As the
Senior Editor of the African American Golfers Digest and as an African American
male in the United States of America I am appalled and extremely offended by
the recent remarks made by professional golfer Sergio Garcia. Garcia made these remarks in response to a
question posed to him concerning Tiger Woods and their much publicized verbal
battle in the media after the 2013 Players Championship.
His
comments were not only inappropriate, and hurtful they were racist and
insensitive. In this day and age
comments of this nature have no place in society and certainly not in the game
of golf. Sergio’s remarks are reminiscent
of similar remarks made by professional golfer Fuzzy Zoeller after Tiger’s win
at the 1997 Masters Tournament. Moeller’s remarks were wrong and hurtful then
and sixteen years later the racial tone associated to Sergio Garcia’s remarks are
just as inappropriate. Comments of this
nature dredge up thoughts of a sad and disgraceful period in this country’s
history not only to African American’s but to people of all races and walks of
life.
I am
sure that Sergio Garcia and his team will draft a response to his actions and
work diligently to address this issue in a timely manner. However, Garcia will
not a get a pass from me. Regardless of
how off the cuff or stupid his comments were they point to his mindset and to a
racist belief system that he possesses. It is clear that Tiger Woods and Sergio
Garcia have always had a tenuous relationship at best both on and off the golf
course, but the comments uttered by Sergio Garcia clearly cross the line of
basic decorum and decency.
I call
on Sergio Garcia and his sponsors to take immediate and appropriate action to
rectify his actions. A failure to issue a sincere and meaningful apology will
only cause this regretful situation to get worse. The fact that Sergio Garcia
isn’t willing to admit to the racist overtones of his comments only goes to show
his lack of concern and sensitivity about the struggles, challenges and painful
history of the African American experience.
Sergio Garcia’s press conference this
morning did very little to change my mind or my views on this sad and unfortunate
situation. I urge both Taylormade Golf, Adidas Golf and Sergio Garcia’s other
sponsors to address this issue immediately
and make sure that the players who represent their brands don’t possess such racist
and insensitive mindsets and attitudes.
Edward Wanambwa
GolfWiz Blog
GolfWiz Blog
#golf_writer
I am dismayed that a website, under the auspices of Mr. Arnold Palmer (www.golfchannel.com) would permit racist postings, with no moderator, as to condone such postings directed at Mr. Woods , directly, and the African-American community indirectly; because Mr. Woods had been unfaithful to his wife it permits an 'open season' of slanderous & racist comments and that he has brought this on himself. In the words of the European Tour chief executive George O’Grady "Most of Sergio’s friends are colored athletes in the United States, and he is absolutely abject in his apology and we accepted it".
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am appalled by the views expressed on golfchannel.com and the lack of sensitivity by the golf community.