2010 Hasn't Been Good for Black Male Icons Like Tiger Woods or President Obama

This is the time of year when people begin doing the "Best of 2010" lists. I know at least two people who won't be on those lists -- Tiger Woods and President Barack Obama.

Tiger Woods didn't win a single golf tournament in 2010. That is the first time he's been shut-out of the victory celebration in many moons. Now, I need to admit that I don't play golf ... nor do I watch it unless Tiger is in the mix. As such, I haven't had many weekends in 2010 where golf was on the television. However, I was watching the Chevron World Challenge today. I thought that Tiger would end the year with a win. Instead I ended up watching the greatest comeback ever against Tiger Woods. Tiger had a 4-shot lead when the day began ... but, he ended up losing in the first playoff hole.

Woods had never lost a tournament as a pro when leading by at least three shots going into the final round. But, it happened this year ... 2010 ... a bad year for Black male icons.

President Obama is having a terrible year as well. I can still remember how I cried when I watched Obama giving his victory speech after the Iowa primaries in early 2008. I remember how proud and happy I was when he won the presidency in November 2008. I have watched him deliver on some big promises with health care reform, Wall Street reform and many, many, many other things in the first 23 months of his presidency.

However, 2010 has been a disaster for President Obama. His party took historic losses in the mid-term elections last month. And now it seems that the GOP leadership in the congress is rolling him every which way on issues like middle-class tax cuts, START treaty and unemployment insurance. My president is event getting elbowed in his backyard pick-up basketball games.

I started to add LeBron James to this list ... but, he did give a butt-whipping to the Cleveland fans ... so I 'spose that LeBron is not having as bad a year after all.

Tracy McGrady Seeks Peace, Protection and Punishment in Darfur

Professional athletes rarely show their political leanings. They think that it might have a negative impact on their earning potential. It began with Michael Jordan back in 1990 when Republican incumbent Jesse Helms, a segregationist, was running a racially tinged senatorial campaign against the up-and-coming Black mayor of Charlotte, Democrat Harvey Gantt. It was clear for weeks leading up to the election that the race would turn on a narrow margin, and it occurred to Gantt's backers that a certain beloved native of the state could make a huge impact on the race with a single quote or a brief photo op. So they approached Michael Jordan. Declining to get involved, Jordan offered this explanation: "Republicans buy sneakers too."

Tiger Woods followed the lead of Jordan when he declined to endorse Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election. Jim Brown called out Tiger on his lack of social activism.

A couple of years ago LeBron James turned down opportunity to take a stand against the genocide in Darfur.

So, it brought a smile to my face when I learned that Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady will switch jersey numbers next season to help raise awareness for his Darfur humanitarian project. He'll give up his "1" jersey in favor of a "3" jersey in effort to raise attention for the “3 Points” documentary.

The “3 Points” refer to the goals of peace, protection and punishment in Darfur, with McGrady seeking peace and protection for those forced into camps and punishment for those involved in the Darfur violence.

Once You Go Black...

Villagers are gathering around the baobob tree to consider some of the mysteries of the world. Today, we share the following observations for your consideration:

• The most powerful politician in the world is Black.
• The best golfer in the world is Black.
• The best female tennis player in the world is Black.
• The fastest racing driver in the world is Black.
• The fastest sprinter in the world is Black.

Michael Jackson must be kicking himself!

If It is OK to 'Lynch' Tiger Woods ... Is It OK to 'Gas' a Jewish Golfer?

Drumbeats from SerenityLife told us about recent comments from broadcaster Kelly Tilghman who said young golfers challenging Tiger Woods should "lynch" him. Tilghman uttered the remark during coverage of Hawaii's Mercedes-Benz Championship on Friday, while she and and co-host Nick Faldo were bantering about how young golfers might challenge ever-dominant Woods.

Faldo said, "To take Tiger on, well yeah, they should just gang up for a while until ..."

"Lynch him in a back alley," Tilghman interrupted with a chuckle.

Woods says he considers Tilghman a friend, saw no malicious intent in remark. Villagers, at what point do we hold people accountable for hate-speech. I disagree with Tiger Woods. It is very malicious to indicate on public television that there is something to 'chuckle' about when you indicate that a Black man should be 'lynched'.

I'm confident that Ms. Tighman would not have chuckled in talking about a Jewish golfer and indicating that his opponents should 'gas him in a back alley'. She would know from her upbringing and from societial pressures that talking about gassing a Jewish person is beyond the pale. Just like talking about lynching a Black man is beyond the pale as well.

Brothers and sisters ... enough is enough! I agree with Al Sharpton on this one. Tilghman should be fired. Just like Imus. Just like Al Campanis. Just like any public figure that publically chuckles about lynching of a Black man. It is unacceptable in America and Tilghman should be called on the carpet about it. I'm uncertain if a two-week suspension is enough.

The Golf Channel, founded in 1991 by media entrepreneur Joseph Gibbs, employs 300+ people at their corporate headquarters in Orlando FL. Does anyone have contact information for Mr. Gibbs? If not, then I encourage you to express your feelings on Ms. Tilghman's racist comments directly to the The Golf Channel website.

I don't consider myself a "politically correct vigilante". I simply realize that the history of lynching is such in our country that it should never be a joking matter.

What say u?