A co-worker just forwarded me a Fox Sports article that begins like this:
"For the past several years, the LPGA has impressed upon its membership the importance of communicating effectively in English. As the game's dominance shifts to the East, the LPGA has strengthened its stance. Learning English no longer is a tour suggestion; it's a requirement."
OK, since the LPGA is an American organization, I won't argue this policy. However, I will suggest that it work both ways.
- From here on out all cyclists riding in the Tour de France must speak French.
- All golfers traveling to Scotland to play in the British Open must be able to use the Scots word "sleekit" in a sentence and eat an entire haggis at a single sitting.
- Wanna join a hurling league? First, please complete this intensive Gaelic course.
- Young cager headed to Italy? Language tests -- in Italian and the regional dialect -- now administered before joining training camp.
- Veteran baseball star headed to Japan? You'll be fined a game's pay for every English word you utter after your plane lands in Tokyo.
- French Open? Better ace Francais 203.
- Wimbledon? Pinkies out at tea time lads or you forfeit your ranking.
- Wanna race against Schumacher? You've got to file your request in German (please write in gothic script).
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
