The Tiger tale

You’ve all probably heard by now about the controversy swirling around Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman and Tiger Woods. During a discussion about how the other golfers on the PGA Tour could overcome Tiger’s dominance, Tilghman suggested that they “lynch him in a back alley.” Without getting into a history lesson here, anyone with half a brain recognizes that as a stupid and highly insensitive comment. I’m sure it didn’t take Tilghman long to realize she screwed up. She apologized to Tiger, who is a friend of hers, and he accepted the apology and said no further action was necessary. Well, of course, Al Sharpton wasn’t satisfied with that outcome. He called for her immediate firing, apparently recognizing that he’d never get the folks at the Golf Channel to agree to a firing squad. The Golf Channel bowed down partially and suspended Tilghman for a couple of weeks. Tilghman’s choice of words, at face value, is indefensible, but isn’t it high time that people of every color, religion or political affiliation quit going ballistic every time someone says something dumb that they feel is offensive. As someone who once worked in the electronic media, talking over the radio for hours at a time, I can tell you that if you do that kind of job long enough, you’re going to screw up at some point and wish you could take back the words that just slipped out of your mouth. Tilghman has not made a habit of offensive on-air statements. It was a one-time brain cramp, for which she apologized and should be forgiven. Al Sharpton wanted her stripped of her job. I sure don’t remember him volunteering to quit his “job” for helping to perpetrate the Tawana Brawley hoax. In the words of the immortal Sgt. Hulka, “LIGHTEN UP!”