William K. Wolfrum

Getting off the phone earlier this morning with Martha Burk, I was struck by one thing more than any other - her focus. For a woman who five years ago put herself on the front lines for feminism in the most visible of ways, she is still more focused than ever. And still on the front lines.

Because while the golf establishment decided that Burk was a non-factor, the rest of the nation took notice. The fact that Augusta National is a sexist organization became blindingly clear to many due to Burk’s 2003 protest at the Masters. And the fact that it remains that way due to a member list that consists primarily of CEOs, politicians and the like is also equally obvious.

I wrote a blog post about Burk and her experiences before and after the 2003 Masters at WorldGolf.com. You can read that post by clicking here. I am also working on a feature story for WorldGolf.com that will take the story even further.

When I told Burk that the blog post I wrote would likely be met with by anger from the golfing community, she could not contain her laugh.

“Tell me about it,” she said.

I hope you go read the post. Because it was truly a pleasure to speak with the indomitable Martha Burk.

–WKW

Simply put, John McCain has all but stood up and said “I will give you the exact same thing that Bush has given you,” during his topsy-turvy road to being the GOP nomination for President. Plus, he has proven that things like stopping torture and global warming - two issues he has taken very firm stands on in the past - are things he will vote against and then go on saying he’s a supporter.

Basically, John McCain is an older, more war-worshiping version of George W. Bush, and has made it clear that he believes the U.S. is headed in the right direction.

So if you like the major headlines of today, April 8, 2008, vote for John McCain:

- Petraeus calls for halt to Iraq troop pull out

- Al-Sadr Threatens to End Cease-Fire

- Pending home sales index falls 1.9% in February

- Fed concerned about prolonged and severe economic downturn

- Medical Errors Costing US Billions

- Defiant Iran expands nuclear operation

- Israel holds emergency drill amid attack worries

- Five U.S. troops killed in Iraq

The 2008 U.S. Presidential election comes down to one simple thing - if you read the above stories and think the last eight years have made the U.S. a better place, then vote for John McCain. It’s just that simple.

–WKW

This week at the Masters golf tournament there will be more millionaire Christians congregated together than one could shake a stick at, should stick shaking be an action you prefer for this type of thing.

Yes, Augusta, Georgia is just bursting at its peach-stained borders as it prepares for the Masters, as old money meets with new money that meets with “Hey, how the hell did you get money?” at extravagant Masters-flavored galas throughout the land.

But the fact is this: Christians are in immortal peril. We must save them. You see, as I was strolling through Kevin 4:12 (there was a Kevin, right?) I came to a part that states that every Christian should give away all their money and preach about Jesus, or go to Hell. Or something like that. It was pretty explicit, though.

Now, while I pick and choose which parts of the Bible I take seriously (you know, like all other Christians), I have decided to take this particular sin Extremely Seriously.

And being a golf blogger, it was easy to find a whole flock of sinners this week - in Augusta. You can almost feel the Christianity in the air at Augusta National, though I suspect that would be true in most of the South. This is not a bad thing, mind you. I would have to guess that the vast majority of Georgia Christians are true peaches. They tithe, they give, they are generally pleasant to be around. But like me, they are sinners headed for hell. Unlike me, they care.

So I have decided that a two-prong plan is necessary. The first part is that every good Christian in Augusta (including PGA Tour players) must give away all their earthly goods. The second part is they need to give it all away to me.

Now, I can see that the latter part of this plan raises eyebrows, but its necessity is two fold. First, it’s all about verification. You send me everything; I mark you down as not violating that sin. And I’ll make a Powerpoint Presentation out of it that will really dazzle.

Secondly, you’ll be enriching me. As a non-believer, I will be punished even extra for living such a luxurious life, and I will be promoting the Christian cause. Do you see the beauty in that? I will not mock your faith and only speak highly of it. Because, seriously, I’ll freakin’ love Christians.

Also, for me - a Hell-bound soul - this is sort of a “Pay My Way Through Hell” deal. At very least, I can spend my mortal days in the manner I so clearly deserve. And when it’s all over, you can laugh at me from above as I get eternally tortured, and kick myself for being so shortsighted.

But it’s cool because I don’t believe in that. But you do.

Because religion matters. And you either follow the rules or you don’t. God just isn’t going to cut anyone any slack and this isn’t something a deathbed confession will fix. This is a big sin we’re talking about here. I want to help as many of you as I can. Let me save you as I damn myself. Just put on some old clothes and hiking boots and start wandering the land telling people about Jesus. And then have your accountant give away all your possessions. To me.

–WKW

First, an apology to my doting reader(s). The last couple months have been appallingly hit and miss here, and I feel bad about that. It honestly is strange how committed I feel to this blog, and how I feel bad abandoning it for any amount of time. As I was with my parents to help out and visit while my Mother fights Leukemia, I don’t feel too bad about it, really, but I do feel bad about not posting enough.

So I anticipate this week to be posting with more regularity. One place I should be posting a lot is at my WorldGolf.com blog, where I will be taking several different looks at the upcoming Masters tournament. There is a long history of racism and sexism at Augusta National in Georgia where the Masters is played, and I intend to cover those subjects as best I can. I got it started today by wondering who are the people gambling on golf and how do they do it.

Mainly, if you’re reading this, I just wanted to say thanks for being a reader. It’s something I truly appreciate and care about.

Bill