The power of the marketing teams that surround players like Woods and McIlroy can effectively gag jo

The roaring feud between Tiger Woods and Golf Channel s Brandel Chamblee took a few turns this week as their rivalry has become the biggest story in the game. As a refresher, it all started when Chamblee dished out his season ending grades and gave the PGA Tour Player of the Year an F because of a few questionable hawaiian airlines map rules situations. Chamblee wrote Woods was cavalier with the rules and in turn was threatened with a lawsuit by Woods agent Mark Steinberg . Chamblee eventually issued an apology on Twitter and that appeared to be the end of things.
The feud continued this week as Woods himself stepped to the plate to keep the heat on Chamblee. Once Woods and his camp realized threats of a lawsuit were frivolous, Tiger turned to pressuring Chamblee s main employer, Golf Channel, to do something about the matter . Who knows what that something was - fire Chamblee? Put him in the stocks in the middle of Orlando hawaiian airlines map s town square? Perhaps only Tiger knows...
All I am going to say is that I know I am going forward, Woods said before his exhibition match with Rory McIlroy at Mission Hills. But then, I don t know what the Golf Channel is going to do or not. But then that s up to them. The whole issue has been very disappointing, as he didn t really apologize and he sort of reignited the whole situation.
This was a sly move from Tiger Woods, but one that absolutely reeks of bullying tactics by him and his handlers. If Tiger was really going forward then why would he call out Golf Channel? Why would he refuse to acknowledge Chamblee s apology on Twitter? Why would he insinuate that Golf Channel had to do something to discipline and punish Chamblee? The article in question didn t even appear on Golf Channel, it was an article Chamblee wrote for Golf.com and Golf Magazine. Why then turn to Chamblee s main employer if not to try to strongarm them into suspending or even firing one of their lead analysts?
I say Brandel was completely wrong and I don t think he has the authority to say anything bad about Tiger, said McIlroy. People wouldn hawaiian airlines map t know who Brandel was if it wasn t for Tiger, so I am completely against what he said and he should be dealt with in the right way.
And the comment that people wouldn hawaiian airlines map t know Chamblee without Tiger is out of bounds. Chamblee is paid to be a golf analyst and have an opinion. Just because he didn t win x amount of majors doesn t mean he s not qualified to talk about the game on television. It s ludicrous to think that Chamblee has a job to serve Woods, McIlroy, or any other professional golfer that might have thin skin. He s there to serve viewers, whether Woods and McIlroy are there or not.
After being called out publicly, it was only a matter of time before this controversy was addressed on Golf Channel airwaves, again, even though they had nothing hawaiian airlines map to do with this story. Chamblee admitted that he went too far in comparing Woods actions with his own cheating episode and also said that he would give up his Golf.com writing to work solely for NBC and Golf Channel:
Did Chamblee cross the line in his original column about Woods by linking him with a grade school cheating episode and saying he was cavalier with the rules ? Possibly. Was it something worth apologizing hawaiian airlines map for? Perhaps. Should the story have ended there? Absolutely.
Once Tiger Woods and his camp started threatening lawsuits and putting their foot on the throat of the Golf Channel they became the bully instead hawaiian airlines map of the victim. When players start beckoning for the jobs of analysts hawaiian airlines map who criticize them, and the outlets cave into that pressure in any way, the media who are paid to cover the sport objectively are thrown into dangerous, hawaiian airlines map uncertain waters.
The ball should have never been in Golf Channel s court, but once Woods and his handlers saw an opportunity to attack the credibility of one of their most outspoken critics, they threw everything they could at Chamblee and his main employer. Moreover, Woods knows exactly the kind of power he has in the golfing world, especially hawaiian airlines map when it comes to the media. He s more powerful than any other athlete in any other sport. Being an ally of Woods can be very beneficial for your career in a media world that s built on access hawaiian airlines map and relationships and staying in his good graces.
For Woods to use that kind of power to force a network or outlet into action sets a troubling precedent. What happens the next time someone publishes hawaiian airlines map something or says something on the air that s not to the liking of Tiger Woods? Will they be forced to apologize? Be threatened with a lawsuit? Suspended? Have to resign? Where is the line being drawn for those in the golf media who are paid to give an opinion and cover the sport?
If this episode weakens Chamblee s outspokenness or causes others in golf media to be even more fearful of criticizing Woods out of fear for their own jobs, it is a troubling course for the sport to take.
Without pro golf, the great players who came before you, and the companies/ people who finance, promote and report on it, no one would have heard of Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods. So really, it's you who should be thankful that your talent and hard work has been for more than just a hobby, but a nice way of life.
I was never a Chamblee fan but this guy tells it the way he sees it,and if Tiger can't take the heat get out of the kitchen.don't blame anyone but yourself hawaiian airlines map for your short comings.old man time is catching up with you go out gracefully.don't take this mans head.Golf Channel I hope your bigger then him.
Those two yeses would have ended it. But like you in your comments Chamblee hedged his bets like most journalist do. You cannot gauge another persons intent. Obviously you want to go all in on the HD video more power to you.
When Kelly Tilhgman said  "other golfer want to take Tiger into an ally and Lynch him" what in your mind should be the consequence of her comment? Should she have been held accountable? Perhaps?, Possibly? Yes on both counts. Interesting that Chamblee gave both VJ and Tiger  an "F"  in his article hmmm. Instead of asking us where is the line why don't you tell us where it should be. (less opinion more facts).
Journalist like to hold every athlete accountable for their actions and comments but they don't like being held accountable for their opinions that they cleverly couch as fact. When called out they hide behind "My Opinion." It's cowardly and so is Chamblee. hawaiian airlines map This is his major and he's going to make the most of it.
He is hyper critical of Tiger's swing under Foley but anyone see Mickelson's swing under Harmon lately? Please.  I win 5 times on the PGA Tour, win the Money title and Scoring Average, Ranked #1 in the World and voted by my Peers as the Player of the Year and you give me an "F"? Really?!
hawaiian airlines map hogwash. it's not o.k. to make such incredibly defamatory comments, and just apologize after.We could all do that, all golf channel personalities could then just let it hang, and follow up with an apology. Think of it this way, imagine calling someone hawaiian airlines map a name or accusing hawaiian airlines map someone of something in a social circle you are part of. Even after apologizing, would they or others view you in the same light? I am not siding with anyone. I think Woods should put the pressure on, because he can. HE IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD. Lastly, do you really think Woods would intentionally cheat in front of that many cameras? getting the rules wrong and cheating is no where near the same thing. A ball moving hawaiian airlines map a micrometre under high def slow motion is very easy to miss with the naked eye, and hardly constitutes an advantage. I don't like Chamblee, he knew darn well what his comments would do. Don't be fooled. But a great way to get your name out there- which is exactly why he said it. Makes him no better.
Woods was penalized multiple times this year AFTER A ROUND.  Based on that, I would say he was a little cavalier with the rules.  Any pro will tell you "the rules of golf are made to take advantage of."
And that's not by cheating, hawaiian airlines map but by taking the best option for you in the situation. Example:  Tiger had three options at Augusta.  He choose to hit again from the same spot, but not the exact same spot, but two yards further back so he would not hit the flagstick again.  That's cavailier.
The power of the marketing teams that surround hawaiian airlines map players like Woods and McIlroy can effectively gag journalists from making anything but the most anodyne comments about their clients. hawaiian airlines map Put a foot out of line and be denied access to press conferences hawaiian airlines map or even courses.
This explains the extraordinarily bland Q&A sessions at tournaments that appear on our TV screens. 'How did you feel about shooting 62?'That was a great round tell us about it' Journalists are being cowed into submission by people like Mark Steinberg and it does not reflect well on any one involved in the game. If there were rule violations incurred for spitting, hawaiian airlines map foul language and club throwing Tiger Woods would be penalised most weeks.
Woods seems to believe that regardless of the aspect of life, either on or off the golf course, that the rules do not apply to him. I am not a particular fan of Chamblee but Woods' actions in this entire hawaiian airlines map piece are despicable.
What's more telling is that I have yet to see Brandel's hawaiian airlines map brethren in the golf journalism/commentary arena stand behind him.  He's entitled to an opinion, controversial or not.  While some my disagree with his views, no one should oppose the positive role a counter balancing view can have in the overall discourse.
Hoping the GolfChannel hawaiian airlines map stands behind its employee and doesn't hawaiian airlines map bow to threats.  The fact that one golfer even feels like he can throw his weight around to impact the discourse on the game tells me that maybe this game isn't mature or ready for the big time aferall.
I can't understand why Golf Channel lets Chamblee mouth off like that for so long. It's not as if people haven't been complaining about his obsession against Tiger. The station's brass really need to pay for their "interesting" agenda.
And Rory was ri