Remember the plane that buzzed the U.S. Open on Sunday, hauling a banner which read “Tiger: Are You My Daddy?” Yes, it was the best Father’s Day ever. Well, there were supposed to be two banners, according to NationalSkyAds.com, which was hired by an unknown party to fly the messages over the Pebble Beach course while Tiger Woods was playing. But banner No. 2, which allegedly read: “HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TIGER LOL.”, never made it airborne. Can someone explain this most baffling of aviation mysteries?
The pilot told TMZ that he decided not to fly the second banner, after being contacted by the FBI.
According to the pilot, the FBI had “strongly urged” him to “depart the area” over the golf course as soon as possible … and, of course, the pilot obliged.
We spoke to the owner of the company hired to fly the planes — who told us he is looking into the incident and has no idea why the FBI would intervene on such a matter. We also spoke to the FAA — who tells us the FBI would only intervene if “criminal activity” was suspected.
So why would the FBI step in here? Seems like an egregious waste of time and manpower, unless, oh my God; Tiger has plants everywhere. Is there nothing his fame and money cannot influence?
But seriously, why would the FBI care about this? Have areas above Tiger Woods now been declared no-fly zones? Doesn’t the government have bigger things to worry about?
“Yes, enemy jets have penetrated our defenses. But don’t worry; the airspace around Tiger Woods is free of sarcasm.”
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Tiger Banner Pilot: I Was Grounded by the FBI [TMZ]
The sky at Pebble Beach; overcast, with a chance of hilarity [Out of Bounds]
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- airela - Jun 24, 2010 at 10:26 AM
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You are seriously believing TMZ on this story? Your credibility is way below zero. Perhaps it was the PGA that objected or perhaps there is no story here at all.
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- Booner - Jun 24, 2010 at 11:28 AM
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You’re a dumbass if you think that the PGA has the influence to stop something like a banner being flown over a golf course and if the FBI actually did get involved in this then it would be a story – a very sad one at that. And just for the record, how far below zero is Rick’s credibility? That may be one of the stupidest comments I have ever read on this site – and that’s saying a lot.
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- benstherapist - Jun 24, 2010 at 12:09 PM
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Just another example of the terrorists winning. FBI probably concerned someone gonna disrupt the open with a suicide bomber in a plane loaded with explosives.
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- bannerking - Jun 24, 2010 at 12:26 PM
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Politics – only the FAA controls the airspace all others would be on a “request” basis. I don’t see a “Tiger” TFR coming anytime soon.
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- d. holmes - Jun 24, 2010 at 3:01 PM
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A better question would be……Just who is paying for these flyovers and why? Somebody or several somebodies is obviously trying to wreck his game. It is spiteful, vicious and underhanded. As my southern granny would say..”throw a rock and hide your hand…..”.
But don’t worry…from the responses on this board & other blogs, nobody else is asking either.
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- len - Jun 24, 2010 at 4:06 PM
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d. holmes … Elin Woods is paying .
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- john - Jun 24, 2010 at 4:49 PM
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Eldrick is an immature, self-centered brat. He’s unethical. He’s arrogant and egocentric. Beyond that, he’s invited this upon himself by his actions. But, it’s time to let it go. We don’t need to all jump back on the “Tiger is God” bandwagon. But this endless soap opera isn’t good for the game. The traditions of golf demand better.
Tiger isn’t going to be the man to carry on the game going into this century despite his accomplishments. Someone else will because he doesn’t have enough credibility. What’s going to happen when one of his “whores” puts out her XXX movie? What happens when he fires Stevie or Stevie quits and writes a “tell all” book? This constant drone of the media is fanning the flames of controversy to sell copy and advertising. We shouldn’t be allowing this pitiful “OJ Simpson-esque” drama to survive another minute.
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- bob - Jun 24, 2010 at 7:51 PM
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Possibility of stevie quitting is a real possibility after tiger basically threw him under the bus after pebble. ha ha . but knowing stevie, he will take his lumps and stay until tiger cant pay him his six figure salary anymore, then he will quit and write his tell all book.
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- Enuf already - Jun 25, 2010 at 8:12 AM
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First the FAA banned the plane at the Masters and now the FBI has has stepped in at the US Open. Why won’t the media pick up on this and investigate who got paid by Tiger’s cronies.
This is abusse of power and they should be fired. What ever happened to freedome of speech!
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- matt - Jun 25, 2010 at 1:13 PM
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I know for a fact that TMZ actually pays for these banners themselves, that’s why they knew what the banners said even before they took off. It’s all a publicity stunt, all to generate a story and interest and the public falls for it everytime!!
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- Florida727 - Jun 25, 2010 at 3:50 PM
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hey bob, got news for you, stevie’s salary is a little higher than just six-figures. separate note though: i think the “Tiger: are you my daddy?” banner is a heck of a lot worse than the Happy Father’s Day one with an LOL tag on it. he’ll never be the dominant player he once was. couldn’t care less about Jack’s number, but am hoping Tiger doesn’t break it only because something that important to the sport deserves to be held by someone a little more “honorable”.
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- lemonella - Jun 25, 2010 at 9:10 PM
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Where is my post???
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- Rick Chandler - Jun 25, 2010 at 9:37 PM
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I haven’t seen it. Try again?
