Brett Banter

Despite a career that has been more legend than results, John Daly remains one of the world's most popular golfers in part because of his "everyman" appeal. However, it's not "every man" that can get away with some of his stunts. Daly's latest public misstep started from an article in the Florida Times Union, which gave out information from a 456-page PGA document that detailed every one of Daly's transgressions from being fined for playing drunk, hitting balls over the heads of fans and being fined more than $100,000 during the past 18 years. The oddest part was the documents were released because Daly had sued the paper's parent company because of defamation. He had to give those documents up.

So, what did Daly do (yes, that sounds like something out of a Dr. Seuss book)? Did he hold a 13-minute press conference where no one was allowed to ask questions and apologize? Did he go to rehab? Did he simply vanish and let it blow over? None of the above. Daly took to Twitter and gave out the personal phone number of the article's writer. Not a savvy move.

The writer, Garry (no relation to Jimmy) Smits, responded yesterday on several Web sites and brought up some valid points. He admits his cell number was public information, but wonders if this is the new way of handling media battles. Instead of athletes, celebrities, politicians and the like responding to stories by talking to the reporter or calling a press conference, can they ask fans to flood the reporter's inbox? Does that answer anything? And what will happen next?