Earl Woods not surprised by Zoeller comments
By RON SIRAK
AP Golf Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Tiger Woods' father is not surprised at the
racially insensitive remarks by Fuzzy Zoeller but is disappointed
the comments distracted from his son's Masters victory.
Earl Woods, who said be believed Zoeller's remarks about fried
chicken and collard greens were meant as a joke, also said Thursday
his son waited three days to accept Zoeller's apology because
he was unaware of the controversy.
"I was shocked that he said it in the venue he said it
in," said Earl Woods, referring to Zoeller's comments from
Augusta National on the final day of the Masters. "But I'm
not surprised that he said it. I've heard him say worse. Fuzzy
is a jokester."
Woods, in New York to promote his book, "Training a Tiger,"
said he knows Zoeller and felt his remarks were meant not as a
slur but as an indication of the significance of his son's victory.
"It was more of a focus on the racial aspects of Tiger
winning the Masters," Woods said.
The remarks were broadcast by CNN-SI the Sunday following the
Masters and Zoeller apologized the next day. Woods did not accept
the apology until Thursday night of that week.
"We found out about it on Wednesday," the elder Woods
said. "Monday we were in Chicago to tape the Oprah show.
Then we flew to Portland (Ore.) and had very intense talks with
Nike on Tuesday and on Wednesday we went our separate ways. I
went home and Tiger went to be with his friend Kevin Costner on
location at his movie somewhere in Oregon."
Woods said he was surprised at the intensity of the reaction
to Zoeller's remarks.
"I think the story took on a life of its own," Woods
said. "Tiger and I both felt that we should accept the apology
and move on to bigger things."
Meanwhile, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Thursday
he had not spoken with Zoeller since the golfer made similar joking
remarks on Monday.
"I think the concerns I have are better left to private
conversations - as is my policy - with the player involved,"
Finchem said while at the PGA Tour event in Houston.
Victor McBryde, the black businessman who engaged in the verbal
exchange with Zoeller on Monday, said Zoeller merely joined in
the joking started by others.
"I think it was incorrect to say that Fuzzy started it
or initiated it or caused the problem," McBryde told The
Associated Press. "We initiated the conversation with him."
Asked about Zoeller's original comments after the Masters,
McBryde said:
"I think if it had been Costantino Rocca he would have
said we would have spaghetti," McBryde said. "I don't
think he meant any harm. That's just the way he is. He's a joker.
He has apologized over and over and I feel bad for him."
Woods said the reaction to Zoeller's comments showed how important
race is in this country.
"Race issues are an integral part of our society,"
Woods said. "There is conflict, communication and hopefully
cooperation."
Earl Woods also defended his son's decision to turn down an
invitation from President Clinton to be part of the Jackie Robinson
tribute at Shea Stadium the Tuesday after the Masters.
"It was not a slight of the president," Woods said.
"It was an acknowledgment that Jackie Robinson deserved his
day in court. He did not want to do anything to detract from that
- and he wanted to enjoy his Masters victory."
Woods, 64, also said it was possible be would need further
heart surgery. He had a bypass operation in February.
"They wanted to go back in," he said. "We will
evaluate it when I get back home" at the end of the month.
And he said it was unlikely Tiger would ever again play competitively
more than three weeks in a row.
"It's mostly the mental exhaustion," Woods said.
Asked about his son's comment last week that he thought of
himself as a Cablinasian - referring to his Caucasian, black,
American Indian and Asian heritage - Woods said:
"I think of him as an American - an American golfer,"
he said.
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