Goodbye David Feherty.We all believe in freedom of speech, and anyone can get a good laugh when the comic golf analyst makes his wacky comments. But he blew it this time, and CBS needs to take real action. Now. That means firing him, or at least suspending him for a long, long time.
Here's his latest:
"From my own experience visiting troops in the Middle East, I can tell you this though. Despite how the conflict has been portrayed by our glorious media, if you gave any U.S. soldier a gun with two bullets in it, and he found himself in an elevator with Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Osama bin Laden, there's a good chance that Nancy Pelosi would get shot twice, and Harry Reid and bin Laden would be strangled to death."
CBS distanced itself from Feherty on this, issuing a statement that said it doesn't endorse those words, The PGA Tour issued a statement saying that Feherty is insightful and sometimes humorous, but this time has crossed the line.
Let's be clear: There is funny and there is crossing a line. This is neither of those. This is insane.
If you want to make a political joke that soldiers don't like U.S.leaders, then fine. But to suggest that U.S. soldiers would do something like that is an outrage.
I know the political correct police are going to come around now with their sirens. Yes, he has the right to say it.
So don't put him in jail. But no matter what it says, CBS absolutely is endorsing these words if it takes no action. (While CBS broadcasts golf, this week's Players Championship is on NBC.) Feherty's comments came in "D Magazine'' in Dallas, with a series of articles about former President George W. Bush moving to Dallas.
Feherty has been involved with "Troops First Fondation'' which raises money for wounded soldiers.
So this is different than some of his silly jokes. He reportedly once said that he's in favor of the death penalty for pro-lifers, child molesters, people against gay marriage and those dancing in the end zone.
But those are in the context of a joke. This one, he based on his background and work with troops. And it was no slip of the tongue, as it was something he wrote.
CBS, time to act.
What Did They Say?
"...There's a good chance Nancy Pelosi would get shot twice..."
CBS golf analyst David Feherty could get in trouble over his recent controversial remarks in a magazine article.
Click through the gallery to see more slip-ups from the broadcasting world.
Richard Heathcote, Getty Images
"Oh, [expletive]. I lost you."
Coaching legend Bob Knight made the blunder during an appearance on 'Mike and Mike in the Morning'. ESPN called it an "unfortunate slip."
Jamie Squire, Getty Images
"I'd Take One Bullet, and Put It Right in Him ... "
Sounding harsher than he probably meant to, Cris Carter states that Dallas should part ways with Terrell Owens, then compares the act to shooting the brash wide receiver.
Brian Ach, WireImage
"With All These Chinese People Around..."
Richard Boxall was one of two Sky Sports commentators that made racial remarks about golfer Anthony Kim during the HSBC Champions tournament.
Warren Little, Getty Images
"Ya know, Hitler was a great leader too."
ESPN College Gameday personality Lou Holtz somehow compared the leadership skills of Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez to Adolf Hitler during a telecast last season.
Joe Raymond, AP
"Please Pick Up My Dry Cleaning Tomorrow"
ESPN personality and Monday Night Football commentator Tony Kornheiser responds to a play broadcast in Spanish with an attempt at a joke translation. He ends up apologizing for his comment.
Paul Sakuma, AP
"You Always Fag Out"
College hoops announcer Billy Packer has upset many with abrasive remarks over the years. For example, he went on the Charlie Rose Show in March 2007 and complained to the host, "you always fag out."
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Bernstein's Palestinian Connection
ESPN reporter Bonnie Bernstein issued a public apology after appearing on a radio broadcast and saying "People in Palestine are taught to think that dying in the name of God is a good thing ... They grow up wanting to be suicide bombers."
Brian Ach, WireImage.com
"... Looks Like the Guy Who Cleans Tiger's Swimming Pool"
NBC Sports golf analyst drew the ire of U.S. Open watchers in June when he said contender Rocco Mediate "looks like the guy who cleans Tiger's swimming pool." Miller apologized for his description, saying it had "absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity."
John Shearer, WireImage.com
"We've Gotta Do This [Expletive] Thing Over"
The ever-salty Bert Blyleven, pictured here after winning the 1987 World Series, cursed up a storm on live television during a Minnesota Twins pregame show in September 2006.
Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 65)
5-11-2009 @ 7:56AM
casadederrick said...
eagle6922 - you are asking for David's head how his the most "hatefull". Try you libs DUMMY. I know it will be hard for you but go back in history something you are afraid to do and see the many times that President Bush was bashed by you Liberals even today.
5-09-2009 @ 11:17PM
John said...
Wow, I was expecting something really bad after the jump the way you prefaced it, but that's really nothing that roughly every comedian either hasn't already said or was going to say. He didn't say it on air during a telecast, it was in a magazine article and wasn't directed at any race or religion, so nothing will happen here. Nice try to make a name for yourself though Greg, but this is really quite a pathetic article.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 7:02AM
d1baller322116 said...
Dead on!
5-10-2009 @ 4:27PM
Brecored said...
John spot on Greg is deperate. All moderate dems I know would most likly agree with David. Lets be honest, most sensible people feel a bit embarased about comrads Nancy,and harry. Get a grip Greg, maby go back to sleep. BHR
5-10-2009 @ 9:16PM
adavis1827 said...
I, too, was expecting to read something really bad. Once upon a time maybe this joke would have been over the line but all the vitriolic barrages aimed at President Bush and Vice President Cheney over the past few years have dampened my senses.
It's a little bit funny.
5-10-2009 @ 9:32PM
matusd1 said...
I see no problems with the comment at all.I don't see writting about what is being said about the Gov. of AK.
5-11-2009 @ 12:10AM
mylilnik said...
well said. it WAS actually very funny, and to the shagrin of the writer of this article, potentially true. just kidding, now fire me too i guess. i wonder how much work YOU have done for the troops greg. get over yourself.
5-11-2009 @ 8:01AM
ACHENDRUM said...
Amazing! If Bill Maher said this about 2 republicans no one, including the writer, would bat an eye.
5-11-2009 @ 11:33AM
mbrul said...
nice try greg. first, it's golf, so probably nobody was watching, anyone who was watching was probably asleep. second, so what? get a life greg.
5-11-2009 @ 11:47AM
John said...
Right on John!
The Dilemma would be if this Greg clown had been on the elevator as well. Who gets shot first?
5-11-2009 @ 11:55AM
barbyk said...
if obama can trash people -and be mean spirited, why not others
is it because obama is a media darling, part black, democrat -
kind of like tim geithner - he has a set of rules to follow paying taxes and then we do ( i cant use the "honest mistake " clause ...ooops
i cant pay my bills because I dont run a corrupt corporation - I dont get free medical or non taxed schooling or no prosecution because I am a legal american......
I am glad obama thinks things are funny - so let it be a two way street.
5-11-2009 @ 4:01PM
fschro7455 said...
Greg, you are the reason this liberal government is in the state it is. Too many people afraid of the political correct thing to say- let's all worry about what 1 percent of the people think. If the 1 percent doesn't like the way this country really is- show them the door! I will hold it open for you and them.
5-11-2009 @ 5:05PM
creagan63 said...
Yet another blatant example of hypocrisy in the media. Where is the outrage from the correspondents dinner against Wanda Sykes??? Amazingly (not really) it's MIA. Comments of this sort are okay as long as the targets are either conservative and/or republicans. It was hypocrisy that has brought down many of the world's great civilizations and it's hypocrisy that is threatening to do the same to our great country.
5-11-2009 @ 5:53PM
manunitdfan2 said...
Awesome comments, John! I was going to say the same thing. Feherty shouldn't have apologized for his comments. Mr Couch, perhaps you should take perspective on this issue, as it could have easily been you who said something that caused people to become upset. Oh, wait, you just did. Since you are a member of the media, I would expect you to cherish our freedom of speech and not be one of the hypocrites.
5-11-2009 @ 6:06PM
savario1 said...
Amen brother. Could not have said it better myself. These so called news guys will do or write anything to get attention. Shame on editorial types for allowing this subject to be prefaced the way it was. Check the results of the poll. Let's see it the have cahounas to acknowledge there mistakes.
5-11-2009 @ 8:09PM
gerald.l.evans said...
I have seen action in Viet Nam and last year in Iraq. There has been more trash directed at us than something like that and I have not lost my grip on sanity as yet. I did not see where he directed any of us to take action. Just fun.
5-11-2009 @ 8:06PM
vcadcs said...
John I wholly agree with you..this article by 'Greg' is worse than pathetic. It could have been written by a first grader who was trying to impress his liberal-minded teacher. Greg is the one 'over the line'.
5-12-2009 @ 9:47AM
dtenore said...
Did Alex Baldwin not comment a few years back that "we the people should firebomb all the Republicans' houses"? So free speech only applies to liberals, right Greg? This is me being a "free speech siren".
And, of course, because YOU don't like the comment, he has "crossed the line".
No liberal bias in the media... no, not here in these United States.
5-09-2009 @ 11:20PM
John said...
Wow, I was expecting something really bad after the jump the way you prefaced it, but that's really nothing that roughly every comedian either hasn't already said or was going to say. He didn't say it on air during a telecast, it was in a magazine article and wasn't directed at any race or religion, so nothing will happen here. Nice try to make a name for yourself though Greg, but this is really quite a pathetic article.
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 11:21PM
inventionleader said...
Didn't Feherty try to commit suicide some time back? Then the real question he should have asked is what would he do if given a gun with two bullets. His answer would have been he would have tried to shoot himself twice. ROFLMAO!
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