Not Your Best Work

I was going to do a Rundown from the Run-down but I decided one story needed its own post.

Now I am sure Golfweek magazine thought that putting a noose on its cover to highlight the Kelly Tilghman controversy was a good idea that might sell more issues and capitalize on her comments.

I am going to go out on a limb here and say that no one who is African-American took any part in the decision to place the above image on the cover. Tiger's the only prominent African-American (among other races) in the sport today, so I'm guessing there aren't too many working at Golfweek either. And they probably didn't see The Great Debaters either.

I really don't care what they thought they were trying to say because this image is in poor taste. The lighting gives the noose an ominous look, too, which I'm sure was intended but did not achieve the intended effect.

Some might liken it to putting a burning cross or a swastika on the cover, but the difference here is that the noose is not only used to kill, but to kill a particular race of people.

This from the New York Times:

Dave Seanor, the editor, said the intention was not to be “racially
provocative,” but to illustrate a noose tightening around Tilghman, the Golf
Channel and golf.

He said: “There weren’t a lot of other ideas for the cover;
either you put Kelly out there or this image, which is emblematic of what this
controversy is about.”

The magazine, with a circulation of 160,000, nearly
all of it by subscription, has received about 100 to 150 demands for
cancellations, but as far as was known, no advertisers have pulled out.

I will tackle this in pieces. First, well if that was the intention, then why isn't there a picture of a noose tightening around Tilghman's neck? Too much? Well so is the noose. Especially with recent noose placings around the country fueling racial episodes, most notably in Jena, Louisiana.

Second, if you are the editor of a publication, never in your life should you ever explain why you went with a poor choice by there were not many other ideas. Put a picture of Kelly, a picture of Tiger, or a picture of Kelly and Tiger. Anything but a noose.

And I haven't read the article but I am sure it is not some great expository on race in golf.

Magazines are struggling now as it is. While 100 people might not make a huge difference to a subscriber base of 160,000, I wonder how many people won't pick it up off the newstands, and if those 100 might turn into more as this story gains traction. My guess would be that none of that would make a dent in their bottom line now, but just wait until Reverend Al leads the boycott. Be afraid, Golfweek, be very afraid.