Sometimes it’s just better not to speak on some things and wait until they go away…which they always do. Obviously this is a lesson that European PGA Tour chief George O’Grady had to learn the hard way.
During an interview Thursday, O’Grady attempted to come to the defense of Garcia by saying many of his friends are “colored athletes.”
“We know the connotation in the United States. We accept all races on the European Tour; we take it very strongly. Most of Sergio’s friends are colored athletes in the United States, and he is absolutely abject in his apology and we accepted it.
All races play on the European Tour, and that’s how we want to keep it. He is abject in his apology and we are moving on.”
Oh that lame yet so often used, “I have a black friends” defense. Moving on? Well not so fast Georgy Porgy.
After sticking that ever so big foot in his mouth, he ffered an apology of his own:
“I deeply regret using an inappropriate word in a live interview for Sky Sports for which I unreservedly apologize.”
I’m not sure what time period O’Grady is living in, but the term “Colored” hasn’t been used for decades and is often viewed as just as offensive as Sergio’s friend chicken remarks.
When I hear comments like these I just shake my head. It’s a sad reminder that no matter how educated, accomplished, rich, or famous, there are still a lot of people who will think you are less than because of the color of your skin. Tiger may not consider himself black, but I’m sure that day he was reminded that the rest of the world does.