Sox' GM: Lay off Tiger

Six weeks after the fact, Tiger Woods is still taking heat.

There are factions unwilling to let go of the Kelly Tilghman episode, and if it's this bad now, what's it going to be like if Woods is pursuing the Grand Slam six months from now?

"It must be hard for some people to live life for themselves, and yet still have the time to make sure others live up to their ideals, values and expectations,'' said White Sox GM Kenny Williams, who's baffled by the criticism. "I, personally, don't have that kind of extra time on my hands.''

From his sarcasm you can guess that Williams is not among those in the black community who believe Woods is shirking his duties by not hating Tilghman, his friend, for a terrible mistake she made on the Golf Channel, when she uttered the now infamous "lynch'' remark.

It was a horrendous choice of words, and her regret was both quick, and according to Woods, sincere.

His is the only opinion that should matter, but her apology was not good enough for some Woods critics, and this week it was Randolph Bracy, president of the NAACP's Orange County (Fla.) chapter, trashing Tiger for calling it a "non-issue.''

Williams is disturbed by the constant picking at Woods' exterior, when those mounting the attacks don't know his interior.

"Tiger's shown to be quite socially conscious, doing great work with his foundation, spending a lot of his own money, and he's smart enough to make up his own (darn) mind,'' Williams said emphatically. "He's a smart guy, and if he says there was no malicious intent, that's more than good enough for me, and I think people need to get off his (darn) back.''

But the bigger profile Woods gains, and it increases with every spectacular victory in every spectacular season, the more people come at him.

"Tiger's in a very tough spot because he's the most recognizable athlete on the planet,'' Williams said. "But people that don't know him don't know he's a socially responsible person that does a lot for a lot of people.

"They also don't know the person that said it, and they don't know Tiger's relationship with her, and they aren't going to understand that either way.

"Look, it's a bad word. I don't like the word. People need to know why it's a bad word.

"But Tiger is supporting his friend in this and that part is good enough for me. I'd say that's enough of that already and leave the man alone.

"He's a grown man and he can make up his own (darn) mind.''

Amen.

The Daily Maddux

Since Greg Maddux told us earlier this week that this is likely his last year in baseball, we've been flooded with unusual Maddux stats, memories and comparisons, and we welcome all contributions.

Today's is courtesy of stats maven Jayson Stark of ESPN.com:

Over the last three seasons, Maddux has more wins (42) than Mark Buehrle, Barry Zito or Brad Penny; more innings pitched (633) than Roy Halladay, Jake Peavy or C.C. Sabathia; allowed fewer baserunners (11.23 per 9 innings) than Roy Oswalt, Carlos Zambrano or Tim Hudson; and a better strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.19) than Josh Beckett, Brandon Webb or John Smoltz.

Amazing.

Ivan Boldirev-ing

The NHL Coach of the Year has to be Colorado's Joel Quenneville, who has never once used injuries as an excuse or cried about his team's fate despite having suffered more than any team in the league this season.

No other club has lost three top players as good as Joe Sakic, Paul Stastny and Ryan Smyth, all at the same time.

But rather than whine and offer his players a chance to quit and play only as individuals, Quenneville challenged them to change their game and commit to playing defense.

Colorado has not only survived, as Smyth was set to return Thursday night, but the Avs somehow stayed in the thick of the playoff race.

Since losing the last of The Big Three, Stastny, on Jan. 17, the Avs -- instead of feeling sorry for themselves -- went 5-4-2. That kind of adjustment and experienced decision-making is the definition of genuine coaching.

This was noticed even by the likes of Versus analyst Ed Olczyk, who went out of his way Tuesday night during the Anaheim contest to praise the Colorado coaching staff, and specifically Quenneville, for adjusting and keeping his team together under the worst spate of injuries imaginable.

Just interesting

Since being traded to Carolina, Sergei Samsonov has 12 points in 15 games and is a plus-6, while averaging about 18 minutes per game.

Just goaltending

Glenview native and former Michigan star Al Montoya is reportedly on the trading block because of a glut in the Rangers' net, and Montoya, the sixth overall pick in 2004, might be part of a blockbuster trade deadline deal.

Just asking

Does anyone really want to host the Breeders' Cup anymore?

You have to wonder after Santa Anita was chosen to host again in 2009. The odd part is the track is also slated to handle the event this year, but has had so many problems with its new racing surface that there have been numerous cards canceled during the first couple weeks of the meet.

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "Attention-starved NHL to indefinitely slice one carotid every night.''

And finally ...

Deadspin.com, on Steven Spielberg dumping his role as artistic director of the Beijing Games: "All I know is that now my dream of watching Dennis Weaver being chased by a giant semi truck in costumed pantomime form has been dashed to pieces.''