Will this never stop? From ESPN:

“NBC Sports golf analyst Johnny Miller apologized for his description of U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate, saying the comments had “absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity.”

Mediate, a 45-year-old Pennsylvanian of Italian heritage, held a one-stroke lead over Tiger Woods during the fourth round Sunday. Miller said Mediate “looks like the guy who cleans Tiger’s swimming pool.” He also said, “Guys with the name ‘Rocco’ don’t get on the trophy, do they?”

“I apologize to anyone who was offended by my remarks,” Miller said in a statement Friday through NBC. “My intention was to convey my affection and admiration for Rocco’s everyman qualities and had absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity. I chose my words poorly and in the future will be more careful.”

This is ridiculous. I was watching during the telecast and any viewer could discern that he was totally playing off his name and not his ethnicity. Guys named Rocco sound more like fighters, not golfers. As for the pool comment, Rocco is a pudgy guy, whereas Woods is the fittest of all golfers. He does not look like an athlete.

Does this stuff really need to be explained? Do apologies need to be made every time someone is offended? When Johnny Miller says something offensive–believe me–you’ll know it. I bet Rocco would laugh at both his statements. Enough, people. Focus on true bigotry and discrimination. Not a passing comment from a golf announcer that had no malice in it whatsoever.

[tags]Johnny Miller, Rocco Mediate, Tiger Woods, NBC[/tags]