08-R357
2008 -- H 8438
Enacted 06/21/08
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CONDEMNING THE
COMMENTS OF LEAD GOLF ANALYST JOHNNY MILLER AND URGING NBC TO TAKE APPROPRIATE
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Introduced By:
Representatives D Caprio, Palumbo, Petrarca, Rice, and O`Neill
Date Introduced: June 21,
2008
WHEREAS,
The State of Rhode Island was founded upon the principles of tolerance and
freedom;
and
WHEREAS,
Rhode Island enjoys a diverse population and celebrates the many
ethnicities
and cultures that augment the state's milieu; and
WHEREAS,
On June 15, 2008, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) televised the
United
States Golf Open to a worldwide audience; and
WHEREAS,
Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods were the final two golfers in contention
for
the United States Open Championship; and
WHEREAS,
During the broadcast, Johnny Miller, an announcer for the tournament, and
lead
golf analyst for NBC, stated that Rocco Mediate, “looks like the guy who cleans
Tiger’s
swimming
pool.” A brief moment later in the broadcast, Mr. Miller also said, “Guys with
the
name
Rocco don’t get on the trophy, do they?”; and
WHEREAS,
These comments are offensive to the people of Rhode Island, especially
those
of Italian descent; and
WHEREAS,
Rhode Island has no tolerance for ethnic slurs or degradation of any person
based
on their race, ethnicity, gender, age, heritage and the like; now, therefore be
it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence
Plantations hereby condemns, and urges the National Broadcasting Company to
publicly
denounce, the comments made by their lead golf analyst, Johnny Miller, and
further
urges
NBC to take appropriate corrective action against Mr. Miller; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit
duly certified copies of this resolution to the Jeff Zucker, CEO of NBC, and
Steve
Capus,
President of the National Broadcasting Company.
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LC03253
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