The controversy surrounding CBS golf commentator Ben Wright,
who allegedly made sexists comments last May regarding players on
the LPGA Tour, is re-examined in the "Golf Plus" edition of the
December 4 issue of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. With the header, "Living
a Lie: When CBS decided to defend announcer Ben Wright, it
attacked the truth," the four-page piece by Michael Bamberger
reveals two separate sources who claim that Wright did in fact
make the sexist comments attributed to him by Wilmington News-
Journal reporter Valerie Helmbreck.
BACKGROUND: The events surrounding the weekend of the '95
McDonald's Championships are chronicled, including Wright meeting
with CBS President David Kenin immediately after the story broke.
CBS had "put its word up against Helmbreck's story and created
reasonable doubt." New York Times reporter Richard Sandomir said
CBS "could easily stomp her, so they did. Had it been a reporter
they knew, Ben would have been gone." Indeed, since the
incident, Wright was given a four-year contract extension. But
one month after the incident, Wright told former SI writer Doug
Jenkins at a dinner party: "Of course I said it. But I was
granted complete anonymity." Jenkins tells SI he was not sure if
Wright was joking, as Wright had been drinking. But Ken Doig, a
caddie and part-time CBS employee, corroborated Helmbreck's
version saying he overheard the interview and her story was
"accurate." Doig: "I heard Ben say boobs. I heard him say
lesbianism hurts in getting sponsors."
RESPONSE: Wright said he could not speak to SI on the
Helmbreck story without permission from CBS, which was denied.
CBS Sports President David Kenin: "I am not going to give him
the opportunity to talk and get himself in trouble again." In a
brief phone interview with SI, Wright did level a personal
assault against Helmbreck -- saying she was divorced and involved
in a custody battle, which Bamberg notes does not "check out."
Wright: "I was totally misquoted. She put into my mouth words
she told me. She granted me anonymity. She chose to nail me.
She's a very unhappy woman." Frank Chirkinian, CBS' Exec
Producer for golf, now "recognizes that Helmbreck's story must be
at least partially true." Chirkinian: "Something must have been
said for it get into print. ... (But) whether Ben Wright was
serious or joking, if he admits to (the quotes), he's fired."
Kenin's view also "appears to have evolved," as he now says, "CBS
never said it was a pack of lies. There's a community element to
it. She's outside the community. Ben didn't know that at the
time. This was a case of not understanding the other" (SI, 12/4
issue).
MORNING REAX: Helmbreck said yesterday she "felt
vindicated" (USA TODAY, 11/29). In a statement, CBS said it
"regrets the additional statements" attributed to Wright and that
"Wright has been advised that any comments contrary to the
Network's policy will not be tolerated" (CBS). In Baltimore,
Milton Kent calls it unfortunate the piece won't be available to
the general SI readership. SI spokesperson Art Berke said while
the story "transcends golf," SI editors left the piece in the
golf supplement to "increase the scope of what Golf Plus offers"
(Baltimore SUN, 11/29).
