Sergio Garcia makes racist remark when asked about Tiger

by McLaren Wed 22 May 2013, 1:38 am

First topic message reminder :

Can we all now agree the guy is an arse hole?

From the Guardian;

Sergio García's ongoing spat with Tiger Woods took an unwelcome turn night, when the Spaniard made what could be interpreted as a racist remark about his opponent.

The Spaniard was on stage at the European Tour's gala players' awards dinner, where he was questioned by the Golf Channel's Steve Sands. García, who has been embroiled in verbal battles with Woods since the Players Championship at Sawgrass this month, was asked in jest if he would have the American round for dinner one night during the upcoming US Open. "We will have him round every night," García said. "We will serve fried chicken."

The statement was similar to Fuzzy Zoeller's infamous remark towards Woods in 1997. Then, after Woods won his first major, the Masters, which entitled him to choose the champions' dinner menu for the following year, Zoeller said: "You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not serve fried chicken next year. Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve." Zoeller later apologised and said he had been misconstrued.

García left last night before he could be asked to clarify his remarks, but later issued a statment through the European Tour, saying: "I apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my comment on stage during The European Tour Players' Awards dinner. I answered a question that was clearly made towards me as a joke with a silly remark, but in no way was the comment meant in a racist manner."

Earlier in the day he had earlier been pressed on his relationship – or lack of one – with the world No1 when previewing the PGA Championship. "I mean, you can't like everybody," the Spaniard said. "I think that there's people that you connect with and there's people that you don't. You know, it's pretty much as simple as that. I think that he doesn't need me in his life, I don't need him in mine, and let's move on and keep doing what we're doing."

When asked when this problem first came to light, García replied: "A while back. It's never really been like a true connection like I would have maybe with Luke Donald or Lee Westwood or Adam Scott or some of the other guys that I get along with well."

Paul McGinley, who will lead Europe into the 2014 Ryder Cup, used the Surrey course as the venue to announce he is increasing the captain's wildcard picks from two to three. The leading four players from the European Tour's order of merit and five from the world rankings list will gain automatic entry for the event, to be held at Gleneagles. "I feel like by giving myself an extra pick, it's a little bit of wriggle room," McGinley explained.

"Like it or not, we have to acknowledge the fact that most of the players are now based in America, playing on the PGA Tour. I think in the big scheme of things this is actually going to help the European Tour more because I am going to be watching very closely for those three picks.

"Guys who are not in the top 50 in the world, who show a bit of form on the European Tour, they are going to rank very highly with the possible opportunity of a pick.

"Ideally, I would love to be able to say I want 12 players off the European Order of Merit. But I know that's not practical or realistic and I know I wouldn't have a strong enough team to win the Ryder Cup. At the end of the day, my head will fall; it's on me and it is my decision."

by MustPuttBetter Thu 23 May 2013, 2:53 pm

I'm shocked by how many poeple seem to be shocked right now

by kwinigolfer Thu 23 May 2013, 2:53 pm

barra and I have lived sheltered lives.
New to me though and I don't know why that is.
Strange that a white "Colonel" can cause so much offence. Who'd've thunk it?

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 2:55 pm

I could just imagine one of you lads going to America and buying some fried chicken and randomly chatting to a black lad-" this chickens good yeah you eat it a lot don't yOU".. And then comes the confused stares.

When I first went to Florida. I was only 20 and We got hammered in a bar on international drive.. And We were playing pool with the locals. I called one of the black lads 'boy'

It didn't go down well at all put it that way(well it was sorted out eventually!!).. I didn't realise it had slave connections. It was just something everyone called each other at the time from London..

by McLaren Thu 23 May 2013, 2:56 pm

Why are people interpreting fried chicken in the literal sense that it is a food? It is a term used in a derogatory and demeaning fashion towards African Americans. It is maybe a generational thing but I was fully aware that you could use fried chicken in the racist sense that sergio did.

I will also ask again, why would that be the first thing that sergio could think of to insult tiger with?

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 3:00 pm

Your spot on Mac. It was the first thing that came to mind because he understands the stereotype and wanted to state something hurtful!. I doubt many will admit to this or change there opinion so its futile discussing it with many on here..

But again I reiterate that its just one of those things. Sergio has apologised- Time to forgive and forget

by princedracula Thu 23 May 2013, 3:01 pm

This seems to be the right thread for this...

Haven't heard it myself, but I read that a little while ago O'Grady referred to Sergio's US friends as "mostly coloured people". That should settle things down... censored

by McLaren Thu 23 May 2013, 3:01 pm

Can people please watch his apology video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/22636894

It is clearly the thoughts of a man who knows he made a heinous remark. At least he can see what he has done, unlike some on here.

by Davie Thu 23 May 2013, 3:03 pm

mystiroakey wrote:Your spot on Mac. It was the first thing that came to mind because he understands the stereotype and wanted to state something hurtful!.

So now you are calling Sergio a liar as well as a racist? picard

by JAS Thu 23 May 2013, 3:04 pm

incontinentia wrote:i have no idea what you're talking about Jas, my point is that the stereotype is widely covered in film and entertainment, and i find it unbelievable that so many people are unaware of it. have you ever seen 'Me myself and irene'? the racially sensitive dwarf mentioned the fried chicken stereotype. most golf fans should know about from fuzzy's infamous comments.

Dwarf!!!! How heightist!!! That should be "vertically challenged" :-/

Seriously tho Incon, I just wonder what occupies people's minds such that they have to spend time finding out things that offend different people in different ways. I am still absolutely gobsmacked that some people actually really do swallow the assertion that fried chicken has racial undertones. It just plain doesn't.

...and now we have Taylormade getting all holier than thou (in public). In private they must be loving this....there is no such thing as bad publicity.

by Scrumpy Thu 23 May 2013, 3:04 pm

All this talk of fried chicken is making me hungry. Drool

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 3:05 pm

Davie wrote:
mystiroakey wrote:Your spot on Mac. It was the first thing that came to mind because he understands the stereotype and wanted to state something hurtful!.

So now you are calling Sergio a liar as well as a racist?

When have I called him a liar or a racist?

Is comprehension tough for you?

Ironic considering your first line of defence is to attack spelling Doh

by barragan Thu 23 May 2013, 3:07 pm

yawn...

joke

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 3:09 pm

by MustPuttBetter Thu 23 May 2013, 3:10 pm

Mac you seem desperate to nail Sergio on this one. He's not dating Emma Watson is he?

by Davie Thu 23 May 2013, 3:11 pm

mystiroakey wrote:
Davie wrote:
mystiroakey wrote:Your spot on Mac. It was the first thing that came to mind because he understands the stereotype and wanted to state something hurtful!.

So now you are calling Sergio a liar as well as a racist?

When have I called him a liar or a racist?

Is comprehension tough for you?

Seems you may be the one with comprehension issues .. You said in the quote above that he understood the stereotype and wanted to be hateful - whereas in his press conference yesterday he denied any knowledge of the implied slur and also denied he meant any offense. So you are indeed calling him a liar

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 3:13 pm

Ok Mr Comprehension master . When did I call him a racist?

by kingraf Thu 23 May 2013, 3:22 pm

A little late, but to reply to Incontentia-"maybe its because Im South African, but racial stereotype jokes put the bread on the table for a lot of otherwise unfunny comedians.

This statement is no more offensive than the statement Steve Williams made about shoving things. Tiger defended a quite obviously racist statement then.

by Davie Thu 23 May 2013, 3:30 pm

Mysti - if you claim that Sergio knew the implications of his expression and that he did it to be deliberately hurtful then that in fact implies racism

I do note you also said elsewhere "Stereotyping isn't what I would define as racism. Just stating differences in a derogatory way.. Racism is about pure hate..", but that is your definition and not necessarily a widely held one

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 3:34 pm

Answer me these dave?

1)Have you ever said anything that has racial , xenophobic, generalising or stereotyping undertones.

2) Are you a Racist?

3) Do you believe someone making a racist slur means that said person is a racist?

by McLaren Thu 23 May 2013, 3:36 pm

Davie

I don't see anything contradictory about mysti's posts. If anything it seems some of his superior logic has flummoxed you.

by Davie Thu 23 May 2013, 3:39 pm

1) Yes
2) No
3) Yes

Mac I never said mysti was contradictory. I said he had labelled Sergio a liar (which he did)

by 1GrumpyGolfer Thu 23 May 2013, 3:40 pm

I'll bite:

1. Yes, probably many, many, times based on the categories given

2. Try hard not to be

3. Not necessarily

by kingraf Thu 23 May 2013, 3:42 pm

Davie I dont think that list of answers makes sense.You cant believe that making racist comments makes you a racist, and then say you arent a racist despite making statements with racial/xenophobic undertones

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 3:50 pm

Well then You believe that anyone that has ever made a racial slur is a racist. Yet you have made slurs yourself..

You state you aren't a racist (therefore I must trust you have never made a racial slur in your life(BTW I don't believe that for a second anyway, I believe almost everyone has at one point in their life ))

So are you a sexist?, xenophobic?, homophobic?, etc- Which one

by Bob_the_Job Thu 23 May 2013, 3:52 pm

And have you stopped beating your wife - you may only answer "yes" or "no".

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 3:53 pm

1GrumpyGolfer wrote:I'll bite:

1. Yes, probably many, many, times based on the categories given

2. Try hard not to be

3. Not necessarily

honesty . that I can respect!

by Davie Thu 23 May 2013, 3:54 pm

Read the questions again. I answered specifically focusing on the words "stereotyping undertones" (Q1) and "racist slur" (Q3)

I answered yes to Q1 because I've no doubt I have made remarks in the past with "stereotyping undertones" either knowingly or unknowingly, yet without intent to be hurtful or discriminatory - yet I believe someone who KNOWINGLY makes is racial slur with intent is, pretty much by definition, a racist

by kingraf Thu 23 May 2013, 3:57 pm

1) Plenty, but only to mates who fit the stereotype. Never slurred a complete stranger.

2) I find humor in racial division, so kind of, not really.

3) Its all about context, and frequency, imo. If I make a dunk in basketball, and a white teammate comments "I told you black guys can jump", its completely different to us randomly walking and a complete stranger telling me he thinks I could jump over a wall.

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 3:57 pm

Davie wrote:Read the questions again. I answered specifically focusing on the words "stereotyping undertones" (Q1) and "racist slur" (Q3)

I answered yes to Q1 because I've no doubt I have made remarks in the past with "stereotyping undertones" either knowingly or unknowingly, yet without intent to be hurtful or discriminatory - yet I believe someone who KNOWINGLY makes is racial slur with intent is, pretty much by definition, a racist

pfft.

You really are an angel arnt you angel

by kwinigolfer Thu 23 May 2013, 4:04 pm

O'Grady's comments now reported by the BBC are incomprehensibly stupid.

The "two nations divided by a common language" saying never looked more appropriate.

American language and sensibilities are quite different from British English and daft of O'Grady to join Sergio in falling in to the same trap. First thing to do in getting out of a hole is to stop digging, but looks like O'Grady got an extra shovel.

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 4:11 pm

Dave are you a fan of only fools and horses?

by Davie Thu 23 May 2013, 4:14 pm

O'Grady being pilloried on Twitter for using the adjective "coloured" Rolling Eyes

And no Mysti, I'm not an angel, and no I don't like Fools and Horses. Is this 20 questions or something?

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 4:20 pm

Sorry it's just that almost everyone does like Only fools. And every time I see the older reruns the amount of racial or politically incorrect things within the show are testament to how things have changed..

Point being back in those days it was almost acceptable to make racial slurs. And we pretty much all laughed at them.. Surely that doesn't make us all racist by default!! Because that is what your black and white logic is telling me!

by Davie Thu 23 May 2013, 4:25 pm

You really don't read well do you?

Comments with potential racial undertones but not intended to be hurtful do not make one a racist. Deliberate hurtful or with intent to incite hatred do. I've been guilty of the former but not the latter.

If you wish to go back to old comedies, just look at Alf Garnet or Love Thy Neighbour. The characters depicted were racist, the scriptwriter who created them wasn't (he in fact was drawing attention to bigotted attitudes)

Sometimes black and white logic (can you say that?) really does make things simpler though I appreciate not everything in this world is black and white. O'grady would call it "coloured"

by kwinigolfer Thu 23 May 2013, 4:26 pm

mysti,
It's NEVER "almost acceptable to make racial slurs", surely?

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 4:31 pm

I don't understand what you mean by hurtful mate..

What is your definition of hurtful!

Have you ever slagged off a women driver before because she left her indicator on!!

Does that not make you or anyone that has done it a sexist by your logic?

Hurtful has nothing whatsoever to do with it. In fact from my point of view if someone only every uses stereotypes in a hurtful situation rather than in everyday life they are much less racist because they have only stated it in a reactionary way!

People that treat others in different ways due to their skin colour are real racists!

Not having the odd dig in an intense situation!

by Davie Thu 23 May 2013, 4:41 pm

I used the word "hurtful" only because that was the word Tiger used. Substitute it for "derogatory" or "hateful"

Put it simply, I have "coloured" friends (there I've said it and upset the PC nutters probably), and I know I can say certain things to them that they KNOW is meant as a joke between us, and which I can get away with - that isn't racist. If I were to say the same thing to someone I didn't know, or even to one of my friends but with a completely different tone of voice, then that is hurtful/hateful/derogatory/choose your own word - and that IS racist

As for drivers leaving indicators on, yes I have slagged off drivers for that - some of them may have been women, not not all - the gender is irrelevant. Certainly doesn't make me sexist

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 4:45 pm

Don't you know about the women driver stereotype.
"typical women driver"
Off course we have a pop at men drivers for doing it as well!!
That's the whole point!

but we wouldn't say "typical men drivers"

These women are not known to you.

So I repeat does this make you a sexist. Or have you never ever used the above steriotype before?

by McLaren Thu 23 May 2013, 4:46 pm

I am not normally a Carter fan but this is ok

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/22640142

by **navyblueshorts** Thu 23 May 2013, 4:47 pm

McLaren wrote:Can people please watch his apology video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/22636894

It is clearly the thoughts of a man who knows he made a heinous remark. At least he can see what he has done, unlike some on here.

Oh, stick a sock in it please? There's plenty you don't see either. Stop being such a conceited fool.

by **navyblueshorts** Thu 23 May 2013, 4:49 pm

McLaren wrote:Can people please watch his apology video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/22636894

It is clearly the thoughts of a man who knows he made a heinous remark. At least he can see what he has done, unlike some on here.

O'Grady has to apologise now for using the phrase "coloured athletes"? You couldn't make this up!

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 4:53 pm

"O'Grady has to apologise now for using the phrase "coloured athletes"? You couldn't make this up!"

The world has gone mad..

BTW what are we supposed to call black athletes. Is black ok?

by Davie Thu 23 May 2013, 4:55 pm

So what is the politically correct form now?

by Handicap28 Thu 23 May 2013, 4:55 pm

What Sergio said was wrong - whatever he meant by it. As had been said on this thread he has apologised though and we should move on from it. While he may be forgiven in Europe, the American "fans" are going to have a field day with him - look at the reception he got before this comment was made.

Was just looking back through a couple of threads below this one though and it was mentioned about Bubba Watsons homophobic comment. I dont recall what he said, but certainly dont remember as big a deal being made of it or an apology being made. Maybe I missed it? Is it just good ole Bubba, dont worry about what he says?

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 4:56 pm

"Was just looking back through a couple of threads below this one though and it was mentioned about Bubba Watsons homophobic comment. I dont recall what he said, but certainly dont remember as big a deal being made of it or an apology being made. Maybe I missed it? Is it just good ole Bubba, dont worry about what he says?"

what comment did he make?

by kwinigolfer Thu 23 May 2013, 4:58 pm

Spot on Handicap . . . . .

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 5:02 pm

Was it the "being gay is a sin" comment about the Basketball player that has recently come out.

One thing to point out.

A hardcore Christian like him will never ever apologise for his beliefs..

And his sponsers wont demand it!

by Handicap28 Thu 23 May 2013, 5:08 pm

Sorry mysti - as I said I cant remember the comment. Think it may have been mentioned in another thread. If thats what it was, in my books it is every bit as bad as Sergio's, possibly worse. While we can argue whether Sergio's was racist or not, this is certainly homophobic. But then again, it's Bubba with his Golf Boys.

by mystiroakey Thu 23 May 2013, 5:11 pm

Yeah I agree. But then if people start having a go at him for being a homophobe. Then the GOD crew come out saying they are being bigoted against Christianity.

That one never ends!!

by kwinigolfer Thu 23 May 2013, 5:18 pm

It was a tweet in support of an ESPN reporter called Chris Broussard who Twittered something about the sinfulness of homosexual relationships - think I've sanitised it a bit.
And Bubba wrote: "Thanks Chris Broussard for sharing your faith and the bible. GodisGood."

The continued regurgitation of bible-punching dogma by the golfing press, incl golfchannel.com and pgatour.com, with all the bigotry that is coded therein, is mind-boggling.

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