Better choices of words have been made.
Golf Channel announcer Kelly Tilghman is facing heavy criticism for saying that the world's up-and-coming golfers should "lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley" during a Friday broadcast of the PGA Tour's opening event of 2008.
Presumably, she meant that in a figurative sense, since Tiger Woods wins every tournament and is thus the bane of every other golfer's existence.
But still, not the smartest move by Kelly Tilghman, a 1991 Duke graduate and former college golf standout who made history in becoming the sport's first full-time female TV announcer. People are asking: Should she be fired over this?
Kelly Tilghman has since apologized to Tiger Woods publicly and personally.
Upset, the announcer said that "I used some poorly chosen words... "I have known Tiger Woods for 12 years and I have apologized directly to him."
Dumb as it was, maybe this incident can simply blow over. Just don't comment on the fake Elin Nordegren nude pics, Kelly. Take our advice on this one.
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30 Comments
January 9th, 2008 4:18 PM
Kelly is a "MAJOR" home run for The Golf Channel, a GRAND SLAM!...and she would be for any network. She is a wonderful and knowledgable commentator. I truly hope this story dies here and now. If Kelly is guilty of anything, it's simply of not thinking before she speaks and it's a shame we have to be so careful about what we say. If she were talking about say, Phil Mickelson (as in a white man), we all know this story would have had no legs. Come on America! Let the lady talk, you know she meant no harm. The racism lies in the hearts of all the people who are accusing her of the same. Like the people who belong to all of those "black" organizations of America, where in you don't see any so called "white" organizations of America, that's racism! Pardon the pun but look who's calling the kettle black.
January 9th, 2008 5:58 PM
Sorry. She will have this baggage tagged to her forever. Innocent as her intentions may have been, she might as well have said "Taken him to the gas chamber then burned". Lynching is strong word for those whose ancestors had to endure it, no matter the context. My feeling is that most people who feel that others will let it blow over have not taken the time to find out WHY comments such as hers invoke such emotions. She should not be fired. She should read a book on the history of lynching in America.
January 9th, 2008 10:29 PM
she shouldn't be fired for making a racist remark, she should be fired for being too stupid to understand that she shouldn't make a racist statement in public.
January 9th, 2008 11:29 PM
Let me get this straight are you folks really implying that someone who is a professional sports commentator as well as being an American college graduate somehow does not understand the significance of the term "lynch", particularly in reference to a person of color ion America?!?!
It's beyond amazing to me what folks are willing to believe and forgive when it does not directly pertain to them and their heritage.
I wonder if these same people including Ms. Tilghman herself would have been as magnanimous or found it as funny had it been a golfer of the Jewish faith and phrase "gas him/her in the club showers" was mentioned instead?
I highly doubt it.
That she made a serious error in judgment is not in question
What is highly offensive and troubling is that a representative of a sport, long thought to be a racist, exclusionary old-boys club just made a "joke" about LYNCHING IT'S PREMIER BLACK player and is only being offered a two week suspension!
Far as I'm concerned, this is a no brainer. For golf to regain any of the strides made and the popularity gained by the same Mr. Woods; they need to fire this woman as soon as possible.
Personally I'll be taking a hard look to see if this is a far as they go before I stop even looking at the sport, sponsors or anyone who anything to do with this organization.
Time to wake up!
January 10th, 2008 5:46 PM
It is sad that we have come to this, I was watching the show, and I do not believe Kelly was implying it to any race, but a golfer, and that it was the only way any player had a chance in beating him in a game of golf, if anyhing it shold have been taken as a compliment to Tiger which I am sure he took it as.Golf Chanel handled it, so lets just get over it and move on.
January 11th, 2008 10:55 PM
kellytilghman should be fired. we dont need that kind of anchorwoman .
January 12th, 2008 2:16 PM
Fire her. There is no excuse for her to be using the word "lynch" in any fashion or form. My God, people and Kelly can come up with all kinds of excuses but the bottom line is that she made the reference about Tiger who happens to be black. Don't tell me she didn't realize what she said. As usual people make all kinds of excuses hoping something will be exceptable. Well, nothing will work. Bottom line: she said it and can't change that fact.
January 14th, 2008 2:04 PM
I just want to say that I'm really disappointed in the Golf Channel for letting some waste of time individual like Al Sharpton and others like him make you use such lousy judgment in the Kelly Tilghman â€" Tiger Woods incident. She should never have been dismissed even for two weeks. Not even a minute.
Tiger said that there was no intent and he knows and likes Kelly. I think Tiger Woods ought to make an announcement and tell Sharpton to stay out of his business. Kelly wasn't talking about (All) black people like Sharpton suggests and never would. She was talking about Tiger and apologized about the way it sounded which was accepted by Woods. That should be the end of it.
But you have Sharpton who tries to bring up Racial crap that isn't so to cause another white person to be fired. If he was truly interested in racial indignations, he would ask that Chris Rock be fired for his comments. But NO……………he's black. Talk about reverse discrimination. This is Sharpton, trying to cause more racial tension that anyone else. Why not this is how he gets paid and all his benefits.
What do the people in this country really have if they are saddled in their Freedom of Speech with all this Political Correctness. Political Correctness is going to eventually have everyone scared to open their mouths. I hope you will all have a job when this happens.
January 14th, 2008 2:06 PM
Sorry. The first on said it didn;t go through.
January 18th, 2008 7:40 PM
YES FIRE HER! She needs to be held accountable. Golfweek did the right thing. Now it is time for the Golf Channel to do so. This is not about Tiger. It is about her lack of integrity and the Golf Channels lack of backbone!~