Non-issue?

By A.J. RUSSO, Ph.D.
As published Feb. 6, 2008

Just two weeks before celebrating Martin Luther King’s birthday, the sports world was stunned by remarks about Tiger Woods by Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman.

She was suspended for two weeks, after she said, during a telecast on Jan. 5, that young players who want to challenge Woods should "lynch him in a back alley."

Then, as if adding fuel to the burning cross, in response to Tilghman’s comments, the cover of Golfweek magazine displayed a photo of an empty noose with the headline "Caught in a Noose" followed by text that read “Tilghman slips up, and Golf Channel can’t wiggle free.”

Shortly after that, Dave Seanor, the editor of Golfweek, was dismissed.

Tilghman apologized for the comment. Tiger Woods, through his agent said, “It is a complete non-issue.”

And it may not be an issue. After all, we tend to scrutinize every breath whiffed through the professional sports world.

But, in celebration of Dr. King’s great legacy and message, maybe it’s time to analyze diversity in sport. After all, the sports world usually reflects what’s happening in the rest of society.

And maybe golf is a good place to start. (Not that other sports don’t have diversity issues. Hockey and tennis, for instance, have fewer African-Americans than cheerleaders.)

African-Americans, who number one of every eight Americans, comprise about one of every 30 amateur golfers. Although Tiger Woods is in his 8th season as the superstar of the PGA Tour, he is now the only African-American on the Tour.

This might be partially explained by the fact that golf is an expensive game and there is evidence to suggest that African-Americans don’t start golf until later in life. Unfortunately, champions typically start playing in their early teens. Today's luminaries of the PGA Tour generally grow up in families who belong to private country clubs and very few black families are members of country clubs.

Remember, it wasn’t until 1975 when the first African-American (Lee Elder) was allowed to play at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, and 1991 when the first African-American member of Augusta National was admitted. And it was only 10 years ago that Tiger Woods became the first African-American Masters Champion.

So, when Tiger said the comments and graphics coming from Golfweek were a non-issue—to him, maybe not—to the rest of us, maybe it is an issue.

[A.J. Russo received his BS at Hobart College and Masters and Ph.D. at Roswell Park Memorial Institute. He is a professor at Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg and the author of 11 novels and more than 30 scientific papers. He is the former head men's lacrosse coach at RIT and Mount Saint Mary's University. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Mount Saint Mary's University or the Mt. Airy Messenger.

Russo's novel, The Healer, has been critically acclaimed. His novel, the Fragile Egg was re-released in 2006 and his novel, New Lodge Affair was released in August 2007. All are available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

Visit and respond to A.J. Russo’s column Outside the Game at his blog: outsidethegame.wordpress.com.]