Posted on 08/31/2002 6:04:50 PM PDT by TheEaglehasLanded
Women's group targets CBS in fight with Augusta
Associated Press
Now that The Masters has eliminated its television sponsors, the leader of a national women's group said Saturday she will urge CBS Sports to drop coverage of golf's most watched tournament until Augusta National has a female member.
Martha Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations, said she will not give up the fight until The Masters fades away as a major championship or until the club admits a woman.
''We expect to have a conversation with CBS,'' Burk told The Associated Press. ''It will be about whether they want to broadcast an event, held in a venue that discriminates against half the population, and what kind of statement that makes about CBS as a network.''
CBS Sports has had a one-year deal since 1956 to televise The Masters, the highest-rated golf tournament.
CBS spokeswoman Leslie Anne Wade declined comment except to say that ''CBS will broadcast the Masters next year.''
Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson said Friday he was dropping The Masters' three television sponsors -- IBM, Coca-Cola and Citigroup -- to shield them from any controversy over the club's all-male membership.
''I think they're doing what they can to avoid having a woman member,'' Burk said. ''They're willing to pay a lot of money to continue to discriminate. That's what it comes down to.''
Burk predicted The Masters would ''either fade as a major tournament, or they're going to have to admit a women member.''
The financial agreement between The Masters and CBS Sports has been kept private, although the contract is different than other sports, or even other golf tournaments.
Even before Johnson's decision to eliminate commercials from next year's telecast, CBS could only show four minutes of advertising every hour.
In another example of Augusta's control over the broadcast, CBS golf analyst Gary McCord has not been part of The Masters coverage since 1994 because of glib comments he made about the course and the fans.
The Masters has never been a moneymaker for CBS with so little commercial time for sale, but it is valuable to the network because of the prestige and exposure it brings.
Without sponsors, the club likely will have to pay more out of its own pocket, although it still generates money from merchandise and foreign broadcast rights. Tickets are $125, about half the cost of other major championships.
Burk said she wrote to the three television sponsors, as well as to Cadillac, which supplies courtesy cars during the tournament but does not have advertising during the broadcast.
The NCWO has about 6 million members and represents about 160 groups.
''We never threatened, we did not mention a boycott or a picket,'' she said. ''We appealed to their own record and policies on sex discrimination.''
She said IBM replied it would continue its sponsorship, viewing the private club as separate from The Masters. She said Coca-Cola and Citigroup indicated only that that they were in discussions with Augusta National.
Burk said she was surprised by Johnson's decision to drop the sponsors.
''I knew something was going to happen,'' she said. ''What I expected was either they announce a woman member, or sponsors announce they were pulling their support. But I'm confident the sponsors gave him the kind of message that had to be given.''
The friction began in June when Burk sent Johnson a letter urging him to invite women to join Augusta National, which opened in 1933.
Johnson has said the club has no exclusionary policies. While women often play at Augusta National, the club has not had a female member in its 69-year history, and a black did not join until 1990.
After issuing a three-sentence reply to Burk that said Augusta membership policies are private, Johnson blasted her intentions in a three-page statement to the media in which he said the club would not be ''bullied'' into taking a female member.
Burk said she has received dozens of calls from women who are outraged that Augusta National has an all-male membership and have inquired about going to the next Masters.
She didn't say what was planned during The Masters, to be played April 10-13, only that ''cameras will have something to look at.''
If her group's pressure on CBS doesn't work, Burk said she would go after the employers of Augusta members. The club has about 300 members.
''We'll be in touch with the corporations they represent,'' she said. ''Who's underwriting the membership? How does that square with the companies' stated policies on discrimination? I think we would want consumers to know that situation.''
Burk said she already has asked the PGA Tour to no longer recognize The Masters as an official event. She said commissioner Tim Finchem wrote her Tuesday that the PGA Tour would continue to sanction the tournament.
''That was disappointing to me, coming from an entity that has clearly written policies against discrimination,'' Burk said. ''They're creating a double standard.''
More from ESPN... Masters drops sponsors, goes totally commercial-free Augusta National decided ...
Harig: Johnson teed it up for women's groups Masters chairman Hootie ...
Fore! Augusta National chair fires at women's group In a defiant statement about ...
ESPN Tools Email story
Most sent stories
I love it when liberals start eating their own...
Their steering committee has one sex only! Their member organizations are primarily one sex! They must be forced to admit the other sex to their leadership ranks and steering committee! And allow them to be involved in running the organization. An organization that profits from US TAX EXEMPT nonprofit laws since much of their funding apparently comes from nonprofit corporations.
I'm not yalking about Augusta National!!! No! In talking about THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS! There is not ONE MAN involved in their organization in a leadership and/or decision making capacity. Read the links above and look at their web site!
That ain't gonna happen - this is golf's Super Bowl in terms of television dollars. There's no one in their right mind at CBS who would even think of it.
It only took me a few minutes to find out that they have the same views as Augusta has regarding their own organization. Which is fine with me. If women or anyone else wants their own club that's A-OK. But, the BIG difference here is that this "woman's group" is very much funded by my tax dollars. Since they take donations from 503 nonpofits. And Augusta National makes their money the old fashioned way.
There are over 700,000+ nonprofit corporations in America. Many are either in business to push their own political agenda and/or enrich their handlers. The ONLY reason these women are after Augusta is to make noise and increase their donations. It's about money. Which they can't make on their own. They are grifters and panhandlers. Beggars. Unlike Augusta National. Which actually has a product that people want to buy.
It makes me sick when some group that has never created anything, built anything and always has had a tin cup out for dollars does something like this. The nonpofit laws were designed for CHARITY! To help needy people. Not to make people like Eleanor Smeal rich and famous.
...or until hell freezes over - whichever comes first...
Might be tough. Rosie has more equipment than Donahubris.
There's no appeasing these people. Look for these snarfy old bags to organize a boycott of the State of Georgia next.
I can see them now. Out there baiting someone
to do something to them, while they march
carrying their signs of protest signed,
the Masters Baiting Society.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.