Lynch Tiger Woods? When a racist comment is not racist at all

The wide world of sports is buzzing today about an allegedly racist exchange between Kelly Tilghman and Nick Faldo, commentators on the Golf Channel.

Now, once you get over the shock that there is actually a channel dedicated to golf, you might think this is rather like getting worked up over a racist exchange between two good ole boys at an all-white country club.

But here’s what happened:

Tilghman and Faldo were clearly joking on air about what the players on the PGA tour would have to do to beat Tiger Woods. And Tilghman chuckled audibly as she said they “should lynch him in a back alley”. Then, not insignificantly in this context, Faldo chimed in “yeah, that’s right”.

And for this, the Golf Channel suspended Tilghman yesterday for two weeks, which I think is entirely appropriate. Because it was a stupid thing to say on the air – even in (perversely complimentary) jest.

But here’s the rub: America’s race-baiting Pied Piper, Rev. Al Sharpton, wants to IMUS her! Specifically, he’s singing his trademark rap for her to be fired, and the rodents in his chorus are growing like flies to s#!+.

Meanwhile, here’s Tiger’s reaction, which his agent, Mark Steinberg, issued on his behalf:

To which I say…Amen!

Apropos Amen, Rev. Sharpton clearly needs to spend more time in Church praying for racial healing instead of trolling the airwaves of America, like a latter-day Joe McCarthy, looking for unwitting racists to slay; or for any chance to pull the scab off old racial wounds.

That said, I wonder why the Golf Channel did not suspend Faldo as well, given that he seconded Tilghman’s remarks? Things that make you go hmmmm….

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The firing of Don Imus

Kelly Tilghman, Golf Channel