The Reinvention of Gary Player

Londo

Londo

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Gary Player hit back on Tuesday at Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and other accusers after he was excluded from the annual Nelson Mandela Invitational charity tournament because of his link to Burma under the military junta.

Player said he was "very disappointed that my integrity and support for human rights has been brought into question".

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"I have a solid record of campaigning for democracy around the world … "
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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=vn20071009105300815C306183

As it has been said many times before, it is hard to find any white person who admits to voting for the National Party these days, but at least they keep their dirty secrets to themselves. But Player takes the cake. He has reinvented himself as Nelson Mandela's big buddy and a fighter for human rights. Am I the only person in South Africa who remembers Player's support and defence of the apartheid regime? I was only a teenager, but well remember my father's anger towards Player.

If he was not a card carrying member of the National Party, he sure acted like one. He defended what was called "separate development" to the outside world on numerous occasions. He didn't keep quiet about the regime's polices, he actively defended them. (It is fortunate for Player that you would have to search microfilm of the newspapers to find the stories.)

He was a regular golfing partner with Nat leaders, iincluding the Minister of Justice and later Prime Minister BJ Vorster. Vorster, as Justice Minister, was responsible for some of the most draconian detention laws such as the 90 and 180 day detention without trial.

The sad part of this is that if Player had the beliefs then that he now claims to have now, he could have, with his high profile in the world, put the spotlight and real pressure on the apartheid regime.

"A solid record of campaigning for democracy" and "support for human rights"! Give me a break, Player.

It is not that he may have changed his views, I hope he has honestly done that. But he should not try to bury his past under a heap of steaming bulll****.

Has anyone ever heard him saying he was wrong for supporting apartheid? Because after his very public support for many years, he owes the black people of this country an apology before he can get on with his new life as a campaigner for democracy and human rights.

A side note: For many years, there was a regular letter writer to the Sunday Times and other newspapers who made it his mission not to let Player get away with his past. He died many years ago. But I am sure he is dancing tonight as Player gets a little bit of come upperance.
 
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He build a golf course there 5 years ago. That's what I call blowing things out of proportion.
 
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Londo said:
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=vn20071009105300815C306183

As it has been said many times before, it is hard to find any white person who admits to voting for the National Party these days, but at least they keep their dirty secrets to themselves. But Player takes the cake. He has reinvented himself as Nelson Mandela's big buddy and a fighter for human rights. Am I the only person in South Africa who remembers Player's support and defence of the apartheid regime? I was only a teenager, but well remember my father's anger towards Player.

If he was not a card carrying member of the National Party, he sure acted like one. He defended what was called "separate development" to the outside world on numerous occasions. He didn't keep quiet about the regime's polices, he actively defended them. (It is fortunate for Player that you would have to search microfilm of the newspapers to find the stories.)

He was a regular golfing partner with Nat leaders, iincluding the Minister of Justice and later Prime Minister BJ Vorster. Vorster, as Justice Minister, was responsible for some of the most draconian detention laws such as the 90 and 180 day detention without trial.

The sad part of this is that if Player had the beliefs then that he now claims to have now, he could have, with his high profile in the world, put the spotlight and real pressure on the apartheid regime.

"A solid record of campaigning for democracy" and "support for human rights"! Give me a break, Player.

It is not that he may have changed his views, I hope he has honestly done that. But he should not try to bury his past under a heap of steaming bulll****.

Has anyone ever heard him saying he was wrong for supporting apartheid? Because after his very public support for many years, he owes the black people of this country an apology before he can get on with his new life as a campaigner for democracy and human rights.

A side note: For many years, there was a regular letter writer to the Sunday Times and other newspapers who made it his mission not to let Player get away with his past. He died many years ago. But I am sure he is dancing tonight as Player gets a little bit of come upperance.
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That's interesting, thanks. Hadn't heard any of that, seems he's managed to bury it rather successfully.
 
Didn't Tutu get banned from a US university himself recently for calling Israelis "Nazis".

I guess he just doesn't know when to shut his gob!
 
doobiwan said:
He build a golf course there 5 years ago. That's what I call blowing things out of proportion.
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Building a golf course over there means he endorsed the Burmese oppressive dictatorship.

I agree with the writer of this article. Where is he going to build his next golf course?
For Kim Il in North Korea? For Robert Mugabe in Zim? Maybe in Iran? Sheesh ... Gary, shame
on you man. I thought you were a nice guy.
 
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I have a general distrust of these high fliers and so called "legends". Look I respect his golfing history. It is amazing, but feel close to nothing for his political views nor business interests. When folks start throwing around Nelson Mandela's name as a personal friend, hero or whatever I lose interest. I have zero interest in Reference Authority. I was taught in final year varsity to be weary of this kind of Authority/Power as it is fake by design. It is pretty handy to have in a negotiation but when people throw names like that around I clam up completely and in fact distrust whoever is doing it.
 
His company said in a statement that through the Player Foundation, the golfer had raised more than $20-million (about R138-million) for under-privileged children.
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"To set the facts straight, Gary Player Design was appointed when the world's relations towards the regime in Burma had thawed; Aung San Suu Kyi had been released from house arrest and it seemed as though real political change was in the air.

"Player and his team believed that the talks in which the regime was engaged with the democratic opposition would lead to free and fair elections and that, like South Africa, Burma would embrace the chance to free their people and live harmoniously, as an example within Asia," the company said.

"The company's decision to design the course in Burma was actually humanitarian, in that it took no profit from the endeavour, but rather encouraged the developer to put the money toward creating jobs, as well as the establishment of a caddy and agronomy programme.

"To the best of our knowledge, these programmes are still in place."
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Player said: "Let me make it abundantly clear that I decry, in the strongest possible terms, the recent events in Burma and wholeheartedly support Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in his efforts to bring peace and transition to that country.
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Of the irony that Player was being targeted when the government's own position on Burma was suspect,
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I guess if you can choose the parts you quote, so can I.

Lose the chip pal!
 
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Omac said:
I guess if you can choose the parts you quote, so can I.

Lose the chip pal!
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Huh? My quotes are not harmful to Player as you imply. Read them again. It is what he says about himself!

But he is very late to the party as a champion of human rights and a supporter of democracy. When he had the chance to fight for these things in his own country he was in bed with the Nationalist government (to use an old term).

I have no comment on his claimed amounts he has raised for kids, which well may be true.

This claim of building the golf course in Burma as a method of advancing democracy - and for free - a bit hard to swallow, though.

Given his past, if he is going to blow his own trumpet on his love for human rights and democracy, he can expect that not everyone is going to be convinced of his new tune.
 
While it was short-sighted of Player to build a golf course for the ruling junta in Burma, that's his private business. I don't agree with it, and I don't think its cool.

We should be more concerned about our government's support ('cos thats what it boils down to) of the junta by not supporting UN censure of them. That is disgusting - and I'd like to see more condemnation of that action by those that are complaining about Player (not to suggest that that criticism is unjustified).

@Skeptik: don't believe everything you read. Tutu's anti-semitism is the product of someone's fevered imagination. This 2002 speech is supposedly what they're complaining about. If suggesting that people be nice to each other is anti-semitic...



Skeptik said:
Didn't Tutu get banned from a US university himself recently for calling Israelis "Nazis".

I guess he just doesn't know when to shut his gob!
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Londo said:
Huh? My quotes are not harmful to Player as you imply. Read them again. It is what he says about himself!

But he is very late to the party as a champion of human rights and a supporter of democracy. When he had the chance to fight for these things in his own country he was in bed with the Nationalist government (to use an old term).

I have no comment on his claimed amounts he has raised for kids, which well may be true.

This claim of building the golf course in Burma as a method of advancing democracy - and for free - a bit hard to swallow, though.

Given his past, if he is going to blow his own trumpet on his love for human rights and democracy, he can expect that not everyone is going to be convinced of his new tune.
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Yeah! You're right. It was rather the rest of BS you sprouted that got my back up. Mr Player (to you) owes F all to you or anybody else.

As a young man, he made his own way in the world. He relied on no one. He slept in bunkers and on beaches to play golf for petes sake. His playing golf with the nats resulted directly in the first black professional being invited to play in a pro tournament in SA when it was very "unfashionable".

What Mr Player has achieved in his lifetime is admirable and he trod on no one to get there. Stop being jealous of his success.

When he leaves SA because of people like you, (He won't. He loves SA too much.) people like you will again be critical and run him down.

But I don't really need to defend him, being the self made man that he is.
 
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What a joke :rolleyes:

Player gets excluded because he designs a golf course for the Burma junta yet Madiba's comrades and friends support them in the U.N plus they are raping this country and have thoroughly raped and pillaged Zimbabwe yet he says and does nothing :sick:
 
bekdik said:
Please can you remind us of the current trading figures between RSA and Burma.
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This thread is not about Burma. But do you know the army came to power through a coup in about 1942? The story is not a new one. The regime there should be treated as outcasts and everyone, even trading partners, who does not has dirty hands.

The thread is about the now saintly Gary Player.
 
09h40 Listen to SAfm for a discussion on Player
 
That's rich! Player says he didn't back apartheid

TO call Gary Player a liar might be construed as libellous, so let's simply say Mr Player has flirted with the truth, what used to be called "extending the truth."

What's that all about? I hear you ask.

To find the answer you need to look at the latest issue of South Africa Golf Digest.

Regrettably I challenge the November 2002 issue and an interview with Gary Player.

The writer of the article is Guy Yocom, whom I have to assume is an American golf journalist as I do not know any golf correspondent in South Africa of that name. In the article Yocom quotes Player as saying, inter alia, "I didn't believe in apartheid and I surely wasn't responsible for it, but I was a ripe target."

Didn't believe in apartheid!

Gary, you have got to be kidding!
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http://www.dispatch.co.za/2002/11/06/sport/GOLFCOL.HTM
 
Londo, you seem to have a personal hatred of the man. Seriously start backing up your allegations or relax them.
 
The ANC and their minions obviously hate Player (he is white and thus not an African and on top of that don't look like them). I will be guided by what Player has accomplished against all odds. He earned my respect. The ANC and their minions still need to do something to earn my respect.

Tutu purports to be a man of God, I suggest he actually reads his bible sometimes.
 
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