WATCH: One Of Our Oldest Angelenos, A 105-Year-Old Man
Wendell Pierce: Courage Has No Color
(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, which is owned by Comcast Corp. "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 many 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."
Comments: (53)
Add a comment
By: mizz pimpin on 1/24/2008 12:17AM
I THINK WE SHOULD LYNCH HER ASS WHITE PEOPLE THINK THIS WORLD BELONGS TO THEM WELL THINK AGAIN. THIS IS GOD'S WORLD.I DONT CARE IF SHE IS FREINDS WITH TIGER SHE STILL SAID IT AND THAT MEANS SHE FELLS THAT WAY PERIOD.FIRE HER FIRE HER FIRE HER. SHE BETTER HOPE NO ONE GETS A HOLD TO HER ASS
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Ron Johnson on 1/25/2008 10:28AM
Bad choice of words in a single moment of time doesn't make someone a racist. At worst it just illustrates their ignorance or inability to find a witty come-back line.
Given her apology to Mr. Woods, it should be over. Once again, shame on Mr. Sharpton for his efforts here. Has anyone cared to mention to him ... a man who is supposed to be a Reverend and a man in Christ, that he should be more Christ like? Throwing stones from a glass house is not His way.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: charles on 1/26/2008 8:38AM
we need to keep the dialogue about this going because it is happening to much lately we can fight ur wars do ur dirtiest jobs but tell me why any one else can vote without having to have a voting right act passed
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: James on 1/26/2008 2:35PM
Lynch, what a word. I'm a strong black man who is not affraid of the word LYNCH. Who is the last black man or women that you have heard of being lynched. Get over it. How about WAR and our young black and white soldiers dying over see's. Get a life and live in this day and time and not the past. Carry on and prosper.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: justin g on 1/10/2008 6:31PM
I am a construction manager and have signs directing me to be hung ,suggesting that I must live in a neighborhood where the cars sit on the street with no tires and other interesting observations and was told by my management team that I was to good of person to let that kind of stuff bother me (ha ha)bear in mind I'm the only afro american in the company
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: cathy on 1/10/2008 2:14PM
"So as a man speaketh, so is he". Plain and simple. You are what you speak. She will more than likely get away with it. Someone said earlier, this is a White supremecy society. Whites feel as though they are superior and you know what, they actually were born into power and influence. Which brings me into the B & C (Barack and Clinton).
Out of all the things in the world and out of all the things that has been allowed to the black man (people, and out of all the things that we have fought for, gained and won. The one thing they (wealthy white men) will not let be...and that is A BLACK PRESIDENT!!! Oh yes, it would be awesome and yes, it would be a blessing, which it is a blessing that he has come this far, but Oh no! A black president just wont be. We have come a long way, but we have a long, long way to go. This is society based upon White supremecy. Just because Barack has come this far does not mean racicm and White Supremecy is over, this is what whites are feeling, thus, however, if he wins will prove that racism and the white supremecy mind-set is over. Trust me I am not pessimistic, but the contrary...realistic.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: MR LOL on 1/10/2008 2:47PM
This women certainly would not state as a joke taking a Jewish person out back and throwing them in a oven as they did in Nazi Germany. It's amazing how white Americans can be sensitive about white people and not black people. I'm also pissed at Tiger Woods acceptance of this type of racial insensitivity. Even though he boost of being part Asian and other ethnicity's, ALL the racial slurs I've heard against him has been directed toward black people. He's ALWAYS quick to let it roll off his back when this could be used as a opportunity to sensitize white Americana's. Unfortunately the likes of Al Sharpton getting involved will make the situation worst. Whenever he gets involve it becomes about him and not the situation at hand.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: LjRich on 1/10/2008 3:14PM
It really doesn't matter who she wants to lynch, her statement was in bad taste. In her privileded position she saw nothing wrong with saying what she was thinking. If Tiger is not offended, and remains her friend, what is the problem? Ignorance can be cured, I am not sur about stupidity.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: koolkidkulture on 1/10/2008 5:01PM
sometimes i wish tiger, as the biggest name in the sport, would just man up. the game needs you, homie. realize that.
Boost Mobile Anthem 2.0
Behind the scenes with Jeezy, JD and Mickey Avalon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3er-A6HsW8w
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: DarkNLuvly on 1/10/2008 5:06PM
If this woman felt she had such a level of comfort and security with her friend Tiger, she should have saved that comment for a private conversation between the two of them. She must realize that as a television broadcaster, with the ability to reach many people of all races, she must be more responsible with the words that come out of her mouth. It's admirable that she and Tiger have been able to put this behind them especially since the nation at large now has an opinion regarding her unsavory comment. Personally, I find it difficult to fathom that any woman (inparticularly a white one) could stand in my presence joking about my being lynched and expect me not to bat an eye. Then again, I have what some might consider a "soft spot" when making references to some of the horrible and tragic sacrifices that our ancestors have made in making it possible for me to live as I live today. Of course, I'm just a professional with an opinion.
Reply to this Comment | Report This