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John Daly smashes fan's camera against tree
Rainier Ehrhardt, Photographer
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Augusta | GA | USA | Posted: 10:09 PM on 12.11.08 |
->> Big John is always good for some controversy:
AP story:
http://tinyurl.com/5urhvy
And the snarky blog about it:
http://tinyurl.com/6ap8r3
Wish he'd make the field for the Masters next year. Would be great to get to shoot him again. Good, bad, ugly, it's all good and you never know what to expect. |
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Mitchell Gunn, Photographer
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Klagenfurt | nil | Austria | Posted: 12:30 AM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> The guy with the camera deserved it... There have been many occasions on a golf course where I have seen fans shove cameras in the players face, and also use flash etc just as they are hitting the ball, and of course it's us photographers that generally get the blame! |
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Kevin Coughlin, Photo Editor
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Freeport | NY | United States | Posted: 1:14 AM on 12.12.08 |
->> This is a classic example why the US Open and other Major tournaments restrict, if not totally prohibit, the use of cameras by non-professionals. By and large, fans who only want to get a shot of their faves, do not realize the golfer too is at work. Any professional sports photog will tell you that you can not trip your shutter until the golfer makes contact with the ball. An electronic flash 6 inches from the golfer's eyes? Mr. Clegg is lucky Daly did not smash his head against a tree!
However, I am not condoning Daly's actions either. The man is a poor example of professional golf glorifying a very sick individual in the throes of alcoholism, under the guise of "entertainment". Note to PGA and others: Happy Gilmore was a FICTIONAL FILM! Something should be done about Daly and getting him the help he needs. Truly sad news, all around. |
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Alex Surrey, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Glendale | CA | United States | Posted: 1:36 AM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> What is it with golfers,? I don't get it. I know if you are lining a shot up and all you can hear is 9 fps chirping in the background, but what would happen if there was a wood pecker in a tree, there is nothing golfer can do but deal with it, which they should learn how to do being a professional. Also, in basketball, hockey, and any other arena sports especially basketball where when they are taking an important free throw and they got strobes firing and fans cheering. If they can do it why can't golfers? Sorry for the rant, but just felt I needed to say it. |
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Jesse Beals, Photographer
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Silverdale | WA | USA | Posted: 2:16 AM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> Pro Golfers are a bunch cry babies |
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Anantachai Brown, Photographer
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Jacksonville | FL | | Posted: 7:02 AM on 12.12.08 |
->> not same old rant again about golfers and camera clicks.....unless you play, you won't get it.
basketball a game of inches......golf a game of millimeters.
go out an shoot 20 free throws and see how many you make. then go out and hit 20 drivers and see how many you hit in the fairway 270yds away. |
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Kevin Johnston, Photographer
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Oden | MI | USA | Posted: 7:39 AM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> ... and nobody got a picture of it?? |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 8:47 AM on 12.12.08 |
->> There are golf course marshals who could have handled this better.
The players need reminding that they are not the law.
All Daly had to do is ask a marshal to remove the spectator.
NO ONE has the right to destroy another person's property no matter how angry one is, or how stupid the golf fan is.
To put a stop to this all golf has to do is make an example of the fan AND the player.
John Daly has some anger management issues that needs counseling. If he isn't stopped, next time it won't be a camera he's smashing but someone's face. |
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Rob Dicker, Photographer
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Lake Villa | IL | USA | Posted: 8:55 AM on 12.12.08 |
->> Golfers kill birds for making noise, assault fans for being "fans", throw fits, drink, smoke and yell at the crowd. Using decorum as their excuse, they destroy private property of hard working people and assault, verbally or physically professional photographers who might be a little quick on the shutter release. While I was shooting a LPGA event my cell phone (on vibrate) went off with a 9-1-1 call from my wife. My son was sick and needed to be picked up from day care and taken to the hospital. I stepped away from everything and took the call -only to be harassed by some marshal with a yellow vest. I was comforting my wife who was upset and trying to coordinate his care.
But G-d forbid they allow someone with a disability to play in their league. How long did golfers openly prohibit blacks, Jews and women from playing in their clubs?
Give me a break. I could care less if they are lining up a shot.
What's next, no fly zones? Killing all the wildlife so they don't make noise?
I recall shooting Price Charles playing polo long ago. Someone from the State Dept. briefed all the photographers on proper protocol before the event. All that I can recall about the briefing is all of us walking out of the tent shaking our heads and agreeing that this is a bunch of B.S. OK, he is a prince of Great Britain, what are these golfers? |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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McCall | ID | US | Posted: 12:00 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> You guys are off the deep end.
Someone fired a flash in someone else's face and they overreacted. |
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Aaron Rhoads, Photographer
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McComb | MS | USA | Posted: 12:14 PM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> Maybe Daly's not a Canon man. |
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Andrew Miller, Photographer
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Bridgewater | NJ | USA | Posted: 12:20 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> Kevin, today's NY Post ran a photo of Daly tossing the camera.
http://tinyurl.com/65ao3v |
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Clark Brooks, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 12:38 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> "How long did golfers openly prohibit blacks, Jews and women from playing in their clubs?"
Wow. Rob's post gets inappropriate???? For what?
Okay, obviously, someone thinks golf should continue to "... openly prohibit blacks, Jews and women from playing in their clubs..." or was it offensive that he put golfers and polo players in the same category. I dunno, but I give inappropriate to that inappropriate :-)
One sport that could use the same decorum is mixed-martial arts competition. If the crowd was completely silent may be the fighters could actually knock their opponents with a single strike (a philosophy subscribed to by traditional Okinawan martial arts) instead swinging like their trying to chop down trees for however many rounds. Way brusing, bleeding, bashing....oh wait, that is what people go to see. |
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Renay Johnson, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | | Posted: 12:40 PM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> I didn't know players were allowed to smoke during the game of golf. Still getting over the image of Daly with the cig hanging out of his mouth. This must be a charity event. *grin. I am surprised he is still playing. He still behaves poorly and gets into trouble because of his drinking problem. I don't think that was wise for the fan to snap the picture using the flash when he was that close to Daly, but I agree that Daly should have requested for the spectator to be removed. |
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Mike Huffstatler, Photographer
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Rancho Cucamonga | Ca | United States | Posted: 12:43 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> Oh yeah, here's yet another real sports role model. Cigarette hanging out of his mouth during the swing and all. Smashing personal property and destroying it? Come on.
Those of you you said the guy deserved it, shame on you. He over-reacted and what he did was wrong. If I were to grab someone's camera and destroy it just because I didn;t like the sound I'd probably be arrested. You would be too. The course marshalls should have removed the guy from the venue. Period. If Daly thinks he interferred with the shot, file a protest with the scoring officials.
What if he grabbed your $5000 D3 and smashed that because he thought it was you taking the shot? Would you still think it was "deserved"? (now before I get flamed, yes, I read where it states the guy was very close to Daly and using a flash, etc.)
What he did was wrong. His actions in the past are wrong. and I'm quite sure there will be more Daly controversy going forward. I'm sure the only reason the PGA even tollerates the guy is because like it or not he does bring ratings via viewers and readers.
And these guys need to get over the whole noise thing. It's a bit absurd as other have said. If you're focused on the task at hand, the noise should just be peripheral white noise anyway. Maybe they should just lift the noise restrictions completely. Lets see who can hit the ball then. If we look to Daly as the average Joe slob who;s out there trying to play golf, why not turn the rest of the game into average Joe time too. Make them play under the same public course conditions the rest of us average Joes play on. And yes, I do golf...well, at least I used to...and carried about a 10 handicap. |
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Rick Rickman, Photographer
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Laguna Niguel | CA | USA | Posted: 12:44 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> Oh Boy, another professional athlete ( there are no athletes in golf ) shows how well he's trained and focused he is. I said it once and I will say it again, golfers are;
Over paid, whiny, self indulgent, out of control, pukes who don't deserve the credence they're given.
Acting like a twelve year old and throwing a tantrum certainly illustrates solid professionalism. Grabbing someone's property and destroying it has no justification ever.
Making allowances for bad behavior is one of a myriad of reasons why this nation is in trouble.
Rick Rickman |
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Rich Cruse, Photographer
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Laguna Niguel | CA | USA | Posted: 12:49 PM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> The crime does not fit the punishment here. Daly is a disgrace. I hope he gets some help. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 1:48 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> The spectator broke the rules. If something happened to his gear as a result, tough luck.
But Daly (and the rest of the gear-crushing idiots) are just being big babies by destroying gear. Phil Mickelson did the correct thing at the Ryder Cup a few months back when a bibbed pro photographer leaned on the motor drive during a swing.
He had the guy removed. No violence, just some annoyed words towards the violator and a word to the officials, that's it.
That's how adults act.
Regardless of how you feel about whether golfers should have absolute silence during their game, it is the tradition and the rules. I think it's silly and I don't particularly like golf, but I respect the game and the people who play it. As such, I'll follow their rules when I'm covering their game. |
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Bob Ford, Photographer
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Lehighton | Pa | USA | Posted: 1:52 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> While the guy should not have been taking pictures, does anyone else find it hard to believe that Daly's eyes were "burning" from the flash of a Canon A540 P&S camera in the middle of the day?
I'd be willing to bet that the flash didn't even fire. |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer, Assistant
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 2:05 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> Overreaction on Daly's part? Yeah, I guess...
But honestly, I don't feel bad for the guy who owned the camera. On top of the fact that his camera was prohibited from being on the course in the first place, he admitted to "being bold" about how close he was. The guy with the camera made a classic jerk move, and he got what he had coming. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 2:28 PM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> Who got the memory card? |
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Kevin Johnston, Photographer
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Oden | MI | USA | Posted: 2:36 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> Lets see, three topics not to discuss in the press room...politics, religion and GOLF...
Lighten up guys and gals. Whether you love it or hate it, its just a game. Granted a game some people make a lot of money to play but their temper tantrums, over the top personalities, fits and great skills also provide us with an opportunity to make some money doing what we love.
Thanks for the link Andrew. Since I see that the only photo in the gallery that doesn't have a photo credit on it is the peak action shot could this be another example of high quality citizen journalism at work?? |
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Jeff Brehm, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 3:43 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> A man with a temper who can toss a camera like that might have a future with the Detroit Lions. Daly's built about like Dante Culpepper. Plus the facemask would protect his his filtered mouthguard.
Coach to John: "That wide receiver just took your picture with this oblong brown leather camera."
Coach to receiver: "Go long." |
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Geoff Miller, Photographer
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Portage | MI | USA | Posted: 3:47 PM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> No one has the destruction of their equipment "coming"... period. David Harpe nails it 100% above. |
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Fraser Britton, Photographer
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Ste Anne de Bellevue | QC | Canada | Posted: 6:18 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> I play golf, I still don't get it. Nothing but a bunch of crybabies.
Talk to a kicker lining up a 52 yard field goal for the win. He's just been iced with 2 time outs in a row. He has the wind swirling, 11 guys trying to snap him in half, cameras going, 60 000 people screaming, and a thousand people behind the goalposts waving towels, baloons and generally trying to be obnoxious. |
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Jeff Martin, Photographer
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wellington | OH | usa | Posted: 7:17 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> Fraser, very rarely does a kicker have anyone trying to tear him in half. He gets paid the same if he misses or makes the kick.
Bob, when you drink and smoke weed to excess your eyes are very light sensitve (so I'm told).
Mike, "what if", but he didn't.
Rob, this isn't all 'golfers.' It's just a few, emboldened by the best golfer in the world. I don't think Daly had anything to do with keeping blacks out of the PGA. Unless you want to take the rap for slavery, generalizations aren't helpful or accurate.
For what it's worth, I've never understood why golf is such a quite sport. I play a lot. Have been as low as a 4 hndcp. The guys I play with openly heckle the shooter. It's never bothered me. Daly has obvious problems. If he or Tiger's caddy tried to take my camera we would be rolling around in the dirt.
This wasn't a working photog. Just a guy with a camera. A camera that the guys on the gate go to great pains to tell you is not allowed just like a cell phone. |
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Rob Dicker, Photographer
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Lake Villa | IL | USA | Posted: 10:45 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> Jeff -
As a victim of rampant anti-Semitism while growing up, I am very sensitive to the persecution of all. I can't tolerate bullying and intimidation by anyone for any reason - cue the big theme music.
Rob |
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James Escher, Photographer
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Garden City | NY | USA | Posted: 12:28 AM on 12.13.08 |
->> I think we should discuss what's really important here...
Pitching mechanics.
Daly has his elbow above his shoulder at his release point. If he continues to throw spectators' cameras in this fashion he'll eventually have to visit Dr. James Andrews for surgery. Secondly, he dipped his non-throwing shoulder and is off-balance on his front leg, thereby costing him hip rotation, which in turn results in lack of velocity. Lastly, that's not a four-seam grip. That looks to be a changeup.
Amateur.
(114 days til Opening Day) |
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William Hallstrom, Photographer
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Pasadena | CA | USA | Posted: 1:17 AM on 12.13.08 |
| ->> Politics aside...who do you think is gonna be joining the "smash club" next? We had Kanye, now its Daly... |
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Peter Wallis, Photographer
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Brisbane | QLD | Australia | Posted: 2:04 AM on 12.13.08 |
| ->> I shot Daly last week and he was great. Really pleasant and a nice guy. The photog was apparently in his face for his whole round and there were many signs saying no cameras. Technically he was breaking the rules by shooting on the course. I don't condone what Daly did and he went about it in the wrong way but the guy was in the wrong..... |
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Rich Cruse, Photographer
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Laguna Niguel | CA | USA | Posted: 2:17 AM on 12.13.08 |
| ->> I met OJ Simpson once. He gave me his autograph. |
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Jeff Martin, Photographer
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wellington | OH | usa | Posted: 9:12 AM on 12.13.08 |
| ->> Rich, he may be coming to get it back. Well in 9-30 years or so. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 10:27 AM on 12.13.08 |
->> "and he got what he had coming"
kevin, you surely can't mean that? right? I don't think it wise of any professional, full time photographer to condone assault against ANYONE shooting a photo. Maybe you don't do this for a living...you never know on this site. Sure this guy broke the rules, but that means it's okay to be assaulted? No. There isn't really any middle ground on this. Saying it's okay for Daly to physically assault somebody for shooting a photo means it's okay for any Tom, Dick or Harriett to smack around anyone who shoots their photo. So, what if he's in a bad mood and you shoot a photo of him walking by you on the way to the clubhouse and he gets pissed? Does that mean he should be able to smack you? We spend years on this site trying to educate other photographers both pros and hobbyists along with the curious general public to understand what we do. It surely doesn't help our cause when a member condones abusive behavior by anyone, whether it be a sports celebrity or the regular man in the street. |
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Steven Mullensky, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Port Townsend | WA. | USA | Posted: 2:40 PM on 12.13.08 |
| ->> Hey, I'd gladly trade a $200.00 camera for a 5 figure settlement out of court. I can't believe the "burn my eyes" quote. |
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Rich Cruse, Photographer
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Laguna Niguel | CA | USA | Posted: 4:04 PM on 12.13.08 |
| ->> I got an Off Topic! Thank you! |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer, Assistant
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 4:10 PM on 12.13.08 |
->> To be clear: What John did = inexcusable, as I said with my "overreaction" bit.
Simultaneously: What John did = expected, from historical data.
I by no means want to condone John's behavior, that's for sure. It was a stupid, stupid thing to do. I cannot stress that enough; I absolutely disagree with his actions. However, we live in a culture where reactions like these are common. Not right, but common. People are murdered for even dumber reasons that what this spectator did. Then again, maybe (hopefully) Australia doesn't have that problem as bad as we do here in the states, but that's not the point. Regardless, all I'm saying is that the spectator should have realized that by sticking a flash in the face of an already angry man with a known temper, something like this wasn't all that unlikely to happen.
And just to differentiate between what the spectator did versus what a professional photographer does at, say, a crime scene or memorial service where tempers are on edge: the spectator was breaking posted rules at a tournament, all for (presumably) some photos that he could show off to his friends. If/when one of us gets in someone's face, it's generally to cover an event that has some sort of value to a larger audience (small town, national, whatever).
One more time, for any potential employers out there: my official stance on assaulting people: "Don't do it. Ever." And if you disagree with that, please don't hit me. |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 5:41 PM on 12.13.08 |
->> Rich, I photographed OJ once, but he didn't give me his autograph.
http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=432
Remember Rich, it is MORE fun being 'Off Topic.'
Grin.
Perhaps John Daly would be better served if he kept a pumpkin or two in this golf bag for the next time he's pissed off? |
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Rich Cruse, Photographer
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Laguna Niguel | CA | USA | Posted: 6:21 PM on 12.13.08 |
->> I like you Walter! You are right, it is more fun being Off Topic! I met OJ in 1978 during the Battle of the Sexes TV show being filmed in Mission Viejo, CA. He was very nice and wrote "Peace #32 OJ Simpson". I still have it!
Most of you understood what I was saying without spelling it out. Many people "seem nice", but there can sometimes be an ugly side to them. This ugly side usually comes out in stressful situations or when the person drinks. It is a sign of much deeper problems that usually requires counseling or therapy.
Here is a link to an article in the Aussie press that sums up how I feel about Daly's behavior.
http://tinyurl.com/6hoyt2
In my opinion, the tournament officials were not doing their job (keeping fans away and enforcing the no camera rules) and John overreacted to a fan that got too close. Everyone shares in the blame, but John is responsible for his violent outburst against a fan (short for fanatical enthusiast). He needs to know that his behavior is unacceptable, unprofessional and will not be tolerated. Had I been in charge, I would have removed him from the tournament. It was unsportsman like conduct.
I have been looking through the PGA Code of Conduct and it appears they "could" suspend him or revoke his membership for this. I don't know if it applies only in the US or not.
Kanye West was charged with felony vandalism and was arrested after smashing a paparazzi's $10,000 camera at LAX.
Daly was fined $5,600. That's it? Oh yeah he has to write a letter of apology to an official he yelled at. Big deal. |
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Mike Janes, Photographer
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Attica | NY | USA | Posted: 7:37 PM on 12.14.08 |
| ->> New way to make money in photography, buy a P&S and get to close to celebrities.... Ebay Item # 300280576626 |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 7:59 PM on 12.14.08 |
| ->> Wow- currently over $10,000 usd....but he is throwing in the copyright to the images.... |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer, Assistant
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 8:45 PM on 12.14.08 |
->> Mark - fake bids. Currently only at about $415 USD.
However, this is what I find fantastically interesting, and I was thinking of this before I even read it:
Question: "hi, will you be providing the winning bidder with an exclusive license to print and / or resell the photographs from the day in question?"
Answer: "Hi The winning bidder will own the photos."
That just might be worth bidding on... |
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Joe Nicola, Photographer
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Fort Worth | TX | USA | Posted: 9:30 PM on 12.30.08 |
->> I can't believe that ANYONE believes the photographer "had it coming," or "deserved" what he got by an irate golfer. Seriously?
Do you also think that a woman in a short skirt who gets raped was "asking for it"? Apparently some of the old school courts and law enforcement "officers" did when they were still struggling with the concept of walking upright.
I'm not saying, I'm just saying. |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 11:25 PM on 12.30.08 |
->> $1,075.
I wonder if I could get Daly to throw my S2 IS against a tree. |
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Scott Evans, Photographer
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Bay Village | OH | USA | Posted: 1:30 PM on 12.31.08 |
->> Rick is right on with this imo "Making allowances for bad behavior is one of a myriad of reasons why this nation is in trouble." Relativism is such a cop out.
On another note, I played college golf before giving the game up for years because I just burned out. When I practiced in the evening with my dad, I used to ask him to speak to me and walk around while I was swinging, putting, whatever just to practice playing with distraction. Oddly, I played some of my best golf when he'd do it. Wrong as the shooter was, these guys need to stop being such prima donnas. Daly is no different, he's just another one disguised as Joe Sixpack. |
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Mark J. Terrill, Photographer
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