16 Comments

1. 

   fcento

   Jan 13, 2008 at 10:13 am

   First off, I can’t believe Arnold Palmer would stand by and let Kelly be suspended after all apologies were given and received. If Tiger made a public statement about this it would go away. Maybe alls not well in that friendship. As a viewer of the Golf Channel since it’s inception, BRING BACK KELLY IMMEDIATELY!

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2. 

   Young04

   Jan 12, 2008 at 6:49 am

   I agree with everyone’s opinion here that it’s being blown out of proportion. I do think, however, that the punishment that she received is just. The term, “lynch”, undoubtedly has negative racial connotations – anyone who denies that is living in their own little vacuum. That said, while I’m an advocate of free speech, I do recognize that broadcasters (especially for golf) are under a higher level of scrutiny. The Golf Channel can ill afford to have their announcers tossing around potentially offensive terms, even if it’s done with nary of ill-intent. This is different than the Imus thing, in my opinion, because Imus is paid to stir controversy. We expect public announcers to have a high degree of decorum, and it’s arguable that she breached that code of conduct.

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3. 

   Craig

   Jan 12, 2008 at 3:48 am

   Her suspension and the coverage that this comment attracted borders on the bizarre. Karen has my full sympathy, Golf Channel is a Joke for this. A poor reflection of where our society has headed.

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4. 

   Martin

   Jan 11, 2008 at 10:16 pm

   You know lynching is a word that was used long before slavery in the USA, just check WikiPedia. It happened in countries all over the world. I was taught growing up that “Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. Why is this world so crazy over a word that was said tongue in cheek. It’s a world gone mad and one that will never move forward as long as people continue to live in the past. I’m sure if we all look back into the history of our ancestors we would find some form of prejudice or violence regardless of race, creed or color. We just don’t have loud mouths like Al Sharpton keeping it alive.

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5. 

   shawn

   Jan 11, 2008 at 9:56 pm

   Don,

   We are saying the some thing, intolerence and ignorance are by products…Ignorance is the start of it all..Looking for offense, yet another by product…..your stats, ingnorance that continues the cycle.

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6. 

   Mark

   Jan 11, 2008 at 9:23 pm

   Some of these responses are pretty shocking.

   Do you guys think jokes about rape are okay too, as long as there is no intent or malice intended? If someone in an office made a joke about the a woman getting raped so loud that all female employees could hear, what would happen to him or her?

   Some sensitivity for the feelings of others in life is required.

   Do I think Tilghman should have been suspended, no she apologized and that was enough in my book. However, this will make sure it’s a lesson well learned. As others have pointed out, using Sharpton as a scapegoat is poor form.

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7. 

   Barry

   Jan 11, 2008 at 9:09 pm

   “The response to this is over reaction, but hey we live in an over reactive world …”

   This is precisely why we live in an over-reactive world. Normal people just toss up their hands, and the Al Sharptons of the world get exactly what they want (again).

   The ridiculous punishment of Ms. Tilghman puts is a step away from racial equality, not toward it. What a cowardly act by the Golf Channel.

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8. 

   Don

   Jan 11, 2008 at 8:30 pm

   Kelly unintentionally used verbage which some people were offended by. Lynching has not been used in comedy enough to desensitize people to the violent imagery of someone hanging. Ironically, if she had said, “Vijay, Phil, and Ernie need to jump the the courtesy car and do a drive by on Tiger at the range” no one would have batted an eye even through young, black males have killed far more young, black males in this manner (and continue to do so today) than were ever hung by ignorant, white racists.
   “…ignorance is the driver of racial tension…”, no Shawn, intolerance and looking for offense is the driver of racial tension.

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9. 

   shawn

   Jan 11, 2008 at 7:17 pm

   Comments by some of the folks in this forum are insensitive and ignorant. Just like Kelly’s….who by the way I like on TGC and in general. See the point is that ignorance is the driver of racial tension from the start. She had a bad choice of words….it was insensitive and ignorant. As a black man, there is a sensitivity to that reference given that many of my ancestors met such a fate and the thought of it is painful. Don’t minimize the insult by deflecting to Sharpton who points out these things regardless of his personal style.

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10. 

    Andrew M.

    Jan 11, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    What this article fails to mention is that Ms. Tilghman apologized to the viewers publicly and to Tiger Woods privately, Tiger’s camp responded graciously and that WAS the end of it. The Golf Channel’s original position was to NOT take any disciplinary action against Ms. Tilghman. Once Al Sharpton injected his poison on CNN, The Golf Channel BUCKLED less than three hours later, deciding to suspend Ms. Tilghman. THAT is where I have a problem with this incident. No one can argue that this wasn’t a poor choice of words. I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone that actually believes Ms. Tilghman to be a racist. We cannot allow people like Al Sharpton (who continue to drive a wedge between the races in this country) to feed the fire instead of extinguishing it. If The Golf Channel had decided to suspend Ms. Tilghman from the start, and Al Sharpton got involved in the same manner, would they have backpedaled and fired her? We can only speculate, but The Golf Channel should NOT have played ball with the likes of Sharpton, and I will be watching less and less of that channel as a result.

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11. 

    Jim

    Jan 11, 2008 at 1:26 pm

    I agree with the Golf Channel and their position with the issue/comment. Her and Tiger have put the issue at rest, thus there should be no more mention of this incident. The situation was handled like it should have been…”I’m sorry…Apology accepted…DONE” Tiger and her will continue to be friends.

    As for you know who…Al Sharpton, well let me hold my tounge, but this guy needs to mind his own and worry about his life and the people looking over his shoulder. All he ever wants to do is hear his voice over the airwaves and see how much controversy he can stir up. I am surprised that he is not hanging around coffee shops waiting for customers to say…Coffee…black please, slobbering at the opprotuniy to play the race card.

    Al, If you want to help, go over to Southeast Asia and help the dolphins.

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12. 

    Dayton

    Jan 11, 2008 at 11:08 am

    I agree 100% with everything that was said about this incident. However, the “criticism since she assumed her host duties at Golf Channel” is mostly warranted. Her performance in the booth is poor and detracts from the enjoyment of watching a broadcast.

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13. 

    David

    Jan 11, 2008 at 10:59 am

    I think the “lynched” comment came off without even a thought from Tilghman. If it was any other golfer being talked about in the same situation (dominating everyone else) I think she would have chosen the same words and it would have been a non-issue. The amount of noise being made by one Al Sharpton just goes to show exactly where the racial prejudice is coming from here. Get over it Al!! Tiger has, as I’m sure the majority of the world has too!

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14. 

    Andrew Aquilini

    Jan 11, 2008 at 10:36 am

    I totally agree that this is an over reaction. I wonder sometimes what is this world coming too.

    As far as Al Sharpton, he is nothing more than a self serving opportunist. Wasn’t it just recently he was under IRS scrutiny for not filing returns. Additionally, has everyone forgotten about “Twana Brawley” (Spelling).

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15. 

    Cangolfnut

    Jan 11, 2008 at 7:56 am

    We all know what she ment. Kelly Tilghman consistantly professional and is getting a bad rap. Can I mention rap?? I wonder if she had of used hitman what the reaction would be.

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16. 

    ken

    Jan 11, 2008 at 7:25 am

    I doubt you are interested in my comments. I personally think the Golf Channel is a joke for doing anything. There was no harm and there was no foul,

    Only and idiot would decide that the word lynch is racist in the first place. They used to lynch rustlers in the old west regardless of race color or creed.

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