- Cigar guy
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Cigar guy refers to a man who appeared in a photograph taken by Daily Mail photographer Mark Pain during the 2010 Ryder Cup golf tournament. The photograph captures golfer Tiger Woods attempting a chip shot near the 18th hole green of the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport. Woods' shot went errant and eventually hit Pain's camera, but not before Pain took the photograph.[1] The man standing to Woods' left in the picture became known as "cigar guy" and spawned an internet meme.[2][3][4]
Contents
Description and significance
The photograph features Tiger Woods and the errant golf ball in the foreground while Steve Williams stands to Woods' right. In the background, hundreds of spectators look on. The picture, first published in the Daily Mail on 3 October 2010,[1] was deemed an example of remarkable timing due to the rare event of the golf ball about to impact the camera.[5] However, the most significant focus of the picture became the golf fan standing to Tiger's left. In the picture, the man is seen wearing a ginger wig, sporting a Groucho Marx style moustache while chomping on a cigar. Some people believed he was paying homage to Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez.[6] By 6 October, the picture was being covered internationally.[7] The man became known as "cigar guy" among other names[5] and started an internet meme.[8] In the meme, people have photoshopped "cigar guy" to other sports and famous photos. "cigar guy's" facial expression has been described as reflecting positivity, optimism, and wide-eyed wonderment.[8]
Identity
Although one website offered a $1,000 reward to track down cigar guy's identity,[9] it was revealed by the Mail on Sunday 10 October that cigar guy is Rupesh Shingadia, a 30-year-old investment analyst from south London who lives with his parents.[10] He was dressed as Miguel Angel Jimenez, the cigar-smoking golf player, in support for the European team.[10][11][12] Some sources noted the resemblance to Jimenez before Shingadia was identified.[13][14]
Shingadia appeared on the American Today show (in costume) on 15 October 2010, noting that while he is enjoying it, he is also "slightly embarrassed" at the worldwide attention.[15][16]
References
- ^ a b "Easy Tiger! The moment Woods's Ryder Cup challenge was halted... by a photographer". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-1317267/RYDER-CUP-2010-The-moment-Tiger-Woodss-challenge-Celtic-Manor-halted--photographer.html. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
- ^ Kelly, Cathal. The mystery of Tiger Woods' 'Cigar Guy', Toronto Star, 7 October 2010
- ^ Blake, Heidi. Cigar Guy: how to dress like him, The Daily Telegraph, 7 October 2010
- ^ Cigar man smokin', The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 October 2010
- ^ a b Cole, Mike. "Tiger Woods, 'Cigar Guy' Star in What Some Are Calling 'Greatest Sports Photo Ever'". NESN. http://www.nesn.com/2010/10/tiger-woods-cigar-man-star-in-what-some-are-calling-greatest-sports-photo-ever.html. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
- ^ "Tiger Woods 'cigar guy' becomes internet phenomenon after appearing in incredible Ryder Cup picture taken by Mail's own photographer". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318246/Tiger-Woods-cigar-guy-internet-phenomenon-appearing-Ryder-Cup-pic-taken-Mails-photographer.html. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
- ^ Hough, Andrew. Ryder Cup 2010: Tiger Woods 'cigar guy' becomes web hit, the Daily Telegraph, 6 October 2010
- ^ a b Rothman, Wilson. "'Cigar Guy' is Internet antidote to Sad Keanu". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39522903/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
- ^ Mystery of Cigar Man, The Australian, 9 October 2010
- ^ a b Busbee, Jay (10 October 2010). "Mystery solved! At last, Cigar Guy's secret identity revealed!". Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! News Network. http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/Mystery-solved-At-last-Cigar-Guy-s-secret-iden?urn=golf-275853. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- ^ Web Sensation 'Cigar Guy' Unmasked, Fox News Channel, 11 October 2010 ("A cigar-chomping, turban-wearing golf fan who's been digitally added to hundreds of photos is the latest Internet sensation.")
- ^ Bingham, John. Ryder Cup 'cigar guy' is City analyst Rupesh Shingadia, The Daily Telegraph, 10 October 2010
- ^ Cigar Guy lights up the internet, The_Sun_(United_Kingdom), 8 October 2010
- ^ Harris, Paul. Do you know Cigar Guy, the man who stood behind Tiger... and became an internet sensation?, Daily Mail, 9 October 2010
- ^ ‘Cigar Guy’: Fame is fantastic — and embarrassing, 15 October 2010
- ^ Boren, Cindy. Cigar Guy continues to show up randomly, less and less amusingly, The Washington Post, 15 October 2010
External links
Categories:- Internet memes
- Ryder Cup
- Photographs
- Works originally published in the Daily Mail
- 2010 works
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