Tiger's "Apology"

[moonpie23]

well rehearsed, well delivered...maybe the best contrition ...ever...


do you believe?

[91devil]

Looked like he had not slept in a month.

I'm a big buyer of 'Tiger Stock' right now.

How many people in the world could generate that type of publicity and attention for a simple fifteen minute, rehersed 'press conference'?

[rthomas]

I want him to come back sooner than later.

[KyDevilinIL]

I'm a huge Tiger guy and a huge golf guy, and the pro game is dying on the vine while he's out. Golf needs him back, but if he's serious about fixing his personal mess, then he should take all the time he needs.

Tiger's naturally a wooden sort of speaker. For years he's worked exceptionally hard to hide and mask his off-course emotions. But they came out today as best as he's capable of letting them, I believe.

The last line was killer. When he gets his life sorted out as much as possible and comes back, I fully believe he's going to take out all his frustrations on the rest of the PGA Tour field. He could be better than he's ever been.

[hc5duke]

should have taken more acting classes at that clown college he went to in california :rolleyes:

[Jarhead]

It was sincere and well delivered. He hit all of the points he should have, but his wife's definition of an apology, being measured by his future behavior, was the key point. As to the expectations of the media regarding an open question press conference, it was his statement to make, and only he has the right to say how he makes it.

Right now one of the most despised elements of our society is the news media. They would have created a confused circus, and the statement would be buried in the mess. Instead we can now measure Tiger on how he behaves. We'll see.

[Tommac]

I don't really follow golf or Tiger, but I was interested in the press conference so I watched it on CNN on-line. I think he was sincere and I believe his apologies were adequate.

[riverside6]

I pretty much thought he nailed it, and was more open than I even thought he would be. The hug to mom at the end looked a little scripted though.

[elvis14]

Shame on ESPN and the other media folks for giving Tiger Wood's statement more coverage than this weeks PGA stop.

[moonpie23]

tiger's statement was more popular than the pga stop...

in fact.......it seems from the coverage that it was more popular than ANYTHING.......

[DUKIECB]

I pretty much thought he nailed it, and was more open than I even thought he would be. The hug to mom at the end looked a little scripted though.

It looked to me like every action or movement he made was scripted. The deep sigh before each "I'm sorry" and like riverside said the hug at the end. I don't know, maybe I'm being overly critical but it just looked like he had rehearsed the whole thing about 100 times.

[Channing]

It looked to me like every action or movement he made was scripted. The deep sigh before each "I'm sorry" and like riverside said the hug at the end. I don't know, maybe I'm being overly critical but it just looked like he had rehearsed the whole thing about 100 times.

Not to put words in your mouth, but are you implying that because something is rehearsed, it isnt sincere? I am not sure about you, but I have put my foot in my mouth and said something that came out wrong or was misinterpreted many many times, especially when emotions are involved. With the entire world watching this "presser", Tiger would have been a fool not to rehearse and practice this over and over and over again.

Just because it is rehearsed doesnt mean that it wasn't written from the heart, and that Tiger doesn't believe the sentiments 100%. He may or he may not, my point is that I think it is ridiculous to criticize him for practicing what he was going to say, or implying that because it was rehearsed, it wasnt heartfelt or sincere.

And just, by the by, I don't think he was trying to imply it wasnt rehearsed - he was reading the statement wasnt he? He wasnt trying to play it off as "off the cuff"

[Channing]

Shame on ESPN and the other media folks for giving Tiger Wood's statement more coverage than this weeks PGA stop.

perhaps this hilights how vital Tiger is to the PGA tour - and how he is everyone's meal ticket on that tour (or at least, he is the reason their meal ticket is so large). Why shame on ESPN? They gave the people what they wanted. I assure you that if the public was more interested in the tournament, ESPN would have given the tournament more coverage.

[moonpie23]

It looked to me like every action or movement he made was scripted. The deep sigh before each "I'm sorry" and like riverside said the hug at the end. I don't know, maybe I'm being overly critical but it just looked like he had rehearsed the whole thing about 100 times.

wouldn't you????

[allenmurray]

Not to put words in your mouth, but are you implying that because something is rehearsed, it isnt sincere? I am not sure about you, but I have put my foot in my mouth and said something that came out wrong or was misinterpreted many many times, especially when emotions are involved. With the entire world watching this "presser", Tiger would have been a fool not to rehearse and practice this over and over and over again.

Just because it is rehearsed doesnt mean that it wasn't written from the heart, and that Tiger doesn't believe the sentiments 100%. He may or he may not, my point is that I think it is ridiculous to criticize him for practicing what he was going to say, or implying that because it was rehearsed, it wasnt heartfelt or sincere.

And just, by the by, I don't think he was trying to imply it wasnt rehearsed - he was reading the statement wasnt he? He wasnt trying to play it off as "off the cuff"

We have no way to know if it was sincere. OTOH, it doesn't appear to have been a one-time thing, but a series of events, if you will. Saying, "what I did was wrong and I'm sorry" is different from saying "what I did over, and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over was wrong and I'm sorry". The fact that this wasn't a one-time thing, but a life pattern, makes it all the more challenging for the public to believe he will change his behavior. I hope he does, but this doesn't seem to be a mistake as much as a part of his character.

As to the other point, of course he practiced. He has the best agents, attorneys, and staff money can buy. He probably had a bevy of writeres, and speech/acting coach helping him prepare for this. But I think that whether he practiced, and whether he was sincere, are not necessarily related. He can be practiced and sincere.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

Standing up and making a public statement to take responsibility for his infidelity may be part of the recovery/treatment program in which he's participating. That makes his statement no less sincere. Combating an addiction is likely to be a lifelong battle.

[jacone21]

...and the pro game is dying on the vine while he's out.

What makes you say that? This season has barely started. I actually find it refreshing to have an opportunity to see other golfers play. Last weekend had a great down to the wire finish with Dustin Johnson making a perfect bunker shot at Pebble Beach to win. The tour was fine before Tiger and will be fine without him.

I'd like to see him back sooner rather than later, but golf isn't going to die if he takes more than a few months off.

[Duke4Ever32]

Call me jaded, but I've always had just a bit of trouble believing that someone was truly sorry for their behavior (especially when there are repeated instances of that behavior, as here) when in all likelihood they would still be engaging in said behavior but for getting caught.

I wonder if we'll ever have someone (Clinton, Edwards, Vitter, Craig, Livingstone, Foley, Spitzer, Bryant, Sanford, Gingrich, whoever) just say "Yes, I did this because I thought the person was hot and/or it was fun and felt good."

Naw, that would be way too honest. Couldn't happen.

[Jeffrey]

I completely agree with Tiger that (in Robert Hunter's words) he has been self-centered to the extreme. After all the stated therapy, Tiger is probably less self-centered now than he has been in a very long time. Interestingly, more than one of his peers stated, before today, that the timing of today's announcement was selfish. And, this is probably Tiger at his best.

[cato]

Shame on ESPN and the other media folks for giving Tiger Wood's statement more coverage than this weeks PGA stop.

Your beef isn't with ESPN or "the media". It's with the viewing public, who care about things in the following order:

1) celebrity sex scandals

. . .

48) Tiger Woods

. . .

357) The PGA tour

[Jeffrey]

Combating an addiction is likely to be a lifelong battle.

In 2010 America, what serious, harmful, and repeated personal mistake can an American not currently credit to an addiction?

[Jeffrey]

Your beef isn't with ESPN or "the media". It's with the viewing public, who care about things in the following order:

1) celebrity sex scandals

. . .

48) Tiger Woods

. . .

357) The PGA tour

And, knowing that, who scheduled the timing of today's event? And, who is the sponsor of this week's tournament?

[Jarhead]

wouldn't you????

I sure would. In fact I would have started the rehearsals last month, played them back for changes and done it again, and again until I was ready to speak to a gazillion people. And the hug for his mother? Everybody would have been on his back if he hadn't.

[Mal]

Your beef isn't with ESPN or "the media". It's with the viewing public

Perhaps. But that's a bit of a chicken and egg issue, no?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx-SVUW7Tis

Personally, I respect the stance of the Golf Writers Association of America, who decided not to send pool participants because of the lack of Q&A. Sincere statement or no (I haven't seen it), the usual calculus is: Media gives free airtime, but unless you're the POTUS, you've got to answer their questions, or at least submit to and avoid them. Otherwise, buy your own time or ad space. To my eyes, acceding to Tiger's demands here just because you want to be the one that televised his first public appearance in months and you know lots of people will be watching, is not the way to regain the public's respect for the media. You're journalists, for crying out loud. Stop acting like publicists.

I can't believe back in November I was arguing the media should just stay the heck out of this and leave the man alone, and now I'm arguing they should be all up in his face and refuse to let him dictate the way it's played out. :eek:

Jeffrey's got a point, too. Tiger scheduled this on the Friday of a significant tournament hosted by his now former major sponsor. I have a hard time thinking this is a coincidence.

[Exiled_Devil]

Call me jaded, but I've always had just a bit of trouble believing that someone was truly sorry for their behavior (especially when there are repeated instances of that behavior, as here) when in all likelihood they would still be engaging in said behavior but for getting caught.

I wonder if we'll ever have someone (Clinton, Edwards, Vitter, Craig, Livingstone, Foley, Spitzer, Bryant, Sanford, Gingrich, whoever) just say "Yes, I did this because I thought the person was hot and/or it was fun and felt good."

Naw, that would be way too honest. Couldn't happen.

You must have watched different presentation than I did, because I heard Tiger say (http://www.pga.com/2010/news/pgatour/02/19/tiger.transcript/index.html) :
I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn't apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn't have to go far to find them.


That sounds like the most honest apology I've ever heard.

He didn't pass this off on anyone else. He took the blame himself. Yes, he told the press to stop harassing his family. But his point is valid - stalking my wife and kids is bad form because they didn't do anything. He didn't say 'stop stalking me'

This was a great apology...but if you look at the transcript, you'll notice he didn't apologize to fans or the public. He just apologized to the people in his life, in a public way.

[Duke4Ever32]

You must have watched different presentation than I did, because I heard Tiger say (http://www.pga.com/2010/news/pgatour/02/19/tiger.transcript/index.html) :

That sounds like the most honest apology I've ever heard.

He didn't pass this off on anyone else. He took the blame himself. Yes, he told the press to stop harassing his family. But his point is valid - stalking my wife and kids is bad form because they didn't do anything. He didn't say 'stop stalking me'

This was a great apology...but if you look at the transcript, you'll notice he didn't apologize to fans or the public. He just apologized to the people in his life, in a public way.

I've been at work all day and haven't heard Tiger's remarks. The comment you reference was meant as a general observation about people, and was not a comment that was prompted by Tiger's remarks, which I was unaware of at the time I posted - and still am.

[Jeffrey]

This was a great apology...but if you look at the transcript, you'll notice he didn't apologize to fans or the public. He just apologized to the people in his life, in a public way.

Is that true?

"Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology. I want to say to them that I am truly sorry."

IMO, a very prudent apology given that's where most of the endorsement dollars are focused.

[cato]

In 2010 America, what serious, harmful, and repeated personal mistake can an American not currently credit to an addiction?

Knowingly snide one-liners are nice, but it sure seems to me that frequent, furtive flings with a whole bunch of people shares a lot of the characteristics of, say, compulisve drinking or gambling. Bemoan the fact that some people avoid taking responsibility for their actions by blaming addiction all you want, but if you're going to bring it up in the context of El Tigerino, can you point to anything in particular?

[Jeffrey]

Bemoan the fact that some people avoid taking responsibility for their actions by blaming addiction all you want,

Like your earlier post, I was placing the blame on the enabler (2010 America).


but if you're going to bring it up in the context of El Tigerino, can you point to anything in particular?

"I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn't apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn't have to go far to find them."

IMO, that sounds different than someone who is constantly having sex (every opportunity possible) and it's all they can think about. They care about nothing else in their life but sex. They'll spend every dollar they can acquire (through all means possible) to have sex. They start missing work (tournaments) so they can have more sex. Their life becomes solely focused on sex.

[cato]

IMO, that sounds different than someone who is constantly having sex (every opportunity possible) and it's all they can think about. They care about nothing else in their life but sex. They'll spend every dollar they can acquire (through all means possible) to have sex. They start missing work (tournaments) so they can have more sex. Their life becomes solely focused on sex.

You are talking about some of the symptoms of the worst stages of alcoholism or compulsive gambling. I am not an expert or anything, but it seems to me that sex, which lights up the most basic reward systems in our bodies, can lead to exactly the same type of dependency cycle as drugs, alcohol or gambling. (If one has access to sex with enough frequency to build the dependency in the first place).

But as to the cultural issues with blame shifting, I would guess that we are largely on the same page.

[alteran]

In 2010 America, what serious, harmful, and repeated personal mistake can an American not currently credit to an addiction?

Rooting for Carolina.

[Jeffrey]

Rooting for Carolina.

In 2010 America, there's even an excuse for behavior as pathetic as that...... plead insanity.

[Jeffrey]

I am not an expert or anything, but it seems to me that sex, which lights up the most basic reward systems in our bodies, can lead to exactly the same type of dependency cycle as drugs, alcohol or gambling. (If one has access to sex with enough frequency to build the dependency in the first place).

Tiger had a wife and probably had "access to sex" without the need for adultery.

[rthomas]

This is a little off subject; and I take Tiger's remorse as real.

But do any of you know what therapy one does with Tiger's (or anyone's) sex problem. What is the actual therapy? I can envision being tied to a chair being flashed with porn over and over, you can't move, having naked women rubbing your chest, but you are tied to the chair and can not do any thing, you have some Svengali grabbing your head saying you must not act, you must not act! over and over again. I can't take it any more!!!

Well, I just want to know, so if and when I go through this, I'll know what to expect.

[allenmurray]

This is a little off subject; and I take Tiger's remorse as real.

But do any of you know what therapy one does with Tiger's (or anyone's) sex problem. What is the actual therapy? I can envision being tied to a chair being flashed with porn over and over, you can't move, having naked women rubbing your chest, but you are tied to the chair and can not do any thing, you have some Svengali grabbing your head saying you must not act, you must not act! over and over again. I can't take it any more!!!

Well, I just want to know, so if and when I go through this, I'll know what to expect.

It is a long slow process where you come to the realization that just because you are rich and famous doesn't mean you can treat people like kleenex - to be used and discarded. Then you have to realize that other people are just as imotrtant as you, no matter how rich and talented you are.

Lerning to be happy with what we have is life's hardest lesson. Tiger had a brilliant career, riches, and a beautiful family that loved him and he couldn't be happy with that. Some people say he is an addict. Perhpas he was just a jerk.

[hurleyfor3]

He'll have new sponsorships lined up in no time.

First is Merriam-Webster. As the illustration next to emasculated.

[allenmurray]

He'll have new sponsorships lined up in no time.

First is Merriam-Webster. As the illustration next to emasculated.

Going from having multiple affairs with multiple women to being faithful to one person = emasculated? To be masculine someone has to have multiple affairs? o be faithful to your wife means you aren't a real man?

Sad, very sad.

[moonpie23]

so, if tiger were not married, how would he be viewed?

as a problematic sex-a-holic? or just a rich studd playboy?

[Jarhead]

It seems to me that in 2010 America it is impossible to have an apology accepted.

[KyDevilinIL]

What makes you say that? This season has barely started. I actually find it refreshing to have an opportunity to see other golfers play. Last weekend had a great down to the wire finish with Dustin Johnson making a perfect bunker shot at Pebble Beach to win. The tour was fine before Tiger and will be fine without him.

I'd like to see him back sooner rather than later, but golf isn't going to die if he takes more than a few months off.

Well, the tour might have been fine before Tiger, but Tiger's presence on tour has totally changed the definition of what "fine" means. The tour will always exist, sure, but in a post-Tiger environment, the pre-Tiger reality is no longer adequate in a broad sense.

Tiger's a one-man economic stimulus package for the PGA Tour. And now that he's been on tour, the longer he stays out, the further the game gets from the minds of that substantial segment of the population that cares about golf only when Tiger's in the field. That irks the purists, sure, but at a time when the LPGA, for instance, has essentially retracted due to sponsor pullouts and money issues, the PGA Tour can't afford to rely only on Phil Mickelson as its only significant star for an extended period of time.

So yeah, the finish at Pebble was great for golf fans. But for sports fans, Dustin Johnson holding off guys like J.B. Holmes and a long-since-relevant David Duval is barely a blip on the national radar. Even as we ramp up to the Masters, Tiger's absence is going to loom over everything, and interest will simply stay muted.

[jacone21]

... That irks the purists...

I'm watching match play at 1:00am, and enjoying the heck out of it.. so I guess that makes me a purist. I'm glad I don't need Tiger to enjoy the game, and I'm really going to miss the PGA when Tiger retires and it dies.

[alteran]

In 2010 America, there's even an excuse for behavior as pathetic as that...... plead insanity.

Well played, sir.

[alteran]

It seems to me that in 2010 America it is impossible to have an apology accepted.

I dunno. Seems to me like the loudest elements of the press drown out what "the masses" think. And generally, the masses tend to be more forgiving.

I didn't see the apology but I read about it and his words certainly seemed to strike the right chords.

IMHO, he doesn't really "owe" us an apology. The transgressions are personal and the apology is only meaningful in that context. I think the public apology is more about image rehab.

And the timing IS petty.

[allenmurray]

It seems to me that in 2010 America it is impossible to have an apology accepted.

Tiger made money playing golf. He made millions selling an image that we now find was a bunch of crap. He cheated on his wife, not once, but dozens of times, and was only sorry after he crashed hs car into a tree and made a horse's a** out of himself.

He doesn't get "instant forgiveness" because he said, "sorry so for deceiving my wife, my children, my mother, golf fans everywhere, and the companies that paid me millions upon milliosn of dollars to promote a false image for their products.

If and when he shows some inclinaton to change his behavior his apology might be accepted. I hope he does. But right now there is now way to tell if this was simply good theater written by a good writer and coached by a good PR firm.

I'm not a fan of John Feinstein, but I think he nailed it:


Woods refused to answer any questions. After saying he has learned that being a great athlete does not entitle him to do whatever he wants -- on or off the golf course -- he conducted what amounted to a televised news release. The only people in the room were, to quote his agent, "friends and colleagues," To the credit of the Golf Writers Association of America, it opted to boycott the Tiger-and-pony show when Woods's agent, Mark Steinberg, informed the group that it would be "allowed" to designate three writers to sit in the room with the rest of Woods's cheerleading squad. Let's be sure we have this straight: Woods, who says he now understands that he's not above the rules of common decency, is still above answering questions from those who are paid to represent a public that has helped make him a billionaire.

During the reading of his script, Woods said that one way to measure a person's life is by the things they overcome. Coming from someone whose toughest challenge in 34 years has been overcoming a double-bogey, those words rang pretty hollow. His wife -- who was noticeably absent -- has lots to overcome now, as will their children when they are old enough to understand what their father did. For Woods to invoke that metric to describe his life was, well, the height of arrogance.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/19/AR2010021903260.html

[mr. synellinden]

Tiger made money playing golf. He made millions selling an image that we now find was a bunch of crap. He cheated on his wife, not once, but dozens of times, and was only sorry after he crashed hs car into a tree and made a horse's a** out of himself.

He doesn't get "instant forgiveness" because he said, "sorry so for deceiving my wife, my children, my mother, golf fans everywhere, and the companies that paid me millions upon milliosn of dollars to promote a false image for their products.

If and when he shows some inclinaton to change his behavior his apology might be accepted. I hope he does. But right now there is now way to tell if this was simply good theater written by a good writer and coached by a good PR firm.

I'm not a fan of John Feinstein, but I think he nailed it:


Woods refused to answer any questions. After saying he has learned that being a great athlete does not entitle him to do whatever he wants -- on or off the golf course -- he conducted what amounted to a televised news release. The only people in the room were, to quote his agent, "friends and colleagues," To the credit of the Golf Writers Association of America, it opted to boycott the Tiger-and-pony show when Woods's agent, Mark Steinberg, informed the group that it would be "allowed" to designate three writers to sit in the room with the rest of Woods's cheerleading squad. Let's be sure we have this straight: Woods, who says he now understands that he's not above the rules of common decency, is still above answering questions from those who are paid to represent a public that has helped make him a billionaire.

During the reading of his script, Woods said that one way to measure a person's life is by the things they overcome. Coming from someone whose toughest challenge in 34 years has been overcoming a double-bogey, those words rang pretty hollow. His wife -- who was noticeably absent -- has lots to overcome now, as will their children when they are old enough to understand what their father did. For Woods to invoke that metric to describe his life was, well, the height of arrogance.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/19/AR2010021903260.html

I agree with Feinstein's assessment and your assessment of his assessment. I also think Bill Simmons pretty much nailed it (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100219). A few quotes from his piece:

"I thought it was a borderline train wreck. It amazes me that Tiger learned little to nothing from the past two months. The control freak whose life slipped out of control dipped right back into control-freak mode, reading a prepared speech in front of a hand-selected audience of people, taking no questions, talking in clichés and only occasionally seeming human. Everything about it seemed staged."

"Let's look at the facts. Tiger cheats on his wife relentlessly and brazenly. She finds out somehow. This leads to him crashing his car in the wee hours of Thanksgiving night. Scandal. Cover-up. More women come out. And more. And more. Tiger disappears like Jimmy Hoffa. Elin stops wearing her ring. Tiger stays hidden. Rumors swirl. By hiding, by not saying anything, Tiger enables every rumor and negative story to gain steam. When he sneaks away to a sex rehab clinic for 45 days, neither Tiger or his representatives acknowledge rumors that he's there. He emerges with a staged jogging photo op; one day later, three other photos of Tiger hitting golf balls, even seeming jovial in one of them, hit the wires. And then, today's prepared remarks. That came from the heart. Just as long as you didn't ask a follow-up question."

"When we first saw the room in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., it looked like the set of a "Saturday Night Live" episode: small podium, blue curtain, some heads."

"He spoke for the next 13 and a half minutes. He spoke … like this. There was … no emotion … in his words. His face … was blank … and empty. Part of me … felt bad … for him. There were … a couple of moments … when it seemed … like … he was trying … to shed a tear … or have his voice catch … just for effect. You get … the idea."

[Indoor66]

I don't believe that Tiger owes anyone, outside of his family, anything. It is his private life that, prior to this situation, he never made public.

The public and particularly the press feel that they are "entitled to know", seemingly because Tiger is a public figure. I don't agree that anyone is entitled to or has a right to this private information.

Any of us can choose to no longer admire Tiger, not follow Tiger, root against Tiger, forgive and accept Tiger or make any choice we choose to make. That said, Tiger is free to reveal or not reveal as much or as little information as he might choose. He will live with the results.

The expressed opinions of disgust, disagreement and non-approval are just that, opinions. Feinstein wants a story at Tiger's expense. The press wants a story, with all details, at Tiger and his family's expense. Tiger does not owe anyone access to this story.

Tiger's fame grew out of his ability to play golf. Nothing more. If he still has that ability he will make a lot of money and have great success performing. If he has lost that ability, he will fall further and further into the background.

I just do not see this as a morality play. I see it as a personal tragedy. It is an example of a flawed man. No more and no less. I don't have any right to demand all of the gory details.

[greybeard]

Tiger was raised by Pops to be the best golfer the world has or will ever know. He was raised by Pops to be the next Gandhi for G-d's sake! Who was the one person he did not apologize to? Interesting. "I was raised by my mother to be a Buddist," he said. Nothing about the morale imperatives of being a good Marine, of being a Gandhi.

Look, anyone who didn't succeed as Tiger has we would be aghast at such rearing; wouldn't be surprised if they became a nun, or some such, right?

He only thinks that he is anywhere near the end of this tunnel. I thought he sounded sincere, but it sounded like Pops was still talking, which is not good. I wish him well.

[alteran]

I agree with indoor AND allen, even though they are seemingly at opposite poles.

I do believe that all the right things were said. This wasn't a "I'm sorry you misunderstand" kind of apology. There wasn't any equivocating at all. On those grounds, I gotta say, a pretty good apology.

Does he deserve a second chance? That's up to Elin. It really is none of our business.

Tiger certainly deserves the right to go back on tour. Being a complete arse has never been a hindrance to participation in professional athletics.

I totally agree with Indoor that Tiger doesn't owe us squat.

However, we don't owe him revering him, either. (Not that anyone said otherwise.) More to the point, we don't owe him looking favorably upon his sponsors and boosting his income exponentially now that we've found out he's a complete arse.

THAT'S what this apology is REALLY about, IMHO. Sponsorships. Image. Like he said, his real apology will be by his actions. This... this is about something else.

This was just a show. A show that started vindictively by overshadowing a former sponsor, IMHO. Selfish and petty. Tiger's still got some learnin' to do.

The press is busting him hard. Tiger's refusal to take questions is a big part if this. The press doesn't like it when you don't include them, both for good and petty reasons.

Tiger's PR firm should lose some points for overlooking that.

[allenmurray]

I agree with indoor AND allen, even though they are seemingly at opposite poles.

Not at all. He owes us nothing. But we didn't ask him to go on natoinal TV, on all three major networs, and read a press statement. He needs to be either in or out. If he wants public forgivenss (or really, wants millions of dollars in endorsements) then don't play us for a bunch of fools.


The press is busting him hard. Tiger's refusal to take questions is a big part if this. The press doesn't like it when you don't include them, both for good and petty reasons.

Tiger's PR firm should lose some points for overlooking that.

When the press gives you free air time on every freakin' station answering questions usually comes with the territory. Unless you're the President of the United States. Or Tiger. Tiger thinks he gets to control the airwaves and answer to no one. Oh yeah, he does.

I wouldn't have cared if Tiger never apologized, if he said, "screw you all" and went back to playing golf. But if he wants "public forgiveness" (otherwise known as endorsement dollars) he shouldn't get to call all the terms.

Sorry if I'm old fashioned, but I'd rather root for someone who lives a quality life than for someone who delivers a quality apology.

I miss Cal Ripkin.

[Mike Corey]

I fall in the Bill Simmons camp in that this struck me as an attempt to begin to make himself marketable again. Not that he wouldn't be otherwise, but this will expedite the process.

What frustrates me most about this is that, before the avalanche of women came forward with salacious stories, Tiger told a friend he "had to pull a Kobe" because his wife had learned of his infidelity with a single woman. The implication, of course, was that Tiger would have to buy her a piece of expensive jewelry.

Certainly, it's unfair to judge from afar what Tiger's mindset might have been based on a purported conversation he had with a friend. Extremely unfair, actually. That self-loathing aside, I'll continue with my inappropriate analysis.

Tiger, like many other men in power before him, thought that denials and time would allow him to escape from this imbroglio unscathed.

I keep going back to his initial statement, released on November 29th.


As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week, and sustained some injuries. I have some cuts, bruising and right now I'm pretty sore.
This situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again.

This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible.

The only person responsible for the accident is me. My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false.

This incident has been stressful and very difficult for Elin, our family and me. I appreciate all the concern and well wishes that we have received. But, I would also ask for some understanding that my family and I deserve some privacy no matter how intrusive some people can be.

His desire for privacy and the end to rumors struck me as his panic that people would find out the enormity and extent of that which he had done in private.

His relentlessly polished image was undeserved.

It does not have any impact on me personally. But when an American icon makes mistakes like this, and handles it in this way, it's not a good thing.

[moonpie23]

I totally agree with Indoor that Tiger doesn't owe us squat.



does a corporation owe their customers "squat"? ( well, AIG excluded)


how much money did tiger make from playing GOLF? miniscule compared to endorsements....

how much money did tiger make from ENDORSEMENTS?? who really knows?

My son has purchased (along with us) about every kind of tiger merch/ea sports game/ gear that he could possibly buy..He repeatedly held tiger up as a "good guy"........he was very dissapointed when the whole thing broke in public and really had a lot of questions about what tiger did that was "wrong" vs. illegal.

when tiger's ATTORNEY answered the door when the police came to question tiger the THIRD TIME and tiger's attorney said that tiger wasn't going to answer any questions, my son said: "i didn't know you could do that"

Tiger owes my kid "squat"........"squat" being Hey tiger, don't be a jerk, don't cheat on your wife, don't embarrass your kids for a lifetime, don't hide behind your lawyers, do what's right and make yourself a better man.

[Indoor66]

does a corporation owe their customers "squat"? ( well, AIG excluded)


how much money did tiger make from playing GOLF? miniscule compared to endorsements....

how much money did tiger make from ENDORSEMENTS?? who really knows?

My son has purchased (along with us) about every kind of tiger merch/ea sports game/ gear that he could possibly buy..He repeatedly held tiger up as a "good guy"........he was very dissapointed when the whole thing broke in public and really had a lot of questions about what tiger did that was "wrong" vs. illegal.

when tiger's ATTORNEY answered the door when the police came to question tiger the THIRD TIME and tiger's attorney said that tiger wasn't going to answer any questions, my son said: "i didn't know you could do that"

Tiger owes my kid "squat"........"squat" being Hey tiger, don't be a jerk, don't cheat on your wife, don't embarrass your kids for a lifetime, don't hide behind your lawyers, do what's right and make yourself a better man.

You and your son, along with anyone else, can be disappointed in Tiger. I am disappointed in Tiger. That said, it is a private matter. How much he has won on the golf course (over $100 million) or been paid through endorsements, for designing golf courses, for designing golf clubs, etc. is, to me, absolutely irrelevant.

The relevant issues, for me, are whether he is entitled to make a statement: yes. Did Tiger have the right to set the terms on which he would make the statement: yes. Were TV and radio required to carry the statement: no. Did the TV and radio networks choose to broadcast the statement: yes.

I fail to see the basis for indignation because Tiger did not decide to grovel before the public and before the press. He won his fame through his personal work and achievement. He is a sports figure. He is the best in the world at what he does. He may be the best that ever played his sport (I believe he is). He is paid for endorsements because his endorsements as the world's best golfer sell product. If he no longer can sell product he will no longer get endorsements. That is the endorser's decision.

The good things he has done through his foundation are still there and still going on. The failure in his life is his personal behavior vis a vis his marriage and family. For that he is suffering and, apparently, working to rebuild. He is seeking treatment for his failings.

I have failed in my life and I am sure that all here have failed. To me it takes a big man to admit it, face it and work to improve. That he did not admit it to anyone else's satisfaction is their problem. That his explanations to not satisfy anyone else is their problem. IMO, Tiger has only to resolve these issues within his family - to their satisfaction.

[alteran]

does a corporation owe their customers "squat"? ( well, AIG excluded)


how much money did tiger make from playing GOLF? miniscule compared to endorsements....

how much money did tiger make from ENDORSEMENTS?? who really knows?

My son has purchased (along with us) about every kind of tiger merch/ea sports game/ gear that he could possibly buy..He repeatedly held tiger up as a "good guy"........he was very dissapointed when the whole thing broke in public and really had a lot of questions about what tiger did that was "wrong" vs. illegal.

when tiger's ATTORNEY answered the door when the police came to question tiger the THIRD TIME and tiger's attorney said that tiger wasn't going to answer any questions, my son said: "i didn't know you could do that"

Tiger owes my kid "squat"........"squat" being Hey tiger, don't be a jerk, don't cheat on your wife, don't embarrass your kids for a lifetime, don't hide behind your lawyers, do what's right and make yourself a better man.

Fair enough.

To some extent, this is semantics. I wrote he doesn't owe us an explanation/apology, but we don't owe him the kind of feelings which earn him endorsement bucks. Same kind of the sentiment you expressed, although I'm thinking in terms of looking forward, not back.

If you feel he owes your family an explanation/apology based on you buying Tiger-schwag while he presented a materially false image of himself, then maybe he does.

Speaking of materially false images, I saw somewhere that this week was the 20th anniversary of Milli Vanilli getting the Grammy for best new act. Maybe Tiger fans could start a class action like the MV fans did to get their money back based on the false pretenses.

[hurleyfor3]

when tiger's ATTORNEY answered the door when the police came to question tiger the THIRD TIME and tiger's attorney said that tiger wasn't going to answer any questions, my son said: "i didn't know you could do that"


I'd rather kids learn about constitutional rights as opposed to joining the cult of celebrity worship. If he becomes disabused at an early age of the notion that celebrities lead idealized lives and necessarily deserve the benefit of the doubt regarding what we don't know about them... consider him ahead.

[rthomas]

I assume this is about money. Porn star hires big name lawyer and wants apology from Tiger. They say Tiger's statement was staged, but this REALLY seems staged.

http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/?watchId=caf993ae-ba10-4dcf-920e-becddddb6aff

Of all the people who Tiger may owe an apology, I don't think the women he actually had affairs with are really high on the list. It takes two to tango.

[moonpie23]

Speaking of materially false images, I saw somewhere that this week was the 20th anniversary of Milli Vanilli getting the Grammy for best new act. Maybe Tiger fans could start a class action like the MV fans did to get their money back based on the false pretenses.

not quite the same......mili vanili cheated professionally. Tiger has never (to my knowledge) cheated professionally..) AND mili vanili had their grammys taken back....

[dukegirlinsc]

He forgot to apologize to all of the ladies. :confused:

[greybeard]

Most everyone made Tiger a HERO for behaving like an idiot--he played in a golf tournament on a leg that was damaged in a way that orthodpods reportedly had never seen--two stress fractures in his fibia and a torn ACL and cartilledge to boot. You get the heros you create. To me, this scandal is the other side of the same coin.

I thought it terribly wrong headed to idealized Tiger for playing in that open, much less winning it, and said so repeatedly to whomever would listen. Remarkably few did. The man who created the golfer who would do such a thing created the man who did the thing everyone is up in arms about. Both were equally stupid; the former, the injury thing, was and remains far more harmful to "the kids" as a role model than Tiger's daliances. They both reflect a profound lack of judgment and appreciation of self.

I think that the anger at Tiger is misplaced. Had he failed like Andrea and Capriati, we would know where the anger belongs. Because he succeeded, it belongs somewhere else? Why?

[JasonEvans]

A couple things worth noting...

1) Regarding the timing of the announcement, I have read that Tiger is on a 1-week break from his rehab. He is supposedly already back in rehab. He had a very tiny window in which he could visit with his family for a bit, meet with a few advisers, and decide that he needed to make a public statement. I think the implication that he chose the Friday of a key tournament in an effort to upstage the tournament and the sponsor may be wrong.

2) It might have been useful (from a PR standpoint) for him to appologize to the women with whom he had affairs, but Gloria Allred's indignant press conference with a crying porn star by her side was ridiculous. "The other woman" has no right to expect anything in a situation like this. The moment Tiger started sleeping with them, they knew he was a liar and a cheat (when it comes to relationships). The notion there is some expectation of fair treatment from Tiger is ludicrous.

3) I find it very telling that Elin was not at the press conference. As far as I have heard, there was no one "representing her" there either (like a member of her family or a close friend). She is clearly still far from convinced that their marriage can be fixed. I suspect that a very complicated and lucrative divorce agreement is being negotiated as we speak.

4) I think Tiger was being genuine in his statement. That said, in my opinion he won't have really made a public statement until he faces questions and answers them. That is when we will see real honesty. I think he was not ready for that level of honesty yet. I bet he returns to the golf course before he returns to face the press.

--Jason "I bet Tiger misses the Masters but not the US Open" Evans

[jacone21]

A couple things worth noting...
--Jason "I bet Tiger misses the Masters but not the US Open" Evans

You think the old boys in Augusta might ask Tiger to sit this one out? I've been wondering about that. I'm sure they don't want the circus in town, but he has earned his spot in the field. He'll only get so many shots at those majors to catch Jack. Has anyone ever been asked to stay home?

[mr. synellinden]

You think the old boys in Augusta might ask Tiger to sit this one out? I've been wondering about that. I'm sure they don't want the circus in town, but he has earned his spot in the field. He'll only get so many shots at those majors to catch Jack. Has anyone ever been asked to stay home?

I think Tiger has made the calculated decision that missing the Masters would be a demonstration of true sacrifice - and a clear indication that he is putting his personal issues above his quest for the major title. In other words, missing a major shows that he is really serious about rehabilitation and redemption. And I think it would go a long way toward repairing the damage he has done.

The cynic in me believes that he will miss the Masters because it sends the right PR message, not because he really needs the time away from the game to "recover from his addiction" - which I think is a sham to begin with.

I agree that he will be back for the US Open. No way he misses two majors this year and no way he misses a chance for a major at Pebble Beach, where he has been very successful.

Interestingly - just watched a commercial on CBS for the Masters - they showed Jack in 1986 Mark O'Meara and Phil's bagel-height jump for joy on 18, but no Tiger.

My guess is that he comes back for The Players Championship in early May -- plays in the Byron Nelson and the Memorial - and then the US Open. That gives him a week in between each tournament and enough time to get ready for the US Open

[weezie]

I think Tiger has made the calculated decision that missing the Masters would be a demonstration of true sacrifice...

No way he misses two majors this year and no way he misses a chance for a major at Pebble Beach, where he has been very successful.


Well, maybe you're right....but he sure looked fat and in no kind of physical shape to play up to anywhere near even his worst outings. He's got to need some serious conditioning before he even sets a competitive foot on the course again.
Surely he doesn't want to s-t-i-n-k up the course and give more fuel to the chattering classes. It's a tough road for him ahead, maybe even tougher than the implosion itself.

[rthomas]

Well, maybe you're right....but he sure looked fat and in no kind of physical shape to play up to anywhere near even his worst outings. He's got to need some serious conditioning before he even sets a competitive foot on the course again.
Surely he doesn't want to s-t-i-n-k up the course and give more fuel to the chattering classes. It's a tough road for him ahead, maybe even tougher than the implosion itself.

"It's golf.", states the overweight college professor sitting at his computer.

[greybeard]

I think Jason Evan's post about the likelihood that Eldridge knows his marriage is over is probably pretty close to the truth. I think he is just beginning to get a gripe on how far he has pushed himself, how far the "little" Earl in his head governs, and that it remains to be seen how deep he is prepared to go with this to win a level of trust with his wife in order create the best atmosphere possible for a relationship with his children, however the marriage thing works out. Where I differ with Jason's post somewhat is that I think that the Tiger in Eldridge still thinks he can hook one around the trees, over a pond, and than make the 60 footer. That is on the "thinking side" of things.

The emotional, psychological side is a whole other story. If, as is entirely possible, he really is starting to penetrate the personna that is Tiger, those kind of inquiries can be a pretty long run downhill before one reaches solid ground. Again, Andrea ended up in a convent and Capriati in the streets. DuVal went skiing and took time to really smell the coffee.

If Eldridge ends up seriously pursuing unwinding the ball of yarn that created the unreal Tiger, I doubt that he plays this year at all. If Tiger remains intact and in charge, my guess is that Jason has it about right.

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

There was one tiny, overlooked sentence in the whole speech that totally gave away his lack of sincerity, at least to me. He said that he had no idea that his actions would hurt his family. Bull feathers. His own father was a known philanderer. He had to know first hand the ramifications and still went ahead and hurt them all. He still hasn't a clue. Maybe someday he'll get real, but for now he's still a lying egotist who is wrongly revered just because he can hit a little round ball with a long stick, bless his heart.
Love, Ima

[BD80]

Gatorade bails on Tiger. It was only $20 mil per year.

http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/Gatorade-drops-Tiger-Woods-as-spokesman-022610

I guess we won't be getting any "Is it in you?" ads with Tiger.

[David]

Tiger Text is a new iPhone app that deletes text messages from both users' phones:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tiger-text/id355832697?mt=8

Very funny!

[JasonEvans]

Tiger Text is a new iPhone app that deletes text messages from both users' phones:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tiger-text/id355832697?mt=8

Very funny!

This app has gotten crazy publicity since it was launched on Friday. The #1 story on Time.com (http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1968233,00.html), featured on Good Morning America, a very funny report by Jeanne Moos on CNN's air (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2010/03/01/moos.tiger.text.cnn?iref=allsearch), Glen Beck spent a segment talking about it on his show, there was a great writeup in ZDNEt (http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=31315&tag=trunk;content), PC World did a piece. It even got picked up by AFP (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100227/tc_afp/usitinternetsportssoftwareapplewoods) which led to major stories on it in newspapers all over the globe. Stories on it have been tweeted and facebooked more than 15,000 times.

The guys behind this app are going to make a fortune from all the publicity. I mean, this has got to be one of the greatest app launches ever. It has only been on the market for 4 days and is already one of the top 20 free downloads in the iTunes store. Stunning!!

I wish I knew who was doing PR (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100226006110&newsLang=en) for them.

--Jason " ;) " Evans

[YourLandlord]

I wish I knew who was doing PR (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100226006110&newsLang=en) for them.

--Jason " ;) " Evans
Wow, congrats. Do they pay you a flat fee, or do you get a cut of product performance?

[JasonEvans]

Wow, congrats. Do they pay you a flat fee, or do you get a cut of product performance?

No comment. Believe it or not, there is still some negotiating going on. They are pleased with the PR effort though ;)

-Jason

[throatybeard]

I'm probably jinxing things by posting, but I breathlessly await the cut hitting Tiger on the butt as he leaves the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte. (What a nice course that is). He's +5 with six holes to play; projected cut is +1s are safe.

Given the autoerotic asphyxiation over Tiger playing a non-major at all, the TV folks seem blissfully unaware that some people are actually playing well. Billy Mayfair sure has been around a while. Phil Mickelson is hanging around and even DL3 is just three strokes off the lead.