美国国家公共电台 NPR--LIV golf lands in Oregon. Will it lead to a revolution in the sport?

LIV golf lands in Oregon. Will it lead to a revolution in the sport?

Transcript¹

The controversial Saudi Arabian-backed golf series known as LIV plays its first tournament in the U.S. this week. The breakaway series is already shaking up the golf world.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

Controversy² has swirled³ around the professional golf series known as LIV since it launched in London last month. Now the tournament has come to the U.S. Today is the second day of the LIV event outside of Portland, Ore. While golf insiders debate whether LIV will change the game, critics are hammering the series because it is backed by Saudi Arabia. From Portland, NPR's Tom Goldman reports.

TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE⁴: Day 1 of the LIV invitational Portland started dramatically but not on the golf course. Several miles away, in a small park on a gray morning, Gabrielle Scauso tearfully recounted the death of her dad, a firefighter in the 9/11 terrorist attack.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

GABRIELLE SCAUSO: In his firehouse, he lost 19 men. That left over 50 children without fathers to be there for their birthdays and graduations and those moments that they should've.

GOLDMAN: Scauso and 10 other 9/11 survivors⁵ and victims' family members from the East Coast delivered this emotion-packed message in that Oregon park. The country directly implicated⁶ in the killing⁷ of their loved ones is sports-washing its image by pouring $2 billion into LIV Golf. Before the first LIV event, another group representing 9/11 families sent a letter to the series' American-born golfers. It excoriated⁸ the players for accepting huge sums of Saudi money. Brett Eagleson, who also lost his father on 9/11, hopes yesterday's appearance hits the players even harder.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

BRETT EAGLESON: I invite them to look at the pain in our eyes, hear our stories and walk in our shoes, hear what we have to say about the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

GOLDMAN: The best-case scenario⁹, Eagleson says, is for players to leave the LIV series. Short of that, he wants them to confront the realities of the Saudi regime, its actions on 9/11 and its ongoing¹⁰ human rights abuses. So far, Eagleson notes, players largely have dodged¹¹ reporters' questions about these issues.

EAGLESON: Just acknowledge it. Step up. Accept the truth of who you're getting in bed with. Accountability and acceptance by these golfers is what we're looking for.

GOLDMAN: Local politicians already had put out an unwelcome mat for LIV golf. North Plains Mayor Teri Lenahan helped write a letter to the owners of her town's golf course that's hosting the event. The letter, signed by 11 Oregon mayors, said they were opposed to the tournament because of its Saudi ties. The owners never responded, but Lenahan doesn't regret the opposition¹².

TERI LENAHAN: If we had just turned our head or not say anything, I think that makes us all complicit.

GOLDMAN: Lenahan says, in response, she's heard a lot of what she calls whataboutism. What about this dubious¹³ sports league? Or what about that dubious funding source? Not surprisingly, there was plenty of that yesterday on the sun-splashed Pumpkin¹⁴ Ridge¹⁵ golf course. Joey Minnick from nearby Camas, Wash., was at the LIV event with his wife and two kids.

JOEY MINNICK: There's dirty money all over the world. There's people doing terrible things everywhere. Who's to say those other events aren't funded by nefarious¹⁶ funds? Golf is golf (laughter).

(SOUNDBITE OF HORNS HONKING¹⁷, CHEERING)

GOLDMAN: This golf, though, is a bit different.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Round 1 of the LIV Golf invitational, Portland. Please, welcome to the tee Brooks¹⁸ Koepka.

GOLDMAN: The horn blast before Koepka tee shot on Hole 1 signaled what's called a shotgun start, where players tee off all over the course at the same time.

(SOUNDBITE OF GOLF CLUB HITTING, APPLAUSE)

GOLDMAN: Normally, it's one at a time. The LIV event is three rounds or 54 holes versus¹⁹ four rounds and 72. LIV, by the way, spells out the Roman numerals for 54. And there's no cut, meaning players don't leave the event early if they play poorly. Everyone starts, finishes and gets paid. Last play still gets $120,000. Players who've remained loyal to the older, more established PGA Tour say LIV is gimmicky²⁰ and more exhibition than real tournament. Minnick, the fan from Washington state, loves LIV.

MINNICK: You know, there's always been a stuffiness²¹ around PGA Tour events. They're expensive. This was - heck, for all of us, it was only 90 bucks²². This feels more accessible.

GOLDMAN: The PGA Tour, which suspended its former members who joined LIV, is taking note, especially as more players sign on with the breakaway series. Recently, the PGA Tour announced changes, including increased prize money at some events that are said to be a response to LIV. German golfer Martin Kaymer hopes it's an indication LIV ultimately can push the traditional tours.

MARTIN KAYMER: If LIV golf helps the PGA Tour and the European Tour to provide even better playing opportunities and financially to support players even more, I think it's a win-win.

GOLDMAN: The PGA Tour commissioner²³ doesn't share that optimism, calling LIV an irrational²⁴ threat, trying to buy the sport of golf. And LIV's critics say they're not going away. The 9/11 families vowed²⁵ yesterday to show up at the four remaining U.S. LIV events, starting with the next one in New Jersey²⁶, an event that promised to generate attention even without their presence, considering the course is owned by Donald Trump²⁷.

Tom Goldman, NPR News, Portland.

(SOUNDBITE OF MENAHAN STREET BAND'S "QUEENS HIGHWAY")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

3 swirled   

v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The waves swirled and eddied around the rocks. 波浪翻滚着在岩石周围打旋。
• The water swirled down the drain. 水打着旋流进了下水道。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

6 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 excoriated   

v.擦伤( excoriate的过去式和过去分词 )；擦破（皮肤）；剥（皮）；严厉指责

参考例句：

• His palms were excoriated by the hard labor of shoveling. 他的手掌因干挖土的活儿而磨破了皮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His palms were excoriated by the hard labour of shoveling. 他的手掌因挖土之苦工而破皮了。 来自辞典例句

9 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

10 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

11 dodged   

v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避

参考例句：

• He dodged cleverly when she threw her sabot at him. 她用木底鞋砸向他时，他机敏地闪开了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He dodged the book that I threw at him. 他躲开了我扔向他的书。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

13 dubious   

adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
• He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。

14 pumpkin   

n.南瓜

参考例句：

• They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
• It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你！

15 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

16 nefarious   

adj.恶毒的，极坏的

参考例句：

• My father believes you all have a nefarious purpose here.我父亲认为你们都有邪恶的目的。
• He was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds.因为他干了许多罪恶的勾当，所以人人都惧怕他。

17 honking   

v.（使）发出雁叫似的声音，鸣（喇叭），按（喇叭）( honk的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Cars zoomed helter-skelter, honking belligerently. 大街上来往车辆穿梭不停，喇叭声刺耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Flocks of honking geese flew past. 雁群嗷嗷地飞过。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

20 gimmicky   

adj.诡计的，骗人的

参考例句：

• A gimmicky or imbalanced team relies on one powerful tactic to win. 投机取巧的团队依靠单一的强力战术制胜。 来自互联网

21 stuffiness   

n.不通风，闷热；不通气

参考例句：

• Open the windows. We cannot stand the stuffiness of the room. 把窗子打开。我们不能忍受这间屋子里的窒闷。 来自互联网
• Chest pain and stuffiness, palpitation, ischemia of coronary artery, asthma, hiccup, etc. 胸痛、胸闷、心悸、冠状动脉供血不足，哮喘、呃逆等。 来自互联网

22 bucks   

n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃

参考例句：

• They cost ten bucks. 这些值十元钱。
• They are hunting for bucks. 他们正在猎雄兔。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

24 irrational   

adj.无理性的，失去理性的

参考例句：

• After taking the drug she became completely irrational.她在吸毒后变得完全失去了理性。
• There are also signs of irrational exuberance among some investors.在某些投资者中是存在非理性繁荣的征象的。

25 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

26 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

27 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。