Miller Apologized For Bonehead Comment

[jshiver15]

Link to Golf.com Article


I don't understand how this guy has a job. It seems like he opens him mouth and stupidity pours out every weekend. I'd rather listen to Bill Walton . . . errr . . . Stephen A. Smith . . . uhhh . . . Marv Albert . . . wait . . . nevermind. They're all pretty terrible.

[Pistol]

I remember Miller talking about Rocco and how a guy named Rocco can't win the US Open can he. I never took it as being demeaning to Italians, but I did take it as an insult to Rocco.

[Diane]

When he said it, I knew some people would take it as being politically incorrect. It did sound like he didn't think someone of Italian descent could win.

[CristieKerr]

I never took at it as anything more than saying guys like Rocco, as in guys ranked that low, everyday jobbers, don't win the US Open. I thought the pool boy comment was an interesting analogy, but that's Johnny Miller. I never once though was derogatory to Rocco or any nationality.

[deronsizemore]

I never took it as derogatory toward Rocco either. Just Johnny making an analogy that guys ranked 150th in the world don't win the US Open.

If you ask me, people are WAY to sensitive these days and read to much into what people say. You really can't say anything anymore without someone out there somewhere taking offense to it and starting a fire storm over it. It would be different if Johnny had said something directly toward Italians, but he didn't, so why can't we just take it for what's worth? A dumb one liner from Johnny Miller, you hear them every week, why is this one different?

I'm not sure if he's officially responded, but I'd guess that Rocco had a good laugh over it and that was the end of it.

[Wazmankg]

Seeing as Italian Americans(Venturi & Calc), who are at least acquiantences if not friends of Miller's, have won majors in the not too distant past I'm sure Rocco's enthnicity was not the target of Miller's comments. How is "looks like Tiger's pool cleaner" in any way a shot at Italians ? It was a playful yet ill-advised shot at Rocco's appearance and "everyman" demeanor. There's nothing to see here.

[jshiver15]

I didn't think it was anything derogatory, either. It was just a STUPID comment. He's been doing this long enough to know if you say something like that, it is going to get negative attention. But then again, he makes STUPID comments all the time.

[Diane]

Originally Posted by Wazmankg

Seeing as Italian Americans(Venturi & Calc), who are at least acquiantences if not friends of Miller's, have won majors in the not too distant past I'm sure Rocco's enthnicity was not the target of Miller's comments. How is "looks like Tiger's pool cleaner" in any way a shot at Italians ? It was a playful yet ill-advised shot at Rocco's appearance and "everyman" demeanor. There's nothing to see here.

Waz - I believe it's this comment that some Italian Americans may be offended by - "Guys with the name 'Rocco' don't get on the trophy, do they?"

[Wazmankg]

Originally Posted by Diane

Waz - I believe it's this comment that some Italian Americans may be offended by - "Guys with the name 'Rocco' don't get on the trophy, do they?"

Maybe but I don't think that's the way he meant it. Could've been "Buster" or "Bubba"... that last one may be a bad example but it wasn't an ethnic slur IMO.

[Diane]

Originally Posted by Wazmankg

Maybe but I don't think that's the way he meant it. Could've been "Buster" or "Bubba"... that last one may be a bad example but it wasn't an ethnic slur IMO.

I don't think he did either, but I do remember thinking at the time that he's going to offend someone.

People may be "overly sensitive", but we all know there are certain stereotypes out there and Miller's comment could easily be taken as stereotyping. Is it a bit deal - no, but I think addressing it was a good idea.

[Pistol]

All things being equal, I believe Miller went more over the line than Kelly Tilghman with her "lynch Tiger" comment.

[Fileygolfer]

What's on the Claret Jug?

Johnny MILLER or John L. MILLER?

[Bulls9999]

As an Italian, I didn't feel the part about "Rocco name on trophy" as insulting, but the part about him looking like the guy who cleans pools is pretty demeaning. I hope Miller gets what he dishes out.

Originally Posted by Pistol

I remember Miller talking about Rocco and how a guy named Rocco can't win the US Open can he. I never took it as being demeaning to Italians, but I did take it as an insult to Rocco.

[Leaguegolf]

Just a thought............Is "Rocco" engraved on any major championship trophy?

Some of you (and you know who you are) will go to great lengths to read something into every word some people say. Was it the smartest thing in the world to say? No, it wasn't. Should it offend you or anyone else? Definitely not. Now if you wanted to make a case that pool boys might be offended.......I could buy that one.

[CristieKerr]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

Just a thought............Is "Rocco" engraved on any major championship trophy?

Some of you (and you know who you are) will go to great lengths to read something into every word some people say. Was it the smartest thing in the world to say? No, it wasn't. Should it offend you or anyone else? Definitely not. Now if you wanted to make a case that pool boys might be offended.......I could buy that one.

Exactly. But this made me think of something, do you think Rocco would really be upset at being Woods' pool boy anyway? I mean seriously, have you seen Elin?!?

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by CristieKerr

Exactly. But this made me think of something, do you think Rocco would really be upset at being Woods' pool boy anyway? I mean seriously, have you seen Elin?!?

I would work at Wood's pool boy in a heart beat. I'm sure his pool boy makes triple what I make as an IT professional.

[JPsuff]

.


I remember him saying that and I didn't see any "issue" then and I don't now. In fact, I sort of chuckled when he said it and thought to myself, "Yeah, I can see that." I don't think he meant any harm by it and I certainly didn't think it would end up being a big deal.


This country is becoming waaaaaay too sensitive about things if you ask me.


Lighten up folks, enjoy your three score and ten and stop sweating the small stuff.



-JP

[fireman07]

I agree with JP..we are way to sensitive these days. They pay Johnny to keep it interesting and he does.

[Dormie]

I'm so glad this happened. It's a wonderful chance for the 'Miller-philes' to stand behind him, and the folks like me who believe he is as over-rated in the booth as anyone in the business to draw attention to another idiotic statement(s) by this man.

The 'cleaning Tiger's pool' comment reminded me of something that Keith Faulk said back when he was pitching for the Red Sox in 2005. He was pitching terribly for a long stretch, getting boo'd on a nightly basis, etc. He said something like, "Should I care if I'm getting boo'd by Johnny from Burger King", referring to the Red Sox fans. He was KILLED for this comment.

I don't get offended by things, especially things that aren't a direct attack on ME. But, both of his comments are certainly fair game for being interpreted the way they were.

Hopefully this will serve as a wake up call for Miller. Maybe it will compel him to actually prepare for his job rather than spending 4 hours making ill-advised comments and stating things in the form of questions to his on-course reporters.

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by Dormie

Hopefully this will serve as a wake up call for Miller. Maybe it will compel him to actually prepare for his job rather than spending 4 hours making ill-advised comments and stating things in the form of questions to his on-course reporters.

By all accounts, Miller prepares for his job more diligently than most. There are those that don't like the way he performs his job but he's going to have those no matter what he does. My bet is that you have co-workers that feel the same about you. Don't we all?

It's no secret that I happen to like Johnny and while I don't always agree with everything he says I find him knowledgeable and entertaining. Oddly enough, those are the two traits I judge any sports announcers by.

[CristieKerr]

Originally Posted by Dormie

Hopefully this will serve as a wake up call for Miller. Maybe it will compel him to actually prepare for his job rather than spending 4 hours making ill-advised comments and stating things in the form of questions to his on-course reporters.

I am not a Miller fan in any stretch, but even with my dislike for him I can't possibly reason that he meant these in any derogatory way. It was just Johnny being Johnny and trying to come up with a way to make Rocco look like the common man; especially compared to possibly the greatest golfer that ever lived.