My phone started ringing off the hook as soon as the word got out that Golf Channel Anchor Kelly Tilghman made an off color comment about Tiger Woods during the Final Round of the Mercedes Championship. She used the word “ Lynch” the rest is history. As she laughed with Co-Anchor Nick Faldo the wheels were set in motion for a firestorm the golf world.
Lynch is so much more than a word, it’s a reference to one of the most hateful and savage eras in this countries history. According to statistics provided by Tuskegee University at least 3,466 black people were lynched between 1882 and 1968. So the simple utterance of the word evokes views of a poor soul dangling for a tree while spectators stand around and watched. So it’s no surprise that so many African Americans are so upset about her comments and even more upset about how the Golf Channel failed to address the issue for 3 days. Even though Tiger Woods blew off the comments and called it a “ non-issue”, the controversy continues to grow like a California wildfire.
And in a moment of enlightenment Golfweek Magazine decided to make a statement by placing a noose on the cover of its January 19th issue. What a bold and utterly stupid decision. The cover went over like Don Imus at a Rutgers women’s basketball game or Michael Richards at my family reunion. When I saw the cover I was shocked, but what troubled me more was how the Golfweek staff was smiling and acting like everything was ok. In a CNN interview Golfweek’s former editor David Seanor said he saw at least 30 black people stop by the booth, pick up the magazine, put it their bags and walk away. He went on to say “ they didn’t seem upset to me.” I am sure they were upset but they just didn’t know who to hit with their 5 iron.
Maybe Tiger should have used his popularity, celebrity and influence to further the cause of diversity and equality for African Americans in golf? Some feel as though this should have been Tiger's Muhammad Ali moment? For the first time in his career he could have stepped up and picked a cause to stand for, but Tiger chose to remain silent and not join in the fray. I am sure that at next week's Buick Invitational Golf Tournament Tiger will certainly face questions about this issue. Ironically, Tilghman is scheduled to return from her two-week suspension in time to anchor the event. I wonder what that sound check will be like? According to numerous sources her career may be over with the golf channel. I couldn’t disagree more. Her comments were deplorable and insulting, but she has paid her price and deserves a chance to redeem herself. Even if Tilghman is terminated, it does little to change the lack of diversity in the golf industry both on and off the golf course.
Rev. Al Sharpton is calling for Tilghman's dismissal and has threatened to boycott the Golf Channel if she is not terminated. That begs the question; does the Golf Channel care if he protests? It’s not like the African American community is the driving force of the Golf Channel's revenue. I wonder how many protesters including Rev. Sharpton have ever watched the Golf Channel? I am sure that at the headquarters of the National Action Network, the Golf Channel is always on and the staff rarely misses an episode of Golf Channel Academy.
