You’ve probably heard reporters all over TV today hyperventilating over “declassified” documents, which confirm that the police suspected Tiger’s wife Elin of domestic abuse: i.e., giving him a fat lip and then taking a nine iron to his SUV when he tried to escape.
But this is hardly news – as my original commentary on this saga, entitled, appropriately enough, Tiger’s wife serves him a Thanksgiving fat lip (November 29, 2009), will attest. For here, in part, is what I wrote:
With all due respect to CNN’s legal expert, the fact that the police found no evidence to support charges of domestic violence (against him or his wife) means that Tiger does not have to answer any further questions about what happened on that fateful Thanksgiving night that precipitated his fall from grace.
On the other hand, these reporters had just cause to hyperventilate over BREAKING NEWS about Tiger’s return to golf. Because the AP confirmed today that he’s preparing to play a tune-up tournament later this month before making his PGA return at The Masters in April.
In this case, reporters can also be forgiven their clueless excitement. After all, you’d be hard-pressed to find a single sports writer who declared, on the record, that Tiger would be returning so soon.
To the contrary, after his press event a few weeks ago, the consensus among sports analysts was that he would be out for the year. Granted, they were led like sheep to this “analytical” conclusion by Tiger’s innocuous statement that he plans to return to golf, but just doesn’t know when….
By contrast, I predicted in the November 29 commentary referenced above that he would be returning “sooner rather than later…The Masters in 2010.” More to the point, here’s what I wrote – contradicting the sports writers – after that seminal press event, when Tiger finally addressed the sexual infidelity and promiscuity that caused his fall from grace:
Most importantly, he said that he will continue on his path to recovery, and will return to golf sooner rather than later. Granted, he was not specific, but reading between the lines, I remain convinced that he’ll be back in time for The Masters in April…
Frankly, if the way he’s charting his path to recovery and redemption is okay with his family and sponsors, then everyone else, especially you weekend duffers, be damned. Real fans can’t wait for him to move on from all of this mess.
[Tiger speaks…and says exactly what I told him to say! TIJ, February 20, 2010]
And here, in part, is the analytical reasoning that led me to this conclusion:
Winning tournaments in his inimitable fashion is the only way now to eradicate bacchanalian images of his private life from public consciousness – even if not from the tabloids. And only this will give his understandably spooked corporate sponsors [like Accenture who dropped him like a hot potato] the cover they need to feature him as their spokesman once again…
[Tiger escapes to a “safe haven,” TIJ, December 14, 2009]
Enough said?
Except that, having already indicated that the cheers of appreciative fans will drown out all jeers, let me share what I wrote in this same commentary (Tiger escapes…) about the greeting Tiger can expect from the folks who made him a billionaire:
Meanwhile, corporate sponsors and media executives alike must be salivating with anticipation over the boon this scandal will deliver in television ratings once he returns. And trust me, there’ll be no shortage of corporations, not only eager to replace any that dumps Tiger but also willing to pay even more for the privilege of having him as their spokesman.
Of course, I should have added that no group will be happier to see him back on the links than his fellow players. Because, even though he routinely kicks their butts, they all have Tiger to thank for the millions in their bank accounts.
So here’s to Tiger not only playing but actually winning The Masters … in expiating fashion.
Related commentaries:
Tiger speaks…
Tiger escapes…
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.