Golf Channel Anchor Kelly Tilghman Says Young Golfers Should 'Lynch Tiger Woods'

AOL Sports beta ^ | January 8, 2008 | Michael David Smith

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Golf Channel Anchor Kelly Tilghman Says Young Golfers Should 'Lynch Tiger Woods'

Posted Jan 8th 2008 2:01PM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: Golf, Breaking News

The woman you see in the photo here caddying for Arnold Palmer is Kelly Tilghman, a former college golfer at Duke who now is play-by-play announcer for The Golf Channel's PGA Tour broadcasts.

Tilghman made a shocking comment during Friday's telecast of the PGA Tour's opening event. She said -- on the air -- that today's young players should "lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley."

What was Tilghman thinking? Who knows. It's not entirely clear what point Tilghman was trying to make with what she apparently thought was a joke, but she may have been trying to say that the only chance today's young players will ever have of overtaking Woods as the No. 1 golfer in the world is to hurt him. Hilarious.

According to New York's Newsday, a spokesman for the Golf Channel said Tilghman apologized during Sunday's broadcast and has "reached out to Woods' representatives to express her regrets for the comments."

Apologizing and reaching out is better than nothing, but it's rather surprising that the apology took two days and that in the era of Don Imus, so little attention has been paid to this comment. It's hard to understand how a person who would use such a poor choice of words is in the broadcasting business.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I like Kelly Tilghman but sometimes she says the d*mnest things, like Lucy Ricardo.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

There are only 34 Rules Of Golf.

Email me if you want on the Golf Ping List:

Visit PGA.com, an excellent site.

[doc1019]

Career ending comment?

[LdSentinal]

Ron Paul supporter.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I don’t think so. She’s well-respected by her peers and the pros. Probably only Inga would cause a fuss. Or as Inga would pronounce it “a fussh”.

[benjamin032]

So we have definately identified Tiger Woods as Black, or African-American or what ever PC crap term you want to use. Did Tiger say he was black? What if Tilghman were black? What if Tiger were Spanish? What if Tilghman had said he should be whacked? Would the Italians be upset. Is it only Blacks who can be enraged by the term “lynching”?

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Tiger Woods or Kelly Tilghman? Cite your resourse, LdS! :-)

[1rudeboy]

I doubt it. She’ll apologize, and Tiger will accept the apology. My guess is that she’s not bright enough to realize that “to lynch” has alternate meanings.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

As I understand it, Tiger’s father was African and white and his mother is Thai. Can’t speak for the blacks or Thais but this white man would not like some announcer telling white kids to lynch me! Terribly poor taste.

[John123]

Anyone remember Fuzzy Zoeller? I think golfers are like college frat boys with each other and the outsiders are more offended that Tiger Woods will ever be...

[GOP Poet]

no. The golf community is quite close and Kelly is a big part of that community. The announcers are also fairly 'close' (relative to other sports) to the players especially the ones that they see and cover a lot. I believe Kelly meant nothing maliscious and Tiger is a statesmen in his ability to deal straight up with people. He will not cower, but her certainly will except her apology and would be against her being let go. This is my prediction.

I am sure they were trying best to figure out how this should be handled in the most respectful way towards Tiger and their audience. This is why it probably took a couple of days. (with outside intervention it could have turned into a powder keg and she would have been forced out.) Believe it or not there are still media companies that maintain dignity and close relationships with those they cover as well as with their behavior and audience--except John Daly and that guy on the Grey Goose Vodka show with the big mouth.

[John123]

Oh. But lynching? I don’t know... that kind of gallows humor is a little too much a reminder of the past in the deep south.

[benjamin032]

I agree that it was an insanely stupid comment, but people make them all the time. If the same comment were made about the president no one would be this upset. Well, Hannity would. I just think that the comment was stupid and in poor taste because it was made about another human, not because it was made about a black guy.

[max americana]

Damn, what a waste, other than Natalie Gulbis swinging her 9 iron, Kelly T is the only other reason I watch the Golf Channel. (summary: i check out the chicks)

Seriously, the PC police are after her because Tiger’s black and if he werent’ black, no issue. BUT the media are full of victimhood ridden libs, so poor whitey has to suffer the consequence (as usual). expect that idiot Sharpton to show up.

[stylin19a]

cablasian.

[irishtenor]

Rule # 1. Never pick up a lost ball that is still rolling.

[doc1019]

Lynch and Tiger (afro-american) just doesn’t seem to go together in a sentence, even in jest.. Sorta’ like when a well know golfer that mentioned chicken and watermelon in the same sentence during a golf outing that involved Tiger a few years ago.

[Ditto]

... but it's rather surprising that the apology took two days and that in the era of Don Imus, so little attention has been paid to this comment.

Maybe because it was on the Golf Channel and all three people who were watching missed it? ;~))

[doc1019]

Before Tiger, what you say might have been true. Now, it is one of the most watched channels in sports during the PGA.

I, for one, have never played golf (caddied (carried a golf bag) during my youth) and didn’t think much of it until Tiger came along. Now, I watch it as often as I can.

[jdm]

NOT GUILTY!

[purpleraine]

I hope he’s done his spade work.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

She’s to good looking to lose her job.

[max americana]

Hell yeah, she’s hot.

Other than her on the Golf Channel, unless Natalie Gulbis swings a 9 iron in those tight shirts of her, I wouldn;t care less what Kelly says.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Actually, Tiger clearly pronounced himself to be "Caublinasian" His father Earl was Caucasian, black, & indian, while his mother Kutilda is asian (Thai).

[doc1019]

Hot babes always get a pass? So, if she were fulgly she would be out? ;-)

[stylin19a]

yep that’s it. thanks for the correction

[Thrownatbirth]

I’d claim (sonuvabitch!) Tourette’s Syndrome.

[DeLaine]

It’s not that she told anyone to lynch him, but that no one is allowed to use that word in the presence of anyone with 1/16th negro blood, lest they be accused of gross political incorrectness. Blacks own that word and they do not license it out to ANYBODY lest it lose it’s special, magical, victimhood status.

[Publius Valerius]

She’s well-respected by her peers and the pros.

So was Ben Wright.

[1Old Pro]

She’s right in concept, I think the only way tiger gets beat is if someone kneecaps him, he’s just so good and head and shoulders above the rest, a talent like tiger only comes along once in a lifetime in any sports category.

[FredHead47]

Career ending comment?

She can follow Jimmy The Greek and Howard Cosell to "Bummer Comment, Dude" Retirement.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Rule # 1. Never pick up a lost ball that is still rolling.

Interesting take.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I agree that it was an insanely stupid comment, but people make them all the time.

I agree, but Kelly is a real Lucy Ricardo sometimes. Lucky she's cute and blonde, I guess.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

expect that idiot Sharpton to show up.

Aww geez. Then he'd be complaining about the status of caddies.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

NOT GUILTY!

First time that's been stated on a Golf Ping thread, I can assure you.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Maybe because it was on the Golf Channel and all three people who were watching missed it? ;~))

The channel is well watched, particularly during the majors.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Actually, Tiger clearly pronounced himself to be "Caublinasian" His father Earl was Caucasian, black, & indian, while his mother Kutilda is asian (Thai).

Thank you for the clarification. I left out American Indian.

[r9etb]

As I understand it, Tiger’s father was African and white and his mother is Thai.

No, Tiger is much more of a mutt than this. His dad was half Cherokee, and his mom is half Chinese. And his kid (damn, Tiger's a lucky man!) is even more of a mutt.

I say we call Tiger a Thai.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Anyone remember Fuzzy Zoeller? I think golfers are like college frat boys with each other and the outsiders are more offended that Tiger Woods will ever be...

Actually, as I remember it, Tiger was pretty p*ssed at the time. He had just won his first Masters, the winner gets to chose the dinner menu and Fuzzy said some sterotypic food choices.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

This will be no big deal because she makes a lot of lame comments and has just enough of the silly blond image to let it slide. Fuzzy caught hell because he was a country club white guy with checkered pants and a drink in his hand. Imus caught hell because he once offended the Clintons and it was payback time.

Yep, you've got that right.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I’d claim (sonuvabitch!) Tourette’s Syndrome.

Well, you've got an excuse. You were thrownatbirth!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

It’s not that she told anyone to lynch him, but that no one is allowed to use that word in the presence of anyone with 1/16th negro blood, lest they be accused of gross political incorrectness. Blacks own that word and they do not license it out to ANYBODY lest it lose it’s special, magical, victimhood status.

Well, I have to disagree with you there, DeLaine. There were probalby plenty of blacks who were lynched and were true victims. To suggest lynching Tiger is just insensitive. Not mean-spirited in this case, imo. But in very, very poor taste.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

[She’s well-respected by her peers and the pros.]

So was Ben Wright.

Ben Wright didn't have those long, lovely legs to boost ratings.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I say we call Tiger a Thai.

I say we call his irons, Thai Sticks.

[DeLaine]

I don’t deny there were blacks who were lynched, of course not. But there were PLENTY (read: more) whites, out west for instance, that were lynched. To equate lynching to all blacks at all times, is condescending and infantile.

[edpc]

She'll have to do the Christie Kerr "trophy kiss" in public to fully repent.

[DeLaine]

I knew you had to be from somewhere else when you thought that there was only racism in the deep south. I’d laugh if it weren’t so sad.

[MortMan]

That pic is almost pornographic!

(Cheerio...) ;-)

[subterfuge]

Look, there are a multitude of PC infected words that cannot by used with even the smallest connection to black people. If you’re a public person, you just can’t do it, unless you are black.