Everybody’s a critic…
Came in to work this morning and while waiting for my computer to boot up I checked my voicemail and was met with this nastygram:
Paul Anderson I assume. Hey, I looked at the front page of the pilot yesterday and saw a picture of you and Paul Hahn there. I’m surprised he didn’t call security when you showed up. You’ve got to have a little more respect for the game. You showed up looking like a fugitive from a goodwill store, obviously more comfortable in a trailer park than on a golf course. But, geez guy, this is an important event for the community and you’re just not the man. Too bad.
I assume he was talking about this column.
Whoever you are — I’ll ironically call you Mr. Courage of His Convictions since you didn’t leave a name — you provided a lot of fodder for laughs here in the newsroom and at our tent at the Toshiba Classic today. I’m now known as the homeless golfer. Sheesh.
Then there’s this comment on the second part of my story on going homeless for a night in Costa Mesa:
E Garcia wrote on Mar 2, 2009 10:46 PM:
” I believe one of the most important things a homeless shelter can do for those in need is to teach them to have respect in their appearance. The homeless man in the photo above obviously is in great need of a decent haircut and a shave. If he were to clean himself up I’m sure he could go a lot further in life. He looks very disheveled. A good shower, some shampoo, a toothbrush, haircut, and he needs to improve his posture. It’s a shame to see young people have such little worth in themselves. “
It was an obvious dig at me since I’m obviously identified in the picture. So, um, just asking, but that comment wasn’t left by the Eileen Garcia of Minutemen Project fame, would it? Could be. Just sayin’…. Oh, and I guess my disguise worked. I intentionally tried to look homeless so I would blend in. Duh. Did you think I should wear a jacket and tie while sleeping in a homeless shelter?
Oh well, I put myself out there I have to take the brickbats like any other public figure. I don’t mind. In fact, I always had my phone number listed publicly in case someone who didn’t like what I wrote wanted to holler at me. But I have to say I don’t have much respect for people who lob the insults anonymously. When I was growing up I was told if you had an opinion, put your name on it. Only a jerk resorts to the anonymous insult.
Generally speaking, I think my column on golfing for the first time drew positive reviews. I was shocked Friday on the course as so many people were buzzing about it. In fact, when we ran into some Hoag Hospital executives I was about to introduce myself when he said, “I know you. You were on the front page golfing.”
As Ben Fong-Torres would say: Craaazzzy.
And that’s why hippies don’t golf. Who knows how many Tiger Woods were discouraged by such blatant snobbery? To the anonymous haters out there: The 1950s called. They want their world-view back.
P.S. Paul: I thought you cleaned up pretty.
He does clean up very well, Jay.
Not so sure about his golf swing, but at least he’s come to his senses about what kind of all-encompassing skills golf requires.
And why rip on Paul, folks? How in the world can this column offend you?
Grow. Up.
A golf-shirt and dress shoes? At a golf course? Anderson, you’ve hit a new low. Before you know it you’ll put on a fleece vest.
That pencil drawing on your header looks nothing like you.
I doubt the guy who ragged on Paul for his appearance has ever been on a public course. He is either a member of a private club, or has only seen golf on TV. As long as a golfer follows the rules of etiquette and is mindful of his fellow golfers, how he looks is not important.
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