Comments on: Kelly Tilghmangate: A Seventy-Eighth Look

By: Lamar

Lamar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:41:25 +0000

Tighman's comment, which was wrong, was described as racist, but if you are mixed race as Tiger considers himself to be, but objects as some (Sharpton) wants him to do, does he not wrongly identify himself as a black person?
At one time a person with any black blood was identified as black--by guess who- whites. A judgment accepted too long by blacks. This was a political judgment and had nothing to do with science. I know some will be offended by my saying so but if a black person and a white person have a child that child will not be black, nor white, but mixed, just as when you breed a collie with a chow you don't get a collie or a chow, you get a mix!!! (By the by I am sometimes offended by some people being offended).
Speaking of which (being offended) remember when Jimmy The Greek was fired for saying that white athletes were lazy, that black athletes worked harder, were better athletes, and besides which they were bred for it by white slave owners? Who should be offended here? Slave owners? White guys? Black guys? Sometimes one has cause to be offended by something but I think in some cases they claim to be offended when they are being praised, or at leasr not being insulted, and I am offended by that!

By: Falkenhayn

Falkenhayn — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:13:54 +0000

Tilghman's comment is most certainly unprofessional. Not excusing her one bit, but some of the blame should be placed on the gradual transformation over the years of what "anchoring" means. Just watch your local TV news; the talking heads are all Chatty Kathies, hamming it up with one another with ad lib, off the cuff comments. If you're old enough to remember the gravitas of Huntley/Brinkley and Edward R. Morrow, you can see why those guys would never let slip up like Kelly did. The culture is now one of "gee whiz, what regular folks we are". You're bound to make gaffes.

By: Nine Holes with the Tiger Taunters | The Sand Trap

Nine Holes with the Tiger Taunters | The Sand Trap — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:41:12 +0000

[...] The Aftermath: The Golf Channel suspended Tilghman for two weeks. Time will tell if she will be fully forgiven by viewers, players and other interested parties (like Al Sharpton, who called for her dismissal). I think she will. For a more thoughtful take on the whole mess, see JP's post. [...]

By: wachesawgolfer

wachesawgolfer — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:08:01 +0000

Erik J. Barzeski said on January 31, 2008:

wachesawgolfer said on January 31, 2008:

Face it, some people just do not like Kelly. ... Too many people gloat over other people's downfall and misery.

it's dumb to assume that the only people who find fault with what Kelly said resent her success.

I said "some" and "too many" not "only" If you quote me please do so correctly. There are no absolutes on this matter.

By: Erik J. Barzeski

Erik J. Barzeski — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:30:12 +0000

Michael said on February 1, 2008:

One thing that has me confused though - where is the moral outrage at the blatantly misogynist and sexist forum threads about "Creamer v Gulbis" and Tilghman's "hotness" on this site. For heavens sake. I don't see articles or forums where people debate the "hunkiness" or otherwise of Phil or Tiger etc.

This "article" doesn't discuss or even mention the "hotness" of Kelly Tilghman, and a forum thread shouldn't be confused with an "article."

And just because you don't believe there are threads out there which discuss just how cute Adam Scott is doesn't mean they don't exist. They do. You see the male-generated ones more because a) you're a man, and b) more men play golf than women, so reasonable to expect more posts from men on golf forums.

My wife visits a scrapbooking forum that's 99.99% women, and they discuss just how cute actors, athletes, and others are.

Now, let's get back to the topic at hand, shall now?

By: shortgame85

shortgame85 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:55:47 +0000

Well thought out and well written commentary. I have enjoyed reading the follow up comments, as well.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:32:13 +0000

I really do think that one of Tilhgman's sins, according to a lot of the readers of this forum is that she is a very succesful woman in what appears to be a very "blokey" (Aussie term) world. My opinion is that she is an exceptionally knowledgeable and astute student of the game and her comments are informative and (99.99% of the time!) well though out and measured. I would be very interested what the reaction would have been had it been Faldo or McCord who made the faux pas. It was a terrible thing to say, but to suggest that it was anything other than a dumb slip-up or momentary lapse is ridiculous. About as idiotic a some of the members here who continue to attempt tp prove that Phil is in some way a superior player to TW.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:16:54 +0000

A well conceived piece - I am generally in agreement. One thing that has me confused though - where is the moral outrage at the blatantly misogynist and sexist forum threads about "Creamer v Gulbis" and Tilghman's "hotness" on this site. For heavens sake. I don't see articles or forums where people debate the "hunkiness" or otherwise of Phil or Tiger etc.

By: Elton B.

Elton B. — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:55:00 +0000

I do think Kelly's comments were ill advised, but I wasn't as impressed with Tiger's "balanced" reaction as you were. If he was convinced that she meant no ill intent and if they truly are friends, then he should have offered a more strident response in her defense. And he should have done it personally. Instead, he issued a weak statement through a representative that allowed Ms. Tilghman to be burned in effigy by Al Sharpton and others.

By: Trav

Trav — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:48:34 +0000

JP Bouffard said on January 31, 2008:

I'm not arguing for political correctness laws, or for imprisoning someone for saying something stupid or offensive. But that doesn't mean that such comments aren't in poor taste, or shouldn't be avoided, by choice.

JP you are dead right, but don't expect your critics ever to admit your point. All they see is Al Sharpton's uninformed (I read somewhere he thought she was a man) and comical excesses, not the real issue. Indeed, the fact that your comment generated this criticism should show Ms. T of why it is important for her to be more aware.