Posted on: Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Wie's plan includes school, but not Q-school
Associated Press
Michelle Wie headed back to the 10th grade at Punahou School amid growing speculation about her future.
She has said she wants to go to college, even if she is only there as a student. Wie turns 16 in October, and there are some signs — starting with the swoosh she wore on her shirt at the Sony Open — that she will petition the LPGA Tour to waive its policy that members be at least 18.
But that would be conventional thinking, and the Wie camp already has shown that it operates differently.
"At this point, turning professional is a complex issue," said her father, BJ.
Aree Song was 17 when she joined the LPGA Tour, meeting criteria for the waiver that includes proven performance, strong support and the maturity to cope with being a professional.
What gets overlooked is whether Wie even wants to join the LPGA.
"She did not express any interest in filing an early petition for Q-school," her father said. "We don't want to file a petition, because she can turn professional any time. She does not have to be a full-time member."
That alone provides some insight into what might be in store for the teenage prodigy.
If she were to turn pro at the end of the year, Wie could play at least seven times on the LPGA Tour, which is ample for a junior in high school. She also could add a PGA Tour event (or two), along with broadening her appeal in Asia by playing in Japan and Korea — men's and women's events.
Such a plan might not lead to a bulging trophy case, but Wie already showed her mind is not on the record books.
"I never really wanted to be known as winning 50-some-odd tournaments," Wie said last week. "I want to be known as (someone) that changed the world and changed how people think."
$60M awarded in case involving drunken fan
A jury in Hackensack, N.J., awarded $60 million yesterday to the family of a girl paralyzed in a car wreck caused by a drunken football fan.
Ronald and Fazila Verni were headed home from a pumpkin-picking trip in 1999 with their 2-year-old daughter, Antonia, when their car was hit by a truck driven by Daniel Lanzaro, 34. Antonia was paralyzed from the neck down.
Lanzaro, whose blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, is serving a five-year prison term for vehicular assault.
The family sued Aramark, the Giants Stadium concessionaire, claiming vendors sold beers to Lanzaro even though he was clearly drunk and that Aramark fostered an atmosphere in which intoxicated patrons were served.
The NFL forbids beer sales after the third quarter; the Giants shut down beer vendors after halftime. The stadium also mandates that fans can only buy two beers at a time — a rule Lanzaro sidestepped by tipping the vendor $10, allowing him to buy six beers.
Oregon hires former BYU coach Crowton
Former Brigham Young coach Gary Crowton joined Oregon coach Mike Bellotti's staff yesterday as offensive coordinator.
Crowton resigned under pressure from BYU on Dec. 1 after a four-year stint with the Cougars. He replaces Andy Ludwig, who left Oregon last month to become offensive coordinator at Utah.
South African sets world record in 100 IM
South Africa's Roland Schoeman broke the world record in the 100-meter individual medley yesterday at a short-course World Cup swim meet in Stockholm, Sweden.
Schoeman topped Thomas Rupprath's mark by 0.07 seconds, finishing in 52.51.
IN THE COURTS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SWIMMING
