So, where were you when Tiger spoke? I suspect the entire world stopped at 11 this morning to listen. Now comes all of the psycho-babble about what he said or did not say.
But I think he said, again, all he needed to say: that he’s really, really sorry … for everything; that he accepts full responsibility for his “selfish and foolish” behavior, and that he vows to do everything necessary to repair his marriage and regain the trust of his fans as well as the respect of his fellow players. (The sponsors will follow….) Hell, he even threw in the de rigueur testimony about being a born again … Buddhist.
Moreover, he said it all with the right confluence of contrition (for hurting his family and disappointing his fans), humility (for acting like an entitled jerk) and, yes, even indignation (at the media for stalking his wife and children).
In fact, as I predicated would be the case, it’s only the tabloid media and folks who wallow in their tabloid fodder who seem disappointed because he refused to cater to their prurient lust for details about his affairs. But, just as I admonished him to do, Tiger stated quite emphatically that all of those details are none of their business:
I understand that people want to know… Every one of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me, issues between a husband and wife.
And 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.
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.
With that, to all who are complaining about the way Tiger controlled this press event, I say get over yourselves. For you can’t say on the one hand that the guy does not owe you anything, but on the other hand complain about how he has chosen to deal with this public humiliation. 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.
So what’s the point [of holding this press event]?
Well, I have to think that team Tiger has determined that it’s the least he can do to give his remaining sponsors, like Nike, as well as the organizers of the PGA Tour, the closure they need to welcome him back. Because it is also crystal clear that this outing will do nothing to rehabilitate his good name…
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
[Tiger will finally speak, but what will he say? TIJ, February 19, 2010]
Well done Tiger. And enough said!
NOTE: I guess, since Tiger did not invite them to this seminal press event, celebrity philanderers Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley will have to consider themselves no longer among his best and most-valued friends, eh….
Related commentary:
Tiger will finally speak…
*This commentary was published originally at 1:18 yesterday afternoon
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