Casey the PGA and the Supreme Court

[Expertise]

First of all if you are unfamiliar with this case it concerns Casey Martin a professional golfer (currently on the Buy.com Tour) who litigated after the PGA refused to let him use a power cart on the PGA Tour. Mr. Martin suffers from a relatively rare circulatory disorder that prevents him from being able to walk the course as stipulated by PGA rules.

Yesterday the US Supreme Court ruled that Casey could use a cart basically referencing the "Americans with Disability's Act". The cusp of the Supremem courts decision was that walking was NOT an integral part of the game and that the use of a cart gave him no advantage . Now I for one respect Casey Martin who is a very couragous individual and a very good golfer (even though he is currently ranked 115th on the Buy.com tour).... but WHAT THE FUCK??????

Does this not open the floodgates? Will marathon runners with bad arches be allowed to compete in the Boston Marathon wearing roller blades? What about old fat guys with athsma maybe they should get to use a cart too?

Should there not be one set of rules for everyone? Did Jim Abbot ask Major League Baseball to change the rules because he only had one hand...... no he did the best he could with what he had, complied with the rules and had a successful career in "the bigs". But I guess thats all changed to the new paradigm if you can't compete within the rules... litigate.

Your thoughts????

 

[Mischka]

I hate to admit it, but I actually agree with Scalia and Thomas' dissent on this one (don't hate me, Lavy). Professional sports are not designed for everyone, and I do not agree with setting individual rules for some people. Walking may not be an intergral part of the sport, but it is impossible to accurately measure Casey's performance against the other golfers. And that is not fair not anyone.

I view this ruling as an abuse of the ADA. The ADA is designed to give people with disabilites a fair chance to compete and contribute to society, not to give them full access to any and all activities and professions. Everyone is not suited to every career, and no amount of legislation or court rulings will change that. Myopic people may not fly commercial planes, even if they can correct their vision to 20/20 through surgery or corrective lenses. Women of my height will never be a Rockette or horse jockey. (OK, that last example was bizarre, but you get the point.)

 

[WriterDom]

I have mixed feelings on this one. While I worry about the precedent, I tend to side with Casey. I was on the tour for 4 years. Well, ok, so it was the high school tour, but I've always felt you play better by walking the course than by riding. And these guys don't even carry their own bag. No one watches golf to see some fat ass man or BBW woman waddle down the damn course. And it's not constant walking either. It's walk for 270 yards or less and then wait on the guys or girls ahead to move on. The game is 90% mental, and the physical part isn't compromised by a guy with half a leg riding to his ball. Should a runner get rollerblades? Of course not. But this is no different from a person pitching horseshoes getting a ride back and forth as they change sides.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

The Supreme Court decision was blatantly inappropriate and misguided. I don't know of anyone who would argue that Martin shouldn't play golf. He is widely recognized as being a 'nice guy' and a good golfer. Not quite good enough to play on the PGA tour, but competent enough to compete in their 'minor league' - the Buy.com tour. But he doesn't deserve a separate rule to allow him to compete with others.

Walking is fundamental to the sport. Despite the fact that he is burdened with a very real disability, riding in a cart gives him a leg up (pardon the pun) on the other players. Just ask Ken Venturi- who almost collapsed and died several decades ago during a tournament or Jose-Maria Olazabal who lost 2 years of playing time due to a pain in his foot. Neither of them asked for special dispensation.

If he can't stand the heat, he should get out of the kitchen. He is not entitled to special treatment because of his disability. I believe the original intent of the ADA was noble and long overdue, but, like so many other ideas, it was corrupted by the political correctness faction.

I have always been a champion of people with disabilities - including a family member - so I am not against the thought behind the Americans with Disabilities Act. But this does not provide for the fact that not everyone is cut out for every job or activity.

But more important than that is the fact that the Court has demonstrated a penchant for interfering with private sector business. The PGA is a private, restricted membership organization. It is not open to the general public, and, as such, is under no obligation to provide equality to every Tom, Dick or Harry.

They have a set of rules which must be adhered to and a set of entry requirements that must be met before membership is approved. In addition, a card-carrying member must maintain these standards in order to guarantee continuing participation. In the name of fairness, everyone should meet the same archetype.

This ruling has undermined the PGA's right to govern itself as a business entity. What is the difference between this and the government coming in and telling a small business owner that they must remain open 24 hours a day 7 days a week to provide access to customers whose schedules conflict with normal hours of operation?

I am disappointed that this decision was reached and will now open the door for future contests of the law as Expertise has already theorized.

 

[Mischka]

Welcome to the Boards, Barb! Since your first post is on a politically-minded thread, I can already tell that I like you.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

Thanks for that warm welcome, Mischka!

I have a tendency to voice my opinions - hope that goes over well here!?

What a crazy, wacky picture you have for your icon! It is so original. I like that!

 

[Mischka]

Thank you - I was an orange Dala Horse until yesterday, but I decided to be human for a while. Nice change of pace.

And opinionated, intelligent types are always welcome. You'll find this place truly has something for everyone, so jump in any thread that strikes your fancy.

Sorry to hijack your thread, Expertise. Now back to our regularly programmed topic...

 

[lavender]

 

[Barb Dwyer]

Thank you, Lavender. Is there a cash prize that comes with that? Or some sort of weird sex toy?

 

[lavender]

 

[WriterDom]

.

And I want to commend WriterDom. I knew you had a little lefty in that hard conservative skull of yours. I never thought we would agree on anything!

Not all my positions are conservative. I am anti-death penalty, support a woman's right to choose or snooze, and have no objections to adults accessing porn. And I almost voted for Ralph Nader, (not that I wanted him to win)