Kelly Tilghman's Comments About Tiger Woods

[erpowers]

On Friday Kelly Tilghman made the comment that young golfers should "lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley". I know Tiger Woods does not have a problem with her comments and I do not believe the comments were racially motiviated; however, I think Tilghman should receive a steep punishment.

I am not against free speech, but I think what Tilghman said was completely stupid and uncalled for. My biggest issue with the comment is how stupid it was. What reason would young golfers of today have to "lynch" Tiger Woods? It seems that Tilghman was making her comment due to Woods' dominance of golf. So what does that say to young golfers? Instead of working hard to be the best players, just go out and hurt the best so you be the best players. That is just stupid.

In addition, I am tired of people defending people like Tilghman by saying that even people who are color blind make statements like this without thinking about what they are saying. That is just a stupid defense. She had to have given some thought to what she was saying whether she thought about it in a racial sense or in just a general sense. So what do others think?

[GeniusLib]

1. If Tiger doesn't care why should we?

Another stupid non-issue blown out of proportion

[joeybee12]

2. I agree...I can't understand why anyone would use the word lynch

against anyone...black or white. She sounds like a real piece of work.

[northzax]

3. i think the point

was that young golfers, while coming of age in the best possible financial time to be a professional golfer (the last guy to miss his card last year, #126 on the list, pulled in $772,321 in winnings alone, that's sick. #125 earned 785,180. that means Curtis Strange at #126 made almost $800,000 and didn't win his card for next season) in 1997, Tiger's first year on tour, #125 made $179,273, nice, but still) in 1996, 9 players made at least a million in prize money. in 2007, 93 did. last year, 217 players made at least $100,000. (and this is all prize money, remember, doesn't include sponsorships, comps, appearance fees, etc) ten years ago, guys lived out of their cars, driving from place to place, hoping to make enough scratch to keep going. now those same level guys, desperately trying to get into tournaments due to scratches, stay at the Four Seasons.

so what's the problem? well, the best player to ever play the game is entering his prime. you won't win a damn thing for the next decade.

[hugo_from_TN]

8. Tiger is good and bad for these golfers

Sure, they are not going to win as many championships with Tiger around, but the reason that ALL the players are making so much money today is because Tiger has elevated the PGA to another level.

As to the comment, I really think she just threw it out off the top of her head while joking with Faldo. She probably needs more sensitivity to racial issues because I don't think race even entered her head on the remark. A two week suspension sounds about right. Calling for her to be fired is over the top.

[trumad]

4. How about if Tiger replied like this:

young golfers should "rape Kelly Tilghman in a back alley".

[madinmaryland]

5. She was suspended for two weeks.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/01/09/tilghman.ap/index.html?eref=mostpop

:slaponwrist:

[Awsi Dooger]

6. Sounds like a promotion at the Masters

Well, the Masters of the '70s and earlier.

I've watched Tilghman for years and she's fairly harmless, not a bad foil for Nick Faldo and his offbeat stuff. Still, I'm amazed at that comment, and wish I could have seen it in context, including the reaction by Faldo and others.

I'm fairly certain I watched some of Friday's round, but I missed that gem.

[erpowers]

7. Talking About Woods and Young Golfers

The whole thing started with Nick Faldo and Kelly Tilghman saying the sport needed more superstars.
Later, Faldo was talking about what younger golfers should do to take on Tiger Woods. Faldo started by saying that maybe the young golfers should gang up on Woods. Then, Tilghman broke in and said "lynch him in a back alley". Faldo, in my opinion, gave a guard laugh while Tilghman also laughed a little. There is a link below with Tilghman's comment. I could not find a video that showed what was said before the comment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30cOlQGpo8Q