The Best Chinese Golfer: Tiger Woods

[D_Whoa]

Here's a question that's been burning in my mind for a long time - how come Tiger Woods is always described as an African American golfer? Before you argue that it's because his dad is black, look at his family tree - his dad is only partly African American (Earl's actually 1/4 Chinese!); Tiger's mom is 1/2 Chinese (and 1/2 Thai). So, Tiger is almost 40% Chinese, and 5/8th East Asian.

I hate when the media turns someone's accomplishments into a racial issue, but if they're going to do it, they might as well at least get the person's race right. I guess it makes for a better story, but it's completely inaccurate and we as thinking human beings shouldn't put up with the media focusing on the catchier headline. How stupid/superficial do you have to be to look at someone, see dark skin, and call him black?

It's about 14 years overdue, but from now on, if someone refers to Tiger Woods as African-American, please correct them - he's more asian than he is black. Kudos to Tiger for never acknowledging that he's a black athlete - he gets a lot of flak in the African American community (see Nas' song, "These are our Heroes" for one example) for not doing enough for black golfers, but the answer is simple - he knows who he is, and is not so weak as to appeal to the masses while selling out his own personal history.

[racmbs]

Shouldn't it be up to Tiger to decide what race he wants to represent? I for one won't make it a point to correct anyone, if someone refers to him as African American or Chinese for that matter as I feel it's irrelevant.

And in all honesty....who really cares. I've been following him since NCAA and never gave a hoot whether he was white/black/hispanic/chinese or 5/8, 1/4, 1/2 of anything.

[D_Whoa]

Shouldn't it be up to Tiger to decide what race he wants to represent? I for one won't make it a point to correct anyone, if someone refers to him as African American or Chinese for that matter as I feel it's irrelevant.


If only life were that simple my friend. If only.

To your second point, no one refers to him as Chinese, even though he is. That's the problem.

[racmbs]

If only life were that simple my friend. If only.

To your second point, no one refers to him as Chinese, even though he is. That's the problem.

But that's my point bro, WHO CARES if he's black or chinese?

All that matters is he's a great golfer and that's all I look at him as and nothing more. Aside from what he does outside of the sport, which is amazing, as far as I'm concerned he's just the greatest golfer to have ever lived period. I really don't care what the media considers him as far as race goes and I really don't think he does either, or he'd have already corrected them publicly.

Seems to me like you are trying to turn this into a racial debate.

[guitarman]

But that's my point bro, WHO CARES if he's black or chinese?

All that matters is he's a great golfer and that's all I look at him as and nothing more. Aside from what he does outside of the sport, which is amazing, as far as I'm concerned he's just the greatest golfer to have ever lived period. I really don't care what the media considers him as far as race goes and I really don't think he does either, or he'd have already corrected them publicly.

Seems to me like you are trying to turn this into a racial debate.

I agree totally. Greatest golfer ever to have lived. I don't even think about the race. And I guess I should be careful since I've already been accused of a racial slur.

If only life were that simple my friend. If only.

To your second point, no one refers to him as Chinese, even though he is. That's the problem.

I am half native and half white. I don't feel it is of any importance to declare that I am more one than the other. My actions and the examples that I leave will declare the kind of man I am. I'm sure that Tigers legacy in the public will be that he was the greatest golfer to have ever lived.

[D_Whoa]

But that's my point bro, WHO CARES if he's black or chinese?

All that matters is he's a great golfer and that's all I look at him as and nothing more. Aside from what he does outside of the sport, which is amazing, as far as I'm concerned he's just the greatest golfer to have ever lived period. I really don't care what the media considers him as far as race goes and I really don't think he does either, or he'd have already corrected them publicly.

Seems to me like you are trying to turn this into a racial debate.

Tiger has publicly stated his preferences, and as I said, it's to not be referred to as simply black. HE CARES! But everyone keeps referring to him as black, because he has dark skin. You may not care because you only see humans as "shapes" and "auras", or maybe you have a latent opinion unexpressed here, but if you ask the average person on the street, they'll tell you Tiger's black. Test it out yourself sometime.

He is arguably the greatest golfer of all time (that's not unanimous, yet), but one cannot overstate the tertiary importance of Tiger as a representative for human achievement beyond the game of golf.

Please believe that I'm not the one turning this into a racial debate - we need discourse on this topic, otherwise it becomes one-sided and dominated by what the media reports (i.e. Tiger Woods is a black athlete). This is completely wrong based on a) what Tiger says, and b) the facts. This is the thing that kills me - Tiger has publicly said he's not black many times, yet people view him as black. If anything, I'm not trying to turn this into a racial debate - I'm trying to get people to stop referring to Tiger as black, because it's just plain wrong.

[Hombre Lefty]

Not to be a cynic, but I think it would be reasonable to assume that the people most concerned about Tiger's "chinese - ness" would be chinese people eager to claim him as one of their own.... I doubt tiger loses a whol lot of sleep over it. Justifiably, Tiger gets associated primarily with the ethnicities of his two parents - Earl, a predominantly African American, and Kutilda, who may be part Chinese, but is Thai by nationailty. So he gets described as half thai and half black.

BTW side point - I used to live in thailand, and 80% of the population claims chinese heritage even where none exists because of the socio-economic cachet it brings (most of the upper class in thailand is of chinese descent, most of the lower class of Lao or Khmer descent) So my point is, he is definitely far more thai than chinese in heritage and upbringing. But lets not kid ourselves, who really needs an ethnic dissection of the man when he grew up in the states and is as american as baseball and liposuction. Unlike someone like stephen ames who gets feted as a "canadian" when he never even saw the country until he was an adult and still has a thick accent and can't even play for canada internationally.

[discomonkey]

Unlike someone like stephen ames who gets feted as a "canadian" when he never even saw the country until he was an adult and still has a thick accent and can't even play for canada internationally.

Really?!?! So what was all the commotion about picking Mike Weir over Stephen Ames? If the man can't play for Canada, and you want to pick a Canadian player, then you've got to go with Weir... no?

[Leftygolfer30]

I'm trying to get people to stop referring to Tiger as black, because it's just plain wrong.

Good to hear - I'm sure Tiger will sleep better at night knowing that you have posted on this forum and are out there speaking on his behalf :rolleyes:

[racmbs]

I'm trying to get people to stop referring to Tiger as black, because it's just plain wrong.

You are preaching to the wrong people my friend....it's OK to jump on top of the soap box for a good cause, but you are not going to get the kind of support you are after on this site....because NOBODY cares if Tiger Woods is black or chinese. All we care about (well, I can't speak for all but am certain I'm right), is that he is the greatest golfer to have ever lived.....pointe finale.

Now....if you want to talk about things that make ya wanna go, hmmm?

Paula Creamer has more facial hair than me...and I can prove it.

[Leftygolfer30]

Paula Creamer has more facial hair than me...and I can prove it.

She also has more body hair than you, you little girl! :rofl:

[racmbs]

She also has more body hair than you, you little girl! :rofl:

Many a woman, have complemented me on my nice legs. :D

[landlord]

Tiger can be what he wants. We're all mongrels anyway if you go back far enough. The thing is, though, most Americans will tell you that in the U.S., 1/8 African = African. That's why it is what it is.

[Leftygolfer30]

Many a woman, have complemented me on my nice legs. :D

Were they lesbians? :rofl:

[D_Whoa]

Tiger can be what he wants. We're all mongrels anyway if you go back far enough. The thing is, though, most Americans will tell you that in the U.S., 1/8 African = African. That's why it is what it is.

Thank you for at least acknowledging that he is viewed as black based on the common North American practice of referring to (it's not just those in the U.S.) mulattos, doubloons, quadroons, etc., etc., as African American.

Based on the protests, I couldn't have stumbled upon a more colour-blind, idealistic group of people. Obviously, I am preaching to the choir. Maybe Whitney Houston was right - maybe the children are the future. And they've all congregated on a site about golf, and despite being on the '19th Hole', care only about the most objective, quantifiable aspects of life - that, extrapolating out in a linear fashion and barring psychological and physical breakdown, Tiger Woods will go down as the greatest golfer of all time.

BTW, Stephen Ames is Canadian. In my version of Canada, if you are a citizen of this country, pay your taxes, and proudly claim your status, you are down by law as much as the next man, even if his name is Mike Weir. To suggest otherwise would not only violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it would also disabuse the casual reader of the notion that this isn't the forum for perfectly politically correct, colour-blind, 100% rational golf fans.

[jayda]

Were they lesbians? :rofl:

watch out what you say Terry! :hush: I got a Pm from a MOD because I said "GXX" :confused: :eek:

[guitarman]

watch out what you say Terry! :hush: I got a Pm from a MOD because I said "GXX" :confused: :eek:

I'll beat that by a long shot. I got warned for saying "People".

[D_Whoa]

Unlike someone like stephen ames who gets feted as a "canadian" when he never even saw the country until he was an adult and still has a thick accent and can't even play for canada internationally.

That's very nice, by the way. That should make the thousands of immigrants to this country (with "thick" accents) struggling to fit in every year feel like they belong. Who are as Canadian as you or me. At least, that's what their citizenship cards say...unless, *shock*, what you say you are is not always how you're perceived *cough* *Tiger Woods*.

No one should be so naive as to think that people aren't judgmental, based on appearance, accent, etc. - this just proves it. So, go back, re-read my original post, and mull it over for a day or two.

[racmbs]

Based on the protests, I couldn't have stumbled upon a more colour-blind, idealistic group of people. Obviously, I am preaching to the choir.

Well, at least you are getting it now. I for one, don't come on here to talk about race/color/creed, I come on here to talk about golf and maybe a little bit of current events. The rest of my time on here is left for causing turmoil as I haven't quite grown up just yet. I'm leaving that part up to my wife to take care of for me. :D

Your post is aimed at ramming your stance on what Tiger should be viewed as and to be quite frank, puts you in a tougher spot then before you even wrote your post. It's ok to tell people how you feel about Tiger, but it's certainly not OK to make people feel as if they should act as one of your minions by spreading the good word that Tiger is x/x/x Chinese and shouldn't be considered African American.

Sometimes man, we are just better off keeping our opinions to ourselves, especially when it converges on a matter of race and/or religious beliefs.

And I still stand behind my first assumption of your post....you are just trying to start something and your post WILL incite a riot my friend. ;)

[LowPost42]

I am half native and half white. I don't feel it is of any importance to declare that I am more one than the other. My actions and the examples that I leave will declare the kind of man I am.

As a half native living in Canada, I would certainly say that there are certain advantages in the tax world for declaring yourself more one than the other. :eek: :hush:

I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'. :D

[D_Whoa]

Your post is aimed at ramming your stance on what Tiger should be viewed as and to be quite frank, puts you in a tougher spot then before you even wrote your post. It's ok to tell people how you feel about Tiger, but it's certainly not OK to make people feel as if they should act as one of your minions by spreading the good word that Tiger is x/x/x Chinese and shouldn't be considered African American.

Sometimes man, we are just better off keeping our opinions to ourselves, especially when it converges on a matter of race and/or religious beliefs.

;)

So you're now telling people how they should post on this site? I'm just stating the facts. I didn't say one racist thing.

Sometimes, man, we are just better off keeping our advice to ourselves.

When I want to speak up on an issue that I feel passionate about, I will. I didn't say one thing that was offensive about anybody's race, so why the weak knees over "race and/or religious beliefs", like it's the boogey man? You know that thing you do with your tv when you don't like what's on? Well, on the internet, c'est la mêmechose.

[racmbs]

So you're now telling people how they should post on this site? I'm just stating the facts. I didn't say one racist thing.

Sometimes, man, we are just better off keeping our advice to ourselves.

When I want to speak up on an issue that I feel passionate about, I will. I didn't say one thing that was offensive about anybody's race, so why the weak knees over "race and/or religious beliefs", like it's the boogey man? You know that thing you do with your tv when you don't like what's on? Well, on the internet, c'est la mêmechose.

It's clear you just don't get it....

Enjoy your rant, don't slip off of your soap box.

[Big Shooter]

My favourite Chinese Golfer is Tiger Woo!! :D

[Bellyhungry]

Here's my theory:

This little fact is propogated by the IMG. They want to expand the Tiger Woods brand into the emerging Chinese market. What marketing tool is more effective than telling your target audience that the person selling them stuff is not just merely the more recognizable athlete in the world, but one of their very own?

There you have it...

[dekker]

everybody wants a slice of a winner.

[racmbs]

My favourite Chinese Golfer is Tiger Woo!! :D


Mine too, but I've also heard is 1/8 Black. :rolleyes:

[leftintherough]

I'll beat that by a long shot. I got warned for saying "People".

Well, you should know better! People can be taken so many different ways !!

[dekker]

Well, you should know better! People can be taken so many different ways !!

I like the Baba Streisand version of People myself

[D_Whoa]

It's clear you just don't get it....

Enjoy your rant, don't slip off of your soap box.

If you truly don't care about one's ethnicity, I'm just guessing you wouldn't have the Scottish flag as your identifier.

Here's my theory:

This little fact is propogated by the IMG. They want to expand the Tiger Woods brand into the emerging Chinese market. What marketing tool is more effective than telling your target audience that the person selling them stuff is not just merely the more recognizable athlete in the world, but one of their very own?

There you have it...

Considering that no one considers Tiger Woods as being more Chinese than anything else (except for me, Tiger, and his mom), I think your conspiracy theory may be misguided. Tiger's going to need ILM more than IMG to make people believe he's Chinese!

[Bellyhungry]

Considering that no one considers Tiger Woods as being more Chinese than anything else (except for me, Tiger, and his mom), I think your conspiracy theory may be misguided. Tiger's going to need ILM more than IMG to make people believe he's Chinese!

Tiger thinks he is Chinese? That's news to me...

As far as my misguided theory...I won't classify it as a conspiracy, ratherm It is just a probability.

[laxgolf]

From now on, I'd like everyone to refer to me as French Canadian.

[jayda]

how about me as Chinese Canadian? LOL!

[dekker]

Tiger thinks he is Chinese? That's news to me...

As far as my misguided theory...I won't classify it as a conspiracy, ratherm It is just a probability.

Belly...,that angle is not far off and has possibilities once the mainland chinese get over their historic xenophobia.

[racmbs]

If you truly don't care about one's ethnicity, I'm just guessing you wouldn't have the Scottish flag as your identifier.

I'm actually French Canadian and Scottish, should I have a dual flag posted to make your whiney @ss all the more happy?

You are sounding more and more like a racist to me, and your only intention here was to clearly start a friggin' war to satisfy your retarded mentality.

Once again, I say it so you can understand it more clearly.

WHO FRIGGIN CARES IF TIGER WOODS IS CHINESE OR BLACK.


Obiviously, only YOU.

how about me as Chinese Canadian? LOL!

No such thing bro, you are either Chinese, or Canadian....now which is it? Any chance you have some black in you too?

No wait, I've seen you dance....you clearly don't have any black in you. :D

[guitarman]

I'm actually French Canadian and Scottish, should I have a dual flag posted to make your whiney @ss all the more happy?



Nope you have to pick one.:D

[racmbs]

Nope you have to pick one.:D

Ok....then, I want to be.....Chinese....

'cause they have some fine lookin' women and they don't even give us Scottsman a second glance and it's racist I tell you, RACIST. :rofl:

[Jaytee]

Anyone see the Dave Chappelle skit where all the different races have draft picks? With the first pick, the blacks draft Tiger Woods, he goes up and says "Good Bye Fried Rice, Hello Fried Chicken". Then the Chinese are upset, but then they go ahead and draft the Wu Tang Clan. Hahah. Chappelle is a comic genious. :D

[jayda]

No such thing bro, you are either Chinese, or Canadian....now which is it? Any chance you have some black in you too?

No wait, I've seen you dance....you clearly don't have any black in you. :D

I will be the next to quit TGN... :hush: :fingersx: :D

[LowPost42]

everybody wants a slice of a winner.

That's awesome. I'm making it my sig.

Edit - oops. There's an 'a' in there. OK, I'm making my misread/misquote my sig.

[el tigre]

I hate when the media turns someone's accomplishments into a racial issue, but if they're going to do it, they might as well at least get the person's race right. Actually no, they just shouldn't do it all...

... and on that note, I think it is time to close down this thread before it gets out of hand.