UPDATE: Furman Bisher Posted the Tiger Story Because He's Bored (And Now Tells You To Get Out)
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 30, 2009 6:46 PM EST
52 comments
If you have an email account, read a message board, or patron a blog, then you've seen it. It's what is supposedly the real account of what went down at 2 am on the day after Thanksgiving. I first read it on a University of Maryland (GO TERPS) message board on December 23, posted by a guy who says he got it from a guy who has tour connections.
Already, we're talking about "friend of a kinda friend" stuff. As anyone who has even been emailed by a Nigerian promising you millions of dollars should know, this is a hoax. But the people in the thread bought it. Further, golf industry insiders bought it. (Fortunately, Deadspin and Geoff Shackelford called it crap from the start.) I got emails with this, as though it were some kind of tip. This email belongs on Snopes more than it does on sites like Perez Hilton, Fanhouse (who didn't verify the story and did put up a disclaimer about it), or the Daily Mail - which since took it down from their site.
Based on what I had heard of the incident, only some of the details were consistent. But that's not the point. The point is that all of these sites linked to the story because former Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports writer Furman Bisher posted it on his blog. The meme is "because Bisher is legit, it has to be true!" Canada bought it hook, line, and sinker.
This man brought down the Internet and email accounts worldwide.
It has even gotten to the point that Mark Steinberg - Tiger's agent - actually had to comment on this thing to E! News.
Here's the thing. Furman Bisher is 92 years old. He retired from the AJC. He's not getting another writing job - despite his tremendous talent, newspapers are not hiring guys with his experience. Based on conversations I had today (corroborated by Sal Johnson's post today at Golf Observer), I found out that he operates his rarely-trafficked blog (see below, your Blogger blog has the same traffic as his) because he's bored. Bored. He posted the email chain letter version of events because it was actually forwarded to him by someone in the industry. (Hey, I got it too! But I'm a blogger, so it wouldn't be breaking news if I did it. Irony alert.) So, if boredom creates credibility, then have at it.
Maybe Furman was doing it for a traffic boost.
Meanwhile, fellow blogger Steph Wei tracked the original source of this thing to some guy who posts at the golf equipment message board GolfWRX.com (supported by Golf Digest of all things). If Tiger or Mark Steinberg posted this, then it would be one thing. But I don't think Tiger is in Marietta, GA.
And finally, Daulerio at Deadspin has the last laugh when Inside Edition emailed him to find out if the email was real. You gotta be kidding me. If the email comes to you from a comcast.net, verizon.net, or aol.com email address, then it (a) likely came from your dad or granddad and (b) is a hoax.
I guess because Furman Bisher is old enough to be my great-grandfather*, Canada, Perez Hilton, Inside Edition, and the Daily Mail disregarded that simple rule.
*Furman, you're great. Wishing you the best!
UPDATE 6:25 pm ET 12/30: Furman Bisher has made a post on his blog saying that he made a mistake in posting the Tiger hoax email. He said that his blog is "for friends only." Here's the post in full:
A few days ago I forwarded a message I received from a longtime friend, relating to Tiger Woods and his recent unhappiness, alleged or otherwise. I thought it over for awhile, finally decided to forward it to those friends who indulge in my personal blog. It’s usually a small group, and being a fairly naive practitioner in this kind of exchange, was rather startled when the darned thing developed legs of its own. I had calls from across the sea, from London, for instance, and after a few days my daughter, who manages this modest little gig, reported she had already received over 43,000 hits from all kinds of people with all kinds of attitudes.
It was not intended for anybody but those who are plugged into my blog—which is free of charge. No subscription charges are involved. Since I retired from daily columning, I simply like to write a few things now and then, and stay in touch with friends, and pass on information from trusted sources. Anybody else who got it is an intruder, no friend of mine. God knows, how 43,000+ people who have nothing to do but peep in on such an insignificant website as mine irritates me.
That, I suppose, illustrates my electronic illiteracy. But, if you are among the offended, then stay off my website. It’s for friends only.
So you stay out of Bish's blog, pal! All 43,000 of you! Cause the Internet is all about closed doors!
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Ashley don't believe............
All the crap you hear, or read. That is the message. It’s un equal reporting through deceptive means. No mention of how much Tiger’s relationships has profited them over the years. I guarantee you it’s much more than 12 billion. Don’t believe all this nonsense. ‘cause it’s………….well, nonsense……..Ryan, obsession is the weirdest form of flattery. Can we find another topic, or is Tiger the only story you can find in Golf. Are you auditioning for the rag/mags, or TMZ, or what. I mean move on dude. move on.
by Fairways and Grins on Dec 30, 2009 9:21 AM EST reply actions
Actually, I’m going to prove that the UC Davis study was both faulty and inaccurate in another post.
If you can’t tell, there isn’t much else going on in golf. And where there is something else happening, I’ve talked about it, right? Olympics, LPGA Tour schedule and players, etc.
This Woods story is the biggest golf story since the Tiger Slam in ‘00-’01 and you’re going to have to accept 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 30, 2009 9:44 AM EST up reply actions
Is it a golf story??
The golf story is what the guy does on course. The tabloid story is what a person does Off Course………..Of course……..I understand you’re keeping the blog going, i just hope you latch onto something actually Golf related pretty soon.
by Fairways and Grins on Dec 30, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
Once we get started with the PGA Tour season, there’ll be more of a focus on the on-course stuff for sure
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 30, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
F's and G's.......You know from our experience
over at TGC that the only articles that get any attention are the ones about those who have large groups of followers and detractors….i.e…..Tiger(the slimball), John Daly(alcohol) and Michelle Wie(whatever??). Everything else goes pretty much unnoticed and/or ignored. Golf will be back soon and maybe that will help some, but the “lightning rods” will always get the most attention, so sit back a try to have a little fun…….Who Dat
Saints are killing me!!!!!!!!
a small correction..
…em – on Michelle Wie – that should read “LIKE whatever” y’know ? :-D
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Dec 30, 2009 10:33 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He’s bored ? He’s 92 ? How do you know he’s bored ? And he’s 91.
Stop making assumptions about other people’s lives.
This is STILL not a “golf story” – it is a story about a golfer.
Accuracy accuracy accuracy. If the accuracy of the UC Davis “study” (and I’m on your side – you can’t analyze trends in a vacuum) – then how about not making WAG’s about a person’s life. (WAGS – wild assed guesses)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I know he’s bored because I actually talked to Sal Johnson who talked to Bisher directly and that was what he told him. I’m not making stuff up, court. Never did that and never will.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 30, 2009 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
Oddly enough – you didn’t mention getting second hand information from Sal in the article. When was the conversation ?
Just because Furman may have used the word “bored” in a conversation does not mean that you can extrapolate that to his entire life.
You’re writing the story the same way our wunnerful government does studies on heath care and hunger. Honest to god question from the government on hunger in school children…“have you told anybody you were hungry in the last year ?” Those yes answers were translated into “starvation” figures.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Actually, I mentioned it when I said “based on conversations I had today” – that’s sourcing.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 30, 2009 11:09 AM EST up reply actions
I got the now infamous picture of TW bruised and battered, emailed to me six times while I was out golfing either Monday 11/30 or Wed Dec 2nd, whichever day it went viral, but this is the first time I’ve seen this now notorious email. Ryan says categorically that “this is a hoax”. Well, if by a hoax you mean that it is not 100% true, then I would agree. But just as certainly, there is an element of truth behind this email, which doesn’t do us truth seekers much good because we don’t what is true and what is false. But the “TRUTH” is out there and some people know various parts of the truth; like Coach Childress said during the Favre controversy, “that’s the beauty of the truth, you can tell it over and over again, because it never changes”. Tiger was seen in public after the accident, he was seen and treated in the ER, and it is documented that the police, the FHP, talked to the ER staff about Tiger’s injuries, so two groups of people know some of the truth about this incident, the cops and the hospital staff. People are going to talk and people are going to embellish their accounts and it is inevitable that an email such as this is going to appear at some time. The only surprise is that it took this long…from Nov 27th until Dec 22nd. Nature abhors a vacuum….the vacuum was created by TW and his team by not releasing the truth….TW richly deserves all the vile rumors that are circulating today….he could have stopped them by simply stating the truth. Now mind you, TW is well within his rights to NOT tell us the truth, just like we are well within our rights to fill in that vacuum with speculation. Let the rumors fly!
nib, like I said in the post, there’s almost certainly some element of truth in the chain email, but no way to know how much.
Honestly, I think it’s a huge accomplishment for Woods that he has managed to not be photographed even once since the accident (that anyone has seen anyhow).
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 30, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions
O he’s certainly been photographed since the accident, (everyone has a cell phone camera these days, even though some idiots like me can’t use theirs), the astounding accomplishment is that no photos have been published so far, being that a picture like that must be worth at least a $100,000 or so
right….that’s why I said “at least”….
…speaking of rumors, this is from the Vegas Rumormeister, Norm Clarke;s column today…
Dec. 30, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
NORM: Sightings hinted of ’transgressions
Tiger Woods had a different definition of "blond highlights
With Tiger Woods rumored to be in an Arizona rehabilitation center, reportedly for a sex addiction, we went back through the Vegas Confidential archives.
Here’s one from Sept. 29, 2005: “Tiger Woods, sporting blond highlights, playing blackjack in the high roller salon at The Mansion (MGM Grand) with Charles Barkley on Tuesday night.”
Now we know, after a month of explosive revelations, that Tiger had a different definition of “blond highlights.” That sighting, by the way, was about a week before Woods’ one-year wedding anniversary.
Earlier this month I mentioned here that I received a tip on May 2, 2006 that Woods was in town. Later the tipster said Woods had left the Mansion at the MGM Grand in a hurry.
Las Vegas cocktail server Jamie Jungers, one of the dozen or more alleged mistresses, filled in some blanks during a recent TV interview.
Jungers said she was with Woods at one of his California homes when he received a phone call from his mother saying that Tiger’s father, Earl, was failing.
Junger said Tiger left her for a couple of hours and when he returned, they made love. She was still with Tiger when his mother called with news that Earl had died of cancer.
It was May 3.
Then there’s this sighting that appeared here June 25, 2008: “Tiger Woods, limping into The Bank nightclub at Bellagio late Sunday. He was a smoking a cigar and enjoying the company of some galpals. Woods, who won the U.S. Open a week ago, underwent knee surgery Tuesday” in Park City, Utah.
Nibbles is blonde.......
Only a Duped Vegas waitress would spend so much time speculating about a golfer. Hey, it’s okay girl. It gets better…………..it gets better………..How was the Today show by the way. Give the dirt……..if you’re not too hurt.
by Fairways and Grins on Dec 30, 2009 11:08 AM EST reply actions
Lucky me
I must be the only serious golf blogger or writer who didn’t get the email by now. Why was Stephanie Wei able to get it six times?
Yeah!!! I didn't get it either.........
Inquiring minds want to know!!!
Saints are killing me!!!!!!!!
Now TMZ Sports is refuting this email…
“Cops: Tiger Woods Had a ‘Fat Lip’
Posted Dec 30th 2009 5:35PM by TMZ Staff
Tiger Woods met with the Florida Highway Patrol three days after his November 27 car crash — and according to cops, Tiger was sportin’ a “fat lip.”
An FHP spokesman confirmed that Tiger met with troopers at an undisclosed location on Dec. 1 to receive his traffic ticket — and officers reported they only observed a “fat lip” on Tiger’s face … no other facial injuries.
Officers also claim Tiger’s appearance gave them no reason to believe he was the victim of domestic violence."
The crux of what nibs says is correct – just not the tone. Furman Bisher did not grow up in the computer generation. He uses computers, but he is a pen and paper kind of guy. He is a gentleman’s gentleman, he is the embodiment of “old school”, and at 92, he deserves more respect and politeness than has been given to him here. Disagree with him – no problem – but show a little more respect. You wouldn’t want us talking to your grandfather this way.
He’s still only 91 – and he is a treasure that we in the golf community are not going to have a whole lot longer. I have been lucky enough to have a few lunches with him and had the chance at a couple of Tour Championships to sit down with him. I wish I had my recorder running to document some of the stories he told.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Obsessively delirious...
The desperation of these posters is so funny….Who quotes TMZ as a source? Who posts stories printed in the “enquirer?” Who sits and waits for bad news, then runs to the computer and cheerfully spews? Man this is officially the silly season. Now these losers are even lashing out at Mr. Bisher. What’s going on?? This obsessive following of this “story” is just lunacy. Get a Life . Tiger Woods is a great golfer who made a mistake. He’s a Billionaire, Golfer of the Decade, Player of the year. If all you have is he Duped You? Then what are you saying? The man is a Golfer, and that’s all he ever was. So why this over the top obsession with his personal life. What is their TRUE motivation? Why have they taken this so seriously? Niblic, since this has affected you so deeply and personally; why don’t you enlighten us on that. Heck, (i can’t believe i’m saying this) Why don’t you write a fanpost on how Tiger hurt you, and why you can’t move on?? That would be…..well…
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Dec 31, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
So how did Mr. Bisher get tagged as getting credit for this? If it had been floating around and people were receiving several copies well before Mr. Bisher posted it, how does a rarely visited web site all of a sudden get linked to the email?
And ditto what CG says, I think Mr. Bisher deserves a little more respect than how he has been portrayed in this thread.
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
I'm confused by this post.
I really don’t know what it’s trying to achieve. If it’s to state that Bisher’s advanced age and reputation is not an appropriate excuse of forgoing journalistic credibility and integrity, I agree entirely. If Bisher’s post was meant for friends and family only, it should be labelled as such. A man like Bisher should know that.
If it’s to state that Bisher’s posts should be disregarded because he’s old and bored, then I disagree wholeheartedly. Perhaps it’s because I’m a Penn State football fan, but I’m tired of hearing people discount a person’s abilities just because they are over 80 years of age. I could make a list of people who have made amazing contributions to society at 70, 80, and 90 years of age or older.
If it’s to decry the people who blindly accepted Bisher’s post because “he is who he is” then yes—they should have the same journalistic integrity and credibility that I expect from Bisher.
I guess I don't know the right people
Why didn’t I get this email? I guess I’m not one of the cool golf bloggers yet…Anyways..I wouldn’t discount Bisher because of his age or create an argument based on hearsay that he is “bored”. However, having taken a quick look at his site (I guess his stats are 43001 now) it appears he never wanted anyone apart from “close friends” to read it anyways and almost attacks people for reading his blog!
Dare to Dream
by PureGolfJourney on Dec 31, 2009 11:05 AM EST reply actions
You've got it wrong Ryan
This is an almost dead on account. I know everyone in the golf community here in central Florida, live 2 miles from Tiger, and play Isleworth often. I have heard all of this from several very reputable sources. This isn’t “friend of a friend” kind of stuff (although to an outsider I can see how it may seem that way) – we’re talking about the top brass at IMG here plus a VERY tight knit Isleworth community. No one is a “big shot” there because they’re ALL big shots in their respective field. They all know what’s going on.
John......don't sweat F's and G's.......
he doesn’t believe anything bad about Tiger, but he does believe in Santa and the Tooth Fairy. I too have heard that Tiger is not the most popular guy among the players, and what is said in front of the camera’s is not necessarily how they really feel……(f and g…..I heard that from the Easter Bunny)……lol
Saints are killing me!!!!!!!!
I only believe in Tom........
Benson, and the Umbrella thingy…..lol……He missed the kick……Who Dat….lmao. Funny.
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Dec 31, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry, but we had to take the umbrella
away from him……he couldn’t get it through the metal detector…….
Saints are killing me!!!!!!!!
John, I’ve gotta ask then how the story lines up with what WESH reported yesterday about police saying Woods just had a fat lip on Dec 1?
http://www.wesh.com/news/22092061/detail.html
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 31, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
come on RB – are those police officers medically trained ? is it possible they got the sketch down and had other things to do at the scene than take a medical history ?
The thing about this email that has been circulating is that most of it is believable and all of it is at least plausible. It COULD be the truth….then again….it could be a complete fabrication.
As always, it comes down to the fact that WE don’t actually HAVE the facts.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
yeah yeah yeah
let’s get down to the SERIOUS nuts and bolts of your post, John….just when are you going to take US to play Isleworth ? :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Sure John......We believe YOU.....
There will be no mention of GOLF here……..
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Dec 31, 2009 1:01 PM EST reply actions
Guy above me
funny. I’m not going to play a name dropping game with you to prove to you the validity of what I’m saying. I’m a professional golfer and grew up playing here in Orlando. Many of the people I speak of are well known tour pros whom I trust dearly and would have no reason to make things up. Like I said, I’m not saying names, so believe it if you want – doesn’t bother me.
Hi John,
I went to your web site – I’m all about learning about people on the quest to get on the PGA tour (I wanted to believe in and follow Phil Bundy, but he’s reported nothing golf-wise for a year now, I’m giving up)…what are the steps you are taking to get your tour card? Will you be posting about that on your web site in 2010?
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
Guy above me
Sooooo they were there that night…..Just having a community chat, when suddenly the Escalade came careening off everything. With a woman with (what club was it 66er) ? running behind, and ,,,,and ,,,,and,,,,..So you’re a professional golfer, talking to touring pros, who by the way, HAVE BEEN GETTING THEIR ARSES HANDED TO THEM BY TIGER, And suddenly this “story falls in your laps”. can we say GROUP HUG…..Hey, John (Golf Pro from Orlando) Go work on your game. You can beat him on course now. He’s really up a tree. Way out of bounds. Go practice…..
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Dec 31, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
I'm sorry for call you clueless...
I’m now thinking “doofus” was much more appropriate. Happy New Year!! I’m outta here the rest of the afternoon……try not to offend to many people…..lol…….. Who Dat!
Saints are killing me!!!!!!!!
I know everything - I was there
She just threw the phone at him, for heaven’s sake.
Anyone heard about this fantastic tournament coming up? Any bets on winner?
Hey F&G
I’ve been meaning to tell everybody, I’m really Tiger’s next door neighbor and play golf with him all of the time. I could “drop some names” myself to prove it, but….lol.. Hey does this remind you of anybody that’s name starts with a 3…lol
Johnraser – Just poking a bit of fun..lol. Just understand how statements like that sound from an anonymous poster on a golf blog and why we would hesitate to take it very seriously.
Roll Tide !!
Tigerhead............
Where do these guys come from…..I mean……Please Let there be golf…….There has been no mention of Golf here. Happy New Year!!!! to all. Who Dat???
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Dec 31, 2009 1:51 PM EST up reply actions
Why don’t you write a fan post about something golf-related that interests you and we’ll all pop in there to talk golf?
by Double Eagle on Dec 31, 2009 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
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