I've been reading all the gossip on the event and hereby award Tony Hicks of the Contra Costa Times in Walnut Creek, CA for that line, the best of the day as his "People" column covered the amazing story:
Troy Lee Gentry, of country singing duo Montgomery Gentry, has been accused of killing a tame black bear that federal officials say he tagged as killed in the wild. Gentry, 39, and Lee Marvin Greenly, 46, appeared in court Tuesday in connection with a sealed indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Minneapolis. Authorities say Gentry purchased the bear from Greenly, a wildlife photographer and hunting guide, then killed it with a bow and arrow in an enclosed pen on Greenly's property in October 2004. Sounds like a real manly, hoot-hollerin' of a time. The government alleges Gentry and Greenly tagged the bear with a Minnesota hunting license and registered it with the state Department of Natural Resources as a wild kill -- a violation of the federal Lacey Act. Gentry allegedly paid about $4,650 for the bear, named Cubby. Wait a second. He paid nearly five grand for a bear, with a name, so he could kill it? Guess we know which country act Gary Bogue won't be paying to see anytime soon. The bear's death was videotaped and later edited so Gentry appeared to shoot the animal in a "fair chase" hunting situation, the government alleges. If convicted, both Gentry and Greenly face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $20,000 fine. Gentry's manager, Johnny Dorris, said Wednesday that Gentry, an outdoorsman and hunter, expects to be exonerated. He sounds very brave.
You can add this incident to Chris Gaines and The Dixie (verbal) Slips' country artist publicity gaffe file, which - fortunately - is much thinner then the ones for most other music genres. (be sure to click the link, it's a hoot!)
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