A Fuzzy Situation Remains

One night in Augusta 11 years ago, I finished writing a story about the Masters and turned on the television in time to see “Nightline.” I saw Al Campanis twisting in a noose created entirely by his own words.

I quickly jotted down as many of them as I could and called the sports editor, who tracked the show as it moved west by asking friends in the Central and Mountain time zones to watch and provide him with a complete transcript.

By the time “Nightline” aired on the West Coast, we had the story in the newspaper.

Was it an important story?

Absolutely.

Should the Dodgers have dismissed him?

Absolutely. A man who has preconceived notions about people according to their race, fostering opinions about the necessities they have or do not have as a group, doesn’t belong in management.

Now for the hard question. Is Campanis a racist?

I suppose it depends on one’s definition of a racist. But I’ve never heard anyone within the Dodger organization, including African Americans, who said they thought so before or since his fateful remarks to Ted Koppel.

Back in Augusta, I was reminded of that episode Thursday because high on the leaderboard after the first round of the Masters is Fuzzy Zoeller.

He shot a one-under-par 71, which leaves him in a tie for fifth with four others, including Tiger Woods, and two shots behind leader Fred Couples.

If it had been merely the menacing wind swirling around him, Zoeller’s round would have been quite good. Considering the controversy threatening to rob him of his game and his livelihood for the last 12 months, it was extraordinary.

Like Campanis, Zoeller has no one to blame but himself.

Speaking of the exclusive dinner for Masters champions held annually on the Tuesday night before the tournament starts, Zoeller said here last year that he hoped Woods, who is part African American, did not insist on “fried chicken and collard greens . . . or whatever it is they serve.”

It was not the most offensive stereotype African Americans have ever heard about themselves, but a thoughtless stereotype it was.

Two of Zoeller’s sponsors, Kmart and Spalding, acted appropriately, canceling their contracts with him. Public pressure caused him to withdraw from his next scheduled tournament, in Greensboro, N.C.

No one believes it was coincidental that he struggled for the rest of 1997, missing seven of 16 cuts and finishing 148th among PGA players in money earned.

He is on the tour this season only because he used a one-time exemption afforded top-50 career money winners. If he doesn’t finish among the top 125 this season or win a tournament, he will, at 46, have to return to qualifying school in order to play next year. As the 1979 Masters winner, he can play at Augusta every year.

I doubt Reggie White will suffer as much, even though his remarks to the Wisconsin legislature a couple of weeks ago were at least as insensitive. I can only guess White is getting off lighter because he is a minister or because there is a double standard at work.

A month ago, I might have felt sorry for Zoeller, as sorry as I do for Campanis.

Again, it depends on one’s definition of a racist. But I haven’t heard from anyone who knows Zoeller who believes he is one.

He also apologized, more than once.

Woods, allowing his silence to speak emphatically, relented after a few days and accepted.

“It’s done,” Woods said earlier this week. “It’s a dead issue. We talked about it. Sadly, it did happen. But we’ve all moved on.”

Bob Goalby said that Woods and Zoeller even posed for a picture together at Tuesday night’s Champions Dinner, at which Zoeller joined Woods in eating a cheeseburger.

But I can’t move on.

Last month, at the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, Fla., Zoeller claimed the whole episode was the media’s fault.

“I didn’t write it, boys,” he told reporters. “You’re the ones who buried me, and I appreciate it. But it’s over with, it’s done, water over the dam. For some reason out here, . . . sells. I don’t understand why that is, but it does.

“I would hope people remember the good, but they tried to tear it all down last year.”

In a private interview later, a reporter asked Zoeller if he understands why what he said last year was offensive to African Americans.

“No,” Zoeller said.

Despite his apologizes, it’s clear Zoeller still doesn’t get it. I can only guess that’s because he doesn’t have the necessities.

He is not alone.

If applause is an indicator, he might have been the most popular golfer here during Thursday’s first round. The gallery sitting in the stands next to the hallowed Sarazen Bridge on the 15th hole gave him a standing ovation when he walked past.

Today, it’s possible he will be paired with Woods.

“It’s just another pairing,” Woods said.

That is wishful thinking. It will be apparent early whether the crowd favors one over the other. If that can be construed as some sort of referendum on Zoeller’s remarks, I fear the result.

If I’m wrong, Zoeller no doubt will blame the media.

We probably won’t know for sure because he hasn’t been talking to us this week.

A tournament official interviewed him after Thursday’s round so that quotes could be distributed in the press center.

Zoeller told him he had a “beautiful round,” that he “worked hard” last week and feels like he’s “playing good” and that “the tournament doesn’t start until Sunday, you know.”

Watching from a distance, it appeared as if their conversation lasted much longer. Maybe Zoeller was giving him his menu order.