Hank Haney comments on the Women's U.S. Open

[North Texas]

> @new2g0lf said:

> LPGA got offended by Hank pointing out what we all know, the Koreans dominate the LPGA and very few of us here in US care who wins at this point. I watch the LPGA just to see professional golfers that hit their clubs similar distances to me for game management ideas, not to cheer on the individual golfers.

 

That wasn't what he was pointing out and anyone with a little common sense knows it. All he did was reveal his ignorance as it relates to knowing anything about women's professional golf. That's what I have a problem with. He gets paid to host a golf show and he should know about the Women's US Open Championship and his "conversations" should focus on growing the game. He failed miserably on all accounts and made an a** out of himself.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

> @"Mr. Hogan" said:

> How is it racist to acknowledge that female Koreans are really good at golf and one of them is likely to win the U.S. Open?

>

I'd love to see anyone that disagreed with your post to back it up with facts, not simple emotion. Lee is the most common name on the LPGA and also most common of the top 26.

[dlygrisse]

The righteous indignation can become overwhelming. But Michelle Wie went to Stanford, so I am sure she is well versed on how to respond.

[PepsiDuck]

> @Pent08 said:

> This PC culture is beyond frustrating. And look at those people fanning the flames so that they can get their "hey look at me" moment.

 

And this is precisely the problem the whole comedy industry is facing. Not saying that Hank’s show belongs on Comedy Central or that it’s an affirmative defense for his comments, but for a satellite radio show that certainly has considerably more lax content requirements than regular radio or network television programs, I agree the widespread reaction is just righteous indignation which run rampant in modern culture.

[legitimategolf]

Hank disrespected all the golfers of the LPGA, not just the Koreans. If anything, he disrespected the U.S.A. most of all with his inconsiderate (sorry, just my opinion, don't be offended) comments.

[davep043]

In my experience, Haney isn't particularly good on radio. He stammers, has trouble making sentences, struggles to find topics to fill his time segment, and his unreasoning disdain for the USGA gets stale. I know many will disagree with that last bit, but that's beside my real point.

Is he sexist for being uninterested in the LPGA. That would make me sexist too, but I don't think that's it. He's a national broadcaster of golf, and for him to intentionally choose not to prepare himself to meaningfully discuss a major tournament, yeah, that does show sexism to me. I don't care if he's interested or not, this is his job. Instead of preparing, he chose to wing it using generalizations and stereotypes, he chose to demonstrate his intentional ignorance for all to hear. Its just a bad choice. I don't think its necessarily racist to notice the disproportionate number of Korean golfers in the LPGA, but to use that in a hamhanded attempt at humor certainly isn't a smart thing to do. He deserves criticism, probably not outright condemnation, but he definitely screwed up.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

> @illum1na71 said:

> Acknowledging that a Korean golfer is more likely to win the US Open is not inherently racist. It's grouping them with the same last name and stereotyping a ethnicity is....

 

Bull it's racist. Lee is the most common surname on the LPGA tour with 4 of the top 26 being Lee. There are more top players on that tour of Asian decent. It all makes statistical sense therefore it can't be racist.

[geesecougar2]

He wasn't saying, **_"Statistically speaking, there are many Lee's on the LPGA Tour. So in terms of probability, a Lee is who I bet will win_."**

 

He was actually saying, **_"The only good players on the LPGA are Korean and so I don't really care to follow it even though I'm supposed to be a golf expert."_** Like someone said before, imagine if he said that about the NBA, he'd be blacklisted from all media.

 

He knew there would be so many in the golf world like those on this thread willfully looking the other way, which is why he thought he could get away with it. To deny the spirit of his comments to defend him you're either dumb, intellectually dishonest, or actually racist yourself.

 

[ebrasmus21]

When is the cruxifition? Is it happening now? Did I miss it?

 

 

[ebrasmus21]

> @geesecougar2 said:

> He wasn't saying, **_"Statistically speaking, there are many Lee's on the LPGA Tour. So in terms of probability, a Lee is who I bet will win_."**

>

> He was actually saying, **_"The only good players on the LPGA are Korean and so I don't really care to follow it even though I'm supposed to be a golf expert."_** Like someone said before, imagine if he said that about the NBA, he'd be blacklisted from all media.

>

> He knew there would be so many in the golf world like those on this thread willfully looking the other way, which is why he thought he could get away with it. **_To deny the spirit of his comments to defend him you're either dumb, intellectually dishonest, or actually racist yourself. _**

>

 

**_To deny the spirit of his comments to defend him you're either dumb, intellectually dishonest, or actually racist yourself. _**

 

AGREE WITH US OR ELSE!!!

[geesecougar2]

Yes, either agree with what I said, or else......you're wrong (dumb, intellectually dishonest, or racist).

 

I really wouldn't mind those types of comments coming from some mainstream ESPN / Skip Bayless / Stephen A Smith / etc. type of guy. But from a well known voice in the golf world it's unacceptable, it adds to the problem instead of helping. Especially an "instructor" who is supposed to care about helping people play better, who should only care about the quality of someone's golf game and not their ethnicity.

 

If he wanted to make a point along those lines, he should have said, "Internationals are kicking the USA's butts, and that the USA needs to start getting their heads in the game if they want Americans to tune in and grow purses."

 

[davep043]

> @geesecougar2 said:

> Yes, either agree with what I said, or else......you're wrong (dumb, intellectually dishonest, or racist).

>

> I really wouldn't mind those types of comments coming from some mainstream ESPN / Skip Bayless / Stephen A Smith / etc. type of guy. But from a well known voice in the golf world it's unacceptable, it adds to the problem instead of helping. Especially an "instructor" who is supposed to care about helping people play better, who should only care about the quality of someone's golf game and not their ethnicity.

>

> If he wanted to make a point along those lines, he should have said, "Internationals are kicking the USA's butts, and that the USA needs to start getting their heads in the game if they want Americans to tune in and grow purses."

>

 

I disagree, feel free to label me any way you wish. I'll choose to stay above that level of discussion.

Hank didn't want to make a point, he was simply unprepared to discuss a major tournament to be played by women. He chose to try to use generalizations and stereotypes to make a joke of it all, and failed. I listen to Hank very occasionally, and he frequently seems unprepared to do his job in an informed manner. If he chose not to prepare because he doesn't like women's golf, perhaps he IS sexist. If he dislikes women's golf because Korean women make up a disproportionate share of the field, perhaps he IS racist. But these lame attempts at jokes don't prove that he's either.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

> @geesecougar2 said:

> He wasn't saying, **_"Statistically speaking, there are many Lee's on the LPGA Tour. So in terms of probability, a Lee is who I bet will win_."**

>

> He was actually saying, **_"The only good players on the LPGA are Korean and so I don't really care to follow it even though I'm supposed to be a golf expert."_** Like someone said before, imagine if he said that about the NBA, he'd be blacklisted from all media.

>

> He knew there would be so many in the golf world like those on this thread willfully looking the other way, which is why he thought he could get away with it. To deny the spirit of his comments to defend him you're either dumb, intellectually dishonest, or actually racist yourself.

>

I see you appear to be just another SJW--- thinking you know what's in a persons heart and mind and inventing your own nasty interpretation of their words. Why do you and others do this? Because it fits the narrative. It's open season on white guys, especially older white men. That conduct is deeply offensive.

[BTO]

AGREE WITH US OR ELSE!!!

Yep, that's it in a nutshell. This is the culture we're in.

[Choclab]

I think Haney is an a** of the highest order. Always have. I've never been able to stand his over the top arrogant attitude.

 

That said, it would have been more accurate for the offended parties like Wie to call him out for being said a** and for being unfunny and unprepared to comment on a major event in his industry.

 

But anything that is at all offensive these days has to be racist or sexist. That gets more attention and automatically gets the accused in more trouble.

[hell_is_chrome]

"PC culture run amok" takes were intellectually lazy and played in 1990. And they haven't gotten better.

[hell_is_chrome]

> @davep043 said:

> > @geesecougar2 said:

> > Yes, either agree with what I said, or else......you're wrong (dumb, intellectually dishonest, or racist).

> >

> > I really wouldn't mind those types of comments coming from some mainstream ESPN / Skip Bayless / Stephen A Smith / etc. type of guy. But from a well known voice in the golf world it's unacceptable, it adds to the problem instead of helping. Especially an "instructor" who is supposed to care about helping people play better, who should only care about the quality of someone's golf game and not their ethnicity.

> >

> > If he wanted to make a point along those lines, he should have said, "Internationals are kicking the USA's butts, and that the USA needs to start getting their heads in the game if they want Americans to tune in and grow purses."

> >

>

> I disagree, feel free to label me any way you wish. I'll choose to stay above that level of discussion.

> Hank didn't want to make a point, he was simply unprepared to discuss a major tournament to be played by women. He chose to try to use generalizations and stereotypes to make a joke of it all, and failed. I listen to Hank very occasionally, and he frequently seems unprepared to do his job in an informed manner. If he chose not to prepare because he doesn't like women's golf, perhaps he IS sexist. If he dislikes women's golf because Korean women make up a disproportionate share of the field, perhaps he IS racist. But these lame attempts at jokes don't prove that he's either.

 

Have you ever noticed that non-comedians always say "I was just joking" when they get caught being racist? Why is that? Is it because they know the rubes will believe them?

[BTO]

Golf is about entertainment. I suppose everyone's idea of entertainment is different. Spieth with his heart on his sleeve

Perez one bad shot away from going nuclear, Hatton...nuff said, Westwood. Fleetwood. Poulter...there is a reason Feherty gets them on his shows. They have personality. They are products of their environments. Same as other sports. Nastase, Conners, McEnroe etc. etc. etc. The Korean girls are products of their environments too. Slow plodding, ultra nice polite machines. And it is not their fault. They are 1st generation and that is their way engrained in them. The Russians from '72 hockey were no differentt. But today? Ovechkin and others are accepted even revered but they haven't the personalities of a rock. So this is on the Lpga honchos to fix. This is what I basically hearing Haney saying.

[new2g0lf]

> @"North Texas" said:

> > @new2g0lf said:

> > LPGA got offended by Hank pointing out what we all know, the Koreans dominate the LPGA and very few of us here in US care who wins at this point. I watch the LPGA just to see professional golfers that hit their clubs similar distances to me for game management ideas, not to cheer on the individual golfers.

>

> That wasn't what he was pointing out and anyone with a little common sense knows it. All he did was reveal his ignorance as it relates to knowing anything about women's professional golf. That's what I have a problem with. He gets paid to host a golf show and he should know about the Women's US Open Championship and his "conversations" should focus on growing the game. He failed miserably on all accounts and made an **** out of himself.

 

Haney's job is to make money for Sirius XM, not promote the LPGA or golf in general, though I'm sure he would promote the LPGA if the price was right. If his fan base was interested in the LPGA he'd likely discuss it more, I listen pretty regularly and rarely hear anyone mention the LPGA unless it's about Lexi's mental stability. He stated a Korean would win, which given the odds is likely. He stated a "Lee" would win because he thought it was the most common name on the Tour. The fact he didn't care about who won does point out how little relevance the LPGA has within the country based on his audience.

[davep043]

> @hell_is_chrome said:

> > @davep043 said:

> > > @geesecougar2 said:

> > > Yes, either agree with what I said, or else......you're wrong (dumb, intellectually dishonest, or racist).

> > >

> > > I really wouldn't mind those types of comments coming from some mainstream ESPN / Skip Bayless / Stephen A Smith / etc. type of guy. But from a well known voice in the golf world it's unacceptable, it adds to the problem instead of helping. Especially an "instructor" who is supposed to care about helping people play better, who should only care about the quality of someone's golf game and not their ethnicity.

> > >

> > > If he wanted to make a point along those lines, he should have said, "Internationals are kicking the USA's butts, and that the USA needs to start getting their heads in the game if they want Americans to tune in and grow purses."

> > >

> >

> > I disagree, feel free to label me any way you wish. I'll choose to stay above that level of discussion.

> > Hank didn't want to make a point, he was simply unprepared to discuss a major tournament to be played by women. He chose to try to use generalizations and stereotypes to make a joke of it all, and failed. I listen to Hank very occasionally, and he frequently seems unprepared to do his job in an informed manner. If he chose not to prepare because he doesn't like women's golf, perhaps he IS sexist. If he dislikes women's golf because Korean women make up a disproportionate share of the field, perhaps he IS racist. But these lame attempts at jokes don't prove that he's either.

>

> Have you ever noticed that non-comedians always say "I was just joking" when they get caught being racist? Why is that? Is it because they know the rubes will believe them?

 

Hey, Hank didn't use that excuse, that's me interpreting what I heard. I don't listen to him often, but I happened to be listening when he said that stuff. I'm basing my opinion both on the words he used, along with his tone of voice when saying them, but obviously I could be interpreting the whole thing incorrectly. I'm not defending him, he's a poorly informed bonehead, but these comments don't prove (in my mind) that he's either racist or sexist. They DO prove to me that he doesn't care enough about his job to prepare himself properly.

[new2g0lf]

> @davep043 said:

> > @hell_is_chrome said:

> > > @davep043 said:

> > > > @geesecougar2 said:

> > > > Yes, either agree with what I said, or else......you're wrong (dumb, intellectually dishonest, or racist).

> > > >

> > > > I really wouldn't mind those types of comments coming from some mainstream ESPN / Skip Bayless / Stephen A Smith / etc. type of guy. But from a well known voice in the golf world it's unacceptable, it adds to the problem instead of helping. Especially an "instructor" who is supposed to care about helping people play better, who should only care about the quality of someone's golf game and not their ethnicity.

> > > >

> > > > If he wanted to make a point along those lines, he should have said, "Internationals are kicking the USA's butts, and that the USA needs to start getting their heads in the game if they want Americans to tune in and grow purses."

> > > >

> > >

> > > I disagree, feel free to label me any way you wish. I'll choose to stay above that level of discussion.

> > > Hank didn't want to make a point, he was simply unprepared to discuss a major tournament to be played by women. He chose to try to use generalizations and stereotypes to make a joke of it all, and failed. I listen to Hank very occasionally, and he frequently seems unprepared to do his job in an informed manner. If he chose not to prepare because he doesn't like women's golf, perhaps he IS sexist. If he dislikes women's golf because Korean women make up a disproportionate share of the field, perhaps he IS racist. But these lame attempts at jokes don't prove that he's either.

> >

> > Have you ever noticed that non-comedians always say "I was just joking" when they get caught being racist? Why is that? Is it because they know the rubes will believe them?

>

> Hey, Hank didn't use that excuse, that's me interpreting what I heard. I don't listen to him often, but I happened to be listening when he said that stuff. I'm basing my opinion both on the words he used, along with his tone of voice when saying them, but obviously I could be interpreting the whole thing incorrectly. I'm not defending him, he's a poorly informed bonehead, but these comments don't prove (in my mind) that he's either racist or sexist. They DO prove to me that he doesn't care enough about his job to prepare himself properly.

 

It proves to me he doesn't consider the LPGA relevant enough to his audience to warrant knowing more about it.

[davep043]

> @new2g0lf said:

> > @davep043 said:

> >

> > Hey, Hank didn't use that excuse, that's me interpreting what I heard. I don't listen to him often, but I happened to be listening when he said that stuff. I'm basing my opinion both on the words he used, along with his tone of voice when saying them, but obviously I could be interpreting the whole thing incorrectly. I'm not defending him, he's a poorly informed bonehead, but these comments don't prove (in my mind) that he's either racist or sexist. They DO prove to me that he doesn't care enough about his job to prepare himself properly.

>

> It proves to me he doesn't consider the LPGA relevant enough to his audience to warrant knowing more about it.

 

I agree completely. Given that his audience probably consists largely of male golfers, he may be right, but if that's the case, he'd be better off to avoid the topic. Sadly, he seems to be unprepared a lot of the time.

[nova6868]

Even with all this publicity I still find myself struggling to care about the Women's Open or the LPGA in general. Just being honest.

 

Does anyone know how many viewers and patrons the Women's Open brings in compared to the Men's Open?

 

 

[4waymiss]

Had him simply just said, "I am betting on a Korean to win" , no one would have said a word.

 

Leave the comedy to the pros, just stick with the voodoo pain relief cream.

[legitimategolf]

> @BlackDiamondPar5 said:

> Why do you and others do this? Because it fits the narrative. **It's open season on white guys, especially older white men.**

> That conduct is deeply offensive.

 

LOL. I've only read about these kinds of complaints, in sociological type articles. First time seeing in the wild. LOL. Open season.

 

[caniac6]

Hank was not on the air today.

[toc]

Seemed more demeaning to me. It sure comes off as “if people don’t look like me it’s not important to me” but that’s just from reading it. I’m not going to listen to something hank Haney says for fear of being coerced into buying a medicus or plane finder.

[PostandGhost]

I think this is the comment that has certain people up in arms:

 

Haney: "Maybe I could. Well...I'd go with Lee if I didn't have to name a first name, I'd get a bunch of them right...Yeah, I don't know."

 

The key word he uses is "bunch". How many is a "bunch"? Typically, it would be more than four; two is a couple, three and four are called a few, so more than that is often called a bunch. I think people are misinterpreting the amount that the term "bunch" represents, and that's why they're getting upset. If he said something to the effect, "Well... I'd go with Lee if I didn't have to name a first name, I'd get **ALL** of them right" that would be racist and stereotyping. I also listened to the audio and he did not over emphasize the term "bunch".

[caniac6]

> @BlackDiamondPar5 said:

> > @geesecougar2 said:

> > He wasn't saying, **_"Statistically speaking, there are many Lee's on the LPGA Tour. So in terms of probability, a Lee is who I bet will win_."**

> >

> > He was actually saying, **_"The only good players on the LPGA are Korean and so I don't really care to follow it even though I'm supposed to be a golf expert."_** Like someone said before, imagine if he said that about the NBA, he'd be blacklisted from all media.

> >

> > He knew there would be so many in the golf world like those on this thread willfully looking the other way, which is why he thought he could get away with it. To deny the spirit of his comments to defend him you're either dumb, intellectually dishonest, or actually racist yourself.

> >

> I see you appear to be just another SJW--- thinking you know what's in a persons heart and mind and inventing your own nasty interpretation of their words. Why do you and others do this? Because it fits the narrative. It's open season on white guys, especially older white men. That conduct is deeply offensive.

 

As an older white man, I've never felt oppressed. I usually try to think of other people's feelings before I blurt out something that could be offensive. If that makes me pc, so be it. I think it makes me a gentleman, and a polite one at that.

[sdandrea]

It may not have been racist or sexist but it was really dismissive towards the LPGA. He came across as ignorant of that tour and it's players, but what was worse is he laughed it off. I wonder how Nike and Callaway feel about it. BTW, his standard apology speech sounded like it was written by the same folks that handle Hollywood's finest faux paux's.