Johnny Miller apologized Friday for
comments that appeared to reflect negatively on the Italian heritage of Rocco
Mediate, the popular runner-up to Tiger
Woods in the United States Open.
During
Sundays fourth round, Miller said that Mediate looks like the guy who
cleans Tigers swimming pool. Later, while discussing the unlikely
prospect that Mediate might win, he said that guys with the name of Rocco
dont get on the trophy, do they?
I chose
my words poorly and in the future will be more careful, Miller said in a
statement. He added that his intention was to convey my affection and
admiration for Roccos everyman qualities and had absolutely nothing to do
with his heritage.
The apology by
Miller, NBCs lead golf analyst, came after two Italian-American groups
protested his remarks, with one of them (Sons of
Italy) demanding that NBC suspend him.
In a letter sent
Tuesday to Dick Ebersol, the chairman of NBC Sports, A. Kenneth Ciongoli, the chairman of the National Italian American Foundation,
wrote: We are certain that NBC and Mr. Miller meant no harm and was simply
having some fun at the expense of Italian Americans. Nonetheless, this type
of humor is problematic as it reinforces a demeaning and damaging stereotype
about an entire ethnic group.
Ciongoli said that his letter
is not meant to be an attack upon NBC, but rather to be an illumination of
a problem that continues to trouble our society.
The perpetuation of negative stereotypes and demeaning language hurts us
all, he said.
But Anthony Baratta, the president of the Order Sons of Italy in