Wright Issues Denials, on and Off Air

While CBS golf announcer Ben Wright continued to vehemently deny he made the controversial comments about women’s golf attributed to him in a Delaware newspaper, LPGA Commissioner Charles Mechem Jr. on Saturday addressed them.

“It is an absurd and ugly charge, that lesbianism is stunting the growth of the LPGA tour,” Mechem said. “The absurdity of this charge both saddens and angers me. I’m sad because the charge is demonstrably untrue, and I’m angry because it’s an unfair attack--a cheap shot--at a group of talented professional women.”

Wright worked Saturday’s telecast of the LPGA Championship in Wilmington, Del., and issued an on-air denial and a more lengthy written statement.

As for Wright’s working the telecast, Mechem said, “Quite obviously, if he made the remarks attributed to him, it’s inappropriate for him to broadcast an LPGA event. If he did not make the alleged remarks, as he stoutly maintains, then it would be terribly unfair and prematurely judgmental for us to insist that he be replaced.”

The News Journal of Wilmington, in its Friday editions, quoted Wright as saying lesbians in women’s golf are hurting the sport and that women golfers are handicapped by “having boobs.”

The News Journal is standing behind the story by feature reporter Valerie Helmbreck, a 10-year employee.

Wright said the interview took place Thursday morning.

“She began the conversation by telling me that she didn’t know one end of a golf club from another, and that she was a television writer,” Wright said in his statement.

“She then asked me to compare men’s and women’s golf at the professional level. I replied that the two games were not subject to fair comparison, given the physical differences between men and women.

“At that point, I related a story told to me during an Australian broadcast by JoAnne Carner, who explained to me what she thought the differences were. I explained that JoAnne had said words to the effect that: ‘If you want to know the difference it’s these,’ at which point she pointed to her breasts. At no time did I ever use the word boobs .

“Ms. Helmbreck asked a question about lesbian women’s golf professionals. I replied I would not discuss lesbianism with a stranger, just as I would not discuss my three divorces with a stranger. I also said that the issue of lesbianism in women’s golf has been well documented in the last decade and I did not need to add to it.”

* The Associated Press contributed to this story.