fans and media should zip their protests about Eric Lindros’ rough tactics.
“Yes, Lindros slashed a few guys,” said Melrose, a former Los Angeles Kings coach. “Yes, he should have had a few more penalties. But it’s not up to the referees to protect everybody. If you don’t like what Eric Lindros is doing, do something about it when the score is right. If you’re three (goals) up or three down, take matters into your own hands.
“Hockey tests people. Eric Lindros is tested every night. Hockey gets rid of cowards very early.”
Schott’s in the dark
Isn’t it time for interviewers to leave Marge Schott alone? Almost every time the Cincinnati Reds owner opens her mouth, she embarrasses herself.
In her latest stumble, Schott said on ESPN that Adolf Hitler wasn’t such a bad guy; he just went too far. Schott clearly isn’t intellectually equipped to speak about major issues in life and sports. Schott saying something stupid isn’t news anymore.