Golfweek Editor Put in His Own Noose

Today, Golfweek Magazine announced that they had fired the editor responsible for the choice of their cover photo, a noose set against a purple sky. The cover had been intended to fuel discussions, and the magazine included commentary from both perspectives on Tilghman's comments. Unfortunately for the editor, the conversation turned more aggressively against the cover than they had on Tilghman's original comment.

While the image was very graphic and certainly aroused vivid, unpleasant thoughts and memories, I do not think this was a ridiculous ploy for attention by the magazine. The PGA, Tiger, and the Golf Channel all tried quite vigorously to sweep this under the carpet. Tilghman was not even suspended by the Golf Channel until two days ago while the comment was made last Friday, indicating they didn't think anything of it until public sentiment was sufficiently audible. Tim Finchem of the PGA was the most vocal opponent of the image, saying it was worse than the original comment and prevented the issue from "heading to its appropriate conclusion." What exactly is that conclusion, Tim? That's it's ok to say in jest you should lynch someone if you know him? That a little two week suspension (slap on the wrist) in one of the most boring golf months of the year is enough?

I'm white with Southern roots and I live in Georgia, and I'm offended. My wife is offended. Everyone I know is offended. Kelly Tilghman is well-educated, but her North Carolina roots reached up and brought out a word that should never be used in any context. But when it's used about a successful black athlete in a predominantly white sport by an announcer from the South, there's no way to take it but as a racist comment. One of the reporters on Cold Pizza argued that if the comment had been about a Jew being put in a gas chamber, the national reaction would be different. Wilbon on PTI, discussing the cover picture, said that the picture brought up serious images for him because his father basically fled Georgia out of fear of just such a noose (video below). And while the image might have gone too far, he agreed it needs more discussion. If we are ever going to rid the South of its racist past, comments like this need to be treated seriously and addressed. I'm not saying Kelly Tilghman needs to be a scapegoat, but Tiger and others need to express how unacceptable such a remark is, regardless of context, jest, or implied compliment to Tiger. Tiger should not focus on the compliment in such a remark, but rather the implication that he needs to be removed because of his talent. One point made on Cold Pizza was that Tiger might not consider himself black, but Thai or some polyglot without the Southern history. But as an American and as a person, he needs to make it clear that this is offensive language. It's like calling him a n-----, maybe even worse. I don't care how good of a friend he is with her.

Whether the cover image was appropriate or not, people need to focus on the original remark and its implications, not the manner in which one publication decided to address it. Jason Sobel on ESPN thinks the cover image was worse because it was premeditated, but Golfweek was not encouraging us to lynch the most successful black man we know.

The first 1:45 of this clip with Wilbon and Kornheiser: