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DEL.ICIO.USClassic case of identity crisis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the calm of a September morning, year of our Lord 1967, the first tee shot was struck in what was then the Atlanta Classic, later to become the Georgia-Pacific, then the Bell South, and now the AT&T Classic. Soon to become a “blank” (no kin to Arthur) Classic, the blank waiting to be filled in. That’s the fate of tournament golf in this country, events basically held captive of an empire known as the PGA Tour.
These are edgy times in the life of the AT&T Classic, soon to be orphaned unless some kindly corporation steps forward. You see, last year a slot fell open when the Booz Allen Classic, a struggling event played in the vicinity of Washington, was abandoned. It was a peachy date, around the Fourth of July, and to top it off, commissioner Tim Finchem, who runs the tour autocracy, managed to insert Tiger Woods as host, and AT&T bit like a lurking bass. Divorce of the communications giant and little ol’ Atlanta Classic was not long to follow.
That’s the life of tour tournaments. Sponsorships ofttimes last fewer years than a Hollywood marriage. The Texas Open, for instance, has had 10 name changes, which brings up another issue. The now Valero Texas Open has eyes on the Sugarloaf slot that the AT&T now occupies. The Texas Open now falls in the post-Tour Championship season, a sort of cluster of leftovers in the sense that they are left to duel with football, the World Series, stock cars and all sorts of television competition.
This will be the last AT&T Atlanta Classic. AT&T had moved to Maryland, with Tiger in escort, on the classic old Congressional course, where U.S. Opens have been played, and takes the new title of “AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods.” With such a great date and the appearance of Tiger guaranteed, who could blame AT&T? But why AT&T? This corporate giant already has the Pebble Beach tournament, another authentic classic. True, this does give AT&T a cozy connection to all that’s political in Washington, I’d suppose, but it does leave the Atlanta Golf Foundation dangling in the wind.
Forty years the foundation has cared for this championship like a mother cares for her babe, from the time it was a pup struggling for existence. Whoever could forget the sight of Bob Charles and his $22,000 check being helicoptered to the airport after winning the first of these tournaments at Atlanta Country Club? The purse was bumped up from $110,000 to $300,000 to the present number, $5,500,000. Sixteen millions have been directed to charities, mainly Children’s Healthcare. Loyalty, where art thou?
Finchem delegated Greg Norman to lay out this TPC course at Sugarloaf, a sort of a balm for butting in on Norman’s World Golf Tour projection. The Classic had outgrown Atlanta Country Club and gratefully, though remorsefully, accepted its new bailiwick in Gwinnett County. So here it has flourished, doing due diligence to the commissioner, who has now left the foundation like a widow looking for a new mate.
All is not without hope. David Kaplan, the tournament director, has been busy courting prospects. There is at least one strong one, and another prospect that might come aboard on a “presenter” level. Whatever may develop, the PGA Tour must be dealt with, and truth is, the tour isn’t all fired up about having two tournaments in the same area, especially since one is the crown jewel Tour Championship.
The chilling prospect is that, should the foundation not be able to connect with another sponsor, and Atlanta loses its place in the rotation, the classic is gone and might never be back. Unless one of those undesirable Fall leftover dates should pop up, which would be like a seat in steerage.
Comments
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By Ted Striker
May 17, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Hey, Furman — when I saw the headline for your column, “IDENTITY CRISIS” — I thought you’d finally forgotten who the heck you are.
Are they still pinning your name and address on the inside of your underwear in case you lose your way home?
By BCD
May 18, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Hey Ted, Something tells me that when the time comes, there won’t be any “THEY” around for you to pin your name and address in your underware.
By Ted's a @&!0
May 18, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Ted:
Bisher is a living legend, and you are a fool. Go back to where ever you came from. Delta is ready when you are!
By Boots
May 18, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
It’s amazing —- the lack of respect this present generation is willing to bestow on those who are true legends.
F.B. has forgotten more about sports than the empty suits on sports talk radio and ESPN.
And, as far as writing skills are concerned, F.B. is without peer.
By Ted Striker
May 18, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
.
*To: Ted’s a @&!0 — * We agree on ONE thing — the man IS a legend. Unfortunately he’s a legend for Libel, Lawsuits, and Lackluster writing. Bisher’s legacy was paved on the foundation of two cheap shot columns of the 1960’s. Your hero is the guy who accused Bear Bryant of being bad for football? The guy who said Bear Bryant fixed games? The guy who said Bear Bryant didn’t know how to handle a football team? The guy who said Bear Bryant didn’t give a whit about players? The same guy who still won’t tell the truth? That’s the guy on your pedestal? That’s your hero? Really? I must admit my curiosity about one thing — how far did you have to dig down to actually be looking up at Furman Bisher’s pedestal?
To: Boots — I’m sure Furman would be well received by ESPN viewers and readers. Yeahhhhhhhh
To: BCD — You misspelled “underwear.” Other than that, I’m sure you’re a real genius with a vast knowledge of sports (and spelling too)
By Rick
May 19, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
I wish Buick would bring back the Buick Southern Open (late of Callaway Gardens.) As title sponsor - it would need to demand that Tiger woods participate in the tournament. That would guarantee television coverage and a huge fan turnout.
If not Buick, the “Coca Cola Classic” has a nice ring to it.
By lynn morrison
May 19, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
Furman~ 5/20 I will be bringing an 82 yr. old woman, to the 1:00 game,who claims to have been kissed by Babe Ruth in Yankee Stadium, circa 1936, when she was 10, We’ll be in the Mets dugout seats. Can Hank Aaron still kiss?
By scott
May 20, 2008 7:49 AM | Link to this
Ask Chick Granning how he feels about Bear Bryant, and then you’ll get an honest opinion.
By Ted Striker
May 20, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
Lynn, Mr. Aaron can still do most things better than men half his age.
However…if you’re looking for him to kiss this woman, one suggestion: Clear it with his wife, Billye first.
Billye isn’t a jealous woman…but she keeps Mr. Aaron Happy. And what makes her happy makes Hank happy.
Good luck!
By SlimG
May 20, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Please Stop Hating People!
We should be happy with the date for the Championship. Let’s continue to develop the best courses and tournaments will come. Also, with all the Headquarters here in Atlanta, something will stick.
Hey Mr. Bisher Please do something on all the baseball talent currently in the state(High School, GT, UGA).