NBC golf analyst Johnny Miller is at it again.  This time, Miller used an ill-advised joke in regards to the play during the final round of the 2010 U.S. Open, comparing it to the BP oil crisis.

One could say there’s a bit of irony in the situation, considering that the analyst was reporting from Pebble Beach – and now finds himself once again sitting on rocky ground.

“Again”, because this isn’t the first time that Miller has walked this course, spitting out sub-par statements (or should we say over-par)?bp-oil-logo

In June of 2008, Miller had to apologize to Rocco Mediate for one of his on-air comments, specifically upon referring to Mediate as someone who “looks like the guy who cleans Tiger’s swimming pool.”  The whole story came about when Mediate challenged Tiger Woods in the U.S. Open that year – forcing a playoff with the top player in the world.

This time, Miller has clearly outdone himself – not just offending one pro golfer who comes from a different background.

Nope, this time he compares the US Open leaders – all who were struggling during the final round – to the BP disaster, stating that he didn’t know who was “leaking more oil, the field or British Petroleum”.  Yes, it was all broadcasted on national television for the world to hear.

Listen, I’m not usually the type to pick up on a comment made by a commentator during a sporting event.  Certainly, I’ve missed my share of absurd lines by a number of analysts over the years – but this one, I did pick up on, and sent the following tweet about it immediately following the comment:

“Did Johnny Miller just make a comparison of this leaderboard to BP? Bad taste, man…”

The BP oil crisis is not anything to take lightly.  It’s certainly not anything to use as the butt of a joke during a major sporting event.  Consider all the people that are out of work because of it and all the wildlife (and coastline) that is being slowly destroyed due to the tragedy.

During a time when certain people in the golf world are facing certain circumstances, it’s about time that Johnny Miller faced some of his own.  Honestly, how many times can one person keep getting another chance?

johnny-miller-compares-us-open-leaderboard-to-bp-oil-crisis

Stay classy, Johnny Miller (Getty Images)

It’s getting to the point that Miller is living the cartoonish life of a cat – earning nine lives.

Is this really someone that NBC wants to continue to have represent them for the majority of a golf major?

Yes, we should all be held to a high standard.  Regarding Miller, one blunder  – OK, fine – but it’s becoming more obvious that he shouldn’t be an analyst on a major network.  He just can’t turn the switch on in his head as to what’s right to say.

Certainly, I wasn’t alone on Twitter when chiming in on the matter.  As it happened, I got the feeling that this wouldn’t be the last we would hear of it.  On Twitter, I added:

“On tap at the Final Round of the #USopen: More bogeys, angry Tiger presser and a public apology by Johnny Miller for his BP joke.”

This year’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach certainly was a wild one.  Under no circumstance was it worth changing the channel, just because of one ignorant voice.

“All good things come to an end some day,” Miller said later in NBC’s broadcast of the final round.

Albeit in a different context, I still respond by saying…

Exactly, Johnny… EXACTLY.