Skip navigation

Miller apologizes for comments on Mediate

NBC Sports commentator says description had nothing to do with ethnicity

Slideshow
Tiger Woods,  Elin Woods
  Tiger and family
Images of star golfer with wife Elin Nordegren and their kids.

more photos

Latest golf video
Phelps wishes Tiger the best
Dec. 18: Michael Phelps comments on Tiger Woods' situation saying he is hoping for the best for Woods and his family during what he is sure is a very difficult time.

Slideshow
Image:
  Tiger Woods in cartoons
See some of the best commentaries on Tiger's scandal.

NBCSports.com

  Golf on NBC
Image: Johnny Miller (left) and Dan Hicks

Next up: ADT Skills Challenge
December 26: 4-6 p.m. ET
December 27: 4-6 p.m. ET
Golf on NBC | '09 schedule

Special feature
ADT Million Dollar Challenge
Play the game. Get the skills. Win big!
Slide show
Year in Pictures 2009 - Sports
Experience an audio slide show of the best sports and news images from around the world and close to home.
Video
  Shot for shot: The back nine and sudden death
June 16: Watch Tiger and Rocco do battle on the back nine, plus an extra sudden-death playoff hole, for the U.S. Open title.

NBC Sports

updated 12:28 p.m. ET June 21, 2008

NEW YORK - NBC Sports golf analyst Johnny Miller apologized for his description of U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate, saying the comments had "absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity.''

Mediate, a 45-year-old Pennsylvanian of Italian heritage, held a one-stroke lead over Tiger Woods during the fourth round Sunday. Miller said Mediate "looks like the guy who cleans Tiger's swimming pool.'' He also said, "Guys with the name 'Rocco' don't get on the trophy, do they?''

"I apologize to anyone who was offended by my remarks,'' Miller said in a statement Friday through NBC. "My intention was to convey my affection and admiration for Rocco's everyman qualities and had absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity. I chose my words poorly and in the future will be more careful.''

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

Woods beat Mediate in a playoff that lasted 19 holes for his third U.S. Open title.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored links