Three Thoughts On Steve Williams' Acceptance Speech
by TwoNuse on Nov 4, 2011 10:39 PM EDT
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PrintIt was not a racist comment
Rude? Yes. Vulgar? Check. Racial? Uh-huh. Racist? Nope.
Tiger Woods does have a black ass (or at least 1/8th of a black ass, depending on the how Tiger is describing his racial makeup these days). Williams wasn’t making an editorial statement about all black people with his subdued acceptance speech or repeating stereotypes for a laugh (coughFuzzyZoellercough).
It may be a window to Williams' soul
There is PSA I remember vividly from the 1970s. A grandfather and grandson are fishing when the grandson asks; oh watch it for yourself:
Williams could have used any number of adjectives to describe his former employer’s ass. Adulterous, cheap, skanky, or poor putting since I left come to mind. But we went right to black. Now it makes sense why Williams looked so uncomfortable consoling a teary Woods after the 2006 Open Championship. He was nervous Tiger was using the hug to get at his wallet.
Or it is one last assist from Tiger’s former looper
Not even the harshest Tiger Woods critic could say deserved to be called out like that. And when Woods either says nothing or releases a bland statement, he will look like something he hasn’t in a long time; a sympathetic figure.
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Well-said, TwoNuse
Racist – no, racial – yes, and coarse with it. The man’s an idiot and boy will that remark rebound on him.
Problem is that perception is reality and racist or not, that’s how it will be painted.
Williams is wordily enough to know better and either he’s an idiot or a fool for letting his alligator mouth overload his hummingbird’s brain.
A perosn first.
Then a name.
When describing that person, then say black, white, whatever.
Williams was racist with his comment, end of story.
No matter what, Stevie has painted golf in a bad light.
by Charles Boyer on Nov 5, 2011 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he has only harmed himself
and to a lesser degree, Adam Scott, who for the second time, has been embarassed by Williams. I’d sack him myself, that would be the best way of putting him in his rightful place.
I wish it were so, but there is a cadre of politicians and pundits here who love to point to stuff like this and say that golf is a lily-white rich man’s game only.
Nothing could be further from the truth, in fact, there are golf courses for every budget in most every country where the game is strong. And at public facilities here in the US, all races and both sexes are welcome if they can afford to pay the greens’ fee.
This whole thing makes me think I need to write a story I have had bubbling in the back of my mind for some time: I used to play a public course near here where I was probably one of 2-3 white people who teed off there on a given day. It is in a poorer and traditionally African-American part of town. I drove near it going to and from my job so on many an afternoon I would stop and play nine there. That and the fact that the folks there were pleasant, affable and talented players that I truly enjoyed playing with and having some of them beat the stuffing out of me on the scorecard.
Thing was, once we got over the racial suspicions that whites and blacks feel all too often in the southeastern US, we’d end up having a great time. Didn’t matter that we were different colors or that we had different thicknesses to our wallets (and some of them earned more than me) — golf was the thing, and all the fun that goes with playing with decent players who love the challenge of the game.
That was in the early 1980’s, by the way, Easing. We weren’t as evolved here as we are now. Some of those men came to my mother’s funeral. I’ve gone to some of theirs. And it all started with the love of a little white ball and a flagstick way down yonder.
Seeing Williams give the people who thrive on our differences ammunition sickens me and I know by Wednesday that some will have tried to use it.
by Charles Boyer on Nov 5, 2011 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Totally accurate observation.
We haven’t heard the last of this. I recently had some significent health problems, and it ended with giving up my membership in th CC I belonged to. The public courses have a much more diverse crowd.
by handicapismyswing on Nov 6, 2011 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Racist?
In light of all the righteous/unrighteous rhetoric when one reads the account as reported out of Shanghai it does allow for one to understand the comment as intended in the context of the evenings format. If anyone has been to a “Roast” it’s pretty much wide open and all topics are fair game. Does it make it right? Well it depends on whether you see the glass half full or half empty. SHANGHAI — Tiger Woods’ former caddie caused another sensation, this time by using a racial slur to disparage his old boss during a caddies award roast in Shanghai.
At an awards party filled with banter, Williams said of his interview, “It was my aim to shove it right up that black a———.”
That line drew the biggest reaction at a party attended by several players, caddies, officials and some media. There was a mixture of laughter and shock, with some players turning to each other with eyes widened and jaws agape.
The provision of the party is that all comments are off the record, yet several caddies couldn’t stop talking about it long after it was over. Approached early the next morning at breakfast, Williams was stunned to learn that British tabloids had gone with the story.
“Why would they do that?” he said. “The whole thing was meant to be fun.” I’m not a huge fan of Steve W as anyone who has followed my posts over the years and I’m of the opinion he’s not a racist. A shoot from the hip egotistical bully,a neanderthal,and a loud mouth. Yes! In today’s “politically correct” world we’re losing a lot of our own individuality. We do need to be aware and sensitive to others that goes without saying.
The problems with the roast analogy include the fact that Steve Williams isn’t a comedian and Tiger Woods wasn’t in on the joke.
by TwoNuse on Nov 6, 2011 6:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
1KRats
If Williams had just stuck to a coarse remark about shoving it where the sun don’t shine, there wouldn’t be any furore over it. Whilst he’s not popular with the other caddies, nothing would have been said o/s the room. I’m sure the whole evening was full of banter, but to use a racial term, particularly in front of journos was madness (& arrogance).
Now Scott is getting in the neck for not firing him.
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