Roy S. Johnson Blog

Roy S. Johnson Blog

Wed May 20, 2009 5:29 pm EDT

Friend or foe, PGA Tour players must step up to the tee

By Roy S. Johnson

Real men wear pink. Or at least they should. Perhaps the great minds running the PGA Tour have figured this out already but if they haven't: Guys, reach into your closets (or head to your nearest Pro Shop) and grab a pink shirt, glove or something when you tee off at the HP Byron Nelson Championship Thursday in Irving, Texas.

Phil Mickelson won't be there because his wife, Amy, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and he's rightfully decided to put down the clubs and be there for her.

What are the rest of you guys going to do?

Offering your prayers and sympathy is great. Those who are close to him (and even those who aren't) will no doubt reach out to him personally.

To do nothing more than that would be a crime.

The PGA Tour should use its next event to shed light on the plague of breast cancer. Nearly 185,000 women like Amy (and more than 1,500 men) were diagnosed with the disease last year; an estimated 40,000 women died. Golf's sad news can be a catalyst for something positive.

The tour prides itself on the millions it has raised for various charities throughout the nation, and it should be applauded for the much-appreciated millions raised.

But this is a unique opportunity. What if each golfer donated 5 percent of his winnings this weekend to the continued research into better treatment and a cure? What if the caddies pitched in, too? And fans, maybe each should be asked to bring 5 bucks for the kitty - and wear their own pink, too.

The players' share alone would produce $325,000.

The LPGA has raised awareness and funds for breast cancer in myriad ways. LIFE (LPGA Pros in the Fight to Eradicate Breast Cancer) has been the banner under which many players have lent their visibility to the cause.

But the PGA Tour should shouldn't just leave it to the women. Breast cancer is not a women's issue. If you have a mother, daughter, sister, aunt or, of course, a wife, it's your issue, too.

Other sports have done their part. Each Mother's Day, major-league baseball players use pink bats and don various pink paraphernalia (wrist/arm bands, gloves and even sunglasses) during games. The stuff is auctioned off with proceeds donated to breast cancer charities. The NBA and NFL (pink towels on the sidelines!) have pitched in.

Now it's time for the PGA Tour to step up to the tee for one of their own - and for millions of women like Amy.

digg delicious
more

114 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Earl D
    1. Posted by Earl D Wed May 20, 2009 5:51 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Johnson, you are so quick to spend others money. Why don't you set an example and donate 5% of your annual salary?
  2. Ioannis
    2. Posted by Ioannis Wed May 20, 2009 5:54 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Roy is flat wrong this time. If people want to donate money for cancer research its their right to do so. I am saddened to hear about Amy Nickleson's dianosis and hope the best for her in the difficult days ahead. But to make her the poster child for cancer fund raising puts undue burden on someone who didn't ask for it. Millions of women have tragically had to face breast cancer. My own mother died of brest cancer a few years ago. My heart goes out to all those so afflicted. If Amy Mickleson asks us all to donate, she'll tell us and I would do it. Roy Johnson should keep his opinion, in this case, to himself.
  3. xc90_driver
    3. Posted by xc90_driver Wed May 20, 2009 6:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Who are you to tell others what to do? And who are you to declare whether something is a crime?
  4. tsylvia
    4. Posted by tsylvia Wed May 20, 2009 6:08 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The cause you state is worthy and noble and well worth pursuing. However, good luck on getting the PGA tour to help contribute as a group. These players are some of the tightest, squeakiest, cheapest, well-off people in this country. Everything about these guys is me, me, me. How much can I put in my pocket ? Phil is not well-liked by 75% of the players, so the most you could raise from this cheap group is peanuts. They are a sad group of human beings, at least most of them.
  5. Mike
    5. Posted by Mike Wed May 20, 2009 6:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The PGA could do something similar to the other sports. The players can wear something pink during the tourney on Mother's Day and it can be auctioned off. Not to mention that the tourney played on Mother's Day week would be supporting a breast cancer charity. The PGA does good at raising millions of dollars and they really could step it up around Mother's Day. The players/caddies/fans donations isn't a bad idea either. But really getting into corporate pocketbooks is the key on this. They have the ability to generate the bulk of the funds.
  6. Mike
    6. Posted by Mike Wed May 20, 2009 6:15 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    This doesn't need to be about Amy Mickelson. It needs to be about breast cancer and whatever help everyone of us can give be it large or small.
  7. usf1282
    7. Posted by usf1282 Wed May 20, 2009 6:27 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I appreciate the fact that you are proudly sporting your pink ribbon, but there are plenty of other causes out there that don't have anywhere close to the support that breast cancer research has. Prostate cancer shares a similar incidence to breast cancer but doesn't have nearly as much funding or awareness. Cystic fibrosis is a very difficult disease where the individual has a median lifespan of around 30 years and most of these people are also stricken with infertility, unable to have sons and daughters capable of carrying on their name. This isn't a competition of breast cancer versus other diseases, but the PGA shouldn't force everyone to wear pink. I do think that it would be nice to see the PGA recommend that all the players make some sort of donation to any type of cancer or disease research that they like. That being said, I do wish Amy Mickelson and everyone else with debilitating diseases a speedy recovery and all the best.
  8. JasonB
    8. Posted by JasonB Wed May 20, 2009 6:30 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Nearly 200,000 men will be diagnosed with Prostate cancer this year, what percentage of income should be devoted to that?
  9. Need A New One
    9. Posted by Need A New One Wed May 20, 2009 6:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    hey loannis her name is AMY Mickelson not Nickelson and to you others no where in this article does it say people have to do what he says
  10. Ethan
    10. Posted by Ethan Wed May 20, 2009 6:35 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It's unfortunate that this disease has to strike someone who's name means something to people when they read the headlines, unfortunately, it has been going on for many years and hitting homes of every day Americans for decades. Maybe golfers should donate a portion of their winnings, and also, maybe journalist can write weekly articles about average citizens that are also struggling with the disease as well. These same journalist can also talk about ways people can help out the cause as a whole, rather than wait for isolated cases in the world of celebrities to raise our awareness.
    This is definitely a story that's deserving of attention. But, I think that it's even more unfortunate when Jane and John Doe aka your anonymous citizens break down with a horrific disease and have no one on the outside to help bring in the donations to help raise awareness and raise money for research. This needs to be talked about and preached daily, not just when it strikes someone who's name on a headline might catch a couple more views.
  11. Birdwatcher
    11. Posted by Birdwatcher Wed May 20, 2009 6:38 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The PGA tour raises more money for charity than the NFL, MLB and NBA combined. Think twice before we start calling out an organization for what they should or should not do regarding donations when they have that track record. It is terrible to for Amy but it is no worse than a woman who was diagnosed say 2 days ago who isn't in the public eye. Writing an article like this prompts people to be reactvie instead of proactive. Let them donate what they want when they want and for whom they want.
  12. shoot4par
    12. Posted by shoot4par Wed May 20, 2009 6:38 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Johnson, your heart is in the right place but your tactics are not. No one should be guilted into helping a cause. And again, why should the avg guy now make this his cause just because a "celebrity" has been affected. Phil has plenty of $$$ and plenty of corporate pull, I'm sure he doesn't need Tiger's or anybody elses help to raise awareness. He's a big boy now and could/should take care of things himself.
  13. z
    13. Posted by z Wed May 20, 2009 6:43 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Maybe Johnson should've said "should give money," rather than "must give money." My sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I sure hope Amy gets the same clean bill of health as her when all the treatment is completed, but to suggest that everybody on the tour with the Mickelsons MUST pony up is absurd. Like the rest of us, pro golfers no doubt have all kinds of illnesses in their families, such as diabetes, alzheimers, lupus, and other illnesses far less known than breast cancer, and would love to see the PGA allocate more dollars to their favorites. Well intended, i'm sure Mr. Johnson, but poor choice of words.
  14. geba mcmga
    14. Posted by geba mcmga Wed May 20, 2009 6:53 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    X-poor journalism - you are much like a grandmother giving free/foolish advice to everyone else. Why don't you go around wearing pink and giving away money. btw - these charities and institutions are so poorly run that no one gets any benefit besides the administrators who take first cut.
  15. Michael
    15. Posted by Michael Wed May 20, 2009 6:59 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Out of the millions who are diagnosed with cancer or any other serious illness, how come it's only "important" when someone famous is sadly diagnosed with it? It's a sad world when one person is more important than another simply because of the status of being a celebrity. Mr. Johnson I don't recall reading any articles from you asking for donations when a child has cancer, or anyone else for that matter. It's sad regardless who has cancer, but all of a sudden, because it's Phil Mickelson's wife you think everyone man on the tour should donate money? What about the millions of others who have cancer? What happens if someone in your family has cancer, are you going to ask everyone who reads your articles to donate money? Why is it the PGA must step up now, because it's Phil Mickelson's wife? Why would you not expect them to have stepped up years ago for all those who have not only had cancer, but died from cancer. You really are an idiot
  16. 16. Posted by Wed May 20, 2009 7:04 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Who is this guy to tell me what cause to support? What unique opportunity is he referring to? Wake-up young man and look beyond your idols and their families.
  17. Chuck B
    17. Posted by Chuck B Wed May 20, 2009 7:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    he is making a suggestion not telling us what to do. he also states reasons why we should do it. do what you want,give,don't give or deny it exists....your choice because you live in America. at least have the graciousness to wish Amy luck with her breast cancer. it is a horrible thing for a women to have.
  18. as
    18. Posted by as Wed May 20, 2009 7:09 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I can guarantee all 16 of you don't have wives.
  19. two stroke penalty
    19. Posted by two stroke penalty Wed May 20, 2009 7:10 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I was treated successfully for prostate cancer and wrote a book about it. Here's a quote from a German Scientist, Gerd Gigerenzer who holds lectures for physicians about risk: "In the United States, prostate cancer is more frequent than breast cancer and takes as many lives. But there’s no intensity among men about prostate cancer as there is among women about breast cancer. Unlike breast cancer, prostate cancer is presented as an “old man’s disease.” However, its incidence mortality rate and mean age at diagnosis are very similar. " The good Doctor is right. This year 30,000 men will die of this disease, It's a good cause. Arnold Palmer, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Jim Colbert among others sure know.
  20. hardluck
    20. Posted by hardluck Wed May 20, 2009 7:10 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Instead of all this nonsense about $5 donations, instead let's use the 48 billion that scum bag Bush wants to give for AIDS in Africa. Aids is a behavioral problem no like breast cancer. Let's spend US tax dollars at HOME!!!!!!!
  21. cshlby66
    21. Posted by cshlby66 Wed May 20, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    1 of the above comments is that 75 % of the tour players don't care for Mickelson. I've heard that before ! No doubt jealousy-what with the large income-spotlight usually-and the beautiful all-american type family. Yet you never see Phil cursing on camera or displaying some of the demonstrative actions of his fellow pros. He's undoubtedly been blessed with talent-worked to bring it out--and has shown class when he's failed. Liked by his peers or not-he's been great for the sport and a good example to the young hot heads coming up--Nobody wins them all and you can still be cordial in an interview--even when your results are not what you'd hoped for. Our prayers are with you and your family Phil and we hope to see you on tour again when you and your family are comfortable with it !!
  22. pistonfan64
    22. Posted by pistonfan64 Wed May 20, 2009 7:15 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I am sure that Roy has already been to his editor`s office to demand that Yahoo gives 5% of their world wide profits to the cause.
  23. Hamza
    23. Posted by Hamza Wed May 20, 2009 7:25 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Everyone must donate to breast cancer because some hot chick has cancer? Stupidest blog ever. In fact, I think you may have surpassed MJD's retardness.
  24. sampris
    24. Posted by sampris Wed May 20, 2009 7:35 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Suggestion in place of your, "must give"
    Perhaps the Day will come when both The PGA & LPGA will combine for one weekend tounament out of the year, with Proceed$ going to Breast Cancer Research. Addressing the needs that would get them that much closer to finding a remedy.
    Like everything else in life it does not hit home until someone close to us contracts or is tragically taken from us. Why must we wait for that day to come?

Roy S. Johnson Blog

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Contributors

Related Photo Gallery

More TOP Photos »

Yahoo! Sports Blog Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)