UPDATE: PGA Tour Tough Guys DENY Lash Out at Tiger, Elin
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 10, 2009 3:39 PM EST
56 comments
Jay Busbee and Doug Ferguson both went straight to the source(s) for this story. They each talked to Crane's agent, who vehemently denied that Ben would make these statements. Why? Life & Style says that they talked to Crane at Q-School. Crane definitely wasn't there.
"Ben was very surprised and shocked to see these comments," Crane's agent, Tommy Limbaugh, said in an interview with Yahoo! Sports. "He never talked to anyone at Life & Style. He's done no interviews since the Children's Miracle Network at Disney Nov. 15. Ben wishes only the best for Tiger and Elin."
Warren's manager, Thomas Parker, echoed Crane's sentiments. "He's never spoken to this magazine," Parker said. "There's no story here."
I mean, since 90% of most Americans couldn't even pick Ben Crane out of a lineup if he hit them with a sledgehammer, I'm willing to bet that somebody either (a) played a big joke on Crane & Warren or (b) Life & Style just made this ish up.
What is posted after the jump is my initial reaction to the Life & Style story as printed. I made a mistake on this one. I believed something that I shouldn't have - even not knowing these guys personally. I was too quick to trust a publication that directly attributed quotes to these guys. And I shouldn't have.
"We sent an experienced freelance reporter to a golf tournament attended by several PGA pros," the magazine said in a statement. "Our reporter spoke with two golfers who presented themselves as Ben Crane and Charles Warren. We are taking these claims very seriously and investigating further." Yahoo! Sports has made inquiries to Life & Style magazine, but calls and emails to two individuals at the magazine have not as yet been returned.
A couple of PGA Tour pros - who most people have never heard of - are now on the record with their reaction to this whole Woods fiasco. (I refuse to call this Tigergate or anything with "gate" on the end of it.)
Both told their opinions to Life & Style Weekly magazine.
First up is The Slowest Golfer on Earth, Ben Crane, who took 3 hours and 19 minutes to play 18 holes by himself earlier this year on Tour.
"This is no surprise to anyone who knows Tiger," Crane tells Life & Style. "He's a phony and a fake and he can't retain that squeaky-clean endorsement deal any longer." Crane also believes Elin may have known about Tiger's other women. "She's no fool," Crane says, adding that perhaps Elin "turned a blind eye because of the money and the kids and the lifestyle he provides."
Yeah, that supposed $300 million divorce clause has her clinging onto Tiger.
Then Charles Warren - the 387th ranked player in the world and who finished at 147 on the '09 money list - gives Elin some marital advice.
"She was very young when Jesper introduced them," Warren tells Life & Style. "She had stars in her eyes and maybe dollar signs too. But no, she should not stay with him. What kind of message would that send to her sister and mother and all the women out there? That your husband can be a bastard but as long as he makes the deal worthwhile, you'll stay?"
You heard it here first: Charles Warren is going to be taking over for Dr. Drew on his litany of VH1 rehab shows.
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Thank you for taking a stand...
…on the “gate” issue. That’s one of my pet peeves. Stop already all of you people ‘-gating’ every damn controversy.
On the topic, I can’t really be critical of these two because they’re basically doing what we’ve all been doing here for two weeks. Offering meaningless opinions.
Yeah, they have just as much of a right as any of us to opine. I just think it’s funny that these were the two guys that they could get to go on record.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 10, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions
I was thinking the same thing.
Frankly, if Tiger is as big a jerk as Crane and others have said (assuming they mean aside from the current scandal), I’m surprised more players haven’t been quoted expressing similar feelings. Though, I suppose most of them might just prefer the high road.
by Double Eagle on Dec 10, 2009 4:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Dr.Drew?
That’s a good gig….He could probably make more dollars there than on Tour. Whoa! Ben, I think you let your alligator mouth run away with your hummingbird ass…. You can kiss off an invitation to the Chevron World Challenge no matter where you wind up on the money list.
I don't know, it's kinda
refreshing to hear someone say what they really think, when everyone else is sucking-up and being politically correct. I’m not saying they are right or wrong, but they are pretty stinking brave, and that I applaud!! So screw the Chevron World Challenge….Tiger did.
Good for them for having an opinion and actually being willing to say it. They’re no different than us.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 10, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, but notice who is not talking publicly: guys with huge endorsement contracts of their own.
With all due respect to Crane, Warren and even Jesper Parnavik, these are guys who are hardly at the top of financial food chain either on or off the golf course. They can speak their minds all they like because they have little if anything to lose.
Until you hear condemnations from the likes of Mickelson, Stricker, Westwood, et. al, you are hearing the church rats, not the choir.
Old Man Par.....You're
correct about most being afraid to lose their endorsements, which is why you don’t get a true picture of how they really feel. I would bet most of them would have negative comments……if they would be truthful. Cranes observation of Tiger being a “phony and a fake” is pretty bold, but Warren using the “bastard” analogy took some real “nads”.
Ryan,
How can you say that with a straight face when your column on this same page pronounces you a hypocrite?
1st from your title…PGA tour tough guys
2nd…A couple of PGA Tour pros – who most people have never heard of
3rd…The Slowest Golfer on Earth, Ben Crane
4th…Charles Warren – the 387th ranked player in the world
5th…You heard it here first: Charles Warren is going to be taking over for Dr. Drew
You mock and belittle these guys mercilessly, and then say good for them having an opinion.
Be Careful
Easy Nibs, you’re on thin ice here. Ryan and his gang of sycophants don’t take kindly to criticism. BTW – MSNBC is reporting this morning that Internet traffic about Tiger Woods is up 40 TIMES, not 40%, 40X!!! His own site, from 11,000 hits per day to over 400,000. Tiger may hold this dubious record for quite some time. I don’t even think a Michelle Wie preganancy story could overtake it.
Haha, it’s pretty funny. I don’t mind criticism when it’s valid, well-reasoned, and actually makes any sense. So far, you’re not doing well in any of those three categories.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 11, 2009 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
You heard it here first....
Seems like you stepped in it: Well reasoned. makes sense, valid? Well, who cares about validity these days…. You don’t mind criticism? A little disingenuous I think… But hey, thanks for your opinion!
I don’t mind criticism, but I have every right to come back with my retort that, to this point, you haven’t been able to actually combat. I wish you the best of luck in being able to do that at some point.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 11, 2009 9:06 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, it’s pretty easy to make fun of anyone – including myself. I do it all the time here.
Great on them for having an opinion. I just think it’s hilarious that this mag chose to source these two guys as their Tiger and Elin bashers. They’re not exactly (a) well-known or (b) relevant as far as PGA Tour players go.
Gotta think outside of the box a little bit to get the ludicrous nature of this story to get this.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 11, 2009 9:00 AM EST up reply actions
Neither one of these guys called Life & Style Weekly magazine begging to give a quote. This is some intern working their way down a list of players asking if they want to comment. Granted, nobody forced them to open their piehole, and they are free to give their opinion – but this is yet another crass, classless tabloid technique.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Oh, that’s 100% true – you got it exactly.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 10, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
Nothing new to me !
I’ve been saying Woods was a “phony and a flake” for years. Met him, talked with him “inside the ropes” and the locker room,…. something about this guy was always a little off. Of course, all the tigermaniacs called me a hater, or a racist or a moron. Well,….guess y’all know now that the media, Nike and Woods himself, were spoon feeding the masses. There are dozens of guys I’ve toured with who knew all about Woods, but they kept quiet. Not anymore. The Nike bros will stay mute, but there will be more of this. Woods has earned it, ever last bit. IMO……………………………Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
t-pot
Very few Tour players will have much to do with this leper from now on. He’s has cast a giant shawdow on everybody out there. Perehaps Crane rant is bogus,…but you know very well that I’ve heard the whispers about Woods for years, especially from the Tour guys down here at WR. Maybe Crane was misquoted, maybe not. That doesn’t change the fact that people knew Woods was carrying on and said nothing. Ya think his scum bag caddie didn’t know ? Of course not. He’s been exposed for the phony flake he was when I was around him. The old Tour “gossip line” was bang on the money. We’ll hear more from players about him as his fall from grace continues. He’s approaching Barry Bonds territory for levels of contempt. Looks good on him too !…………………….Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
3rons
I think most reasonable people understand Tiger’s actions have nothing to do with golf. Those that don’t like him will like him less, but his true friends will stick by him; that’s what true friends do. The rest were never his friends to begin with. His real fans will also stick by him and understand he’s a human who made some ugly mistakes. At some point he’ll return to golf, continue winning, and this will be largely just a side note. Funny thing about time you know…..
Side note...
Losing your family for being a jerk is anything but. This will change Tigers life and his family forever.
Agreed
Yes of course it’s much more then a side note in Tiger’s life, but not in my own life. I wish him and his family nothing but the best, but his private life is none of my business or concern. In terms of his professional career, this will indeed be nothing but a side note a few years down the road.
Side note ???
Sure,…just as Barry Bonds lieing, cheating ways were just a "side note " to his career. That incident “ENDED” his career. It could well do the same for Woods. When he comes back, we’ll see how “mentally tough” he really is. Judging from his total disappearance from public view, I’d say he’s not the tough guy you so adamantly proclaimed. There is little chance he’ll ever return to his former position in the game. He’s never gonna change who and what he is. Maybe he’s bought his wife for a few more years, but I doubt the same offer will be made to the customers of those Corps. he represents. No, I think he’s done. Stick a fork in him, or a 3iron (lol) as Elin did. LMAO ……………………………Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
Barry Bonds ??
You’re going to compare Bonds’ roided up cheating to Tiger cheating on his wife ???
Hard to argue with you about this being potentially tougher mentally than anything that has happened to him physically in the past – but I’m not going to bet against the guy inside the ropes.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Cheetah !
Not a comparison,…..but he’s real good at keepin’ things outa the public view isn’t he? I would not be surprised if he was taking questionable pharmaceudicals all along. I’d have believed that before his cheating on Elin. This guy is dirty and he just doesn’t pass the “sniff” test anymore on ANYTHING. We know what he’s capable of now…………………Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
Tiger's done huh?
I’ve heard that before, right about this time last year; although for a different reason. I think what you mean to say is you hope he’s done. Time will tell, but I think he’ll be fine. I’d stop making the Bond’s comparison as it’s not reasonable, this has nothing to do with Tiger’s golf. Tiger may or may not be able to save his marriage, but millions of people go through the same thing all of the time, but are still able to go to work and function normally. Mistakes happen and relationships fail, but life goes on, careers go on, and people move on. That’s just real life. Sure he’ll have a rough time for a while, but he’ll learn from it and he’ll become a better man because of it. As I said before, we’re all humbled at some point in our life and Tiger needed to get knocked on his face; I honestly believe this needed to happen and it will end up being good for him.
1/2 FULL HUH ?
That’s what I like about y’all. When it comes to Tiger, no matter what the evidence,….you see the glass as half full.FYI,… Bonds was a liar and a cheat on his wife too ! This is gonna be a major distraction (pun intended).Maybe this will be good for him and his family (hope so) but it will be a detriment to his golf. This won’t be patched up in a few weeks. More like years of looking over his shoulder to be sure of Elin’s trust. The ACL has slowed him down, but this is really gonna set him on his ass,…that is, if he’s really serious about his family,….which he should be. With TW, you never know when he’s being straight with us, and the past few weeks certainly reinforces what I’ve always thought of him. A phony and a flake. But hey,….I like to top up my 1/2 full glass with some of JD’s finest. Smooth bro,…..real smooth.
you're still away,...choke on it !
Yep, I'm an optimist.
But in my estimation that’s generally a better way to approach life. Yes, Bonds cheated on his wife and so have about a million other athletes; that doesn’t mean Tiger cheated the game. If you want to make a comparison, the best one out there is MJ. Both have about the same celebrity status and both are considered to be one of the greats of their respective sports. Both have problems with the temptations of the flesh. However, MJ’s reputation as a player has not been tarnished, only his reputation as a person which are two separate things. It will be the same for Tiger after this dies down, (and it will eventually die down, always does). Again two different things, personal vs professional, and I’m only a fan of one of those entities. Yes I agree it could temporarily effect his golf, but it could just as easily motivate him and focus him even further, time will tell. I do know that time has a funny way of healing and people are almost always able to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives; that’s just the way life works. As I said, he’ll have a rough go of it for a while, but he’ll come out on the other side stronger, a better person, and his career will continue.
Good on Ben Crane especially !!!
Good guy overall and nice to see a few have some nads to say something.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Jay Busbee Says Crane Denies Making Statements.
VIA TWITTER
jaybusbee
IMPORTANT TIGER UPDATE: Just talked to Crane’s manager. Crane denies making anti-Tiger quotes. Said he hasn’t been interviewed since 11/15.
jaybusbee
RT @dougferguson405: Magazine says freelancer spoke to 2 players at Q-school who ID’d themselves as Crane and Warren. Crane not at Q-school.
Just goes to show you....
You can’t believe everything you read. This story is bogus, both Crane and Warren have denied any such comments or being interviewed at all.
You want "truth"
You’ll find it between toxic and turd in the dictionary. I hadn’t heard this about Crane and Warren. Maybe we’ll see one of those, “I stand by the story” items…. Maybe and apology… It doesn’t really matter, I got an e-mail from a Nigerian Prince that wants ONLY $10K to invest in a Tiger Woods theme Brothel…. “Honey, where’s the check book?”
Money, yet again
Tigerhead says, “few , if any,will bite the hand that feeds them”…that may be true, but I’m getting tired of this talk “the tour owes Tiger” As Daly has said the other day. Tiger owes the GAME ! All his wealth and standing is down to the fact that he plays golf. He has been so good that, yes, he has dragged up purses. thats no reason to pay homage to him…he is not the first player to do that. But, he and fellow players are in the right place in the right time, when sponsors of the modern media age throw crazy money at them for world wide exposure. The fact that golf is so popular, played by many non sporting people makes for good advertising. Golfers at the top make a fantastic living and will continue to do so even if Tiger quits. It is never good to see players bowing to Tiger just because of the money he has brought into the game. It makes some pros who play golf look cheap.
True Easingwold
As well let us not forget that if not for ALL the players on Tour we wouldn’t have a tour at all. Also, the tour has lost sponsors and tournaments because of the HIGH demand for money. I’m not saying TW is directly responsible for this downturn as most of it is caused by a weak economy, but if he gets the credit for raising the stakes then he is partially to blame…jumpn/progolf
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Tiger gets
credit for raising the purses. Some of it is deserved, but all the major sports are paying obscene amounts to players, and it’s not because of Tiger. Pro Golf would have seen a similar increase as the other sports without Tiger, but Tiger has helped raise it a bit more.
When so much poop is on the lawn...
You’re bound to step in it sometimes, unless you play it safe and stay on the sidewalk!
by handicapismyswing on Dec 11, 2009 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
Did you really believe it?
When I read the original article (before the update), I thought there is no way Ben Crane would say something like this…he hasn’t had enough time to formulate a response yet!
:-) After all of the misinformation/gossip/rumors out there, I was skeptical – and as I can see now, for good reason.
If this was some kind of joke on these two guys, which Ryan suggested above, it’s really not funny at all.
You are not alone.
I had doubts myself, which is why I refrained from immediate comment. I think that may become my default position on all such future rumors.
by handicapismyswing on Dec 11, 2009 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Every once in a while, the story isn’t reported right. Happened the other day at golf.com (very reputable) with Lee Westwood not getting paid Race to Dubai money. They took a comment of his that he wasn’t paid yet, but was misinterpreted. Did a post on their post. Then they took theirs down. Was pointed out to me, so I took mine down. It’s all good.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 11, 2009 10:40 AM EST reply actions
Ryan
I admire honest journalism, and you have never been shy about setting the record straight when you find out that you were victimized by false information. Good for you on both counts… getting it “out there” while it’s news, and putting thins right when it turns out it was not.
by handicapismyswing on Dec 11, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
TGC
I wonder if the groveling droolers over there at TGC will add this latest Tiger Saga to their Top -10 Tiger Woods Beat Downs…jes sayin
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Hey Ryan, no harm no foul.
You’re in cut-throat business now. As has been mentioned, the Tabloids have found golf, and what used to be called “yellow journalism” has gone mainstream. I read an interview with Jamie Jungers done by Meridith Viera. In it she says she and Tiger went clubbing and lots of pictures were taken of the them…. Either people are biding their time or there are no pictures. While this story will die down, it will never go away. Golfers NEVER forget… This is a watershed moment in golf, unseemly but a moment just the same. You can be sure when Tiger breaks Jack’s major record (I know, it’s not a done deal) in the articles written about will be “Black Friday”.
I can’t really go anywhere with the ladies because I just don’t know what to believe. But I was inclined to believe that a magazine wouldn’t just make crap up about two pro golfers in a supposed direct quote. Rumors are one thing, but attributing quotes is another entirely.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 11, 2009 11:04 AM EST up reply actions
STOP!
Hold on Ryan. Life & Style say both were i/vd at Q School. As you rightly point out, Crane was NEVER there (& Warren pulled out before the final round), so why the heck do all your following posts imply that they did indeed give these opinions. They have both vehemently denied it.
I want to have the original post up there to show the reaction, but the top of the post is to show what has developed since the original post. I’ve put a call into Life & Style for comment and an update.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 11, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
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