Kelly Tilghman has become the most infamous golf commentator since CBS’s Ben Wright was fired in 1995 for making negative comments about lesbians in women’s golf. In Tilghman’s case, her comments that the only way Tiger Woods could be defeated was if his opponents “lynched him” touched off much more controversy. But as Tilghman came under fire, and an equally controversial Golfweek magazine cover of a noose also stole attention, another female television personality offended a lot of people.
In the case of Dana Jacobson, an on-air employee for ESPN, her comments at a roast honoring Mike Golic offended Christians instead of African Americans. In making derogatory comments regarding Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, Jacobson wound up saying “f- touchdown Jesus” and “f- Jesus” as well. However, Jacobson made her comments at a roast that was not on television, and the story did not include offensive magazine covers or civil rights leaders getting involved. Does that make her comments more or less excusable?
Jacobson was reportedly drunk, according to World Net Daily. Tilghman was presumably sober when she made her comments, which gives her one less excuse to make. Both Jacobson and Tilghman were making their comments under the guise of trying to make a funny joke. This speaks either to how poor their sense of humor is, or how they were unable to think before they tried to make people laugh. It is certain that people in the public eye, as Jacobson and Tilghman are, have to filter themselves before they decide what to say in front of national audiences. Tilghman was more thoughtless because she spoke with a live television audience watching, while Jacobson probably believed her words would never get out because she was at a private roast.
Jacobson was recently punished with a one week suspension, while Tilghman received a two week suspension for her comments. Tilghman’s punishment came on the heels of more severe media coverage. This is partly because of where she made her statement, the fact that it involved the biggest golf star in the world, and the subsequent controversies that followed. Tilghman made a reference to a practice that claimed the lives of thousands of innocent African Americans before they were given their civil rights, according to USA Today. Tilghman had to have recognized how the word “lynch” can trigger strong emotions from African Americans and civil rights leaders, no matter what context it is used in. Even on a small network like the Golf Channel, using such a controversial word on television is a politically correct no-no.
Jacobson’s comments, despite the upset Christian groups, are far less controversial and slightly more acceptable by comparison. They were not made on TV, and did not refer to a practice that killed people for racial purposes. Despite how offensive it may be to use such language about the Christian Lord and Savior, it is not something that sets off as many racial and historical issues as Tilghman’s comments did. Even though Christians may have a right to be offended, it is not as politically incorrect to mock and slander Jesus as it is to make negative comments at African Americans and their tragic pasts, especially in public forums. Whether that is fair or not, or if it is a double standard, is an issue for a whole other debate.
