Hank Haney Made Some Controversial Comments, Sues PGA Tour

[bkuehn1952]

1 hour ago, GolfLug said:

It read like a cocktail of disdain for the LPGA, at least soft racist stereotyping, fleeting hints of sexism and intellectually lazy, uninformed humor. 

This is a good recap of my impression.  As an old white guy, I found Mr. Haney's comments disturbing, coming from someone who should be media savvy.

[chspeed]

7 hours ago, DeadMan said:

The main issue is different. Regardless of whether Haney's comments were racist, they were dumb, offensive, and ignorant. That's the problem here. It's easy to get caught up in the racist aspect of this. But the real problem is that a golf media member doesn't give a shit about the LPGA and broadcasts that fact to everybody.

I disagree that this is the real issue. If he just avoided the topic at all, or said he didn't follow it as closely, he might have caught a little flack, but nothing like this.

IMO, the real issue is that he used the question to attempt a cheap joke and made fun of LPGA players in a way that repeated well known stereotypes of Asians.

Sorry, but if you're on TV, you have to follow different standards than a dude in a bar, who can hide behind the joke by claiming to be satirical or at least in poor taste.

 

[boogielicious]

Hank Haney suspended from PGA Tour Radio following controversial comments (UPDATE) - Golf Digest

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[dennyjones]

As a parent of Korean children, I guess I have a unique experience in racism and sexism.    I grew up in a all white neighborhood where we played every sport and included girls that wanted to play (usually only one).   My parent's family is from the south and are very racist.   Some of them will tell you they are not but the overtones of their conversation leave not questions.    I currently play golf with 3 different groups which include multiple races and genders.   I said all of that to give you a perspective of where my opinion originates.  

My children opened my eyes to racism.   It is a bigger problem than most people realize.  This isn't the place for a lecture on what constitutes racism because we've seen both sides of the argument here in this thread.   

Haney's comment was insensitive.   If my daughter was his student I would guarantee that she would walk away immediately.   His apology didn't appear sincere.    

I do agree the LPGA has an issue with marketing.   The women play a different game than the men and sometimes it's not as exciting to watch on TV.     Do I fault him for not following or knowing much about the LPGA, no.    I would believe that he would have past students on tour and would have an interest in their game.  If you were a teacher and one of your students excelled, wouldn't you at least have a working knowledge of their successes?  

Quote

It read like a cocktail of disdain for the LPGA, at least soft racist stereotyping, fleeting hints of sexism and intellectually lazy, uninformed humor. 

I agree with @GolfLug

[DrMJG]

What bother me most in Haney's comments was the implication that, as a golf media radio host, it was not worth his time to even learn some points of who's playing and the schedule. 

Just as I expect the Women's World Cup to have a total different style than the men's WC, it is no less compelling to watch. 

Haney found it necessary to dismiss 50% of our population as irrelevant.  NOT good.

[DeadMan]

3 hours ago, iacas said:

Huh?

I think you’re telling @Jeremie Boop to notice that it was the PGA Tour leaderboard.

Yeah, that's what I was saying. I wasn't very clear.

[iacas]

 

FWIW I'm watching a LOT more LPGA golf this weekend than PGA Tour golf. AND, what's f***ing awesome, is that the USGA's event is being presented without interruption. No commercial breaks. It's GREAT.

[dennyjones]

3 minutes ago, iacas said:

FWIW I'm watching a LOT more LPGA golf this weekend than PGA Tour golf. AND, what's f***ing awesome, is that the USGA's event is being presented without interruption. No commercial breaks. It's GREAT.

+1

[colin007]

16 hours ago, mcanadiens said:

Not racist. Not sexist, but poorly said, insulting and awfully damn casual for someone you'd think would be more media-savvy. 

He doesn't need to be pilloried for this. Most people will just think a little bit less of him going forward.

I agree.

[krupa]

10 hours ago, iacas said:

 

FWIW I'm watching a LOT more LPGA golf this weekend than PGA Tour golf. AND, what's f***ing awesome, is that the USGA's event is being presented without interruption. No commercial breaks. It's GREAT.

His show was boring anyway.  They need to bring back Matt Adams.

[Sandy Divot]

Michelle Wie has posted some negative stuff about Hank. They are both Callaway staffers. Wonder when Callaway will cut Hank loose?

[boogielicious]

20 hours ago, Sandy Divot said:

Michelle Wie has posted some negative stuff about Hank. They are both Callaway staffers. Wonder when Callaway will cut Hank loose?

Three years ago, HH was Taylormade. Wie would be much more useful as a brand ambassador.

[TigerIsNumeroUNO]

Hank Haney said nothing remotely wrong or even controversial.   That is a pretty mild joke, Besides the low quality of play, it is also alludes to the reason no one watches the LPGA Tour.

I could name every Masters champion by year going back to the 1960s on the spot if I had to. Here are all the current LPGA Tour players I know: Lexi Thompson, Morgan Pressel, Natalie Gulbis, Michelle Wie, and Paula Creamer. I literally could not tell you even one Asian player on that tour. Not even one.  Is that supposed to be racist? I am sorry. I don't know any. I don't purposefully ignore them but they apparently don't have compelling enough personalities or looks to break through so that someone who does not watch that high school golf of a tour to know who they are.

It is disgraceful that Haney would get suspended over this.  The golf demographic is not politically correct leftists who call everyone racist.   This reminds me of the non-controversy involving Elkington and the hand bag throw a few years back.  Leftists are enemies of clear thinking and humor.

[hoselpalooza]

6 hours ago, TigerIsNumeroUNO said:

Hank Haney said nothing remotely wrong or even controversial.

you clearly don't understand the meaning of the word "controversial"...

[TigerIsNumeroUNO]

9 hours ago, hoselpalooza said:

you clearly don't understand the meaning of the word "controversial"...

Actually I do. My original statement  was "controversial among people with fully functioning brains". I changed it and left it implied.

[gjunkie57]

Hank messed up big time.  I dont see him recovering from this.  He has been at war with the usga, but to demean the lpga was terrible.  These women work hard, play a game that most amateurs play (yardage wise) and still would beat most men.  I watch all the tours on tv, and the ladies show that it is not how but how many that counts.  

[iacas]

15 hours ago, TigerIsNumeroUNO said:

Hank Haney said nothing remotely wrong or even controversial. 

Not remotely accurate. If it wasn't controversial, there wouldn't be… wait for it… a controversy.

15 hours ago, TigerIsNumeroUNO said:

I could name every Masters champion by year going back to the 1960s on the spot if I had to. Here are all the current LPGA Tour players I know: Lexi Thompson, Morgan Pressel, Natalie Gulbis, Michelle Wie, and Paula Creamer.

I could name about 10x that many LPGA Tour players, and it's not their fault that you're ignorant to who they are, the level of play they're capable of, the awesome course on which they're playing this weekend, etc.

15 hours ago, TigerIsNumeroUNO said:

I literally could not tell you even one Asian player on that tour. Not even one.

Again, that's not their fault. It's yours.

15 hours ago, TigerIsNumeroUNO said:

I don't purposefully ignore them but they apparently don't have compelling enough personalities or looks to break through so that someone who does not watch that high school golf of a tour to know who they are.

"high school golf of a tour"? Now you're just being an ass to be an ass or something. Seeing as how you don't watch the Tour, you have no idea what level of golf they play.

15 hours ago, TigerIsNumeroUNO said:

It is disgraceful that Haney would get suspended over this.

He should be educated on matters of golf, and where he's not - nobody would fault him if he says "Hey, I have a hard enough time keeping up with the PGA Tour, I just don't have time to follow the women, but I'm sure they're great and I've heard they're playing an incredible course this weekend." nobody would have faulted him.

2 minutes ago, TigerIsNumeroUNO said:

Actually I do. My original statement  was "controversial among people with fully functioning brains". I changed it and left it implied.

That's not something that you can "imply."

[hoselpalooza]

1 hour ago, TigerIsNumeroUNO said:

Actually I do. My original statement  was "controversial among people with fully functioning brains". I changed it and left it implied.

reported as inappropriate. it appears this new account was created to troll, rather pathetically, if you ask me. 

Edited June 2, 2019 by hoselpalooza