Noose on Golfweek magazine

Golfweek cover featuring noose raises ire of PGA Tour commissioner

Golfweek Magazine, as part of a package of stories on the controversy involving Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman's comment that players should "lynch [Tiger Woods] in a back alley," used the image of a noose on the cover of its Jan. 19 issue.

That decision has added fuel to a flap which has seen Tilghman suspended for two weeks from her anchoring duties. Woods' agent said he considers Tilghman's remark a "non-issue."

Golfweek is one of two major national golf news magazines. Golf World, which has an editorial relationship with ESPN.com, is the other.

"Was it an arresting image? "Yes, it was," Golfweek editor Dave Seanor told USA Today. "We chose it because it was an image we thought would draw attention to an issue we thought deserved some intelligent dialogue."

"There was a great deal of debate over it," Seanor said of the magazine's in-house deliberations, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. "But it was the news of the week, no question about it. That's what everybody in the game is talking about."

In the magazine's news story, noted sociologist Harry Edwards, said the public should accept Tilghman's apology.

"If we stopped the train every time somebody made a dumb remark that is potentially offensive," he is quoted as saying, "we'd never progress as a society."

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, in a statement, said: "Clearly, what Kelly said was inappropriate and unfortunate and she obviously regrets her choice of words. But we consider Golfweek's imagery of a swinging noose on its cover to be outrageous and irresponsible. It smacks of tabloid journalism. It was a naked attempt to inflame and keep alive an incident that was heading to an appropriate conclusion."

During Golf Channel's Jan. 4 telecast of the Mercedes-Benz Championship, Tilghman was in a conversation with analyst Nick Faldo about how PGA Tour players could stop Woods' dominance when she used the phrase about lynching. Golf Channel received few complaints at the time. Tilghman apologized personally to Woods and on the telecast two days later.

OTL: Golfweek controversy

"Outside the Lines," (ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET) examines Golfweek magazine's decision to put such a controversial image on its cover. OTL

Rev. Al Sharpton, in an interview on CNN on Jan. 9, called for Tilghman to be fired. Later that night, Tilghman was suspended prior to the Sony Open in Hawaii. She is also missing this week's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. She is scheduled to return for the Buick Invitational, which ironically is Woods' first scheduled appearance of the year on the PGA Tour.

In an editorial in the magazine, the editors wrote: "Like it or not, Tilghman's 'Lynch him in a back alley' remark about Tiger Woods was national news. The debate about the severity of her punishment -- at this writing a two-week suspension -- fueled heated debate on Web sites, in newspapers and on national TV. The furor begs rational analysis."

Prior to Tilghman's suspension,Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, said, "it is a complete non-issue. Kelly and Tiger are friends. It might have been a poor choice of words, but there was absolutely no ill intent whatsoever."

Tilghman issued her own statement, saying she "used some poorly chosen words. I have known Tiger for 12 years and I have apologized directly to him. I also apologize to our viewers who may have been offended."

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3201070&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

At Oak Tree Golf Club(2 majors) in Edmond,Oklahoma, there used to be a hangman's noose by the 16th green. It was supposed to represent how golfers felt after playing one of the hardest golf courses in the world. Because of an article written by a female sportswriter(remember Mike Gundy), they had to take it down. Sometimes in this day and age people are too sensitive.

bellyputter said:

Sometimes in this day and age people are too sensitive.

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Sometimes? How about all the time? I didn't see Kelly Tilghman's remarks on the Golf Channel but by all reports she was just making a joke. Tiger wasn't offended and she apologized both to him and to anyone who may have been offended by her remarks. That should have been the end of this, but it wasn't and therein lies the real problem!
Al Sharpton just had to get involved and demanded that she be fired for her remarks. Now that offends me; worse yet apparently the Golf Channel at least partially conceded to Sharpton's demands by suspending her for 2 weeks. This is the real problem that someone(KT) who meant no harm and caused no harm should be punished for words, words which she apologized for immediately and profusely. Sticks and stones (and nooses) may break my bones but words will never hurt me!
ATTENTION PEOPLE: We have a race problem in this country! We will never be able to solve this problem if we can not talk about it, freely, openly, and honestly! Lynching with a noose, both of white and black people, is a part of our history in this country. Not talking about it, never using the words lynching or noose, will NOT make that history go away! As the editor of Golfweek, Dave Seanor, says in the article...
"Was it an arresting image? "Yes, it was," Golfweek editor Dave Seanor told USA Today. "We chose it because it was an image we thought would draw attention to an issue we thought deserved some intelligent dialogue."
...I agree, this topic deserves some intelligent dialogue!

Editor fired over Tilghman cover. (The idiot deserved it IMO)

The publisher of Golfweek has fired editor Dave Seanor and apologized for the Kelly Tilghman cover.

Negative reaction to the controversial cover, which features a noose, has been so strong, the weekly magazine apparently felt it had to do something.

"We apologize for creating this graphic cover that received extreme negative reaction from consumers, subscribers and advertisers across the country," said William P. Kupper Jr., president of Turnstile Publishing Co., the parent company of Golfweek. "We were trying to convey the controversial issue with a strong and provocative graphic image. "It is now obvious that the overall reaction to our cover deeply offended many people. For that, we are deeply apologetic."

Golfweek replaced Seanor with Jeff Babineau, who has been with Golfweek for nine years.

"We know we have a job ahead of us to re-earn the trust and confidence of many loyal readers," Babineau said. "Our staff is very passionate about the game. Our wish is that one regretful error does not erase more than 30 years of service we've dedicated to this industry."

I feel bad for Seanor, who I have known for a long time. But he did approve a cover that went way over the line in addressing Tilghman's "lynch him in a back alley" reference to Tiger Woods.



The cover features noose with the headline: "Caught in a noose: Tilghman slips up, and Golf Channel can't wriggle free."
Talk about taking this thing to an extreme.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem was outraged, issuing the following statement: "Clearly, what Kelly said was inappropriate and unfortunate, and she obviously regrets her choice of words. But we consider Golfweek's imagery of a swinging noose on its cover to be outrageous and irresponsible. It smacks of tabloid journalism. It was a naked attempt to inflame and keep alive an incident that was heading to an appropriate conclusion."

That's about as critical as I've ever heard anything from Finchem.
Everyone it seems has followed suit. I tried to reach Seanor yesterday, but he never got back to me.

In an Associated Press story, Seanor admitted to being overwhelmed by the negative reaction.

Here's a telling comment from Seanor: "I wish we could have come up with something that made the same statement but didn't create as much negative reaction," he said. "But as this has unfolded, I'm glad there's dialogue. Let's talk about this, and the lack of diversity in golf."

It didn't happen that way. Instead, all the talk has been about the cover. And it eventually cost Seanor his job.

Chicago Sports.com...

I get that magazine and have always liked it. No idea at all what they were thinking with that cover. Publicity stunt, but it doesnt really fit in with there straighforward coverage.

I havnt got that in the mail yet, but it would just be disturbing.

some girl made a mistake with a live mike. she is sorry. Ive no idea how she could be that fucking dumb but lets move on

sorry, its golfworld that I get. golfworld is a good magazine. really like it.

I agree, but come on, the cover was on tv and clearly to me it was making a statement on how the Golf Channel could not get out of not doing something about it. America has turned into a sensitive melting pot with one big diaper on it.

OMG we better not offend one minority anywhere at anytime!!! Think of the children!!!

Kelly Tilghman actually belongs to a bigger minority than Tiger. She's a carpet licker. hno:

The guy who got promoted is an old friend of mine.

bellyputter said:

Kelly Tilghman actually belongs to a bigger minority than Tiger. She's a carpet licker. hno:

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poor girl

wonder if she gets a special write off fur that type stuff

just another case of fatass sharpton opening his big mouth and people giving in. someone needs to tell that asshole that he is nothing and no one listens to him, no one likes him and hes a wothless piece of shit.

lapdance said:

just another case of fatass sharpton opening his big mouth and people giving in. someone needs to tell that asshole that he is nothing and no one listens to him, no one likes him and hes a wothless piece of shit.

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How do you really feel!

I didn't feel offended by the cover...much larger issues out in the real world...reminds me when Howard Cosell got in trouble when he said something to the effect of Look at that little monkey run during a Monday night game....

shes an idiot, doesnt deserve to get fired. the editor though im glad hes gone. he's just doing this to sell magazines to a wider audience and make a statement, media hype to its fullest.