Public Lynchings

The Golf Channel has suspended Kelly Tilghman for two weeks over her comment on last weeks broadcast about "lynching" Tiger Woods:

HONOLULU (AP) — Golf Channel suspended anchor Kelly Tilghman for two weeks on Wednesday for saying last week that young players who wanted to challenge Tiger Woods should "lynch him in a back alley."

Tilghman was laughing during the exchange Friday with analyst Nick Faldo at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, and Woods' agent at IMG said he didn't think there was any ill intent.

But the comments became prevalent on news shows Wednesday, and the Rev. Al Sharpton joined the fray by demanding she be fired immediately. Golf Channel didn't know who would replace Tilghman in the booth this week at the Sony Open or next week at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

"There is simply no place on our network for offensive language like this," Golf Channel said in a statement.

Once again the speech control police have invaded the air-waves and Tilghman is paying the price. Never mind that she and Tiger are good friends or that Tiger himself has spoken with Kelly and considers the comment a "non-issue". The Golf Channel has termed her words "hurtful and grossly inappropriate". I won't argue the inappropriate part, but hurtful? To whom?

Obviously, not to Tiger. Al Sharpton? Who cares? Any man whose claim to fame centers on race-baiting has no right to comment. I'd say it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black but he'd probably think that was hurtful and grossly inapproriate, too. So who did these comments hurt? Kelly Tilghman, that's who.

You know, I listen to talk radio every day as I drive to and from work and I've got to tell you, I hear a lot of hurtful and grossly inappropriate comments made. Does this mean I can complain and get someone suspended? If so, I've got this list...

The truth is that in any situation where you spend a lot of time talking in front of people without a script, eventually you're going to say a few things you wish you could take back. Most of the time, thankfully, your audience doesn't notice. But when you use a buzz word - in this case, "lynch" - there are certain people, and certain groups of people, who just can't wait to be offended.

In this case, Tilghman apologized, spoke with Tiger about it, he accepted the apology and considers the matter closed. The Golf Channel should, too. Instead, they suspended her for two weeks. If you agree, tell me why.