The grand poobahs of the sport of golf believe golf needs to be an Olympic Sport in order to "Grow the Game".

David Fay, executive director of the USGA and chairman of the World Golf Foundation, Tim Finchem PGA Tour commissioner, Carolyn Bivens LPGA commissioner, Joe Steranka PGA of America CEO, Jim Armstrong Augusta National GM, Peter Dawson R&A chief executive, and George O’Grady European Tour CEO have agreed that this is an essential ingredient in achieving that goal.  I can’t help but wonder why this particular group has come out from behind the walls of their individual Kingdoms to join a crusade to gain access to a Kingdom as corrupt as the that run by the International Olympic Committee.  Altruism is not something of which these power purveyors could be convicted.   Thus the answer clearly becomes financial gain, both outwardly "for the good of the game" and less visibly for each Kingdom.

How bad is the IOC?  Here’s a recent quote from Jacques Rogge the Poobah’s poobah of the IOC: "For us, freedom of expression is something that is absolute. It’s a human right," said Mr. Rogge.  "There are small restrictions in not making propaganda or demonstrations in Olympic venues, like on the podium. . . . We are a movement of 205 nationalities, and many of these nationalities are in conflict with each other," Rogge said. The IOC will provide athletes with guidance on what constitutes propaganda, he added, "and we’ll do this with a lot of common sense."  In other words freedom of expression is absolute, but we’re going to put a few restrictions on what can be said and done.  Hmmm  I think I’d really be anxious to clasp hands with this guy.

Remember the bribery scandals surrounding the Salt Lake City games  10 IOC members resigned and 10 others were reprimanded.  Congress launched three investigations.  The Justice Department convened a federal grand jury.  What mostly came out of this wailing and gnashing of teeth was that those member forced to resign and those reprimanded where only practicing business as usual, they just happened to get noticed outside of the back alley at a time other than the dead of night.

And the organizations that operate under the umbrella of the IOC are hardly any better, but why would we expect anything better to occur under such stellar leadership.  Remember the stink about Paul Hamm and the all around gold medal in men’s gymnastics?  You remember gymnastics, a sport which would easily survive on it’s own without the mega doses of cash being an "Olympic Sport" provides.  Well Mr. Hamm was asked to return his gold medal after the award ceremony because someone apparently made a mistake in scoring the Bronze medalists final performance.  Good sportsmanship all over the neighborhood that, eh?  Mr. Hamm even had to travel to a court hearing in Switzerland ( I think it was Switzerland) before he could be assured the medal was indeed his to keep.  Weird and weirder.  Remember the Winter Games were the Russian couple a Gold Medal despite an obvious even to the untrained observer second rate performance. The Canadian couple was awarded a second Gold Medal after the French judge admitted she bowed to pressure to vote for the Russian couple. Ice skating, another sport capable of standing on its own without the Olympic dollar supporter. 

These are the playmates the poohbahs of golfdom want to join.  For the good of the game?  Please, spare me.  I may have been born at night but it wasn’t last night so don’t try and get me to accept that we can’t grow the game without getting into the same arena with these schmucks.  I’m not buying it for a minute.  Is the game having trouble growing in South Korean?  What you say there are how many South Korean women members of the LPGA.  My my, and without the Olympics.  How did this happen?  Where exactly are you trying to grow the game?  Russia?  China?  Sudan? Hmmm. 

I have another question for the games anointed leaders;  who exactly benefits from this Olympic connection?  and how will it help my game?