Changing room chat: US Open weathers economic storm

Published on Thursday 18 June 2009 22:33

THERE are fewer corporate hospitality tents at this year's US Open, but you wouldn't know there's an economic downturn by watching the massive souvenir tent at Bethpage State Park.

Business has been brisk as fans have turned out to see early-week practice rounds. "It amazes me that people are willing to spend $500 on this stuff," said New Jersey car dealer John Bustard, taking a moment outside the tent to complain about his own financial situation. "And yet they don't have any money to buy a new Honda Civic."

Like the other major sports, golf has felt the impact of recession.

Pete Bevacqua, chief business officer for the US Golf Association, which runs the US Open, said because there were fewer hospitality tents, where the Wall Street crowd usually wines and dines clients inside air-conditioned tents that more closely resemble fancy catering halls, additional tickets became available for fans last week.

James Forney, taking a photo of his two daughters just steps from where Vijay Singh was practising his putting, said he was suspicious of any talk of corporate cutbacks. "They're here to wine and dine," he said. "I think their idea of cutting back is making two executives share a corporate jet to get here instead of each one flying in their own plane."

Players sound off over vuvuzelas

SCOTTISH football fans who have had their ears damaged by the incessant drummer that follows Livingston will no doubt have sympathy for those calling to ban the vuvuzela.

Fifa is to discuss the future of the noisy plastic trumpet blown at the Confederations Cup after complaints from the likes of Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso, who says vuvuzelas make it hard for players to communicate. But Fifa president Sepp Blatter said: "It's a local sound. I don't know how it is possible to stop it. This is Africa. We have to adapt a little."

Bookies take hats off to the Queen

THE bookmakers may have taken a hit at Royal Ascot when Yeats landed the Gold Cup but they breathed a sigh of relief after the Queen opted for a white hat on Ladies' Day.

Ladbrokes had seen sustained support for green, which went off the 5-4 favourite, and a last gasp gamble on blue (4-1 from 8-1). Firm spokesman Nick Weinberg said: "It certainly turned out all-white for us. Green was the colour we needed beaten and it came as a huge relief when her majesty appeared in white."

TALES FROM THE TABS

STAUNTON WELL PLACED

THERE are still a couple of managerial vacancies to fill in the SPL, and the Daily Express reported that former Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton has been interviewed for the Motherwell job.

The paper said that "chairman John Boyle held talks with the 40-year-old, who was also given a guided tour of Fir Park". Gary McAllister, Luc Nijholt and Lawrie Sanchez are all also thought to be in the frame to replace Mark McGhee.

The Express also said that Hamilton manager Billy Reid is planning to plunder the English loan market and bolster his squad with little-known youngsters ahead of the new campaign. "Last season we brought in names no one really knew and that's going to be the case again," explained Reid. "We have done a lot of work down south in the Premiership."

The Daily Mirror rarely disappoints when it comes to English transfer speculation. Yesterday they said that Aston Villa are offering Nigel Reo-Coker to Spurs in a swap deal for Tom Huddlestone, and that Andrea Prilo is keen to leave AC Milan and join Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.