Hootie and the News Struck a Chord

There is crisis public relations. Then there is public relations that becomes a crisis, worse than the initial problem.

The latter seems to have happened in Augusta, Ga. A seemingly carefully choreographed PR effort, designed to defuse the issue of all-male membership at Augusta National Golf Club has done the opposite.

New Orleans Times-Picayune columnist John DeShazier took issue with the man in the middle of it all, Augusta National chairman William (Hootie) Johnson:

“The more Hootie Johnson speaks, the more ludicrous the words sound. The more he states the case for why Augusta National has no female members, doesn’t have a timetable on accepting a female member and will likely do so only kicking and screaming, the more legitimacy he lends to Martha Burks’ charge that the club practices sex discrimination.”

Add Hootie: Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News on Johnson’s making the issue a very public debate: “Excuse me, but where in the Constitution did the framers say all human rights are inalienable, unless you have a really good golf tournament? This isn’t the Boy Scouts, though Johnson has argued otherwise. This is one of the biggest events in golf, on its most famous course, televised by CBS.”

Trivia time: What college football team plays in Doyt L. Perry Stadium?

Blame game: We had to read this quote a couple of times to make sure it was correct. An athlete, a famous one, was actually taking the blame after a poor performance.

“Yesterday, I played one of the worst games of my life,” Real Madrid striker Ronaldo told Spanish reporters Monday after a 0-0 tie. “I made a lot of basic errors and if there was any complaint from the fans, I deserved it.”

Pass the doughnuts: AOL columnist Norman Chad on the complexity of the bowl championship series rankings:

“In other words, it would be easier to chart Drew Barrymore’s relationship arcs than it would be to dissect the BCS formula. The first BCS problems here are the human elements -- who can trust coaches or sportswriters?

“Coaches have built-in biases, plus they don’t watch too many games. Sportswriters also have built-in biases, plus they’re generally eating while watching too many games.”

Instant diet: San Francisco Chronicle columnist Scott Ostler on New Jersey’s Chris Childs: “Nets’ guard Chris Childs, under suspension for being too fat, is robbed of $30,000 in jewelry and cash outside a New York nightclub. Send for Childs’ new book, ‘Lose 10 Pounds Instantly!’ ”

Crying game: Illinois Coach Ron Turner, on the officiating after his team lost to Ohio State, 23-16, in overtime Saturday: “It’s a crying shame for those kids [that] the game was decided by the officials. Anyone who is against instant replay should walk into that locker room and see the look in those players’ eyes.”

Trivia answer: Bowling Green.

And finally: Dallas Star forward Bill Guerin, on the rough early schedule: “I think we’re going to play 20 home games this year. It feels like that. My kids are calling me Uncle Billy.”

-- Lisa Dillman