HUGGAN’S ALLEY: JOHN HUGGAN
To be honest, I had no idea who they were. But when I tweeted some mildly disparaging remarks about what I saw as the unseemly/unprofessional behaviour of a group of media-credentialed individuals during the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, I was soon to find out what and who this thing called “barstoolsports” is and are. Boy, did I strike a nerve.
My criticism was aimed at two things. First, these so-called “journalists” were shown high-fiving American captain Tiger Woods as he walked past, then giddily celebrating in a manner akin to six-year old children. Then, one of their brood – someone named “Frankie Borrelli” to be exact – followed up with a tweet referencing Woods’ singles match with Mexican, Abraham Ancer.
“I want Ancer to quit the game of golf when Tiger is done with him today,” announced the wretched Borrelli.
Which was illuminating. “Growing the game” – a phrase heard a lot these days in a sport that has endured a depressingly steep decline in participation levels over the past few years – is, so I’m told, one of the proudest claims made by all of golf’s “barstoolers.” But that laudable aim is hard to believe when part of the manifesto apparently involves banishing someone like Ancer from the party.
Call me perverse, but such a tactic seems more than a little bit odd. Going forward, most sane individuals would surely see Ancer’s minority background as a plus for golf. I know I would. Judging by his expansive performances during the International side’s press conferences at Royal Melbourne, the 28-year old former Australian Open champion is an immensely likeable young man and, as he proved more than once by his play that week, a fine golfer.
Anyway, to me – a so-called member of what barstoolers love to call “old man media” (I plead guilty your honour) – it seemed like barstool’s antics and comments were worthy of widespread contempt. I still feel that way.
However, the worst was yet to come. It took me a few days to notice their presence, but in the immediate aftermath of my comments my Twitter account was inundated by messages from Borrelli followers. It would be fair to say that none got in touch to wish me well. Quite the opposite actually.
So disturbing were many of the missives, I would have been more than justified in taking them to the police. It was pretty disgusting stuff, none of which I am able to repeat here. Suffice to say, these people – who clearly spend way too much of their time gazing at computer screens located in their parent’s basements – do not possess the widest vocabularies. Nor do they seem capable of writing in complete sentences.
So spooked was I by the extraordinary level of vitriol, I decided to withdraw from Twitter. The sudden elevation in the numbers of those “following” me was an indication that I had attracted attention in some undesirable quarters. While I have always welcomed serious debate on any and all issues in golf – being told you are wrong is part of the job for every journalist – based on what these “trolls” were threatening made this a far more worrying development than simple disagreement. I genuinely feared for my safety and that of my family.
Still, amidst all of this nonsense, it must be acknowledged that barstool and their ilk have a rapidly growing following and so an important role to play going forward. In that sense, they are to be welcomed, as is the fresh demographic they claim to represent.
The PGA Tour has certainly noticed the obvious potential, which is why the aforementioned “fan boys” were allowed inside the ropes at Royal Melbourne. The barstool boys are also popular with the professionals they openly worship, especially those pros who prefer soft-ball questions rather than queries designed to challenge intellects and elicit thought-provoking responses.
All of which is just to acknowledge the world of golf can benefit from the presence of a newer, younger “media,” one that attracts newer, younger players to the game. For too long the game has wallowed in a rule-infested stuffiness that has driven many into the more welcoming arms of other sports. Clearly, the last thing golf needs is more people who look even a little bit like me.
But if the barstool nation is open to some counselling – the initial signs are not good on that front – it would be well-advised to publicly restrain the more obnoxious elements lurking within its fan-base. Those excesses need to be condemned, not taken as encouragement to continue down the present path. If my recent experience is anything to go by, too many of barstool’s followers are toxic, dangerous and a group of people golf is better off without.