Kmart, the nation's third largest retailer, yesterday
"dropped its sponsorship deal with Fuzzy Zoeller after
racially insensitive comments" Zoeller made about Tiger
Woods during the final round of The Masters, according to
Steve Zipay of NEWSDAY. Zoeller has been affiliated with
Kmart for seven years, "including endorsing clubs sold at
Kmart stores, and in recent years, displaying the company's
logos on his golf bag, shirt and hat." Kmart VP Shaun
Kahle: "Under the circumstances, we have mutually agreed to
immediately end our relationship." In Augusta, Zoeller was
asked by CNN what he thought of Woods' performance. Zoeller
referred to Woods as "little boy" and in referring to The
Masters tradition where the defending champion selects the
menu for the next year's Champions Dinner, said "tell him
not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it? Or collard
greens or whatever the hell they serve." In a statement,
Zoeller has apologized for the remarks: "It's too bad that
something I said in jest was turned into something it's not,
but I didn't mean anything by it and I'm sorry if I offended
anybody" (NEWSDAY, 4/23). The value of Zoeller's contract
with Kmart was not known, according to Joe Juliano of the
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. His agreement had one year
remaining. Zoeller was also host of "Kmart Outdoors" every
Saturday on ESPN (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/23). Kahle said
the company received a "significant volume" of phone calls
from around the U.S. regarding Zoeller's comments and most
of the comments were critical of the golfer (L.A. TIMES,
4/23). Neither Zoeller nor his OH-based agent, Eddie Elias,
could be reached for comment (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE,
4/23). For CNN's handling of Zoeller, see #5.
