Let me be clear, what Stevie Williams said re Tiger was distasteful. " My aim was to ram it up his black arse**** "
Now please consider the following..
* this was a private function in the players hotel, off the record, no press invited, an annual event, the Caddy's Award Night, tons of booze, ribald off colour humour, most of it at the expense of the caddy's, no holds barred type of evening, highly anticipated, hugely enjoyed.
* Williams, a veteran at the top of the food chain, wasn't planning on attending, he's been there done that, but was told he was getting an award for the best celebration, so he went
* after getting the "award" for his remarks after Scott won the WGC- Bridgestone, their first win together in their first event, he was asked why he said it was "the best win of my life" he made the distasteful remark in response, I'm told,to much hilarity I might add.
(incidently, when Williams said it was the "best win of my life", it was the media at Bridgestone who ran after him asking for his opinion, his quote, his reaction.. he didn't seek out the media, then the same media rip him for the very quote they were hoping for !!)
* it should have stayed in the room along with all the other remarks and activities of the night, but several British scribes, now in the bar after a night out in Shanghai were told about it, off the record, by another caddy and or person who had been in the room.
* unable to contain themselves, one of them put the remark out there on twitter.....
* Steve Williams, the PGA Tour, the European Tour, Adam Scott, just about everybody concerned, have subsequently been vilified on TV, radio, the press and of course the Social Media ever since.
* "Ban him, he is a racist, should never caddy again, Scott has to fire him, disgusted with golf's governing bodies, redneck bastard, typical of this white guys sport, etc etc
* Social Media run amok...ignore the facts, react instantly, get more followers..
Now please consider this..
* Adam Scott has completely backed his man and gently chastised the media for publishing anything that was said in their room, on their private night
* both Tim Finchem and George O'Grady have issued a statement saying his remark was unacceptable from the tours point of view, case closed. Calm, sensible, I'm sure they wish they didn't have to, but did.
* Steve Williams and Tiger were boss and caddy, friends, business partners and soul mates for over a decade, as successful a pairing as the golf world has seen. They have shared on a daily basis all kinds of intimate, private details that are none of our business, as they travelled the world. What he said was much less of an issue to Tiger than everyone else..
* unfortunately in my business, the media business as a broadcaster, writer and producer, anything goes now, and I am old school, but that makes me cringe.
* behind the scenes there are editors, TV and radio executives, driven by ratings, driven by a misguided sense of competition that used to be governed by some written and unwritten rules of decency, respect and professionalism, who are openly encouraging, even berating their employees to be first with the story, the more salacious the better, and in the case of the Social Media, in many cases there is no governing body at all.
* it is time to move on, what a great 63 by Kaymer, 29 on the back nine to win, now on to Singapore and Sydney where Adam and Tiger will be.
They will get on with it.. it's time we did as well...
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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