Golfer Charged With Killing Bird

[pitc9]

http://www.newsnet5.com/sports/15516539/detail.html
What a TOTAL A$$HOLE!!!!!

Yet another case of a person with more money than brains!!

ORLANDO, Fla. -- PGA Tour golfer Tripp Isenhour was charged with killing a hawk on purpose with a golf shot because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show.

Isenhour was with a film crew for "Shoot Like A Pro" on Dec. 12 at the Grand Cypress Golf course. The 39-year-old golfer, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, was charged Wednesday with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.

According to court documents, Isenhour got upset when a red-shouldered hawk began making noise, forcing another take. He began hitting balls at the bird, then 300 yards away, but gave up.

Isenhour started again when the hawk moved within about 75 yards, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Brian Baine indicated in a report.

Isenhour allegedly said "I'll get him now," and aimed for the hawk.

"About the sixth ball came very near the bird's head, and (Isenhour) was very excited that it was so close," Baine wrote.

A few shots later, witnesses said he hit the hawk. The bird, protected as a migratory species, fell to the ground bleeding from both nostrils.

Isenhour's agent, John Mascatello with SFX World Sports Management, did not immediately return an e-mail or telephone message Thursday.

"He just kept saying how he didn't think he could have hit it, which I think is a stupid thing for a PGA Tour golfer to say," said Jethro Senger, a sound engineer at the shoot. "He can put a ball in a hole from hundreds of yards away, and here he is hitting line drives at something that's, I don't know, a couple hundred feet away?"

Senger said it was "basically like a joke to (Isenhour)." He said no one in the roughly 15-person crew intervened, and many later regretted it.

"It was one of those cases where there's some trepidation on whether or not they should speak up and do something," Senger said.

Senger said the killing was not captured on video. The bird was buried at the golf course and later dug up by Florida investigators.

Isenhour, of Salisbury, N.C., turned pro in 1990. He had two wins on the Nationwide Tour in 2006.

[Cinder & Smoke]

What a TOTAL A$$HOLE!!!!!

ORLANDO, Fla. -- PGA Tour golfer Tripp Isenhour was charged with killing a hawk on purpose with a golf shot because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.

Isenhour allegedly said "I'll get him now," and aimed for the hawk.

"He just kept saying how he didn't think he could have hit it, which I think is a stupid thing
for a PGA Tour golfer to say," said Jethro Senger, a sound engineer at the shoot.
"He can put a ball in a hole from hundreds of yards away, and here he is hitting line drives
at something that's, I don't know, a couple hundred feet away?"

Senger said it was "basically like a joke to (Isenhour)."

From the PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) web site
http://www.pgatour.com/2008/r/03/06/...ent/index.html >>>

Mar. 6, 2008

RESTON, Va. -- Professional golfer Tripp Isenhour has issued a sincere apology
for a December 2007 incident in Orlando during which he hit a golf ball into a tree
accidentally killing a red-shouldered hawk during the taping of a golf instructional video.

"As soon as this happened, I was mortified and extremely upset and continue to be upset.
I want to let everyone know there was neither any malice nor deliberate intent whatsoever
to hit or harm the hawk. I was trying to simply scare it into flying away.
As evidenced by our family having adopted three cats from a local shelter, I am an animal lover.
We ask that everyone accept my sincerest apology,
and please be respectful of my family's privacy," Isenhour said.

Put him in JAIL!

[jackie]

Easy to make a heartfelt apology after he killed the poor bird. I hope he gets jail time and a fine.

Time to make an example that animal cruelty will not be accepted.

[moosmom]

Animal lover my @$$!!! He's an animal lover till said animal screws up his golf score.

As evidenced by our family having adopted three cats from a local shelter, I am an animal lover

And that makes it okay???

PUT HIM IN JAIL!!!! Or better yet, suspend his PGA membership and fine him. Afterall, he killed a migratory bird that is supposed to be protected.

[Kater]

Absolutely sick.
We have lots of protected and ENDANGERED birds killed and injured on Hawaii golf courses every year.

[Husky_mom]

Animal lover my @$$!!!

you took my words!!...

he should get suspended from PGA... get jail time and a huuuuuge fine.. not that this will bring the hawk back to life but he and others should to respect...

what animal lover would throw a ball hard as a rock hundred miles per hour to shoo a bird??....