Oct. 14, 2004 – What would you do if you picked up your phone and a voice on the other end said, "Hi, I am calling from the Oprah Winfrey show"?
Well, you may never get the chance to experience such a call, but when Renny Roker, St. Croix native and founder of Teens on the Green, got it, it was one of the highlights of his life.
The Oprah Winfrey show, hailed as the No. 1-rated talk show for over 15 years, called Roker for footage of Cheyenne Woods, who was on St. Croix participating in the 2002 Teens on the Green tournament at the Carambola Golf course. She is the niece of Tiger Woods.
Roker is in the midst of organizing the third annual St. Croix Teens on the Green championship finals scheduled for Nov. 5-7. Last year, more then 130 young golfers, aged 12-17, from 45 states and three countries participated in the event. The golfers participated in qualifying events in the U.S., Europe and Asia for the chance to play at Carambola. (See "Teens on the Green Hailed as Big Hit").
Marilyn Evans, Teens on the Green executive director, said the Oprah coverage is going to be a real coup for the organization. "Anytime your name is on the Oprah Winfrey show you have reached the top," she said. Evans said producers from the show would not reveal the subject of the show; they just requested the footage.
"They are fitting it into a piece they are doing but we don't know what the show will be about," Evans said, adding that the show will air sometime next week.
Evans also said the Oprah show producers became excited about the golf program after talking with Roker on the phone. Producers asked for additional footage from the department of tourism, the Teens on the Green world championship series and the finale. Video of the St. Croix event was sent to Oprah’s producers, and a few days later they called Roker again raving about the program and quality of the production.
"It's a small world in junior golfing, and there are a lot of people helping the youth who are involved," Evans said, adding that anything can happen after the segment is aired. Evans said Teens on the Green has made a positive difference in the lives of a lot of inner-city children, providing focus and direction as well as college scholarships.
This year's tournament will be bigger and better, according to Roker. Pre-event activities will include the Nov. 4 Parade of Flags. Plans are in the works to have the 2004 Teens on the Green World Championship finale televised by CBS Sports for airing early next year in a slot before a major PGA tournament, Roker said.
The Teens on the Green TV series airs on Channel 2 Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m.
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice… click here.
