I don't think Rocco Mediate -- wearer of many U.S. Open pins -- would attempt to claim he is the most suave gentleman on the PGA Tour. However, I also don't think that he would agree that he looks like a pool cleaner. (Not that there's anything wrong with cleaning pools; a noble profession if there ever was one.)But Johnny Miller sure thinks he looks like someone who deals with chlorine. After Tiger doubled one and Rocco birdied two for the lead, there were remarks about Rocco requesting a DVD of his Saturday that involved going toe-to-toe with the El Tigre. That prompted Johhny Miller to remark:
Cue the crickets. Actually, there was no huge awkward pause, which is surprising. There may be an awkward moment afterwards though, when Rocco watches the replay of the telecast.Yeah, he's a character; he looks more like the guy who cleans Tiger's swimming pool...
I don't think Miller's commentary actually counts as anything remotely stereotypical, but it sure seems a touch aggressive. Then again, what more can expect from a guy who has fluorescent doughnut looking things on his tie?
UPDATE: Video, in which Johnny Miller gets zero laughs, after the jump.
The U.S. Open
Sergio Garcia of Spain acknowledges the gallery on the 18th green after finishing his fourth round of the US Open championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course on Sunday, June 15, 2008 in San Diego. Garcia finished with a six over par for the tournament. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
AP
Ryuji Imada of Japan wipes his face as he walks off the 18th hole following his fourth round of the US Open championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course on Sunday, June 15, 2008 in San Diego. Imada finished six over par for the tournament. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
AP
Tiger Woods hits from the rough on the first hole during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 15, 2008. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Tiger Woods hits from the rough on the first hole during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 15, 2008. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Tiger Woods looks at his position in the rough before his second shot on the first hole during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 15, 2008. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Tiger Woods reacts after hitting into the rough from the first tee during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 15, 2008. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
SAN DIEGO - JUNE 15: Rocco Mediate misses a birdie putt on the 17th hole during the final round of the 108th U.S. Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 15, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Getty Images
SAN DIEGO - JUNE 15: Rocco Mediate hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the final round of the 108th U.S. Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 15, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Getty Images
SAN DIEGO - JUNE 15: Rocco Mediate chips onto the 14th hole during the final round of the 108th U.S. Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 15, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Getty Images
SAN DIEGO - JUNE 15: Tiger Woods hits a shot during the final round of the 108th U.S. Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 15, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Getty Images
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
6-15-2008 @ 6:26PM
Steve said...
Miller is probably one of the most terrible golf announcers there are. I would rather lister to Tony Kornhieser announce golf that miller they both suck and are misinformed every time they open their mouth.
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6-15-2008 @ 6:37PM
skip said...
i think johnny miller is NOT one of the better announcers of golf. i think NBC is the worst network to cover golf since tv was invented. but, everytime tiger plays, that is all we see...and it really is boring to yak about the guy for five hours every tournament. tiger is good, but we would like to see who else is playing in these tournaments !!! o yeah...who was tiger playing with yesterday ???
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6-15-2008 @ 7:21PM
mike templeton said...
That is not the only ignorant comment from Johnny miller. That old, fat, country club elitist attitude is exactly what golf does not need. Especially in the U.S. Open, the tournament that is an opportunity for anyone to win. Just because some underdogs are going up against the "golden boy" of golf doesn't mean NBC's and Johnny Miller's idol worship should turn into derogatory remarks.
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6-15-2008 @ 8:04PM
Ron said...
Why did Snedeker receive a one shot penalty. What was the ruling
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6-15-2008 @ 9:20PM
patrick said...
When Rocco did not birdie one of the closing holes, Miller also said "Down goes Rocco". I was not sure if he was referring to the Frazier-Ali fight, however I did give him some points for originality. Besides it really did not seem like it was Rocco vs. Woods in my opinion. It will be tomorrow.
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6-15-2008 @ 9:40PM
Irby Bearden said...
Didn't particularly like Johnny Miller as an announcer prior to today. I had respected him as a golfer, but now he has even lost that respect. I am thoroughly looking forward to the playoff. I respect both players. I hope it is a close match and I won't be disappointed regardles of winner. Maybe Johnny will keep his thoughts to himself.
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6-15-2008 @ 9:40PM
Sandy Homan said...
Johnny Miller is by far the worst commentator I have heard in any sport. If I had $10 for every time he said "knee"or "pain" when commenting on Tiger I could pay this months credit card bill!! His frequent "second guessing" Tiger's club or shot selection made me want to suggest to NBC sports perhaps he would be better as a coach.
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6-15-2008 @ 9:40PM
Tim Smythe said...
Johnny Miller is forever the voice of doom. It seems on every shot he questions the club selection, delights in pointing out all the bad things that can happen on that hole, harps on any play he percieves to be a mental error on the part of the golfer and is in general not much fun. Truthfully, I often put the TV on mute. Does he get paid by the word? It seems he never stops talking. The network should hire Rocco Mediate, a refreshing, interesting, down to earth fun guy. I wish him luck tomorrow.
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6-15-2008 @ 9:41PM
Bill said...
If you take the time to listen to Johnny Miller commentate reagularly he is prone to stupid statements.
Just goes to prove that a good golfer does not a commentator make.
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6-15-2008 @ 9:41PM
Bob R said...
Hey Miller:
someone needs his toilet cleaned.......I think it's the pool guy that just won the U.S. Open.....
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6-15-2008 @ 9:41PM
RogerandVicki said...
My husband I never watch golf, but got hooked this time watching the US Open. Honestly, our mouths both dropped open when we heard the "pool cleaner" comment from Miller. We both found the remark to be extremely condescending and arrogant. Truly, if golf wants to reach the masses and the working folks like us...Miller needs to learn to keep such remarks to himself and his bosses need to give this jerk some sensitivity lessons about the working class.
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6-15-2008 @ 9:48PM
Dan B said...
Very obvious that Johnny Miller is a dumb bigot. What a moron. NBC needs to get rid of him. Rocco was outstanding and he has not lost yet.
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6-15-2008 @ 9:48PM
steve said...
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MOVE BALL INADVERTINENTLY WHILE MARKING BALL RON.Johnny Miller is a fountain of missinformation. he looks like he's drunk all the time, Which explains his remarks.
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6-15-2008 @ 9:55PM
CloneGuy said...
Johnny Miller is "one of the boys" and makes a lot of his comments because it is "locker room talk" that he would say in front of most of these guy's faces. Unfortunately, the viewing public is not privy to the inside knowledge and relationship Miller has with the players and so his comments come off as extremely insensitive. Such comments are better left unsaid rather than blathered over the air waves.
There is no doubt Miller is tough on most of the guys out there -- even second guessing Tiger occasionally. But the one thing that becomes blatantly obvious the more you listen to him commentate is that he sure does have a man crush on Tiger.
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6-15-2008 @ 9:59PM
TED WINTERCORN said...
I remember about ten or eleven years ago when Fuzzy Zoeller, after having an adult beverage or two following the Masters Tournament, made what everyone took as a good-natured quip about ethnic African-American food being served at the Champions Dinner which would be hosted by the previous year’s winner, Tiger Woods.
The media went ballistic, calling for Zoeller to be severely sanctioned, and he ultimately lost a lucrative ad campaign with K-Mart. He felt obligated to make a public apology.
I think Miller’s remarks were a hell of a lot more derogatory to Rocco Mediate than Fuzzy Zoeller’s were to Woods.
I think he should be suspended a la Don Imus, and he should make a public apology.
Tedwint
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6-15-2008 @ 10:13PM
Amey said...
Help me understand. Miller can make any and every ethnic slur about Mediate but racial slurs are off limits???
He made another one this evening about the name "Rocco" not being an appropriate name for the Open trophy. What an INSULT!
He is such an idiot and should be shown the door...FAST.
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6-15-2008 @ 10:35PM
Ronald said...
Johnny was a hell-of-a player. He's got an insight into the game that few do. I think he hit it on the button when he called rocco a pool cleaner.
I think it's funny. Rocco looked like he should have been in last place in the Tour de France byclcle race. Admit it! Johnny ( tell it like it is) Miller. Way da Go !!!!
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6-15-2008 @ 10:46PM
Judy said...
I'm sorry but Johnny Miller is the most ignorant announcer of any sport there is today. He's continually rude and obnoxious everytime he is allowed to announce golf.
I remember when he was getting ready to move to the senior tour and he was bragging so much about how well he would do on the senior tour. Didn't last but a couple of times out there and it was back to the announcing booth.
I don't know if he knows it or not, but he doesn't do any better there then he did on the senior tour. I just hope there is a lot of static for what he said about Rocco and some type of fine. Johnny Miller is simply state A TOTAL JERK AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ANNOUNCE ANY SPORT.
WHAT A DUMB STUPID JERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
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6-15-2008 @ 10:51PM
bob rudd said...
Mr. Miller is missing his calling by being in the broadcast booth. It's obvious he should still be playing. He knows what every one is doing wrong,why they all make bad decisions, what clubs they should be hitting and everything else about the game. Much of his knowledge seems to come after a miscue though, not ahead of it. HE IS AN EGOMANIAC STILL LIVING IN THE 70'S. HE SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BOOTH!
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6-15-2008 @ 11:01PM
hochster said...
I really enjoyed Tiger's dance as he sank the putt which got him into a play-off with the "pool boy." If Tiger wins maybe he will let Johnny wash his clubs. Listening to him makes one yearn for the resurrection of Howard Cosell. Johnny has the ability to shoot his mouth off faster than his brain ever was able to work.
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