Golf Channel anchor says young golfers should 'lynch Tiger Woods'

[nekohead]

Golf Channel anchor says young golfers should 'lynch Tiger Woods'
By Roy S. Johnson

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 4:38 pm EST



http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/golf_experts/post/Golf-Channel-anchor-says-young-golfers-should-l?urn=golf,60618


What is it about Duke? Okay, maybe that's not fair. But it did make me scratch my head and wonder when I read what Kelly Tilghman (pictured with Arnold Palmer), a former Blue Devil golfer, said on the Golf Channel last Friday during her gig as co-lead announcer for the network's telecast of the Mercedes-Benz Championship, the PGA Tour's inaugural event of the season.

I have not seen the clip, nor do I know the context of the remarks. This is what I know -- that Tilghman, who never played on the LPGA Tour, said golf's young players should "lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley."

Had Woods been white, to use the most heinous crime committed in this nation to illustrate God-knows-what point would have been egregious. But that he's not makes the remark unconscionable. And punishable.

It would be a travesty if Tilghman is allowed to broadcast the next event for the Golf Channel. (It speaks volumes already that she was allowed to sit on the air all day Saturday, as if nothing happened. She then offered an on-air apology on Sunday but still did the entire telecast.)

At minimum, a suspension is in order. Some will surely call for a firing. If the network does nothing -- just months after the Jena Six dominated the nation's airwaves -- it would make a significant statement about the network's tolerance of such actions. A statement that would hurt the sport of golf and rekindle memories of a racist history that Woods' success has helped it begin to move past.

Doing nothing would remind us of Fuzzy Zeoller

Doing nothing would remind us of Shoal Creek.

Doing nothing would not be smart.

Okay, so it's just the Golf Channel. And Kelly Tilghman is simply a hottie that was given an opportunity to anchor a telecast because she can swing a golf club.

That is not the point. Tolerance at any level cannot be tolerated.

Your move, GC.

Tilghman has reportedly reached out to Woods to apologize (scoll down). Here's hoping, at least for the moment -- until the Golf Channel makes its statement -- that he does not accept the call. Or the apology.

[Kuroyama]

Woods HAD to remain racially neutral about the whole thing. The US isnt really ready for where its headed. Woods is spearheading that. To become vocal and political would make his already impossibly difficult journey ...simply impossible.

As far as what that sportscaster said. She simply said what most all white golfers are thinking. Again, while there are some who are evolved and actually see beyond the world as white... On any given sunday a trip to a country club grill will find golfers rooting for ANYONE white to beat Woods. When Vijay Singh does it... its a non-issue for them. Mickelson is the favorite with his "All-American charm" But anyone white will do.

This is why such a hulaboo is made when Tiger fails to win, or when a "slump" is perceived. They are always ready to replace him as the Worlds Best Golfer, but only if the next guy is image appropriate.

This is why comments like "lynching Tiger" are taken in stride. Shes only saying what everyone else was already thinking.

I can only imagine what the LPGA will be like when (likely a Korean golfer) replaces Annika as the worlds top LPGA player. Likely they will spend the next 5 years or so replaying reels of Annikas feats while bylining the feats of whoever takes her place.

[nekohead]

A lot of folks from my mainly White web site thought thier was NOTHING wrong with her saying that either. But, I just think Tiger is a fool to not have MORE Black or at least Asian friends that can speak up for him.
I just feel like the women he married..." Was just looking at $$$$$$ Signs. When he does lose and lose BIG..." Will SHE be thier to hold his hand?
He better watch his BACK!! That women who said that was his so called Friend.

[krnbboyprd]

Yo Wood's has it rough..remember that cat that said we should eat Fried Chicken because Tiger WOODs was gunna be there..Anyways I do not understand why people don't use their brains..The sad thing is White People do not understand..siigghhh...

[Kuroyama]

KBP

They dont use their brain because they dont have to. Its all part of white privilege. Like Ching Chong remarks you hear on the radio. Rosie ODonnells Ching Chong antics... she said those things, and when she got called on it by Asian Americans...she "apologized" but said "I might say it again! Because thats the kind of person I am!!" And white america accepted that as an apology.

Id like to see a person of color at a parole hearing say "Yeah, Im sorry, but I just might steal again because thats the kind of person I am!!" and still get his parole.

But that wont happen.

As far as Tigers situation... hes likely got his money well socked away. Hes a golfer, not a rapper. you wont likely be seeing any repeats of MC Hammer, or Mike Tyson here. And the claim of white people suggesting that Tiger needs more people of color to come to his defense in times like this...seems disingenuous at best. Most all of those people are the first to say people of color should "get a sense of humor" and not be so sensitive about such things.

[nekohead]

I find it kinda funny that His White wife did not say anything to the Media. That FOOL says he is still FRIENDS with that heffa!! That is what gets me the most..." He is a FOOL..."

[Kuroyama]

Neko

Girl, you need to sit down, and take a breath. You need to look at the bigger picture. Do you imagine that Tiger Woods is content to get a few million, take a few trophies and sit on his ass?

Tiger Woods has already changed the face of golf as we know it. It is now no longer surprising to find a dark Person of Color showing up at a golf course to PLAY there, and not to WORK there. Not only that, but he DOMINATES. Hes not just a winner, he is a MACHINE. He has single handedly erased any doubt real or imagined that non-whites can succeed and succeed greatly at GOLF

GOLF!! A game that was by all races perceived as a rich-white-mans game. People of color who played were never taken seriously. Those with any real game from the past, were crushed by racist regulations or worse. Charlie Sifford once wrote about how on one hole someone had filled the cup with dog dirt. A very pleasant surprise to reach in with your hand and find yes?

We were UNWANTED.

Tiger has not only helped to change that, he has CRUSHED existing records all set by white men. He continues to do so. There are still some remaining. Tiger doesnt have the security detail that Obama has. There are real people that would very much like to see real harm come to Woods both for what he has done and what he will do.

There are to be sure racial issues that could be spoken out on... But Tiger is looking so much farther ahead... Do you really need Eldrick Woods to tell you that lynching Blacks is wrong??

Tiger needs to break all existing records set by Nicklaus, Palmer, and every other golf idol out there. Once thats done, then he can retire and say whats on his mind... because if hes assassinated before that happens, white people will say its a shame... but there will be no asterisk set next to records by prior white heroes. No one will say (Tiger WOULD have broken them if not for...) He will simply be gone, and that will be that.

Let the mans clubs speak.
They speak volumes.
When THEY are finished... then he can speak with his mouth.

[nekohead]

I hear what your saying. I still call him a FOOL because, he needs to have his back watch with Black and Asian friends and not his NICE White friends that hook him up with White GOLD Diggers to marry and White friends that TRASH talk him on T.V.." I am NOT saying he is NOT a GOOD guy with REAL GAME.." He is a FOOL for not haveing his back WATCHED.." Heck, I grew up dirt poor, I may not have HIS riches.." But, at least I have my BACK watch.." When I got in the Navy, I made my FRIENDS that I still have today.." If it was not for them, those OTHER folks would have ate me alive..." But, I will save those storys for another day.."

Tiger needs to watch his BACK! He is MORE and MORE in the news latly.." I don't wish the guy any HARM.." He just really needs to be carful with all the GOOD OL BOYS... He plays with..." I also DON'T trust his wife........." I know I don't know her.." But, what I read about her, I DON'T trust HER." She was a darn BABYSITTER for peeps sake when they met. The story goes that she was a model.." Un, yea right.." What model will be babysitting for a living when she can be out their with the other MODELS making real money like the rest of the REAL models with contracts.." He met her through a golf buddy. The one she used to babysit for. For all we know, she may be getting dirt for future storys ..." I see they sure had a child really fast...."

I just looked up his Wikipedia, He LIVES in the same nice State where the Storm Fronts creater lives. How nice is that?

[kimtae]

Kuro, I'm gonna disagree with you on this one. Tiger's silence implies that the racist nature of the comment is not that bad, that other Blacks are getting hysterical over nothing. He doesn't have to make a militant speech but something along the lines of well, "we all know that's unacceptable and I'm sure she won't repeat it," would go a long ways towards getting people thinking right about this in a calm rational way. Tiger doesn't have to be anything other than a golfer, but he also shouldn't be seen as a golfer who's too afraid to make any kind of ripples let alone waves.

[kwak76]

Not to change the subject but this kind of reminds me of Michael Jordon.

A different sport dominated by black men but nevertheless when Jordon was at his peak he could of said something about race relation but decided not to because he was probably afraid of losing sponsors or isolating his white fans.

I haven't really followed this incident regarding Tiger Woods but I think that Tiger just being golfer is one thing but he also has the podium to speak up about issues.

[Kuroyama]

Guys... you think that the press is gonna let Tiger Woods make any sort of simple remark on the state of race relations without picking it to shreds? Itll be analyzed, parsed, and each and every PGA event will become a forum for Al Sharpton. When Sharptons not there, the sharks will go straight for Tiger. Golf as we know it will become the back story.

It doesnt matter what Tiger says about ANYTHING...the press are waiting to pounce. Im telling you, it might not seem like the thing to do in the short run, but youve gotta see the bigger picture.

[kimtae]

And if he doesn't say anything, what's the message? His silence becomes a statement as well. BTW, what about the suggestion I made?

[Kuroyama]

Kimtae

Eldrick doesnt need to say that what she said was wrong. The press has been saying it for him. Everybody is waiting for the explosion that isnt happening.

The core is the previous statement is that Tiger doesnt need to say anything.

Tiger need not be bogged down in what is a non-issue by way of comparison. Everybody knows (regardless of their feelings about lynching Blacks) that she should not have said what she did. Tiger would simply create a distraction to himself by getting caught up in something thats already self evident.

It would be incorrect to assume that Tiger not speaking out on wrongness of this situation somehow makes him complicit. Hes simply focused on more important things at the moment. After hes achieved his goals he can blast her in his memoirs.

[kimtae]

Again, I think my response would have served all purposes, to defuse the situation while pointing out that Tiger does not condone racist comments. His immediate leap to embrace the commentator itself seems to have served as a message to some that there is no offense to be taken by anyone, that Sharpton et al are hysterical over nothing. He set a bad example but I guess not upsetting whitey is more important than backing up POC.

[Kuroyama]

In this case...yes, it is. Cutting of your nose to spite your face has never been heralded as the mark of wisdom. The long term goal I speak of (and that Tiger is shooting for) carries far greater weight and worth than spending any news cycle time with racist bonehead blondie.

[nekohead]

Kimtae


Hes simply focused on more important things at the moment. After hes achieved his goals he can blast her in his memoirs.

Sure HOPE that is HIS plan..." I really do..." Then I will NEVER call him a FOOL again.."

[chocolatebutterfly]

Below is a copy of the original Willie Lynch Speech.. I am not sure what people are thinking when they use the media as a forum to say hurtful and racist things which just makes me wonder how far have we really come?




This speech was delivered by Willie Lynch on the bank of the James River in the colony of Virginia in 1712. Lynch was a British slave owner in the West Indies. He was invited to the colony of Virginia in 1712 to teach his methods to slave owners there. The term “lynching” is derived from his last name.

[beginning of the Willie Lynch Letter]

Greetings,

Gentlemen. I greet you here on the bank of the James River in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twelve. First, I shall thank you, the gentlemen of the Colony of Virginia, for bringing me here. I am here to help you solve some of your problems with slaves. Your invitation reached me on my modest plantation in the West Indies, where I have experimented with some of the newest, and still the oldest, methods for control of slaves. Ancient Rome would envy us if my program is implemented. As our boat sailed south on the James River, named for our illustrious King, whose version of the Bible we cherish, I saw enough to know that your problem is not unique. While Rome used cords of wood as crosses for standing human bodies along its highways in great numbers, you are here using the tree and the rope on occasions. I caught the whiff of a dead slave hanging from a tree, a couple miles back. You are not only losing valuable stock by hangings, you are having uprisings, slaves are running away, your crops are sometimes left in the fields too long for maximum profit, you suffer occasional fires, your animals are killed. Gentlemen, you know what your problems are; I do not need to elaborate. I am not here to enumerate your problems, I am here to introduce you to a method of solving them. In my bag here, I HAVE A FULL PROOF METHOD FOR CONTROLLING YOUR BLACK SLAVES. I guarantee every one of you that, if installed correctly, IT WILL CONTROL THE SLAVES FOR AT LEAST 300 HUNDREDS YEARS. My method is simple. Any member of your family or your overseer can use it. I HAVE OUTLINED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES AMONG THE SLAVES; AND I TAKE THESE DIFFERENCES AND MAKE THEM BIGGER. I USE FEAR, DISTRUST AND ENVY FOR CONTROL PURPOSES. These methods have worked on my modest plantation in the West Indies and it will work throughout the South. Take this simple little list of differences and think about them. On top of my list is “AGE,” but it’s there only because it starts with an “a.” The second is “COLOR” or shade. There is INTELLIGENCE, SIZE, SEX, SIZES OF PLANTATIONS, STATUS on plantations, ATTITUDE of owners, whether the slaves live in the valley, on a hill, East, West, North, South, have fine hair, course hair, or is tall or short. Now that you have a list of differences, I shall give you an outline of action, but before that, I shall assure you that DISTRUST IS STRONGER THAN TRUST AND ENVY STRONGER THAN ADULATION, RESPECT OR ADMIRATION. The Black slaves after receiving this indoctrination shall carry on and will become self-refueling and self-generating for HUNDREDS of years, maybe THOUSANDS. Don’t forget, you must pitch the OLD black male vs. the YOUNG black male, and the YOUNG black male against the OLD black male. You must use the DARK skin slaves vs. the LIGHT skin slaves, and the LIGHT skin slaves vs. the DARK skin slaves. You must use the FEMALE vs. the MALE, and the MALE vs. the FEMALE. You must also have white servants and overseers [who] distrust all Blacks. But it is NECESSARY THAT YOUR SLAVES TRUST AND DEPEND ON US. THEY MUST LOVE, RESPECT AND TRUST ONLY US. Gentlemen, these kits are your keys to control. Use them. Have your wives and children use them, never miss an opportunity. IF USED INTENSELY FOR ONE YEAR, THE SLAVES THEMSELVES WILL REMAIN PERPETUALLY DISTRUSTFUL. Thank you gentlemen.”

LET’S MAKE A SLAVE

[kwak76]

chocolatebutterfly,


Thanks for the post. I mean if you sit down and really think about it. The Lynch method of divide is working already. dark skin vs. light skin. The gender divide ..etc.

You don't really see these type of division within white folks like you do with color folks. The thing that gets me so mad is white people are always saying lighten up it's 2008 or..it's just a joke. White people don't understand or worst they don't want to understand the history of racial legacy that exist to this day.

[chocolatebutterfly]

Kwak,

You are so right about that one.... It is so prominent in the black community.. For some odd reason the concensus is if you are lighter you are automatically better, or more exotic... Which is crazy! Being a darker skinned black woman I have encountered that divide more times than I care to count.

[takedown]

I cannot believe some white folks would use this kinda language still. It is because of these events that I have developed a distrust of some white ppl (ppl who look like they could b racist).

[tokyolovestory]

Quick general question:

What does a possible racist look like?

[takedown]

I suspect a racist mainly by the way they look at me. Same way I suspect if someone has the potential to rob me. It's not very scientific, of course.

[kimtae]

Kuro, I can't let this go. In no way are you shwoing how Tiger would have been "cutting off his nose to spite his face" as you put it, if he had simply voiced displeasure at the remark coupled with a willingness to forgive the offender. As for your claim that the media would never let Tiger speak on any racially charged issue, you forget, Tiger has already gotten to the top. He can have a voice on any issue any time he wants.
And I'm not sure what it is that you think Tiger has in plan. What mroe is he trying to achieve? Tiger, by putting himself as an individual and never allowing race to shape his image has insured that Blacks will never be seen as a part of the golfing world. He has made it clear that he is an anamoly, a stand out, a freak of golfing talent, not to be confused with other Black athletes.
Oddly enough though, he won't be seen this way when it comes time to judge his comments on racial slurs. His quick willingness to embrace the offender and to shrug off the comment has the effect of taking the wind out of Sharpton and other activists' sails.
Finally, my main point is, he didn't have to get racially political or put himself out in any way. All he had to do was say something along the lines of, "I'm sure we all know remrks like that can be offensive and I hope we can move on from here." He could even go on to defend the character of his "good friend" if he wants but at least nobody can say, "well, Tiger doesn't care so why should I." Which is what many people have been saying.
Tiger dropped the ball. He doesn't have to be political but he shouldn't hamper others. I hate to say it but he came across as an Uncle Tom.

[Kuroyama]

Kimtae

You can rest assured that your "Uncle" will never be seen as anything other than a N##### in the eyes of the closet racist masses. Yes, he has established that he is the best golfer alive, but there are still a few records he hasnt yet broken which still allow whites to say...

"Yeah he won a few, but The Greatest was still "........"".

Nicklaus
Palmer

Just two names that can be casually flipped out when the "whos best" talking starts. If Tiger continues on pace he will smash all records set by those guys. If he died tomorrow, the last things said would be that those guys were better. I expect that he is working to change that.

Once thats all accomplished, you can say Calbliasian till the cows come home. All the records that matter, when the talk of the Best Golfer EVER comes out... all the photos, all the images, will be of what is seen as a Black face. I dont care how much is written about white blood in his veins, his parents are seen as Black and Asian.

That is what will be remembered by our grandchildren, and their grandchildren. Not some stupid words uttered by just-another-racist.