Golf: Calm in the storm?

By Vincent Musco Sports Central Columnist

As our nation continues its aerial assault and ground invasion of Iraq, all of our minds are someplace else. We have thoughts of our troops and their challenges and dangers. We have thoughts of our leaders and their tactics. We have thoughts of the other side; of soldiers who fight, of soldiers who surrender, and of civilians who look for shelter. But regardless of our position on the war as individuals, one thing is sure: our minds are quite occupied.

So there is very little room for anything else except more news from the front lines or the White House. Of course, we still find room for our diversions, of which sports is included, as a respite from the bombardment of surreal news from the Middle East and, for those of us who are sentimental, a reminder of times without war.

In these times, we have very little room, check that, patience, for other issues. When we, as a nation, are collectively focused on one single event that is as unpredictable and tragic as war, we will not stand for other news. We are not interested, and quite frankly, we find it offensive. Who would focus on such pettiness when our soldiers are dying?

It is no surprise, therefore, to hear that both Martha Burk and Jesse Jackson plan to "scale back" their respective protests at the Masters this year if the country remains at war. Janice Mathis, the spokesperson of the Jackson-led Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, claimed that the Coalition "had a change of mind-set" and would still be at the Masters in protest, but "in a less confrontational way."

Burk, predictably, followed suit. She said that her demonstration will be altered in "tone" and "size" if the country is at war during Masters Saturday, the scheduled day for the protest. A full-fledged protest, as originally planned, would be viewed in poor taste in war time. Who could focus on such pettiness when our soldiers are dying?

In a sense, this is a break for Hootie Johnson and Augusta National. If the country remains at war, a protest at the Masters will be a sideshow that no one will be able to take very seriously. People are too busy debating the war. If the war is over, people will be focused on the rebuilding of Iraq, which could prove even more controversial than the war itself. Either way, the heat is off Hootie and the Masters.

Remember, too, that this year's Masters is Burk's trump card. This is the first playing of the Masters since the beginning of her protest, and if she cannot break the Augusta National Committee by Masters Sunday by convincing them to admit a woman member, her window of opportunity will be closed. The Augusta debate will lose most of its steam with the Masters another 12 months away, and the first woman member will be welcomed on a day of the Committee's choosing. The public will be on to other things, and Burk will become a nuisance, if she isn't one already.

The downgraded protests will not have the effect that Burk and Jackson had hoped for, and as disappointed as they both must be, they knew this was the correct move. Intensifying their anti-Augusta rhetoric would only hurt their cause. But, in what has become classic Burk fashion, she managed to include a parting barb on the Augusta National Committee's behalf.

"[The Masters] is a large corporate party, liquor and entertainment flows freely throughout the week," she said. "These are things I don't think the country is going to want to see happening during a time of national conflict."

Again, it's not surprising that Burk could not restrain herself from an inflammatory statement, even while speaking at such a sensitive time. But Johnson has been similarly personal and derisive in his public words, often verbally fanning his own fire. Burk and Johnson are infected with what Washington Post columnist Thomas Boswell calls "our national disease of nasty hyperbolic debate where no one concedes that a foe can have a valid point or a decent motive." Indeed.

Forget that the Masters is arguably as American as the World Series, and that it may provide to our Armed Forces what San Antonio Spurs' center, and Naval officer, David Robinson calls "a big morale booster" that can "take [the troops] mind off what's going on," especially when "your best friend next to you is getting shot." It's just a corporate booze-fest, right, Martha?

This debate continues to straddle the line of incoherence as the personal rift between Burk and Johnson move closer to the forefront. War may subdue the protest of the issue, but so far, it has not quieted the spirited leaders of its respective sides. Interestingly enough, if the protests are as muted as promised, could it be that the biggest story next month at Augusta could be, check that, become, who actually wins the golf tournament?

Article courtesy of Sports Central.