Obviously I'm biased, but analysis and commentary by journalists on the Tiger Woods story and others of its ilk is part of the job in the 21st century. Whatever some people choose to think, it's blinkered in today's competitive market to think that any news organization will just report the facts and nothing else.
If they did, viewers and readers would just go somewhere else, because we all like context, conjecture, and, dare I say it, some degree of entertainment from our news stories. It's curious that so many people who criticized the media coverage of Tiger Woods' affairs and his subsequent apology seem to know all the angles, including the salacious gossip in which the media is accused of reveling.
That said, I do believe that his mea culpa speech was enough. Yes, it was stage-managed and robotic, but I think the sentiments he expressed were genuine. And, while I stand by my belief that it will be hard, perhaps impossible, for Tiger to ever live down this scandal completely, I do think he should be left alone to fight his demons and attempt to rebuild his marriage in private.
Like others, I see no purpose in him sitting down in front of the media and answering the "tough questions". There is nothing more we need to know about the past. And to reveal the gory details would not only be counter-productive to his recovery process, but it would also provide additional hurt and embarrassment to the victims - primarily his wife Elin.
As for the future? Well, I agree that it would be nice for everyone to know when or if he's coming back to golf, because it's a game that's so patently diminished by his absence. But, to me, grilling him on how he's going to feel and what he can achieve in terms of titles or redemption when he finally picks up the clubs again is pointless. How does he know? What precedent can he draw on to even guess at the answers to those questions? Does he even care right now, with so many private issues on his plate?
So, at the risk of being called a hypocrite, having had plenty to say about Tiger during this crisis as part of my job description, I really do think it's time to give him some peace.
Yes, he'll be written and spoken about in the coming months and years because he was a massive public figure even before the scandal, and now he's even further under the microscope. But I personally believe that whatever is said we need to stop digging, because to make the hole he's in any deeper would just be vindictive.
I think clear.It always appeals to me.
Enough is enough. keep it simple. apologize to family. no one else
needs to be apologized to or made privy to the transgressions that
Tiger talks about. As is the case with others who have transgressed
one way or the other time usually heal all wounds. however, the more
this gets talked about, and for sure the media would love keeping it alive for as long as possible as bad news sells, the more difficult it becomes to
close the chapter and move on and Tiger and his family will continue to suffer as a consequence. We all make mistakes as we go through life.
We learn from them and move on with as little fanfare as possible.
Agreed, leave the guy alone, enough issues in the world more important, its his private matter, he accepted the consequences and that's more than enough, the financial and emotional pay he'll face is already in place.
I AGREE WITH YOU 101% - LEAVE TIGER WOODS ALONE NOW.
I BELIEVE HE TOTALLY REGRETS WHAT HE HAS DONE TO HIS PROMISE TO HIS SPOUSE. ALL THE DETAILS BELONG TO THEM
AND THEM ALONE. THE MEDIA JUST LOVES ANYTHING BE IT GOOD
OR BAD AND IN THIS CASE__ TRASH - HOW ELSE WOULD THEY EARN A LIVING. EVERYTHING IS SO BLOWN UP THESE DAYS.
I FEEL ELIN'S GREAT AND DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND PAIN -
A GREAT DISTRUCTION TO A UNION OF A LIFETIME TOGETHER FOR EACH OTHER. IT IS SAID THAT INFIDELITY IS A TOTAL LOSS OF TRUST FOR THE BETRAYER AND A WONDERING OF SELF
WORTH FOR THE BETRAYED. ____ I'M SO SORRY FOR ELIN.
Mr. Baddoo,
Your affirmation that "viewers and readers would just go somewhere else" if news companies would "just report the facts and nothing else" may be supported by some sort of research that your readers do not have access to.
However, based on what one can observe (comments, twitter, offline), it appears people are not interested in TMZ style reporting coming from companies whose legitimacy is grounded in their reputation for delivering hard news.
Not wanting to confirm your prediction regarding hypocrisy - but doing just that –, it just doesn't sound sincere when you tell us we should give Woods a break, but, you know, that's not really what all you people want. You can't have it both ways.
i agree. it is about time that people concentrate on their own plates.
Thank you for this perspective – as time unfolds I do hope to see Tiger rise above this both at home and on the greens. What makes us better at one contributes to the other so would give fair warning to those other golfers to use this time themselves to improve their game because when Tiger does come back how he responds will not be in words....
We have all sinned and fallen short of the love of God. God has forgiven him and so should we. It takes a real man to admit his errors publicly. May he come out of this s stronger person and may God guide him to use his talents to be an example to all of us. God bless him.
Amen!
Truth nothing but the truth.
Finally, a member of the press NOT seeking to drag this apology out any further into a bigger circus. 100% agreement.
This article hits the nail on the head. We should not lump all "media" in together. There are good and bad in all walks of life, and this article shows the same holds true for the media.
He is just a human...not a marketing logo. Elin and Tiger have more important things to do now than to be hounded (to death) by media. Leave them be...please let it be.
Everyone should give Woods a break. He did not commit alleged High Crimes and Misdemeanors like Cheyney and his puppet, for goodness sake. It takes a tremendous amount of enrgy to lie and cheat on people who love you. If everyone would stop obsessing, he could stop living a double life, rededicate himself to his sport and his children education foundation and play the best golf that was ever played. No one is beyond redemption as long as they are not a sociopath.
TIGER WOODS is a golf player,not a priest,president,imam or holy scribe who has to live by a certain conduct.
What he did was wrong,but he wronged only his wife,family and his God.
He has to explain and seek pardon from these people and the HOLY ONE not us.
Why are we so crazy and insane about flogging other peoples ,expecially stars and their prvate life problems.
So many people went on air to bash the poor fellow over months and most of them are worse and the only reason why most have not done such things is because they cannot!!!! (either not good looking enough or not rich and famous enough). EVEN LETTERMANN HAD AFFAIRS FOR CHRISTS SAKE.
He owes us nothing and shame on those who have spent all these months reading and commenting negatively about TIGER ,u really must all have boring lifes!!
I wish him and his family,especially his lovely wife and those beautiful kids GODS blessings and protection.
TO TIGER,...BEG YOUR WIFE AND DO EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBBLE TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY TOGETHER AND COME BACK WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT AND BEAT ALL THOSE JEALOUS OPPONENTS OF YOURS AND CLAIM THE TITLES ONCE AGAIN. I KNOW YOU CAN!!!
GOD BLESS.....sunny
Enough is enough. He has acknowledged and apologized for his short comings. What more is needed? Tiger to hang himself? Everybody commits a mistake even the Media people. So please don't be a saint. I hope Tiger continue with his new life and put everything behind and the media stops their moronic crusade.
Tiger's not playing golf today, not because he lacks the skill or desire to play at the very top level, but because he can't bring himself to engage the cynical mob that constitute the press corp at every major sports event. Try as you may all journalists are guilty of this destructive cynicism that has turned public life into a farcical pantomime.
Indeed, I think it is time to give Tiger some peace. Let him go to his rehab and he and his wife will eventually work out their differences. If they don't or can't then it wasn't meant to be.
He is not sorry. He just misses the money he just lost.
Actually what Tiger should ask is "do you want me back at the game or not?" . If not we will welcome him with open arms here in Europe.
In Europe there is no such thing called sex scandal. Why??
Because we believe such things are a matter between a husband and wife.
I agree with the Writer to pray Tiger comes back soon.
besides who of the critics of Tiger actually said " I have to live like Tiger and be a husband and father like Tiger". I guess none, so than why are you now critisizing him?
'In the name of the Father, the Son and the holy Tiger, Amen".
Terry , a sensible article indeed .Spread the word to all so called journalists .For heavens sake leave Tiger alone .Any astute observer will see that he will come back stronger and he will be a better husband , father and golfer .Many scribes will in time regret deeply their comments about Tiger , most I am sure untrue. Enough is enough for goodness sake .Leave him and his wife to sort out their difficulties .I just wonder what percentage of humans have been unfaithful , is there not something to the effect remove the log in your own eye before your remove the spec in the eye of another .