Golf announcers in Anthony Kim race gaffe

After the tempest involving Kelly Tilghman and her 'lynch Tiger' crack, you might assume golf announcers would have realized that race is like the third rail -- touch it and you'll get fried.

Apparently Richard Boxall and Bruce Critchley missed that memo.

Boxall and Critchley are golf announcers on Sky TV and worked last week's HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, won by Sergio Garcia. But the most jarring moment came when the pair were talking on air about rising American star Anthony Kim.

"With all these Chinese people around, I'm not sure if I bumped into him [Kim] in the hotel reception last night," Boxall said. "I'm not sure if it was him."

Because they all look alike, right? Kim is actually of Korean descent and was born in Los Angeles.

Not to be outdone, Critchley added his own cringe-worthy moment. After Kim's approach shot landed well past the pin, the British announcer described Kim as wearing a look of "oriental surprise," according to the Irish Independent.

As Independent writer Karl MacGinty put it, "Sky's European Tour commentary team sometimes forget the audience extends far beyond their local pub back home. There are people of all creeds and colors now watching the game -- in every part of the world."

Comments

[Asian surprise]

OMG....I am Asian or Oriental...and I laughed my head off on this! I did not take offense to either remark. Those people whose skin is too thin should try growing up Chinese in Nebraska in the 70s! Now that's racism! As Sung said, this is just BS about being overly PC, not true racism.

[What is wrong with America?]

White American do not have any grace. Their sense of self-entitlement is going over board.

[kwaninator]

i'd never heard of these commentators
until these offensive comments...what are they flatliners? who are they still? at least anika still has an endorsement...you're fired, dude.

[j. smith]

A black man once called me a cracker and told me that it's not offensive because it's just a name of a food.

I told him I was hurt, and he said it wasn't because he called me "cracker", but it must be because of other reasons, because he said that calling me "cracker" did not offend me and was not racist towards me.

I realized that I had done the same thing earlier in my life. I had called someone "oriental" and told him that it wasn't offensive to him and that I didn't offend him even though he said it did offend him.

Now I realized that I was being a jerk and was just an insecure a-hole. I had subconsciously offended him because at that point in my life, I had amounted to nothing. I was a loser who needed to put other people down just to feel good about myself. And also, my dad was a racist.

I knew I had to get over myself. I didn't want to become one of those old people that were still racists and had no character, empathy, integrity and strength in their lives. Those old people that have accomplished nothing their entire lives.

We are just born into this world, and no one knows why. We don't get to choose if we are beautiful or ugly, black or white, or whatever. We don't even know why we exist.

What can we build out of our own lives? We can accept every race, every color, every religion, every ethnicity, both sexes, all life in general. Opportunities will grow for you in business, in friendship, in all aspects of your life that you can think of.

if and when you decide to grow, you can become anything that you want to be.

[Tom L]

Just what the hell does "Oriental surprise" supposed to mean? Is that somehow different from, you know, regular, good ol'-fashioned surprised? Do Asians have a surprise face that makes set them apart from other people? Ancient Chinese secret? Seriously, I'd like to know.

I realize that in Britain, the term Oriental supposedly has a more benign connotation when used to describe Asians, but to us Americans across the pond, it sounds pretty archaic, outdated, and more than a little racist since we're more used to it being uttered by older people still stuck in a bygone era of powdered wigs and snuff boxes. A rug is Oriental (as in, used to describe inanimate objects). A person (a living, breathing being) is not. I sure don't see too many Westerners referred to as being Occidental in the media, by comparison. No wonder no body takes Britain seriously anymore, and has become a second class world power. Can't get with the times.

And to all those people who are screaming, "We're not racists! The real racists are minorities, and that in such-and-such place, the people are more racist than we are!" That's nice. So what does any of that have to do with the issue of Anthony Kim being referred as Chinese (mistakenly) and having a face of "Oriental surprise" (I still don't understand this reference, so please enlighten me - Is it like a Spanish person having a Latino face? A white person having a pasty O-face? Seriously, what does it mean?). Stop throwing red herrings at us and stick to the issue at hand.

Being white and having access to white privilege means being constantly excused for being ignorant and dismissive of people of color and their culture, which in this case, the announcers have proven themselves to be; ignorant and dismissive. It certainly isn't professional behavior worthy of a live television broadcast.

[OG]

Dear "I'msosickoftheloonyleft"
You've never heard of the case in Texas where a black man and white man were both on probation by the same judge, and the black dude got caught with less than a gram of pot, and got life in prison, while the white guy got caught with cocaine numerous times, and got nothing due to money?
Of course you haven't, you're a moron.
And anytime anyone says "I am not racist, but..." They're saying something stupid.

[Randy]

The idiotic statement these announcers said WAS racist. First off, Anthony Kim is a Korean American. He's not Chinese, never was Chinese, and never will be. Asians have had to put up with these silly demeaning comments from racist whites for years now. As announcers, they should have been more professional and respectful.

And what the heck does the term "Oriental Surprise" mean??? Is that supposed to be some sort of crack at the stereotypical Asian impassiveness?

[Dan]

This is clearly racist, if you belive otherwise, then you're a racist.

[I'msosickoftheloonyleft]

My liberal white college professor once said that all white people are inherently racist."

...and therein lies the problem today...including the media---stupid white people putting themselves down.
90% of the college professors should not be teaching--they are unqualified and just stirring the drink with their left-leaning loony attitudes.
Remember, political correctness is a mental disorder.

[ah]

Think everyone goes to far with this...(not to say there isn't racism or stupid comments) but I had an African American professor in college and posed this question "Who is the most repressed (or think minority treated) when it comes to college? Of course we all said African Americans, Hispanics etc...Nope wrong...It is actually middle class caucasian males. Why? Think...u know that because of giving "equality" minorities can get into colleges with a lot lower SAT scores, because schools need to show diversity, equality etc. Also did a study about 2 court cases in NY some years ago...same scenario of a guy held up another on the subway, stole money and put the guy in the hospital...One perpetrated by a white and another by african american...The white gentleman actually received a 6 yr longer sentence as they tagged on that race played a part...But I forgot only white are racist right? Not saying there isn't racism as some people are just ignorant but it seems as while an attempt is being made to make all equal (which is a great thing) but it also has seemed to skew equality to another extreme...Again I am not racist in any regard and I know racism occurs widely but it doesn't just happen to one race etc

[ah]

Think everyone goes to far with this...(not to say there isn't racism or stupid comments) but I had an African American professor in college and posed this question "Who is the most repressed (or think minority treated) when it comes to college? Of course we all said African Americans, Hispanics etc...Nope wrong...It is actually middle class caucasian males. Why? Think...u know that because of giving "equality" minorities can get into colleges with a lot lower SAT scores, because schools need to show diversity, equality etc. Also did a study about 2 court cases in NY some years ago...same scenario of a guy held up another on the subway, stole money and put the guy in the hospital...One perpetrated by a white and another by african american...The white gentleman actually received a 6 yr longer sentence as they tagged on that race played a part...But I forgot only white are racist right? Not saying there isn't racism as some people are just ignorant but it seems as while an attempt is being made to make all equal (which is a great thing) but it also has seemed to skew equality to another extreme...Again I am not racist in any regard and I know racism occurs widely but it doesn't just happen to one race etc.

[Nuts4GolfinNM]

The quotes are for emphasis, as I intended "them" to be. The point is there is no two way street when it comes to racism. I've seen thousands of organizations that differentiate themselves by race or color-- this "Society,"that "Organization," you name it. How many can you list that use the words Caucasian or White in their name to promote their group, unless, like "White Supremacists," racism is really what is on their mind?

[Michael]

did you really just put "them" in quotations? wow...how's bigotry working out for you? are you getting far in life?

[ourpark]

It is only a statement that was blurted out that seems to fit the scenario for the announcer. Don’t need to get too “uptight” around statement of racial identity. Just concentrate at doing the best at your craft.
It is a lot better now for minorities (including me, a Korean-American) than what it used to be growing up in 70s. If each of the minority groups works at being the best at their endeavor, then the society will direct comments to that individual and not at the race. We, Americans are spending too much of the valuable time criticizing each racial groups for the minor differences rather than the commonly shared values.

[Nuts4GolfinNM]

It isn't racist, it's stupid and ignorant.
Now something like the NAACP--that's racist. Imagine the outcry if the "C" stood for Caucasian. Double standards seem to be okay as long as it's for "them."

[wjwj]

This is not racist. It happens that when you don't grow up around a certain ethnicity it is more difficult to differentiate faces. I can obviously tell my asian friends apart, but I have trouble remembering the names of, say, a group of asain strangers I may meet. It happens because they look a lot different than the people I grew up with, so I therefore have some difficulty noticing the nuances. It's simply a matter of perspective. An alien for example, may have difficulty telling any humans apart because we all "look the same", ie - two legs, two arms, head etc. That's an extreme example, but illustrates the point.

[Sung]

So Steve, you're Korean-American and you don't take offense? Let me guess, you're one of those that pretend that you're white and that racism doesn't affect and try look past it? Wake up! You're still a minority and they're laughing at you not with you.

[Steve]

Have to say that all of these so-called race rows are a joke.

What next? If Phil Mickelson is having a great day with the putter and someone says he is "white hot" are we going to call out the race police?

What is someone hits a weak putt and a commentator says his mother could putt better, are we going to hear calls of sexism?

Its like Woods so-called Disability gaffe the other year.

Storm in a tea cup over absolutely nothing.

Focus on real racism not political correctness.

[andyh]

everyone needs to lighten up. i'm also korean-american but man do people really critique golf announcers.

I do recognize how you can read the racial undertones in his announcement, but seriously -- who thinks he was genuinely trying to be racist? the word "racist" is mis-used these days

chill out people! go to alllooksame.com and have fun :)

[M. McNeill]

"All white people are inherently racist"

Riiiight. Have you ever been overseas? ALL people, regardless of color, are inherently racist. Some are intelligent enough to rise above it. Others aren't. I'm tired of the belief that white people have the market cornered on racism.

[DJ]

>>My liberal white college professor<<

Good Grief.
Koreans and Chinese don't look alike?

Gimme a break. Lighten up, dude.

[Brian Park]

I think we have it all wrong. There is nothing wrong talking about race and injecting it into everyday conversation. The problem happens, as illustrated by Boxall and Critchley, when ignorance precedes educated discourse. There could have been many different constructive angles of race they could have brought into the conversation like how as an Asian American Anthony overcame obstacles to become who he is...etc. Instead they chose to display the sheer ignorance and arrogant thinking that generally is an undertone of the white caucasian mentality. My liberal white college professor once said that all white people are inherently racist. I believe her. Most if not all white people silently think like Boxall and Critchley, they just happened to have a microphone in front of them.