Polo

[mac]

Did anyone attend the Villages Polo matches today (Sunday, 10/22). It was a Women's Polo event. Wondering if anyone found the announcer as offensive as I with his sexist and one glaring ethnic remarks. His references to the women athletes were offensive and made viewing difficult since there is no way to tune him out. If anyone knows to whom I can direct my concerns in Polo operations, please forward that info.

[kaydee]

Contact Stuart Campell. I believe his office is located in the yellow house/office bldg that sets behind the paddaock area north of the stadium.

[tpop1]

This is reason 1 why I come to TOTV less and less.

As a man of a certain age I could be accused of not being very enlightened.

But as a man with a wife and daughter, I can see no reason in this day and age for sexist, racist comments, if these were made as posted.

The real issue is that the original posted made a valid obseravtion, asked a valid question, and had already received a valid response before hit with critisim as a whinner.

She or he may have had a valid complaint, asked how to move it up the line and gets dumped on.

That's not right!!!

[Moderator]

Please address the topic and not each other.

[Taltarzac725]

Did anyone attend the Villages Polo matches today (Sunday, 10/22). It was a Women's Polo event. Wondering if anyone found the announcer as offensive as I with his sexist and one glaring ethnic remarks. His references to the women athletes were offensive and made viewing difficult since there is no way to tune him out. If anyone knows to whom I can direct my concerns in Polo operations, please forward that info.

Sorry you experienced this. Think public announcers would show a little more maturity at their age and in 2012. Some people still seem to be living in 1952.

[cathyw]

Did anyone attend the Villages Polo matches today (Sunday, 10/22). It was a Women's Polo event. Wondering if anyone found the announcer as offensive as I with his sexist and one glaring ethnic remarks. His references to the women athletes were offensive and made viewing difficult since there is no way to tune him out. If anyone knows to whom I can direct my concerns in Polo operations, please forward that info.

Yes, call Stuart Campbell or Paige Boone at 750-7656. I attend a lot of the games but I missed yesterday's matches. The announcers that they use are polo players. Most of the polo players are friends, on and off the field and they do like to tease each other. I am hoping that this was the case yesterday.(but it sounds like they may have crossed the line)
But, if you felt it was offensive, please let them know. Paige, a female player, was playing in yesterday's game, so it would be good to talk to her and get her opinion.
Most of the female players are very outspoken, so I am sure that if they were insulted, they will have already spoken to the announcer. Still, it would be good for Stuart and Paige to know how you felt.
Sorry, you had a bad experience at polo. It is really a wonderful day out and a great sport.

[Pturner]

Hi Mac,
Wish I had been available on Sunday to attend the match. Sorry also to hear that you had a negative experience, and sorry to see you being dissed on TOTV for merely stating an opinion. For those of us who weren't there, what did the announcer say?

[graciegirl]

Hi Mac,
Wish I had been available on Sunday to attend the match. Sorry also to hear that you had a negative experience, and sorry to see you being dissed on TOTV for merely stating an opinion. For those of us who weren't there, what did the announcer say?

Yes. Please tell us what happened and what was said that was offensive.

[Threeputt]

Same thing on Friday matches...he was absolutely horrid........................

[paulandjean]

Same thing on Friday matches...he was absolutely horrid........................

Meaning, he said what?Tell us what he said that was absolutely horrid.........

[Taltarzac725]

Meaning, he said what?Tell us what he said that was absolutely horrid.........

Curious minds want to know.

[Geewiz]

I was there and I don't remember exactly what he said...I remember one bit about the players doing their nails during a break in action...it was that kind of over the top sexist stuff. My impression is that he was actually mocking those who hold those views..while also teasing the players.

Humor is hard...especially, if you are playing that line between serious teasing and mocking the people who use that teasing in a pejorative manner. Steven Colbert does it all the time; but, he's a pro doing it - plus, we are all in on the joke. When the show started, a politician walked out on him cause he thought the show was serious (it was the Nebraska guy who dated Deb Winger).

I kinda feel for the PA guy because I use humor often and have fallen victim to the same misunderstanding.

Please don't take this as criticizing the poster. I think it is totally ok to share your views and, certainly, a case can be made that if your humor might be misunderstood, you might want to avoid a PA mike.

[graciegirl]

I was there and I don't remember exactly what he said...I remember one bit about the players doing their nails during a break in action...it was that kind of over the top sexist stuff. My impression is that he was actually mocking those who hold those views..while also teasing the players.

Humor is hard...especially, if you are playing that line between serious teasing and mocking the people who use that teasing in a pejorative manner. Steven Colbert does it all the time; but, he's a pro doing it - plus, we are all in on the joke. When the show started, a politician walked out on him cause he thought the show was serious (it was the Nebraska guy who dated Deb Winger).

I kinda feel for the PA guy because I use humor often and have fallen victim to the same misunderstanding.

Please don't take this as criticizing the poster. I think it is totally ok to share your views and, certainly, a case can be made that if your humor might be misunderstood, you might want to avoid a PA mike.


Well said and well understood on this end anyway.

I have learned that my humor falls flat on here sometimes, but I have come to find out that I am just not that funny:ohdear:.

But seriously what is funny to some is offensive to others...and where do you draw the line? Who knows?

Doing nails seems kind of "not mean or offensive" to me. It is a bit unusual for girls to be the polo players.

I guess to be fair that the next time when the guys play there could be a comment about adjusting cups.

JUST KIDDING!!!:1rotfl:

[Single Track]

Did anyone attend the Villages Polo matches today (Sunday, 10/22). It was a Women's Polo event. Wondering if anyone found the announcer as offensive as I with his sexist and one glaring ethnic remarks. His references to the women athletes were offensive and made viewing difficult since there is no way to tune him out. If anyone knows to whom I can direct my concerns in Polo operations, please forward that info.

I totally agree with this post; however, I along with 2 visiting females attended the Friday match. The 3 of us females had never seen polo before so I thought it would be an interesting activity. There were at least a half a dozen times that sexists comments were made and the 3 of us sort of raised our eyebrows. We are far from feminists, we weren't horrified and we have a sense of humor, but we were really surprised that an announcer makes sexist comments in a public forum. I wish I could remember some of the comments but we came away wondering if remarks like that are made when men are playing. Since it was our first time, we don't know. Bottom line is that I think he was out of line.

[mac]

In updating the original post, I wish to share with you that I did receive a PM from a partipating woman polo player. She apologized for the insensitive remarks of of their regular announcer, Mr. Lyall, and inferred that he was trying to be funny. It would appear that after hearing Mr. Lyall's "jokes" for a long time, the players and some of the audience have accepted that he is "trying" to be funny.

At least one of the TOV responders wished to hear what was so horrid. References to "broken nails", "lost earrings ", and introductions of players as "the housewife", "the nannie" and working in a "service industry" are derogatory to women athletes in this setting. Subtle sexism, sometimes explained away as "joking" is often used to minimize the accomplishments of women in male dominated roles. While perhaps not "horrid" to some of you, subtle sexism is offensive to me and my friends. I went to watch a polo match not listen to a sexist comedian at a comedy club. Mr. Lyall was also way over the top with an offensive ethnic remark made during the introductions when he referred to a player's lengthy name as being "longer than a Mexican's".

I would hope that the Polo Club would bring to Mr. Lyall's attention that it is an incorrect assumption that all who attend polo matches find his "jokes" funny. The use of subtle sexist and ethnic humor of the 1950's that Mr. Lyall may use with his family and close friends is not appropriate as a Villages Polo announcer in 2012.

"there's no such thing as a joke." Freud

[paulandjean]

OH Well!

[TomOB]

I go to Polo every week and I know the humor of the announcers. To most of the regulars, the announcers are funny and their light humor brings more enjoyment to the matches. We stay after and socialize with the players and announcers and they are all just having fun.

Try to lighten up and have some fun.

[tkret]

I go to Polo every week and I know the humor of the announcers. To most of the regulars, the announcers are funny and their light humor brings more enjoyment to the matches. We stay after and socialize with the players and announcers and they are all just having fun.

Try to lighten up and have some fun.
We, too, take in some of the matches and usually with a group of friends. Everyone seems to chuckle and enjoy the commentary by the public address announcers. It's done in fun and never a put-down. During the break in the action you can often see the player, themselves, laughing and smiling at something that the announcer says....

[lovesports]

I go to Polo every week and I know the humor of the announcers. To most of the regulars, the announcers are funny and their light humor brings more enjoyment to the matches. We stay after and socialize with the players and announcers and they are all just having fun.

Try to lighten up and have some fun.
I agree TomOB

I never miss a polo game and help with advertising and parking. Lord Lyall's family is the reason we have public polo in the Villages. The polo fields are on his family's land. The real polo fans LOVE these announcers and respect their polo skills. Complain and you will see this turn into a closed private club. Its not part of your amenity fee. You wouldn't believe the price of keeping polo fields and strings of polo ponies etc.
Lord Lyall has opened his private field inside the compound to the polo boosters and the horse clubs. He has lunch, plays demonstration games and explains polo. He has given much time to keep polo in the Villages. There are 1000 fans in the polo boosters club and MANY who delicate their TIME so YOU can go watch polo for almost nothing. This is a GIFT to the Villages from people like Lord Lyall and others that could easily be taken away.

[lovesports]

We, too, take in some of the matches and usually with a group of friends. Everyone seems to chuckle and enjoy the commentary by the public address announcers. It's done in fun and never a put-down. During the break in the action you can often see the player, themselves, laughing and smiling at something that the announcer says....

So true.

[Cedwards38]

Is it really necessary to the enjoyment of the polo match? If it offends.............don't do it. Seems simple enough to me.

[paulandjean]

Sense of Humor is different for everyone. There will always be"Bubble Complainers"......

[ilovetv]

If the female players and veterans in the audience understand and explain that the comments are said in jest, then who are we (total newbies to the sport) to decide that they are mistreating the women players or discriminating against them??

Sports are a type of "culture" among the players and teams. We don't understand all cultures we visit initially.

Personally, I find it refreshing to see women who stand up to such comments and throw it right back at 'em. Polo is a very rough sport and I'm sure the women know what they're in for and take it as a challenge!