Cover story
I sure as hell regret writing my first ever article about Tiger Woods.
So last night I get a text from a writer instructing me to go to Golfweek.com and scroll halfway down the page. I smile in anticipation thinking I’m gonna have a funny moment. So I look around the page and get hit by a tank. If this would have been a movie, you would have heard dramatic music where the piano keys are slammed followed by the loud beat of the drum–many drums. My heart began to race and my blood began to boil for I couldn’t believe my eyes. I couldn’t believe a “respected” publication would have the temerity to go there. To explain themselves, the editors of the site ran the cover story on the site after most likely receiving many heated emails. No one does this. Why would folks buy the mag if they could read the cover story online? To chip away my anger, I immediately labeled this a commercial move. So I call the writer and the next thing I know we are discussing slave ships. We are discussing Fuzzy Zoeller….
and Tiger’s cowardly response to someone’s benefit, but not his own.
Then this happens….
Still nothing from Tiger? OK, now we have a big problem. Do all your friends call you nigger to your face Tiger Woods? Remember what Cube spit in True To The Game:
“You wanna be just like Jack, but Jack is calling you a nigger behind ya back.”
Still funny? Where’s the Drop Squad?
What would Earl say Tiger? One of my parents is deceased so I can ask you this question. I miss my mother like you miss ya pop, trust me on that.
By not speaking up on this issue when it smacked him in the face, Tiger neglected every Black child who looks up to him with diamond eyes and impressionable minds just to make White kids comfortable. Let’s call a spade a spade and realistically ask what else could it be? How is Tiger defusing anything by not speaking out? He’s also doing a disservice to White kids by not speaking up and fully expressing himself (I know it’s a pipe dream because not many athletes do this).
He also authenticates any racism directed his way present and future by not upbraiding Tilghman immediately and the Golf Channel as well for waiting five days to suspend Kelly.
Who do you think is bringing in the big cash for the entire sport?
What’s it gonna take for you to speak up for yourself Tiger?
Seriously, I challenge anyone White who thinks this is a non issue to speak their mind. I truly welcome your dissent, but you come strong with your words.
His friendship with Kelly Tilghman gave Tiger another excuse to remain clandestine on divisive racial issues. Some Whites say Tiger is a classy guy who is above feeding a racial firestorm like they themselves are the definition of high morality. “Kelly just slipped and made a mistake. She apologized to Tiger so let’s all move on,” some say. Some Blacks say he’s a sellout only interested in making more money (doesn’t he have enough?) and lost a chance to speak to the kid in the hood talented…but alone.
Who is right? Who is wrong?
This whole thing is reminiscent of Tiger friend Michael Jordan’s irresponsible comments during the 1990 senatorial race in North Carolina. Mike had the opportunity to endorse Harvey Gantt, the Charlotte mayor, against the racist Jesse Helms. Why Jordan didn’t publicly endorse Gantt–a dem–we’ll never know. ”Republicans buy sneakers, too,” he said at the time.
Also, why aren’t more prominent Black journalists speaking out candidly? They probably would to this day laugh at a Tex Avery cartoon–something I’m sure Kelly did many times growing up in Mytle Beach.
The joke once again is on us people.
Some ask why is it Tiger’s responsibility? He spends time with charities and gives of himself. Isn’t that enough? This may be true, but when is the last time Tiger came to the hood and embraced children who need his confidence and assurance the most? Our history forces us to carry a responsibility to those who blazed a path crimson drenched with societal humiliation and straight up bullshit hatred. Do pioneers deserve our reverence or are their sacrifices forgotten? How many Blacks were lynched in this country? How many lynchings went unnoticed? The word lynch is so powerful and worse than calling someone a nigger to their face because it conjures imagery of hatred and burning, hanging, shaking DEATH.
Kelly Tilghman knows damn well she wouldn’t have used anything perceived offensive to Jewish folk as easily as the word lynch rolled off her lips live on air–with laughter. You would have seen the cane yank her ass off stage on Youtube a minute thereafter. It’s the comfort that makes Blacks hot. Why are we once again forced to take a back seat on the proverbial bus just so this can become a non issue for Whites who care not? What happens the next time something similar happens? If Blacks speak out on issues that burn the soul primitive, we are pulling the race card?
Fuck that!
Yeah, I’m upset right now!
I could write on this for days, but it doesn’t mean shit if Blacks continue to allow this nonsense to happen. Golfweek made this controversial decision obviously to sell magazines, but it’s way deeper than that isn’t it? I would have loved to been in the board room when the cover shot was discussed–or have any other person of color present–to shoot that shit down and probably get fired in the process. This is why we scream for inclusion. It gives the decision making process objectivity when the lightening strikes the brightest, but….
It’s all about money people…once again at our expense.
Some are criticizing the cover shot. Time will tell if others follow suit right and exact.
What’s going to happen at the Buick Invitational? Kelly’s suspension ended on the 14th, so she’s due to work the tournament. Who representing the media there is going to have the cojones to get right to it? I would love the opportunity to be there and turn some heads with confident and persistent questions anyone in earshot would have to address.
Who else is going to do it?
Scoop’s take on Tilghman.
**********************
I had to post this. I bet these clowns loved Glen Dorsey and JaMarcus Russell before him. IMO this is just like posting a noose on the cover of a magazine.
What is this?
