Fu Bolts from Phi Alpha Cup – Announces Retirement

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Fu Hits the Road After Fu Transport Crashes

Fu’s Late and Sudden Retirement Shocks Teammates and Fans

April 20, 2010
While the recent financial crisis – including the collapse of large financial institutions and global markets – contributed to the failure of many key and wide-ranging businesses and declines in consumer wealth, perhaps no single resulting event was more significant to the sporting world than the early 2010 unraveling of Fu Transport (FUTP) and its CEO, Fu. Once the very symbol of Wall Street excess, Fu and his seemingly thriving enterprise unfortunately fell victim to the very exuberance that made it so popular in the first place. And following the uncovering this week of Fu Transport’s Chapter 11 filing, Fu himself was forced to retire as a competitor in the Phi Alpha Cup – only two weeks before opening ceremonies.

“Given the recent market conditions and subsequent downturn, I will be forced to retire from the Phi Alpha Cup in order to focus on my business matters and other personal issues,” Fu was rumored to have said.

Fu Transport’s business was solely focused on renting party vehicles for Phi Alpha Cup events.

As one would imagine with such a sudden and drastic decision, reactions around the golfing world were varied and abundant, including that from Team 97 Captain Andy Sands.

“I can confirm that we received a text statement from Fu suggesting that effective at some point, he would most likely no longer be a member of the 97 team,” said Sands in a statement released through his management team. “While we are disappointed in the nature and timing of this announcement, we will continue to support Fu in his future endeavors.”

Other statements were less diplomatic.

“I’m not sure that this business or behavior was sustainable over the long term even in the healthiest of market conditions, especially when you’re talking about the focus and commitment it takes to compete in something like the Phi Alpha Cup,” said former PGA champion and NBC analyst Johnny Miller. “But the fuzzy nature of the announcement leads me to believe there is more at play here than just a speed bump with a multi-hundred dollar business.”

Other golf experts agree with Miller, suggesting that the reason for Fu’s late and sudden retirement from the Cup might be as simple as “two love birds in Spring” given Fu’s recent nuptials and subsequent immersion in domestic life.

Golf Channel’s Kelly Tillman added, “No matter who it is, you hate to draw parallels between a person’s love life and their resulting lack of interest in their professional, athletic and charitable commitments. But there’s precedent for this sort of thing in the Phi Alpha Cup, especially when you talk about Stirling Bomar’s suspension last year following his own wedding. (View controversial photos that led to Bomar’s 1 year dismissal)

Tillman continued, “These guys hear wedding bells, and all they want to do is pick daisies and chase butterflies. I think that’s probably what’s going on here, as sad as that may be.”

Some members of the media were just at a loss for words altogether.

“I don’t know the word for it, but it’s not good,” said CBS’s Jim Nance.

When reached for comment, Team 1998 Captain Dave Johnson seemed more skeptical and puzzled by the news.

“Huh? That sounds like typical Fu gamesmanship – like the 2008 ‘I’m only bringing a 7-iron this year’ talk. We look forward to more white noise from Fu and Team 97 in the final 10 days leading up to this year’s Cup.”

As news of Fu’s retirement began to find its way to newsrooms and on blog sites this week, speculation began immediately as to who Team 1997 would tap to replace Fu. Rumors that Andy Sands was seen in Atlanta early in the week fueled talk that that person would be Todd Balsley. Golf pundits agree that the Balsley pick would make sense in light of the underground scuttlebutt making the rounds in golfing circles that Team 97 actually planted Balsley on Team 98 in 2009 – an event that helped lead to Team 97’s convincing Phi Alpha Cup victory. Balsley posted an 0-4 record in last year’s Cup for Team 98 (or 4-0 from Team 97’s perspective).

As a Phi Alpha Cup competitor, Fu posted a respectable 5-8-1 career record, which included an impressive 2007 Singles victory over Jeff Eaton which sealed the 2007 Cup title for Team 1997 (read story). Fu though, will probably be remembered more for his off the course antics, especially his affinity for the nightlife scene and fanfare that typically surrounds Cup events.

Fu’s Phi Alpha Career at a Glance:

Residence: Parts Unknown
Home Course: Rockafella Putting and Sipping Club
Cup Record: 5-8-1
Career Span: 2006-2009
Nickname(s): Fu-Schnikens
Awards: 2007 MVP Runner-up