Golf Channel announcer suspended for remark about Tiger Woods

[TrumanB]

Of course Al Sharpton is Johnny on the spot, demanding her firing.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hJ8xCoxtPBJypT2BoiavOQhRTqYAD8U2PR000

Tilghman Suspended 2 Weeks

By DOUG FERGUSON – 7 hours ago

HONOLULU (AP) — Golf Channel suspended anchor Kelly Tilghman for two weeks on Wednesday for saying last week that young players who wanted to challenge Tiger Woods should "lynch him in a back alley."

Tilghman was laughing during the exchange Friday with analyst Nick Faldo at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, and Woods' agent at IMG said he didn't think there was any ill intent.

But the comments became prevalent on news shows Wednesday, and the Rev. Al Sharpton joined the fray by demanding she be fired immediately. Golf Channel didn't know who would replace Tilghman in the booth this week at the Sony Open or next week at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

"There is simply no place on our network for offensive language like this," Golf Channel said in a statement.

Tilghman became golf's first female anchor last year when the PGA Tour signed a 15-year deal in which Golf Channel broadcasts the first three events of the year, weekday coverage of all tour events, and full coverage of the Fall Series and opposite-field events.

The suspension ends in time for the Buick Invitational on Jan. 24, when Woods will make his 2008 debut.

Faldo and Tilghman were discussing young players who could challenge the world's No. 1 player toward the end of Friday's broadcast at Kapalua when Faldo suggested that "to take Tiger on, maybe they should just gang up for a while."

"Lynch him in a back alley," Tilghman replied.

"While we believe that Kelly's choice of words was inadvertent and that she did not intend them in an offensive manner, the words were hurtful and grossly inappropriate," Golf Channel said in its statement. "Consequently, we have decided to suspend Kelly for two weeks, effective immediately."

Woods and Tilghman have known each other 12 years. She was picked to host a club demonstration with Woods in south Florida when he talked about new products from Nike Golf.

Tilghman was helped when Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at IMG, said it was a non-issue and considered the matter "case closed."

"Tiger and Kelly are friends, and Tiger has a great deal of respect for Kelly," Steinberg said Tuesday night in a statement released by Golf Channel. "Regardless of the choice of words used, we know unequivocally that there was no ill-intent in her comments."

Tilghman had said in a previous statement she apologized directly to Woods, and the immediate support from Woods' camp was critical.

After Woods won the 1997 Masters at age 21 to become its youngest champion, Fuzzy Zoeller referred to him as "that little boy," and suggested that Woods not serve fried chicken or collard greens, "or whatever the hell they serve," at the Champions Dinner.

Woods, who had a different management team in his first full season, did not respond for three days to Zoeller's apology, and it took Zoeller years to recover from the fallout.

Tilghman's comment made the rounds Wednesday on TV shows such as CNN's Headline News, and it was prominently discussed on blogs and message boards on the Internet. It also was a topic on the practice range at the Sony Open.

"I'm sure Kelly wishes she never said that," Jim Furyk said. "I haven't spoken with Tiger, but I've been told that they've had their talk and they've discussed it. Anything I say is kind of just like pouring salt in the wound at this point. Obviously, she would love to not have said that and for it not to be news. I'm glad that her and Tiger spoke."

Fred Funk only heard about the comment Wednesday morning.

"There was no ill intent at all," he said. "I think it was just a slip, and they said that Tiger has already forgiven her. I think when you're in the TV tower for that m

any hours, you're going to wish you didn't say some things probably, and that was one thing that slipped out. I think you've got to give them a little grace.

"Her integrity, how Kelly is respected out here, is pretty good. I think Tiger really likes Kelly, so that helped squash it. Because Tiger could have run off with that if he took it the wrong way. But he didn't, so that was good."

Before her suspension was announced, Sharpton spoke earlier on CNN's "Prime News" and continued to push for her firing, saying he wanted to meet with Golf Channel because the comments were "an insult to all blacks."

"Lynching is not murder in general, it's not assault in general," Sharpton said. "It's a specific racial term that this women should be held accountable for. What she said is racist. Whether she's a racist ... is immaterial. She's a broadcaster. The channel has to be accountable to the public."

[In Flames]

hmpff, dont see anything wrong with it, she speaks the truth. I also can't see and derogatory or racial remarks in what she said.

[stevenaa]

Stupid. There was no intent in her words. I use the term lynching all the time. Sharptons a media whore.

[Zguy28]

Hypersensitive political correctness rears its ugly head once again.

It had nothing to do with his race, it had to do with the fact that he's such a great golfer that that is the only way they are going to challenge him. If you look beyond pettiness of our society, you might see that it was actually a compliment to how good he is. :doh:

[jrockster21]

Are you guys kidding? Lynching and lynch mobs are a violent, horrible, extremely racist part of our past. I don't think she meant anything by it, but it was still an inappropriate comment, like it or not.

[jrockster21]

It had nothing to do with his race, it had to do with the fact that he's such a great golfer that that is the only way they are going to challenge him. If you look beyond pettiness of our society, you might see that it was actually a compliment to how good he is. :doh:

So "lynching" him is the only way to challenge Tiger Woods? :doh:

[Zguy28]

Are you guys kidding? Lynching and lynch mobs are a violent, horrible, extremely racist part of our past. I don't think she meant anything by it, but it was still an inappropriate comment, like it or not.

What if it was in reference to somebody else, like Phil Mickelson? Still inappropriate? Still worth suspending her?

[stevenaa]

Are you guys kidding? Lynching and lynch mobs are a violent, horrible, extremely racist part of our past. I don't think she meant anything by it, but it was still an inappropriate comment, like it or not.

Keyword being past. Give it up. She meant absolutely nothing by it. There were lynch mobs hanging people long before racists used it as a fear tactic.

[stevenaa]

So "lynching" him is the only way to challenge Tiger Woods? :doh:

Come off it. You know she was saying he's so good the only way to beat him is to knock him out of competition. It was a joke. Would it really have been any different if she had said take him to a back alley and slit his throat. Or Put a cap in his head.

[APBT]

She slipped. She must have thought she was amongst her family and friends. Was she being blatantly racist? That depends on who is being asked. I say break out the lie detector tests.

[Burgold]

This is why unfunny people shouldn't try to be funny. I saw the clip last night. She was trying to one-up her co-analyst and get a laugh in the banter. I don't think it was a hate-induced moment. It was a bad joke that just shouldn't have been tried. She's Abott and wanted to be Costello. Or maybe she is Leonard Nemoy when she thought she was Chris Rock.

[Spaceman Spiff]

This is why unfunny people shouldn't try to be funny. I saw the clip last night. She was trying to one-up her co-analyst and get a laugh in the banter. I don't think it was a hate-induced moment. It was a bad joke that just shouldn't have been tried. She's Abott and wanted to be Costello. Or maybe she is Leonard Nemoy when she thought she was Chris Rock.

So you mean it wasn't a moment of pure racial hatred?

Well there ya have it, folks...nothing more to see here!

Good points.

[PeterMP]

You know I could get more upset about this if Woods was upset about it.

[Spaceman Spiff]

You know I could get more upset about this if Woods was upset about it.

But Jesse Jackson and Sharpton are! You should be too!

[Burgold]

I heard Ann Coulter was outraged.

She wanted to say it first.

[@DCGoldPants]

What's funny is the release from Sharpton that referred to Kelly Tilghman as "he".

The Sportreporters were all over it. "He doesn't even listen to the statements anymore?"

stupid, it was mistake. She apologized for the poor choice of words, and Tiger said it wasn't a thing.

[Zguy28]

What's funny is the release from Sharpton that referred to Kelly Tilghman as "he".

Was he assuming that only men are qualified to commentate on golf?

Wow. How sexist of Reverend Al. Where's Hillary?

[The_cavalierman]

The other golfers should take him out back and lynch him......

I listened to the clip and I am certain she meant this as a compliment to Tiger but she needs to be held accountable for what comes out of her mouth like any other on-air personality. The fact is their were much better ways she could have gotten her point across as a professional

I would not call for her firing but a short suspension and an apology to Tiger (which she has already done) is appropriate in this case. This is not about her intent...this is about being held accountable as a media professional. If a black guy said this then he should get suspended as well.

[Zguy28]

The other golfers should take him out back and lynch him......

If a black guy said this then he should get suspended as well.

But would he get suspended?

I'd bank on nobody even noticing he even said it. :2cents:

[Henry]

This sounds a lot like when Howard Cosell reffered to Alvin Garrett as a 'little Monkey.'

Poor choice of words. Let the woman apologize and move on.

[Zguy28]

This sounds a lot like when Howard Cosell reffered to Alvin Garrett as a 'little Monkey.'

Poor choice of words. Let the woman apologize and move on.

Henry, you're too rational sometimes.

[stwasm]

I think Dan Shanoff said it best in his sports blog:

http://www.danshanoff.com/

Tilghman and Woods are apparently friendly, according to Woods' agent, and the player is not making any kind of deal about it. If she's not a closet racist, then – as a broadcaster – she's openly stupid, making the suspension appropriate.

[cyfar]

Lynching.....no, there's nothing wrong with that word at all. </sarcasm>

[APBT]

There are thousands of adjectives she could have used in place of "lynching."

I bet she wished there was a Thesaurus in her pocket book. Society is not conditioned to accept these strong words in the year 2007.

[Thanos]

For those who think the word has no harm.Maybe some pics of victims of lynchings should be posted.

I had a relative lynched in Alabama in the late 20's.So yes, its a sore spot for me.But as another posters wrote, I too am disappointed in Woods non-reaction.