The Golf Channel suspended Kelly Tilghman, the first full time female play-by-play commentator in the history of the PGA Tour for two weeks on Wednesday. Last week Tilghman said that young players who wanted to challenge Tiger Woods should “lynch him in a back alley.” Kelly Tilghman's comments were made last friday after the Golf Channel's coverage of the Mercedes – Benz Championship in Hawaii. Tilghman was speaking with analyst Nick Faldo. He suggested that young players who might challenge Tiger Woods can “gang up on him", then Tilghman jokingly added a suggestion that they “lynch him in a back alley.” Here is an excerpt from New York Newsday about the incident.
A Golf Channel spokesman told Newsday Monday that Tilghman quickly regretted her choice of words and apologized on Sunday's telecast as well as directly to Woods' representatives. The incident was not widely known until Newsday reported it yesterday, after which it generated much attention on the Internet. Tilghman, who is friendly with Woods, reiterated her apology in a statement yesterday, saying:
"On Friday during our golf broadcast, Nick Faldo and I were discussing Tiger's dominance in the golf world and I used some poorly chosen words. I have known Tiger for 12 years and I have apologized directly to him. I also apologize to our viewers who may have been offended by my comments."
Tiger Woods' IMG agent, Mark Steinberg, tried to resolve the controversy involving the Golf Channel and Kelly Tilghman's remarks by calling it a "non-issue" and issuing the following statement on his clients behalf through the channel.
"This story is a non-issue. Tiger and Kelly are friends and Tiger has a great deal of respect for Kelly. Regardless of the choice of words used we know unequivocally that there was no ill intent in her comments. This story is a non-issue in our eyes. Case closed." [SOURCE]
At the time of the story, Newsday stated that the Golf Channel did not plan any disciplinary action. However, the case was not closed. By wednesday many were citing the historical definition of the term 'lynching' . Kelly Tilghman's remarks about Tiger Woods sparked claims of "racism".
1935 lynching of Rubin Stacy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
And some were reminded of Don Imus' remarks by calling the Rutgers basketball team players "nappy headed hoes and jiggaboos". The Rev. Al Sharpton spoke on CNN wednesday night demanding that Tilghman should be fired immediately. (MORE)
Tiger shows true class by disregarding the faux pas. Sharpton uses it to get face time and prove once more that he's a racist.
Posted by: John | January 10, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Kelly Tillman comments were not only directed to Tiger Woods (regardless whether he considers himself Afro American or not) they were directed to a segment of people that happen to be black. It is ourageous to think of the comments as trivial. Faldo's comment about ganging up invited this type of commentary.
Carlton Staten
Posted by: Carlton Staten | January 16, 2008 at 12:34 AM
The word lynching was derived from the name Chales Lynch in the 1700's. He was a justice of the peace in Virginia who used hanging as a system of punishment for African American slaves. Thus the term "lynching". A black at that time as we all well know could being hanged for no other reason than simply being black. There is no other connotation or reference to which the word lynching applies. It exists for those circumstances only. Much like the initials (KKK), it has only one reference. So please consider the facts before you decide to dimiss Ms Tilghman's comments as trivial or whether you decide to become highly offended.
Posted by: Reggie Marshall | January 17, 2008 at 06:25 PM
What I have to say is very simple...
When Jonny Miller spouts off, sometimes worst of than what Kelly said, nobody seems to care or say anything about it...
Is this a double standard???
I want you to understand, when Jonny talks I almost feel like giving up the game...
Isn't that a sad thing... (am I the only one that feels this way???)
Phillip
Posted by: Phillip | January 19, 2008 at 11:37 AM
This is an outrage. Whether she is frieds with Tiger Woods and he has accepted her apology, does not accept the fact that her racist comments will be tolerated. She should have been fired on the spot. I'm tired of apologies to the African American communities for racist remarks, nooses and everything else that has and continue to plague this nation. Hold the accountable.
Posted by: Raphael Meadows | January 19, 2008 at 09:11 PM
Please, who among us has not made an error, mistake or verbal blunder? If you have ever listened to Kelly for any amount of time you know she did not mean anything mean spirited toward Tiger or any other person in any way, shape or form. Tiger replied to the situation with intelligence, class and appropriateness. We can all learn from the good character of Tiger Woods.
Posted by: Bruce and Vicky Fancher | January 20, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Lynching: To execute without due process of law, especially to hang, as by a mob. When will society start looking at actual definitions and not historical definitions? Take race out of the equation and this would not be an issue. The comment was made towards an individual and not towards a race of people. I know it's hard to believe, but some people actually make comments without looking at someones skin color...but of course if we all did that, Al Sharpton would be unknown and we would possibly be able to make it through a telecast without thinking someone is a racist...but then again racism will never go away cause we don't want it to!
Posted by: Tom | January 24, 2008 at 09:15 AM
Well Good Grief. Al Sharpton finally found another platform to get face in front of a camera. How racist can one be but to make an issue out of Kelly's comment. Race had nothing to do with it and Sharpton knows it only too well. It is obvious he will do anything to seen (and heard) on TV. He is trying to sell his own distorted agenda by making the comment racist. Grow up Sharpton or get lost (shut-up).
Posted by: Jim Stovall | January 24, 2008 at 09:52 PM
under any context? Al Sharpton! This broadcast counts as "under any context". so, according to your own words you should be fired on the spot!
The only problem is what do you get fired from? You don't do anything except support racsim! If it wasn't for people like you, this would have been said and forgotten in a few minutes time.
But no, you want to shine a spotlight on anything, no matter how small, that could be considered racist.
Well, what about the Pace Picante commercials where they all shout "New York city?!, Get a rope!" sounds like a hanging to me...
Or
why is it that when the Jenna 6 was in the news a class full of children had to be taken outside and shown why a noose in a tree was offensive. This is why:
They didn't know it was racist. If they don't even realise something is racist why teach them that it is? To make them angry? How does this make sense?
If no one treats blacks differently than anyone else why do you?
Don't look at a Black man and say, there is a black man. Just say, there is a man. Don't get all bent out of shape when someone doesn't say "African-American" Because we are all Americans. Period.
what a concept, huh?...
Ethan
Posted by: Ethan | January 25, 2008 at 01:33 PM
What I find amazing and unfortunate is that people don't really understand the pain and sensitivity a group of people have about the history of lynching in America.
I believe that Americans should not just brush such comments off and "move on"; however, Americans do need to move forward. Yes, our past is our past, but if you don't acknowledge what has happen, then you won't move forward to change. I'm quite sure Kelly regretted what she said, but it's too bad her regret was only after being exposed. And if she is a friend of Tiger, he needs to reconsider his choice of friends, if they jokingly suggest that he gets "lynched".
If people didn't speak up in the past, and don't speak up know, many would still have to give up their seats on the bus.
Posted by: Sandy | January 26, 2008 at 02:52 AM
I WANT TO SEE KELLY TILGHMAN FIRED. BEHIND EVERY SO CALLED JOKE IS A TRUTH AND HER'S HAPPENS TO BE RACISM AND A BIGOT.
IT IS IMPERATIVE AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE AN INTELLEGENT BLACK MAN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT THAT THIS KIND OF RACISM IS STOPPED.
TIGER WOODS HAS BEEN THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO GOLF AND DOES NOT DESERVE SUCH AN INSULT TO HIM AND HIS PEOPLE.
DISGUSTED,
LINDA CORONA
Posted by: Linda Corona | January 26, 2008 at 03:35 PM
The comments from Linda Corona are over the top. She wants to see Kelly fried. Maybe we should call Al Sharpton and see what he thinks about that. When it gets down to the facts, Kelly basically said "NO ONE CAN BEAT TIGER WOODS". He just won the first 2 majors, so that fact is proven. She used a very poor choice of words to pay him a compliment. Tiger would probably like other people to forget about it, so he can just play golf. Those of us who play the game would understand that. We want to hear about the game not the politics. Tiger is an American of mixed nationalities like most of us and just happens to be the number one player. Oh, Linda, the guy you are talking about for president--is he the one who won't place his hand over his heart during the national athem?
Posted by: Mike Sneider | February 03, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Thats all it takes right, call us N#@!$$ and we will gladly accept your apology. Thats the way all white people think, I'm sorry fixes it, hell no it doesnt fix, it only stirs the pot and makes us want to beat someones ass for the stupid comments you all seem to make when you get so high on your dam horse, you think youre untouchable. I will never watch, program my tv or associate with or have anything to do with the golf channel, since they discovered that she didnt mean anything by her comment, end of discussion is what they said, well dont worry, I have deleted the golf channel from my guide, and I am blocking anything remotely close to their web site. We are tired of you RACIST, and your good ole boy, excuse me good ole girl tactics.NO MORE GOLF CHANNEL> NO MORE GOLF CHANNEL, I will scream it at the top of my lungs until I get my message to the masses
Posted by: Rod Collins | February 07, 2008 at 07:25 AM
I hate to say this but this Rod Collins sounds like an angry black man. No one, except Rod Collins, used the "N" word. Miss Tilghman *never* meant the comment in that context, AT ALL. Yes, the comment was a poor choice of words, but the intent was to compliment a great athelete. Anyone who uses the "N" word and thinks an apology fixes it should have they're butt kicked, HARD! I say that, and I'm white. Racism is WRONG anyway you put it. Thing is this was not racism, prejudice, or bigotry. It was a poorly worded compliment. And if you want to deprive yourself of golf by not watching the Golf Channel, Mr. Collins, that is your privilige. But they did nothing wrong. They took the appropriate action and deprived her of work for two weeks as a reminder in the future to choose her words more wisely.
Posted by: Carl | December 05, 2008 at 10:31 PM