SPAZ

[RoXer]

Tiger apologizes for 'spaz' comments
Posted: 22 hours ago



Tiger Woods has apologized for comments made during a television interview Sunday at the Masters that some found offensive.

When questioned about his less-than-stellar putting on the final day of the Masters, Woods said "I putted atrociously today. Once I got on the greens, I was a spaz."

The word is not often considered offensive in the United States, but in the United Kingdom, "spaz" is considered a derogatory term aimed at persons afflicted with spastic paralysis, which is a form of cerebral palsy.

A statement on Woods' website by his agent, Mark Steinberg, read "Tiger meant nothing derogatory to any person or persons and apologizes for any offense caused."

The British disabilities organization Scope, formerly known as The Spastics Society, responded to Woods' comments: "Once again, Tiger Woods demonstrates that we are two nations divided by a common language. Although in the U.S. the term 'spaz' may not be as offensive as it is here in the UK, many disabled people here will have taken exception to his likening a golf stroke to that of 'a spaz.' Scope is confident that Tiger Woods would be devastated to learn that something he said could offend his fans, disabled or non-disabled."

Woods took 33 putts in the final round at Augusta, finishing the round with a 2-under-par 70. He finished tied for third overall, behind winner Phil Mickelson.