Over-under on how many times Woods says ’sorry’: 5 1/2
Tiger Woods was back on a golf course Thursday, practicing at his home course in Windermere, Fla. (AP photo)
Good morning. It’s time for confession.
Tiger Woods will make his first public comment since he crashed his Escalade into a tree and news broke of his infidelity three months ago. I’ll be here to blog immediately following the “passive” news conference — it was announced he will not take questions from three wire service reporters — and get your thoughts on the matter.
You already know what I think. I believe Woods is either getting bad advice or not listening to good advice. He seems less concerned about contrition and the healing process than he does controlling a situation that has long since been out of control.
A few things I didn’t address in last night’s column that you might find interesting:
♦ Want to get a bet down on what Woods says? There’s still time. The folks at Bodog.com are taking wagers on how many times Woods says the word, “sorry” (over-under is 5 1/2). At 5-to-4, “sorry” also is the slight favorite to be the most uttered word you can bet, followed by “family” (3-2) and “apologize” (5-2).
Will Woods wipe a tear from his face? Odds say no. Will he name the next tournament he plays? No is a slight favorite. A release from the British office of Bodog also is posting odds on whether Woods mentions Nike (6-4), car (4-1), addiction (6-1), demons (12-1), retirement (16-1), gambling (25-1) or sex (25-1). No word on whether there’s a car-addiction-sex parlay.
♦ The 950-member Golf Writers Association of America has decided to boycott the event because pool reporters would not agree to the ground rules of not being allowed to ask questions. GWAA president Vartan Kupelian said, “To limit the ability of journalists to attend, listen, see and question Woods goes against the grain of everything we believe.”
♦ Woods will return to therapy after the press conference, according to a letter obtained by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem by the Associated Press. “As we understand it, Tiger’s therapy called for a week’s break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning,” Finchem said in the letter. ”Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement.” The letter shed no light on whether Woods plans to return to the tour anytime soon.
Nobody can be certain on what Woods will say or who will be in the room with him at the TPA Sawgrass in Florida.
Anybody have any thoughts on whether Elin Nordegren will attend?
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75 comments Add your comment
GT92
February 19th, 2010
9:57 am
No Elin…
Mike in EPT
February 19th, 2010
9:58 am
I’ll take the over and the Car-Sex-Demons straight box.
JLC
February 19th, 2010
9:59 am
Enter your comments here
JLC
February 19th, 2010
9:59 am
TPA Sawgrass?
PMC
February 19th, 2010
10:01 am
I was hoping they could just have all jock sniffing golf writers on one side and maybe NOW on the other side so it could look more like the State of the Union. That would be entertaining
Paul in RDU
February 19th, 2010
10:01 am
I agree with GT92 – no Elin.
I’ll take a parlay on apologize-transgression-human
BRUCE LEVINSON
February 19th, 2010
10:11 am
TW is a golfer. Why does he have to answer to you or talk radio hosts? You guys shoot over 100 and suck at actually playing sports. All you do is TALK. You are jealous Tiger bangs some hot chicks and doesn’t put 8s on his scorecard. You all suck at life.
Give us your plan for improvement.
Reid Adair
February 19th, 2010
10:13 am
I don’t think Elin will attend, and I will take the under on how many times he says the word, “sorry.”
I still think this is a joke. And if this was Woods’ idea, it’s even worse.
2BT
February 19th, 2010
10:25 am
5 1/2?? I’ll take the under. My gut tells me this is going to be a ‘very brief’ statement. If I were him, it’d go something like this:
“Good morning. I chased the cat. In fact, I chased lots of cats. Eventually, I got scratched. I still love the cat, but I’m not going to commit to the cat any more! To my kids, I promise you’ll have financial security so long as you live, and know that I love you. To my soon to be ex-wife Elin, you too shall live comfortably the rest of your life. To all you other cats that I’ve yet to chase, I apologize, but I’ll get around to you soon enough – for I am the BIG DOG on the PGA tour. See you in Augusta!”
Toots
February 19th, 2010
10:26 am
No Elin.
I’m so proud of the Golf Writers Association of America that I could just cry.
2BT
February 19th, 2010
10:26 am
oh yeah, they should either que up Atomic Dog or Cat Scratch Fever in the background too!
Ga boy
February 19th, 2010
10:29 am
BRUCE LEVINSON Ahhhh so sorry your icon has shown himself to be an arrogant jerk- and now you have to defend him to make yourself feel better for being fooled. He will never be held in the same esteem as the past golf greats- NEVER!
shadydave
February 19th, 2010
10:31 am
if a tree falls on the woods, and there is no one there to hear it…
Dr. Phil
February 19th, 2010
10:33 am
Tiger is behaving like Richard Nixon did after Watergate. This kind of arrogant behavior finally turned Nixon’s strongest supporters against him. Tiger can’t control the media when he comes out of the closet, and he is certain to blow a fuse when the press goes after him in public. Tiger obviously has learned nothing from this experience, and he will self destruct in public and on the golf course to the odds of 3 to 1.
Anonymous
February 19th, 2010
10:39 am
Poor Tigger!
I wonder if Bill Clinton wants to borrow his phone’s contact list?
Ga boy
February 19th, 2010
10:41 am
Jeff you think tiger is getting bad advice? His agent is stupid Steinberg- what else would you expect. He is as useless as tiger.
BRUCE LEVINSON
February 19th, 2010
10:43 am
Ga boy – That’s what you are – a boy.
Eaasssyy
February 19th, 2010
10:44 am
They’re getting a divorce. Tiger will see the kids twice a month. He will play one event leading up to the Masters. Tiger is deeply sorry for all those that he disapointed. The end.
Ga boy
February 19th, 2010
10:45 am
I’m older than you pal- and obviously wiser. Go worship at the feet of your icon.
All I'm Saying Is...
February 19th, 2010
10:47 am
Schultz:
You are typically a writer who makes sense but you’re off base with this one on so many levels.
1) “Two University of California-Davis economics professors recently estimated that stockholders of Nike, Gatorade and other Woods’ endorsement companies lost $5 billion to $12 billion in the wake of the sex scandal. That’s as public as it gets.” — Those companies stock prices declined due to far more important reasons than inappropriate behavior by one of their paid spokespersons of which Nike and Gatorade literally have dozens. Any person with half a brain knows that so these ‘economists’ have zero credibility if they said the value was due to Woods.
2) Why did you bring Michael Vick’s name into this? He broke the law and killed dogs. Woods did neither. Not even remotely similar.
3) Outside of his family, Tiger Woods doesn’t ‘owe’ anyone anything sponsors included. If a sponsor doesn’t approve of his behavior or truly believes his behavior will hurt their company then they can do what Accenture did and end their relationship.
4) Public relations professionals will tell you that the best day to have a press conference if you want the matter to disappear from public view as quickly as possible is Friday. That’s because the business week is over, the news cycle slows as most media outlets don’t have folks working, and even consumers turn to family matters and watch less tv.
Finally, the one thing I agree with you on is that Woods is a public figure and one who decided to use his image to generate endorsement income. This is why his personal transgressions were newsworthy. Now that the scandal is fully out there, in my view, the story is stale. If he wants to orchestrate his apology and return to golf, then so be it. No one has to like it or participate in it but he does not owe anybody outside of his family anything.
Asheville Dawg
February 19th, 2010
10:47 am
Elin won’t be caught up in this Tiger inflicted drama.
Sorry will be used over 51/2 times. Apologize minimum 5 times. All in five or six minutes.
He should throw in a few oy vey’s.
Under 5
February 19th, 2010
10:48 am
Tiger – 14 Majors, 71 PGA Tour Victories
Phil – 3 Majors, 37 PGA Tour Victories
Eaasssyy
February 19th, 2010
10:49 am
Ga Boy, He hasn’t cheated the sport just his personal life. Only time will tell how he’s judged. You are not the judge and jury when it comes to golf history.
76-Dawg
February 19th, 2010
10:50 am
I wouldn’t attend if I was Elin because what is going on is nobody’s business except Elin,Tiger and to some degree their family but only a small degree. If Tiger didn’t care so much for his charity’s and the people that are helped by them, he would have told everyone trying to butt into his business to go to hell a long time ago especially the media. I played golf for many year with a group of about 20 people who were all close to ” scratch ” handicap and we all got along great. The main reason is because we kept our personal business off the golf course but more importantly we didn’t want to know each others personal business. Tiger makes about 8 to 10 million per year in tour money but about 70 to 90 million in endorsements and that’s the only reason he is making any statement at all and if it was me, it would be my one and only statement. Anyone who knows how hard it is to have a good golf game knows how great Tiger is and how much ” true” golfers enjoy watching Tiger play. Golf needs Tiger. His integrity and work ethics as far as golf is concerned can not be matched. Maybe his morals can be questioned as far as religion is concerned but everybody especially the media has patronized him for years by putting up with him saying the ” GD ‘ word every time he makes a bad shot. He doesn’t bring his personal life to the golf course, only a great golf game and that is the only thing i care about and miss.
Tiger Woods’ statement to come | ajc Sports Talk
February 19th, 2010
10:52 am
[...] • AJC’s Jeff Schultz will be counting ’sorrys’. [...]
Jeff Schultz
February 19th, 2010
10:56 am
LIVE LINK: If anybody wants to watch the video feed from your computer when you really should be working — HAH! — here’s the link:
http://video.ap.org/?pid=R9msqOsYZ2TmkWttgWjBgV72_tYSs_Oh&f=YOURIDHERE
gdawginkalamazoo
February 19th, 2010
10:57 am
Jeff, Looks like you moved on from the other blog so I will ask the question over here on this one. Do you think he will apologize to Ernie Els for stealing Ernie’s on tour moniker “The Big Easy”?
Ga boy
February 19th, 2010
10:59 am
All I’m Saying Is… PR specialists will also tell you that the very best way to handle such a crisis of confidence is to be forthcoming as soon as possible with the public- to go in front of the camersa and take all questions-all of them and show sincere contrition. tiger as usual shows only his brand face and has no credibility. He does not know how to be contrite- to be ashamed- to be embarrassed. He is an arrogant jerk.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 19th, 2010
10:59 am
What’s the over under on them playing “Hail to the Chief” as Tiger enters the press conference?
Eaasssyy
February 19th, 2010
11:00 am
good one kalamazoo. i heard it was “The Big Sleazy” though…
Ga boy
February 19th, 2010
11:00 am
Eaasssyy Hide and watch pal.
Jeff Schultz
February 19th, 2010
11:01 am
There looks to be about 40 people in the room, including his mother but not Elin.
James
February 19th, 2010
11:02 am
Everyone else is going under on “sorry”. I’ll take over. Personally, I think he is a total douche. But, I don’t now him personally, I know him from on TV, on the golf course. From that perspective, I am not surprised by any of this. In fact, I think this is the way a lot of athletes and a lot of uber-rich men act. Not surprising. He gets played to play golf and he happens to like having sex. I am trying to figure out what guy can’t empathize with that?
Feel sorry for the wife and kids, but Elin, if you are looking for a good, albeit broke life, please marry me. Otherwise, this is what happens.
James
February 19th, 2010
11:03 am
* payed to play golf
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
February 19th, 2010
11:16 am
All I got to say is if I could find some b!tches to play around with me, I wouldn’t be saying I’m sorry. Nobody wants to fool around with a dog that has his butt painted white.
Under 5
February 19th, 2010
11:16 am
Thanks for the $500 Bodog
All I'm Saying Is...
February 19th, 2010
11:17 am
That’s that with that. He said what needed to be said when he was ready to say it with sincerity. At this point, I’d advise you all to move on with your lives and leave the man’s wife and family alone.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 19th, 2010
11:19 am
On the denial of “performance enhancing drugs” was he talking about steroids or viagra?
“Don’t blame Elin?” I blame her now for not taking a 9 iron to his grill that night.
Paul in RDU
February 19th, 2010
11:19 am
Another fallen idol finds religion – although it’s Buddhism in Tiger’s case.
Good performance – well written by the “advisors”
Frank
February 19th, 2010
11:19 am
Lame…Lame… Lame Apology and Press Conference…..
Scripted Hugs……..
PMC
February 19th, 2010
11:20 am
Very well crafted appology speech. I think he really answered the questions he really needed to answer and some extraneous stuff he just wanted in there.
Power Corrupts Absolute Power Corrupts absolutely. This guy had all the money power and ability in the world. I’ve always understood the situation anyway but there still is no excuse for that. It’s not really a tiger issue as it is a societal one. We just excuse our selfishness unabashedly and then ask for forgiveness.
shane
February 19th, 2010
11:20 am
Tiger – 14 Majors, 71 PGA Tour Victories
Phil – 3 Majors, 37 PGA Tour Victories
Tiger – Phony piece of crap. Not a good father
Phil – Good family man. Good Father.
I guess it all depends which scoreboard you’re looking at.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 19th, 2010
11:20 am
Did Tiger have a hair transplant?
shane
February 19th, 2010
11:21 am
That’s that with that. He said what needed to be said when he was ready to say it with sincerity.
And if you are buying that I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
PMC
February 19th, 2010
11:21 am
Just like with the Vick situation I hope it works out in the end for all parties.
I hope that we all will think before we act.
Cammi317
February 19th, 2010
11:22 am
Who the in the heck was so distraught that Tiger cheated that they felt like they needed an apology? I am sick to death of hearing about this. He’s a freaking golfer, not an elected official taking exotic trips with tax payer dollars. The only news worthy portion of the entire ordeal was when his wife attempted to beat him to death with his own golf clubs! NOW THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT.
shane
February 19th, 2010
11:22 am
Did Tiger have a hair transplant?
Yes he has. Although no one ever mentions it. A few years ago it was evident he was going bald and then all of a sudden his hairline came back with a vengeance.
DHD
February 19th, 2010
11:22 am
He talked the talk now he has to walk the walk. He is just a man.
Delbert D.
February 19th, 2010
11:24 am
Jeff, did you get what you wanted, or were you surprised?
Drago
February 19th, 2010
11:24 am
A presser to apologize to his wife. Novel Idea. This should have been a private matter between the couple involved. I would think it difficult to move past this when Tiger keeps having these informational meetings. I understand a person wanting to make amends, but when I watched, I was reminded of Michael Jackson.
Cutty
February 19th, 2010
11:24 am
He should say screw the apology. No one else is affected by this other than his wife. All these so-called pundits are saying he needs to air out all the details. For what? If they keep it up, he should begin naming names of all the other golfers and those who cover them, that also have had indiscretions. Not like he’s the only one.
IlliniDawg
February 19th, 2010
11:24 am
Was watching in rapt attention – and then he lost me when he went off on his rambling Buddhist mumbo-jumbo
Peadawg
February 19th, 2010
11:26 am
Good speech even though it wasn’t needed. All he needs to apologize to is his family.
Jeff Schultz
February 19th, 2010
11:28 am
FOLKS — flash blog is up if you want to move commenting over there. I’ll update it shortly.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/02/19/woods-i-thought-i-could-get-away-with-whatever-i-wanted/
Hold that Tiger
February 19th, 2010
11:29 am
Good lord, Jeff. Why on earth does Tiger have to control the situation? This is his personal life and he seems to be handling it as anyone of us would in the same situation. He owes us nothing. NOTHING. It’s his family that he has to answer to. He has been in treatment for months and appears to be taking this very seriously so that he can save his family and save himself. At the end of the day, that is all that matters. He has the right to not answer questions about this matter. The only one who deserves to ask questions is Elin.
We are all lucky to have witnessed greatness over his career and the tour has blossomed since he joined it. But work and personal should be separate at all times. He has suffered because of the suffering he caused. That the man is trying to save himself is a testament to who he is. You should let him be. We all should. I forgive him as a fan because I don’t care in his personal life. Because I really really doubt anyone on this board or the writer of this column would be able to stand up to the scrutiny he is always under. You would crack like warm sheet of ice. What a bunch of hypocrites.
shane
February 19th, 2010
11:29 am
The issue is not his wife, Woods said, but his “repeated irresponsible behavior, I had affairs, I have cheated. … I stopped living by the core values I was taught
Huh? His Dad ran around on his Mom the whole time when he was going up. In fact Tiger has a half brother. I would say he was living exactly by the core values he was taught. The apple did not fall far from the tree.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 19th, 2010
11:30 am
He didn’t apologize to Joslyn James. Me thinks Gloria Allred will now have a conniption fit.
Mr Charlie
February 19th, 2010
11:30 am
Nike’s new ad:
Tiger walkes to the stage dressed in black, stands before 1000’s of poeple, it is stone quite.
He shouts “I AM TIGER WOODS, ANY @@@@@ QUESTIONS”, after a pause, he says “did’nt think so”.
All I'm Saying Is...
February 19th, 2010
11:30 am
DHD: Agree with you completely.
Shane: People in glass houses, my friend.
Scripted or not, sincere or not, he said what needed to be said (maybe not what you wanted him to say or done the way you wanted) to the people that mattered most (i.e. not the media), made some additional points (no domestic violence in my household ever, never took performance enhancing drugs), explained why this needed to be done today and now he has to walk the talk.
Find something else to do with your time, folks. I understand a plane crashed into the IRS building in Austin, TX, a lady in Atlanta was assaulted near GTech, the Winter Olympics are on, Accenture’s golf tournament is still going on, each of you probably have a friend or loved one who could use your help finding a job…you know, important things?!!!
Jake Espenlaub
February 19th, 2010
11:30 am
Shane,
sorry to inform you, but you are a moron… Phil is one of the most hated players on tour.
I’m not condoning any of Tiger’s acts, simply because I don’t think they are right.
But if you were to know about golf, you would know players on the tour do not like Phil while they do like Tiger. Learn what you’re talking about before you speak.
AlphaDog
February 19th, 2010
11:30 am
Well done, Tiger! (and team) Only thing missing was Elin coming out from behind the curtain to hug you afterward. Go home, play with the kids, get back to the sham of counseling (been there, done that, paid $100/hr) and then get back to golf!
JSS
February 19th, 2010
11:33 am
Somebody needs stop drinking that lead based K-River water! It leads to making a fool of one’s self on a daily blogging basis! SW Michigan, home of every type of radical free range nut case this side of the Idaho border!
It is simple, either you’re going to let it go or you are not… I can care less one way or the other, but I wish Tiger and his family the best… Elin is a grown *** woman, she can take of her own mental heath (she’s defacto rich), but there’s a portion who want a NASCAR Dale Earnhardt tragedy… Think about it…
Bob Didier caught here
February 19th, 2010
11:35 am
Shultz,
I live about 5 minutes from Sawgrass and the security down there was incredibly tight!! I mean this has all the theatre of a Kabuki Play.
I had read the other day that golfers currently on the course will be asked to hurry their play as to not be there while “tigers little passion play”.
Honestly?? I always thought this guy was a bit of a fake and a fraud. He is the greatest living golfer but I always suspected there was something behind the facade!
Ga boy
February 19th, 2010
11:36 am
Lots of apologists out there- of course you all didn’t think he did anything wrong in the first place. You all forget the damage he is doing to the game of golf- it started out as a gentleman’s game- rules of honesty and all that. It has been usurped by “you da man” and “in the hole”. Arnie had as many crowds as tiger- but they showed class-as did Arnie. Unlike tiger. And unlike many in his mob.
Will
February 19th, 2010
11:39 am
Tiger is a golfer and he isn’t required to answer to anyone! However I guarantee you will get more transparency and honesty from Tiger than say our president and Robert Gibbs.
Ga boy
February 19th, 2010
11:41 am
Will And this has what to do with politics???? You moron. Go worship at your shrine of tiger.
JRP
February 19th, 2010
11:42 am
So, is Tiger the only pro athlete that has ever cheated on his wife? And with more than one woman? He owes us nothing, all of this is between him and Elin..If they diecide to stay together, I wish them well..
WMD
February 19th, 2010
11:46 am
If he thinks that the questions from his fans and the writers are going to stop because he wants them to he is sadly mistaken. AND he will eventually be asked those questions in person over and over again until he answers them. But in future press conferences and on the golf course. Still the arrogant putz.
ez4me
February 19th, 2010
11:55 am
Really, I don’t understand why anyone would be so absorbed with what is going on in Tiger’s “sex” life. Tiger did not hit media attention for that reason, it was because he was an excellent “GOLF” player and probably still is. The media has nothing better to do than to dig deep into the crevices of others lives to report what they call the “News”.
Frankly, I could give a damn about Tiger, Vick, Rose on any other highly overpaid Athlete, Politian, or Entertainment Industry Professional that gets media attention to pay their bills because none of their money helps to pay mine….Furthermore, when did they or any other human being become exempt from any wrongful doing. Remember there isn’t but one judge and it surely isn’t any of us mortal beings. Focus on the folks that take lives in any form, rape across the nation, or tactics that are harmful to another human life, and I did say “Harmful” not “Hurtful” the hurt can be healed….Elin will get over it and move on, it’s not like her life will be uncomfortable financially.
Start reporting something we really need to address like poverty in the US. Yeah! Let’s start with that one because if I give you too many items to focus on, you’ll loose track of “Real” issues…..
WMD
February 19th, 2010
12:14 pm
ez4me No big deal eh? No skin off your nose. Says a lot about you – not much about tigger.
david baker
February 19th, 2010
4:07 pm
Jeff Schultz or whatever his name is can be described like most of the media. They have an over inflated sense of worth exceeded only by their arrogance. Like he was going to be invited to the Tiger news confernence. Face it dude you are a nobody. There was a time when sports writers were gentlemen back in the day of Sam Snead, Jack Kennedy, and Lee Trevino all known sex addicts. The rule was you didn’t talk about it in public because it is a private matter and has nothing to do with golf or the presidency. Then these bozos come along and think they are enititled to know what kind of underwear you have on. It is truly so lacking in class as to be undescribable.
clean up your yard
February 19th, 2010
5:22 pm
david baker so ya wanna shoot the messenger eh? figures
The World Wide Web of Tiger Woods | ajc Sports Talk
February 23rd, 2010
1:33 pm
[...] • AJC’s Jeff Schultz had an over-under on ’sorrys’. How’d you do? [...]
Noah
March 11th, 2010
2:24 am
Incredible. blogs.ajc.com is great.
Woods making the right call on returning at Masters | Jeff Schultz
March 16th, 2010
2:11 pm
[...] ♦ Over/under on how many times Woods says, ’sorry’: 5 1/2 [...]