Skip navigation

Miller apologizes for comments on Mediate

NBC Sports commentator says description had nothing to do with ethnicity

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

Next up: Del Webb Father-Son Challenge
Dec. 5-6: 4-6 p.m. ET, 3-6 p.m. ET
Golf on NBC | '09 schedule

Latest golf video
Woods achieves goal of winning
Nov. 15: Tiger Woods says he put together some good rounds to win in Australia.

Special feature
ADT Million Dollar Challenge
Play the game. Get the skills. Win big!
Slideshow
  What were they thinking?
Check out some of golf's wildest on-course outfits

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers, Game 5
  Phil and family
Take a look at photos of Phil Mickelson, his wife Amy and children.

more photos

Slideshow
Tiger Woods,  Elin Woods
  Tiger and family
Tiger Woods is blessed both on and off the golf course.

more photos

Slideshow
Image: Boston Bruins left wing Sturm and Florida Panthers defenseman Ballard try to control puck in overtime period of their NHL hockey game in Boston
  Week in Sports Pictures
A boxing champ celebrates, a kicker regrets, fans mourn a hero, and much more.

more photos

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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