Business of Golf vs Hockey

When the seasons overlap, it's hard not to notice the differences between hockey and golf as businesses.

The PGA Tour is almost unique in that it is owned and operated by the players themselves (maybe ATP tennis is similar). For NHL hockey (and most other major league sports) the owners are often in opposition to the players and their union. It's almost socialism versus capitalism.  Or at least democracy and active participation in the business versus rampant exploitation of the hired help. (borderline slavery?)

So which is better? And for whom? 

For the owners, the PGA is better run and more consistently profitable. Hockey team owners are willing to indulge their vanity with huge losses. For the players, both sports seem to do very well for the top performers.  But the PGA is strictly based on personal performance - you earn what you win.  Thousands don't make the grade for the Tour and work for basic wages at the local course.

For hockey players, they have the protection of team mates helping them win and their agents and the union protecting their earnings.  Still thousands don't make it to the big show and take their lunps in lessor leagues.

What about the paying customers? 

Both sports essentially are selling entertainment to their fans and the sponsors.  It seems to work.  You might argue that fans get more for their money at a golf tournament, but you have to accept that the price is determined by the market and hockey fans (in some cities) are fanatic enough to pay whatever it takes to see a game.  TV audiences and commercial sponsors confirm that the fans are there.  For golf there is the "Tiger factor".  And his new notoriety just adds to the attraction when he's playing.

No conclusion - just observations. Make your own choices. 

Tiger is not the only story at the Masters

Finally we are back to golf!

Tiger Woods at the Masters still seems to be the biggest story, but I sense the media frenzy will end soon as he gets back to golf and we all get past the fascination with his sordid escapades.

And there are other fascinating golf stories to follow.

The 50 and 60-year old, Fred Couples and Tom Watson are leading at the Masters after the first round. (Not so much during day 2 with Englishmen, Westwood and Poulter, leading.)

And the humble gentleman golfer from South Africa (without any known character flaws) is coming off two consecutive wins on tour. He is tied for 16th at one under par, with our Canadian hero, Mike Weir.

And Tiger, in case we're interested in his golf, finished today at 6 under, tied for third and three strokes behind the leader.

Looks like an interesting weekend.

It is so good to be back to business as usual. Enough of the scandalous side shows. Let the politicians and other celebrities provide that fodder for the tabloids.

Tiger speaks to us all

Tiger finally steps up and speaks for himself.

(OK, maybe written and edited by someone else, but it did sound sincere.)

Stood up like a man and accepted the blame, took full responsibility for his actions, admitted to being selfish, irresponsible, and lacking integrity. He defended his wife and family and asked the press to back off. Apologized to everyone that expected better from him. Admitted he needed help and was not yet ready to return to golf.

The fallen idol is still under re-construction. We still don't know if his family and his career will ever recover.

Meanwhile, let's hope the rest of us can get back to business and golf as usual. 

New skepticism

The "Tiger effect" has not only caused us to wonder about everyone else's apparently happy family life, it has also made us skeptical about any star athlete's public image.

I found myself questioning Roger Federer's very humble, gracious and appealing acceptance speech after winning the Australian Open Tennis Championship on Sunday. Is he really that charming and friendly a family guy? Or has he been well coached and rehearsed by the agents and PR people that are helping him sell that image?

Thanks Tiger, for making us all less gullible and more cynical.

Unfortunately, that's what happens when a representative of our sport, profession or industry falls from favour into public disgrace. We all have to fight the negative impression created.

Tiger Woods' train wreck

Personal life can affect your business (and your golf).

That is the painful and expensive lesson that the one-man industry known as Tiger Woods is learning the hard way.

Interestingly, in my recent discussions on the "Seven Biggest Mistakes that Entrepreneurs Make", that was No. 7: Letting Personal Issues Affect Your Business.

Tiger already knew that his personal image and reputation for integrity as an athlete, a man, husband and father were allowing him to earn sponsorships worth ten times his golf prize money . He worked hard to protect and maintain that image, which makes it even more astonishing that he would be so stupid and careless as to allow himself the bad choices he has apparently made. The attractiveness of his image and the public fascination with Tiger has now become an ongoing train wreck that he has managed badly and completely lost control of the media circus around it.

Disappointing for all of his fans and admirers, me included. But a high profile reminder that your personal life can intrude anytime into your business. Best to follow my mother's good advice, "Don't do anything that you wouldn't do if I were there."

Three good stories this weekend

Stephen Ames won the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Disney World accompanied by his son for the tournament. How special is that?

Michelle Wie wins her first LPGA Tour event - finally! The biggest sideshow in women's golf since she was 12 years old, the "next one" has finally arrived at age 20, beating a quality field by two strokes at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara.

And of course, Tiger Woods proved he was worth the $3 million appearance fee by winning the Australian Masters. As he put it "I can now say I've won tournaments on every continent except Antarctica." He's waiting for the invitation. The fee may have to compensate for the challenging "conditions". But he's worth it.

(Thanks to National Post Sports for the original articles. )

Competition is good

So Tiger and Phil meet again in Shanghai and the winner is... Phil again!

Should Tiger be worried? The analysts will be talking of a slump, end of his reign, the new Phil becoming number 1. It all adds to the excitement and attraction for fans and golfers everywhere.

No competition is no fun for anybody, and certainly doesn't inspire the players to try harder or do better. Competition is good. It forces us to be wary and keep learning and improving in order to keep winning.

Just like in business, don't you think?