Golfer to Enter Plea for Bird Killing

Posted Aug 13, 2008 4:57PM By Shane Bacon (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Golf

Taking down birdies, totally acceptable. Throwing down a big eagle, absolutely justified. Killing a hawk, nope, that, sir, is crossing the line.

When Birds and Sports Collide

PGA golfer Tripp Isenhour is expected to enter a plea on charges after killing an endangered hawk with a golf shot in March. It wasn't the first time birds have intersected with the world of sports. Click through to see the more infamous incidents in history.

Arnulfo Franco, AP

Last April, a schoolgirl touring Fenway Park was injured after an attack by a resident red-tailed hawk. Alexa Rodriguez, a middle school student, was touring the ballpark when she came within 40 feet of a nest the hawk had built on an overhang near the press box.

Winslow Townson, AP

In August 1983, former Yankees star Dave Winfield, right, was arrested after a game against the Blue Jays. In the middle of the fifth inning, Winfield had tossed the ball to a batboy, but the ball killed a seagull. He was charged with cruelty to animals.

Bill Becker, AP

Former Braves outfielder Dion James, left, is perhaps best remembered for an accident during a 1987 game when a fly ball off his bat hit and killed a bird in flight. James was still credited with a double on the play.

Ronald C. Modra, Sports Imagery/Getty Images

During cricket's 1999 World Cup, two pigeons met their ends in the match between India and Australia at The Oval. Here, fieldsman Michael Slater attempts to capture a bird that was feeding close to the wicket.

William West, AFP/Getty Images

Randy Johnson is no stranger to bouts with wildness, but in 2001 one of the lefty's pitches struck and killed a dove in the seventh inning of a spring training game. "It's crazy. There's still feathers down there," said his catcher, Rod Barajas.

Brian Bahr, Getty Images

Formula One driver Jenson Button ran into two birds in a matter of weeks in early 2000. In the first incident, Button was lucky to escape unhurt after the bird smashed into the air-box just above his head while driving at 160 mph.

Marcus Brandt, Bongarts/Getty Images

Tennis players Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro celebrated their doubles win in the 2002 Australian Open, yet the match received more notice when Llodra's forehand struck and killed a bird that chased a moth across the arena. See Video

Toru Yamanaka, AFP/Getty Images

Professional golfer Tripp Isenhour is expected to enter a plea on charges of intentionally killing an endangered hawk after the hawk just wouldn't shut its trapper on the golf course.

Isenhour entered a written plea of not guilty in March. The 40-year-old is charged with animal cruelty and killing a migratory bird. He's accused of hitting a hawk with a golf shot at the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando when the bird's loud chirps interrupted the filming of an instructional video.

We've all had our eruptions on the golf course (absolutely perfect example) and I'm pretty sure we all will again before we're covered with dirt, but to do it when filming an instructional video. Really, Tripp? You're filming a video to help people and you get mad enough to kill a bird? That is some deep, rich hatred my friends.

Also, if you're going to kill said bird, I'd avoid Florida at all cost.

The charges carry a combined 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.

That is some heavy justice there. In the world we live in today, you can do a lot of shenanigans and not get 14 months in the slammer. I guess when you go after those beautiful creatures you better be ready for the backlash.

Sounds like a perfect time to mention Isenhour's next instructional video -- "How not to kill things people actually care about; a look at rolly pollys, Grandaddy Long Legs and Amy Winehouse."

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

8-14-2008 @ 6:18AM

ozlander2 said...

Sounds like one hell of a shot if he killed a halk with a golf ball

8-14-2008 @ 6:21AM

Susan said...

Kills a bird just because it was making noise while he was filming his instructional video? Would hate to be his wife or kid!! Sounds like he has a temper problem.. A normal person might be made but probably would have had a good laugh and tried to chase the bird away first..A warning to all birds...don't mess with this man's money maker....

8-14-2008 @ 6:24AM

finleyfloater said...

He killed a hawk with a golf shot??? It sounds like one amazing shot!! Will it be on the instructional video?

8-14-2008 @ 11:52AM

JT said...

Real stupid statement.

susan said...

Kills a bird just because it was making noise while he was filming his instructional video? All kidding aside, I would hate to be his wife or kid!! Sounds ike he has a temper problem.. A normal person might be mad but probably would have had a good laugh and tried to chase the bird away
A warning to all birds...don't mess with this man's money
maker....

8-14-2008 @ 1:39PM

DT said...

birds and animals born to die. makes no difference how. Hell of a shot.

8-14-2008 @ 7:04AM

david french said...

Sooooo....on the back of PGA championship ticket where they have a disclaimer. I could have been hospitalized or killed by a golf shot and they are not responsible....the bird however gets a free pass.
Dave Winfield where are you when we need you.

8-14-2008 @ 12:08PM

Pret Orian said...

Dave:
You seem to have a little problem with reading comprehension...

The guy killed the bird ON PURPOSE...I bet if he kills YOU on purpose he will get jail for that...
GOT IT?
I HOPE SO!

8-14-2008 @ 5:24PM

Andrea said...

Sounds like he has serious anger management problems and I hope he serves time in jail and is punished to the full extent of the law for animal cruelty. What a sick guy!!

8-14-2008 @ 7:48AM

Lucy said...

What a moron.

Last time I checked, God didn't make golf courses, but he did make hawks and land for them to live in. My point is that this golfer should learn (though his display doesn't bode well for his brain function) that the golf course (and the golfer) is on this hawk's turf ... not the other way around. I hope he gets the full sentence and fine.

8-14-2008 @ 10:12AM

Jim said...

Lucy I agree with you completely but not all golfers, I am one, abuse the beauty around us like this guy. I hope that PGA will take away his card for that stupid act. I also believe that God IS a golfer and he would want us all to enjoy the courses as well as all of the beauty around them.

8-14-2008 @ 11:55AM

EC said...

While killing the bird might have been a foolish act and may anger some of us, I must take exception to your premise that the hawk's space was violated by the golfer. Convoluted thinking such as that is the reason people are unreasonably penalized in the name of animal rights. Man is at the top of the food chain. Animals must adapt.

When we can no longer able to afford foreign oil and we are freezing to death from lack of fuel to keep us warm the animals in the pristine areas that we protect at the expense of mankind will still be warm and comfortable.

How idiotic have we become in this country? We are a nation of sheep being led to the slaughter by the likes of Al Gore whose carbon footprint is second only to the size of his elephantine behind.

Nevermind that murderers of adult human beings and even children walk free every day without objection from the public. Nevermind that O.J. Simpson walks among us. Where is the outcry? All I hear out there is, "Kill the golfer!"

I suspect that most people who devote their entire lives to protecting animals and the environment have no life of their own. Any reasonable person wants clean air and clean water but the environmental / global warming lie has reached a fever pitch that would rival any radical religious movement and it will eventually destroy our economy, our freedom and our way of life.

If you're so sympathetic to the lower forms of life why not give up your house to rats, roaches and insects? Just open the doors and windows so they can roam in and out freely. After all, Lucy, you're in their space are you not? Share your wealth with them. God didn't create houses but He did create rats and roaches and they deserve a home as much as you do.

8-14-2008 @ 7:47AM

belababe said...

Wow talk about purfect aim! Hope you have the purfect butt plug where your going those men in prison have purfect aim as well lmao fyi don't drop the soap! lmao

8-14-2008 @ 8:26AM

WILLIAM TREXLER said...

People get real. Probably the best shot he ever made and i'm sure he never thought he would hit the bird. Kind of like hitting a baseball and hitting and killing a fan or another player.which has happened.The question for the judge will be one of intent.

8-14-2008 @ 9:23AM

amanda said...

It was not an accident. He was trying to hit the bird so that it would shut up and he could continuing his filming. The bird was nesting and was screaming because they were too close to her nest. So instead of moving somewhere else on the golf course to do his filming he told his crew he was going to shut that bird up. He continuously hit golf balls at the bird and moved closer and closer so that he could finally hit the bird. When the hawk fell out of the tree dead, he then attempted to cover up his tracks by burying the bird beneath the golf course. His film crew disagreed with what he did and went to fish and wildlife, who discovered the bird's body. That is when the golfer admitted what he did but once heard what the penalty was tried to then say it was an accident. He deserve the punishment he gets and more

8-14-2008 @ 12:10PM

vin said...

Hey Willie..When you try 20 times then drive up closer to get the shot. That is INTENT!
You had to be there!

8-14-2008 @ 7:53AM

Monty said...

This guy took over a dozen shots at the bird before he killed it. He even moved in closer to the hawk to get a better shot. Then he lied about it until he was ratted out. He deserves more than a slap on the wrist. $50,000.00 fine seems appropriate and 30 days in jail.