Though Tiger Woods might have suggested otherwise, American golf is still a sport for good 'ole boys. Or so its talking heads have themselves convinced.
In January, Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman all but revealed this little secret, when her comments about the unstoppable Tiger Woods – and how his competitors' only hope of beating him was to "lynch [Woods] in a back alley" – blew the lid off that not-so-secret pot.
And then, over the weekend, NBC Sports's lead golf analyst Johnny Miller added to the fury with one ill-advised comment about U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate.
Miller, a former pro golfer who's been with NBC Sports since 1990s, was covering the sudden death match between Mediate, an Italian-American, and none other than Tiger Woods, when he made the brilliant observation that Mediate "looks like the guy who cleans Tiger's swimming pool," adding, "Guys with the name 'Rocco' don't get on the trophy, do they?"
As could be expected, Miller released a statement where he apologized if he offended you – the typical "I'm sorry you felt bad" line – and explained that his comments were trying "to convey my affection and admiration for Rocco's everyman qualities and had absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity. I chose my words poorly and in the future will be more careful."
"Everyman qualities," eh? As in, if he weren't the guy cleaning Woods' pool, he'd be collecting his trash on a mob waste management route?
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where do they get these idiot announcers?
Clearly, these announcers haven't been watching golf with the rest of the planet for some time. And I wonder what does Lee Trevino has to say about all of this? He's been a pro for, what, 30 years?
The difference is that if you make fun of a Italian you just have to apologize, but if you make fun of one of us you get suspended.
Not sure if this website allows male readers to comment(everything in pink here), can't help saying something: give everybody a break, Rocco doesn't care, then who is there to care?
The U.S. Open was over a week ago. Why the press now?
Those stupid announcers are so busy kissing Tiger's ass they don't take time to think before they speak.
it's good thing there is nothing serious going on in the world!
Johnny Miller's comment about Rocco Mediate finally proves that he is an asshole.
Johnny Miller and the other announcers for the Accenture Match Play Tournament this weekend keep using the term "dormie". This term should not be used for this type of tournament, when play continues if the players are tied after 18 holes and they continue until someone wins.
Johnnie Miller can not break 80 and shouldn't be allowed to comment not on even collegiate golf. He's a washed-up golfer who yips on 2-3 footers, with hands trembling and choking on just about any kind of shot - absolutely full of false confidence. Everytime he opens his mouth it's something negative. Because he once shot a low-round at Oakmont in 1455, he thinks everyone owes him respect. If there's a Golf Hall Of Shame, he should be one of the founding members along with Arnie the King who finally came to his senses and give up the idea of taking a spot at the Masters away from someone who really deserves to be out there.
Kelly Tlighman is another obnoxious nobody who gets incredible amount of air-time for knowing so little and having accomplished nothing other than kissing up to Mr. Palmer. It is annoying to have her sit there next to Nick Faldo and pretend like she knows something. Nick must go into his auto-pilot bull-shit response mode to tolerate her. There are other Golf Channel commentators all behave like low-budget, corporate, kiss-ass artists who just bought their college degrees on the internet for $399. Then of course we have Inga Hammond! The greatest anchor-woman since the invention of electricity. There are no words to describe her phoniness and plasticity. Her knowledge of golf is as deep as the puddle in your drive-way after a spring shower.
The honoree chairman for Golf Hall Of Shame should be Ken Venturi - reported to be one of the most conceited personalities - with airs totally out-of-proportion with respect to his resume. In other words a perfect example of super-hyper-inflated ego with an irresistible urge to sell his accomplishments on the air-waves. The best example of this is the story of his US Open win at the Congressional which has been fed to the golf community for several decades. Because he was about to die from dehydration but his super-iron will carried him through. Nothing is mentioned about the fact he was probably hung over from the night before and didn't have the sense to drink some water! Water is usually unthinkable for an alcoholic. I suppose we should commend him for sobering up in his later years only to discover he could no longer play nor offer quality commentary. I still remember his remarks .. "you can't give the hole away …and ho down .. ho down …." which on one occasion was followed by his declaration "most puts break left to right anyway …."
Nobody ever explained what 'ho down' really meant. Maybe he had a background with horses or just one of those silly things golfers do talking to golf balls believing they can alter the spin or trajectory of golf shots by shouting incomprehensible commands.
Alcohol plays a trick on the mind perceiving itself very wise which in fact it's only euphoria followed by death of brain cells.
Those comments from Johnnie Miller about Rocco are not surprising one bit. His apology is meaningless because those are the true sentiments he thinks and feels. By apologizing he just wants to show how insencere and phony he really is. Besides he belongs to a religious cult and probably believes he's so special he can discriminate & insult people over the air waves as he pleases. I wonder why he didn't get the same treatment they gave to Fuzzy. At the minimum NBC should have fired him.
I have a simple Rocky story. I was a spectator at a tour event walking between holes. Rocky came up and said hello, made some small talk about the weather. No pretentions, very natural and friendly - a true gentleman and plenty of game behind that unassuming personality.
Since the topic is inept and out-of-control golf comentators
here's a Venturi story from the 60's after he nearly misses hitting a patrol car. Note Venturi's behaviour towards the police.
http://www.golftoday.co.uk/new.....turi1.html
I missed Ken Venturi broadcasting from Augusta. On final day he always quietly wept during the finishing holes for no apparent reason.