Hank Haney files suit against PGA

Haney has filed a lawsuit against the PGA Tour. Haney is seeking damages for the harm that the PGA Tour caused him

"for the harm the PGA TOUR caused when it improperly intimidated, enticed and threatened Sirius XMRadio, Inc. (SiriusXM) to suspend and ultimately terminate Haney’s radio broadcast on SiriusXM’s PGA Tour Radio station."

Haney claims the tour has been attempting to interfere in his business ever since he published The Big Miss, documenting his time as Tiger Wood's coach.

This guy is spiraling. I saw nothing wrong with his comments about the LPGA. He was completely correct. But, this is getting silly.

All I can think of is . . . . hahahahahahahahahahaha, lol.

What a joke.

Well, depending on the facts and circumstances, if Haney had an employment contract with Sirius and the PGA Tour tortiously interfered with that contract, he could have a case. Although, I don't think he's going to get anyone from Sirius to testify that, but for the PGA Tour's actions, Haney would still have his job.

It's not an easy case to win, but it likely isn't 100% without merit, either.

Mike Davis is elated!

Or the PGA Tour's actions led to him not having a job because by contract with Sirius/XM the PGA Tour has certain rights related to on air talent and content that it may have exercised.

Just throwing out an additional scenario. Lots of possibilities for sure and doubt this ever gets to the point where we see any of the relevant agreements.

Not surprising that with Tiger's success the past couple of years Haney couches the silly motive as the Tour getting even with him for his stupid book, etc. If Tiger was down and out Haney wouldn't be playing that card, just sitting smugly and enjoying it.

Just rub some Voodoo Pain Relief Cream where it hurts and the pain will go away.

Maybe if we rubbed enough on him, Hank would go away.

Hank Haney since Tiger Woods ditched him.

.

I think someone needs a popsicle.

Suite: Haney Blue Eyes?

Haney Report Suite?

Without knowing anything about the actual contracts, and contrary to claims by Haney's legal team, I'd guess that the PGA Tour has to approve anyone who appears on PGA Tour Radio. The PGA Tour probably also has a contractual right to terminate those who appear on a radio station that carries the Tour's name. This doesn't seem much different than if the NFL were to require Fox Sports to remove a specific game analyst. Or the Masters when they required CBS Sports to remove McCord, although what McCord said was a lot less boneheaded than Haney's stated indifference to LPGA golf.

I seriously fail to see how what Haney said in racist, biased, sexist or bigoted.... If he had said "the even is most likely won by someone named Johnson or Smith" or any other very common name in the US, would we be in the same uproar?

The lawsuit may be pointless and unfounded, but I don't really understand what he did wrong...

If you're living is any way dependent on professional golf, the 2 things you prolly don't want to do

Mess with Tiger WoodsSue the PGA Tour

Not sure he is getting the best advice here.

Something can be extremely unwise, even if it isn't necessarily "wrong"

What does he have to lose?

The racist aspect of his comment may have been a TAD overblown, but "all Asians have the same name!" isn't too far removed from "all Asians look the same!" He wouldn't have said "I bet the winner will be named Johnson" because that comment wouldn't have made any sense. The "Lee" comment was referring to the fact that Asians have common surnames. I think this was less outwardly racist and more ignorant - it's not that Asians have similar last names, but that their naming conventions are different from Americans'. There's also the sense that Haney was revealing a disinterest in the LPGA because of how successful Korean golfers have been, which I realize is not an uncommon sentiment among American viewers but probably not a terribly sensitive one.

I thought the dismissiveness towards women's golf was the more offensive aspect of his comments. He came across like a typical macho jerkwad. I do not care whatsoever about whatever fallout he has experienced. I don't mind seeing jerks suffer the consequences of their jerkiness.

Happy Holidays and welcome all ye internet web forum lawyers!

You all were 100% correct when Tiger was tied up in that lawsuit with the drunk employee now deceased.

Tiger was going to jail.

Thank you for a well written and very logical response. I appreciate the conversation without any condescension. The Johnson comment was basically a play on that it is a very common surname as Lee is in China, Korea, etc. I guess since I lived in Asia for a few years, and have learned that there are a lot, and I mean a lot of people with the name Lee. It is by far the most common surname (it may be the most common in the world) at like 8% of all Asian decent having it. So I see his side on that.

That being said I think you have nailed why there is disgust. thanks.

In my opinion, the worst thing he did was to essentially say "I can't be bothered to prepare to speak knowledgeably about this major tournament of a major subsidiary of the PGA Tour" while being employed by PGA Tour Radio. To me, its part of his job to speak about the PGA Tour and its associated tours. He basically said "I'm too lazy to do my job right".

I can get behind this...

Try to mend the bridge instead of burning it down?

At least he has all the money from his Crocs golf shoes to fall back on!!

He is guilty of being mean and dismissive about the women's game. Was he racist? Not really, but he should have known better than to say certain things anyway. Foolishness on his part. Unfair? Yes, but that's the way things are and he should be wise to that.

He should have known better. Ironically, the "prediction" came true.

Somehow, I don't think he is a bridge mending kind of guy.

Not to mention the Voodoo Pain Relief Cream!

Hank likes to leave a wake of debris.

I know Hank charges $15,00/day for lessons. He most not be getting many calls these days...

Not really ironic when his statement was, statistically, the most likely outcome. At the time of Haney's statements, 4 of the top 10 women golfers (per the Rolex World Golf Rankings) were Korean; no other country was represented by multiple players. And, the last name Lee (or Le) was the most represented last name in the field, 67% of whom are Korean.

So, statistically speaking, the most likely combination of country and last name to win was Korea and Lee.

Maybe the real irony isn't his prediction, but the fact that he actually is a LPGA Tour scholar and studies the LPGA more than anyone else, which is why he knew that a Korean named Lee would win.

Do you work for Freakanomics?? haha.