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January 10th, 2008 3:25 PM
Oh my god. With all the trouble going on today do we really need this? Al Sharpton only looks for things he can lie abt. Anyone listening could tell color never entered into her mind. Bad choice of words...sure.
Jez Al why dont you take some classes on your bigotry. you are the bigest racist there is.
People of all color would get along so much better if we didnt read into every word being said that way. How can America become one when some (of all races) stand out like a sore thumb and make issues where there is none.
Tiger Woods is a very smart man and can take up for himself if need be. If he wasnt offended then others shouldnt be either. As for the writer above- Gang Raped???? You are one sick..... maybe if she were your daughter would you say the same? I think maybe you protest too much abt other people being racists..look closer to home please.
January 10th, 2008 3:42 PM
To say one has had enough of people making a " big deal about", this sort of comment and that Al Sharpton is a racist is a copout. This woman made a mistake. Should she be fired no. But to ignore that the comment was made is to say that on some level that it is ok. To often people of all races are expected to ignore commentsthat are hurtful and embarrassing.
comments that hurt and embarras
January 10th, 2008 4:18 PM
I agree with Dave Sturick. I guess Sharpton never studied the wild wild west. As I recall, lynching was the term used for horse thieves etc., so although it could be, it ain't necessisarily so Big Al... Speaking of "Dumb B's, "Day" (very creative name) must think there are two of her...
January 10th, 2008 4:47 PM
All who tried to give a "rational explanation" for her comment are either very slow or just plain racist. There is no way to explain "he should be LYNCHED in a back alley". To try to mitigate the her action shows a serious problem facing us as a country. If there was no "Ill intent" in these comment both from Imus and now her, then why do we keep seeing these repetitive patterns. I get tired of people always trying to justify racist remarks!
January 10th, 2008 4:51 PM
*******************************************************
………Kelly Tilghman NUDE PAPARAZZI VIDEO………..…
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January 10th, 2008 6:22 PM
If Tiger can let it go - the GC should let it go and you too. I don't know Kelly but I watch the show and I'll bet what she said is not what she meant!
January 10th, 2008 7:48 PM
I think it's one thing to say,'gang up on him', as Nick Faldo jested, but to suggest (even in jest) taking his life? Considering (1) Tiger recently lost his father, (2) Recently became a father himself, (3) The racist history of the PGA, (4) Don Imus, Michael Richards, etc.etc., I have to agree with Rev. Sharpton in this case. I've also noticed that some people are saying that it's not a big deal, and she meant no ill intent. I guess they base that on the well-known fact that other than the KKK, whites don't hold racist views, and race isn't a problem in America. Once again, it helps to be considered an attractive female, ask Debra Lafave. She seduced a child, but was given a slap on the wrist because she's 'too pretty to go to jail'. When the seducer of a child is a male,regardless of race, he's thrown under the jail. Justice in America!
January 10th, 2008 8:02 PM
Flip the script: A lot of women want Kelly's job on the Golf Channel, so to help distract her from doing well and to give her competitors a chance, maybe she should be gang-raped and sodomized in a back alley before going on the air. (Look for my remorse-filled apology in a few days, then I'm sure all will be forgiven). For all Tilghman apologists; Is that OK to say, if it's directed at your mother, wife, sister, or daughter?
January 10th, 2008 8:09 PM
Thank God Tiger has some sense. It did not even sound racist to me...
January 10th, 2008 8:13 PM
I do not think she meant it as racism..just an off the cuff remark.
January 10th, 2008 9:01 PM
Most of the reaction is coming from people who've been stirred up by media reports, and by Rev. Sharpton. Anyone who has taken the time to view the actual broadcast has come away with a far different reaction.
Here were two golf commentators - Ms. Tilghman and Nick Faldo - talking about Tiger in very complimentary terms. Nick suggested that the only way to beat Tiger would be for some of the younger golfers to gang up on him, and almost by way of finishing Faldo's sentence (if not his thought,) Tilghman uttered the phrase, "lynch him in the back alley." The two were chucking and smiling, and it was pretty obvious they were just filling airtime. If we could have contacted each of the hundreds of viewers immediately after the show aired, it's very likely most of them would have even been unable to recall that particular exchange. But it only takes one, and if that person also has Rev. Sharpton on speed-dial, that's all it takes to give the story legs.
Did Tiger take offense with her comments? No. As a matter of fact, Tilghman is a friend of his. The bottom line is, the media knows that headlines like this sell newspapers, and fills airtime. Their stock in trade is taking snippets out of context, and turning them into stories. Every once in a while, they even target one of their own. (Don't think there aren't at least a few athletes, actors, and politicians out there, muttering something about "poetic justice!) They have absolutely no shame.
Reverend Sharpton, my dictionary states that to lynch someone, is to execute them without due process of law. It even goes so far as to state the term most often refers to execution by hanging. Try as I might, though, I could not find a dictionary definition listing a connotation referring to the race, color, religion, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation of the person being executed. Are you suggesting that the only proper usage of the word, is when one is referring to the execution of someone of a specific color? With all due respect, don't you think that's just a bit presumptive on your part?
Rev. Sharpton, you and I are the same age, a generation removed from both Tiger Woods and Kelly Tilghman. When we were growing up, women and African-Americans were unquestionably treated as second-class citizens. But we're not living in the 50's and 60's any more. Tiger Woods is, without question, the most succesful athlete in America, and probably the most widely recognized and respected man on the planet. Kelly Tilghman is the first woman to ever be hired as a fulltime golf play-by-play announcer. I'd say our country's come a long way since we were kids, wouldn't you?. Now you're calling for this woman to lose her job over an idle remark that was never intended to offend anyone.
You know how we'll be able to tell when we've achieved true equality? No, it won't be when Obama or Clinton is elected president; it'll be when headlines like "Anchor Says Players Should Lynch Tiger" are no longer considered newsworthy. But until that time comes, it would sure remove some of the guesswork if you could just compile a list of words and terms that some African-Americans could possibly consider offensive, and distribute it to anyone and everyone whose job involves being close to a microphone. You know what they say: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
January 10th, 2008 9:28 PM
Based on some of the remarks being posted here, I can only assume that many of the posters are not golf fans.
At this time, everyone even remotely connected to professional golf is riding a gravy train of unprecedented proportions. The person driving that train is Tiger Woods. There is NOBODY who wants to see anything happen to him. That includes Kelly Tilghman, Nick Faldo, and everyone who competes against him.
Now do you understand how ridiculous this whole thing is?
January 10th, 2008 9:48 PM
From one "Cracker" to the world...........lighten up on the race card. I'm not a racist, but I'm about to become one due to all the wanking done by those of you who keep playing the card. And as for Sharpton?? what an embarassment for all mankind.. Please Al, crawl back in the hole you came from..........
January 10th, 2008 10:33 PM
Thank you, John Kelahan, for your insightful and thoughtful comments. I completely agree with you. This "incident", and the consequent furor of impassioned responses, serve only to highlight how pathetic and shallow is the mindset of those so easily offended. Kelly Tilghman's comment
was meant as a joke - as harmless banter between friends. Is that so hard to understand? No offense was intended, and none was taken by the object of same. Can people really be so humorless as to take Ms. Tilghman's comment literally? Sadly, perhaps I've answered my own question. To everyone who is offended: perhaps a little introspection is in order. Maybe you will find the real reasons for your misdirected anger and your guilt. Do us all a favor, and, as the Eagles so eloquently said, get over it! For the record, I think Ms. Tilghman does a fine job and is very professional (especially for a Dookie! Gasp!!). I also enjoy Nick, and have nothing but admiration for Tiger Woods and his accomplishments, both on and off the course. Now - it's time to move on. Shall we?
January 11th, 2008 4:19 AM
It is sad when professional announcers tend to stray from their profession at hand and that is being professional while on the air. Kelly Tilghman allowed herself to fall into the proverbial trap of allowing herself to think that she was having a private tete-a-tete with her partner and lost control of her mouth. All sports announcers do it every time they step up to the microphone.
I for one have liked Ms.Kelly Tilghman since the first time I saw her on the Golf Channel and I personally don't want to see her release from her job. I don't fully blame her, but I do blame her childhood environment. "You can take a person out of their country, but you can't take the country out of the person." The comment was made about Tiger but when you go nationwide it becomes public. These comments are overseas.
Mr. Woods receives snide remarks every time he steps on to any American golf course and now he is getting it from the Golf Channel. He is walking the course with his head spinning like a red hazardous light.
Mr. John Kelaman I agree with you in part but I disagree with your analogy about growing up in the 50's and 60's because if you think about it again you will recall that racial prejudice is still prevalent today. Prejudices will continue for light-years to come.
Prejudice toward Black Americans will never cease. Not in your life time, mine, Al Sharpton, Tiger's, Kelly's and definitely not a new-born 2008.
When has any person, of any nationality, recall hearing that Jack Nicklaus should be lynched? Arnold Palmer? Babe Ruth? Wayne Gretzky? Roy Roger? Fox announcer Steve Lyons? How about Jackie Robinson? Hank Aaron? Mohammed Ali? Oh, yeah, John Kelaman?
If Ms Tilghman remains on staff with Golf Channel or not, does anyone think she should be considered for Hall of Fame announcer?
Of all people why did it have to come out of her mouth?
John Moore 1/11/08 1:20AM
January 11th, 2008 9:31 AM
Being an African-American male and a huge Kelly fan, I'm truly perplexed with the comment. Is she a racist, not sure...i've heard it was a slip, so does that make it ok that she slipped on National Television. If she slipped, that's even worse. I'm more disappointed than anything..having friends of different cultures, I might be slightly insulted by the comments because at that moment its not a slip, she said it and at that moment meant it.
January 11th, 2008 12:40 PM
If she was a toddler who overheard the word and used it, I could understand, but she deliberately chose an ugly loaded term. The fact is she likely used the expression with her friends...to white people the term lynch doesnt have a painful history, but that doesn't excuse her using it in a public forum. She should be held accountable for it, not fired but the suspension was valid. What you say on your personal time is one thing but on TV in a public forum...
As to the other poster: What will your "becoming a racist" entail. Will you begin to scrawl swastikas on chuches? Burn crosses on the lawn of black people who never did anything to you simply because they are black? Maybe you will get 5-10 of your friends and lynch someone for having more melanin in their skin than you? I know I blew your comment out of proportion but I wanted you to know what being a racist ultimately means to me and how that is different from what you likely had in mind.
Racism is something only people never affected by it treat as a minor issue when it comes up. You are white, racism doesn't factor into your life, we get it. Most people here probably took terrorism as a minor middle eastern problem until it happened here on 911.
Its human nature to downplay or ignore things that are not important to us, but don't assume your point of view is the only point of view or that taking things in stride would prevent elements in this society from being racist. Granted you might get tired of hearing "the race" card, but I get tired of hearing about police shooting guys reaching for their wallets, or people being dragged down the street by trucks, or set on fire, and the like because their black...its a different sort of race-card altogether. I'd be just as happy to never see headlines about either sort of race card.
I get where everyone is coming from but what people are not getting is that there is always going to be a different effect based on the individual.
January 11th, 2008 2:38 PM
Bryant, do yourself a big favor, and view what was actually said before passing judgement. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bim-EPwhGt0
Ideally, you'd be able to hear what the whole conversation was about, but CNN only aired enough of it to serve their needs. Still, it's better than nothing.
Could she be a "closet racist?" Sure. Anything's possible. And if that's the case, she doesn't belong behind the microphone of ANY network But allow me to ask you this: After meeting someone for the first time, about how long would you say it takes you to figure out they're a racist (if they are one?)
OK, let's assume Tiger Woods (her friend of the last 12 years) isn't quite as perceptive as you are, and she's been able to pull the wool over his eyes. However, her employer is an entirely different matter. They live and die by their ability to evaluate on-air talent. Before they fill ANY announcer position, candidates' backgrounds are scrutinized as much as any political candidate. But this wasn't just ANY appointment; it was an industry first. If anything, she probably had several EXTRA hoops to jump through before landing the job. MY guess is, she's no racist.
As Mr. Moore alluded to, we are the product of our upbringing. We aren't born with an understanding of what prejudice is; it's something that's learned. Some children learn that it's OK to discriminate, and others are taught that they'll always be discriminated against. And the concept is passed down, from one generation to the next, like a vendetta. The way to stop it, is to stop teaching it.
This week, millions of youngsters have learned they should be offended by the word "lynch," and millions more have learned it can be used to offend. Well done, CNN, Rev. Sharpton, et al!
January 11th, 2008 3:35 PM
I am a black female and I just have this simple observation. Kelly suggested that Tiger be taken in an alley to be lynched. I really don't care about the racial implications, the whole AL Sharpton thing is what it is. My big concern is that it was ok for her to suggest that someone be killed in order for other golfers to have a chance. I know it was said in jest, but has anyone ever consider some psycho may have heard the comment and taken it as an option. She may not be racist, but there are many racist out there who think that golf is and always should be a white man's sport. Someone who thinks that Tiger should not maintan the success that he has. I have personally heard several white men mention that Tiger Woods shouldn't have the fame that he has and the money that he makes. They commented on how if it were the good old days he would be out shining someone shoes instead of ruining the game of golf. So while many of you feel that she should be forgiven for her comments based on it not being racist; should she be forgiven for her comments that incite violence towards another person. In jest or not it was wrong. Other words could have been used to follow Faldos comments.
January 11th, 2008 4:14 PM
I'm sitting here reading all these opinions. For the most part, they seem to be well thought out with some valid points. One of you said that not being brought up in an environment of prejudice against them can make us insenstitive to such things - true enough. My question though is, if something is truly and honestly said without any malice intended, why should a carreer that has been hard worked be brought to jeopardy over a comment that, although could be mistaken for racism, but in itself is not.
I've watched plenty of westerns growing up where the sherrif runs into the jail area and says to the deputy "we have to hold off the lynch mob outside". Not one of the party talked about was black. I'll be honest, I could have made the same mistake as Kelly if I were in her shoes. I'm an over 40 white male. It never in my wildest dreams occurred to me that "lynch" was a racist statement. My ignorance I guess but I could see me saying that in front of a black friend purly ignorant of any racist implications.
As far as Kelly is concerned, I'm an avid golfer and sports enthusiast in general. I'm also a big Kelly fan. I saw what Tiger said regarding it - no big deal, let it go. I heard Michael Wilbon from PTI and Mike Tirico on his sports radio program basically say the same things. They are both black men, highly regarded in their field and personal friends of Kelly. In their minds, although an unfortunate use of words, fully know in their heart there was no racisim intended. Kelly is a classy woman - a pioneer in broadcasting as a woman , just as Tiger is as a black man in golf. Let's quit being so sensitive. Al Sharpton sees this as a way to keep his face in the forefront. There are so many other real problems he could be helping.
The bottom line, racism exists - just not in this case.
January 11th, 2008 6:04 PM
I agree with Al Sharpton and critics of her remarks for this reason: As a journalist, l can tell you that all professional journalists are taught to be keenly aware of the language we use.
Our main tool is language and we know many can be offended by what we say. I don't feel sorry for a professional who looses a job for not knowing that it is a direct racist remark to say a black man should be "lynched in the alley." I don't feel sorry for a well-paid journalist who doesn't have an adequate vocabulary (I mean, we're talking about "lynch" and basic American history here!) and understanding of sensitive and racist/sexist/homophobic remarks.
Terms like "libel" and "slander" exist for a reason. Journalists are held to a higher standard; what we say has meaning to our audience.
I'm sad to see so many people feel sorry for this woman (though, knowing this country, I'm not surprised).
If she knew the meaning she was wrong and should be fired; if she didn't, she's not on top of her game and should be fired, too.
January 11th, 2008 6:08 PM
Well I'm picturing Kelly Tilghman hanging off a tree by her thin neck... yeah you're soo right! That's is hilarious! *sarcasm*
I seriously fear people who compare real life with tv westerns they grew up watching... /shudders
January 11th, 2008 9:06 PM
Why do so many people assume that lynching implies that a black person is being lynched?
Was I the only one that watched the Westerns that had cowboys getting lynched all the time?
Joking about somebody being lynched isn't funny but certainly isn't racist.
At least Tiger doesn't think so.
January 11th, 2008 9:10 PM
I seriously fear people who compare real life with tv westerns they grew up watching… /shudders
by disgusted
--------------
Um. Those movies were based on something, Genius; that something would be real life.
The vast majority of lynchings that occurred in the Western US were NOT black. The vast majority of lynchings that occurred in India were NOT black.
etc.
January 11th, 2008 9:14 PM
Kelly and
tiger are friends, she commented she apologized.. Geta clue ll Tiger has more class than all those digging for a racist connection Kelly as well!!!!! Let it go ..
Take care of your own business and stop looking for someone to blame for your own racist anger... It's pathetic.. Tiger has never been a black man to begin with... He is an asian african AMERICAN !!!! A great golfer a great man and someone we all are proud of!! Don''''''t make more out of it, it only makes the angry weak racists look racist.. Stop blaming others for your own guilt