| 19 February 2010
My maiden voyage in that respect is the reaction to Tiger Woods' statement today - his first public appearance since news of his extreme infidelity broke in November.
I didn't have a problem with anything Tiger said. I fully expected a scripted, phony statement and that's what I got. He said what he needed to say and it was really a brilliant way for him to handle the situation. No questions from reporters. Touch on sensitive subjects like photographers stalking his kids and religion (apparently Tiger has found Buddhism) - things that most people would never challenge. Whoever wrote that speech did a fine job.
However, what I do have a problem with are the golf-loving reporters like Rick Reilly and Andy North who are willing to buy every word that Tiger said. He is so important to their favorite sport that a guy I usually respect like Reilly was going on and on about how "Tiger was contrite" and "Tiger was sincere and I've never seen him like that" when Reilly appeared on ESPN immediately following the speech.
Part of being a reporter is calling out BS when you see it. Colin Cowherd, for all his faults, was at least calling a spade a spade about Tiger's statement on his radio show. Parts of it might have been sincere, but the vast majority was scripted nonsense.
People would be foolish to buy every word he said, but that won't stop the Pollyanna golf media from continuing to slurp Tiger and fall for the act.
He's simply too important to their sport - far more important than any other athlete is to their particular sport in the world.
So, again, I don't fault Woods for the matter in which he handled his first public appearance. It was almost exactly what I was expecting (OK, other than the Buddhism part). But the golf reporters I've heard comment on the matter thus far are either very naïve, or simply willing to lie through their teeth in order to protect the sport they love.
It's going to be interesting to see when Tiger returns to the golf course. I certainly think it will be this year and I wouldn't be surprised if he played in all four majors.
As for Elin, is there a betting line on whether she stands by her man? Tough call there. I thought for sure she was out the door for a while, but now it sounds like she's actually considering staying together for the kids' sake. And it's not a money play because either way she is going to be a filthy-rich woman. "Could Almost Buy Sweden" rich. So, I still tend to think she will leave, but maybe Tiger's newly-discovered Zen powers will lure her back in.
| Next > |
|---|
