Tiger Woods can go in either direction after public humiliation
Tiger Woods leaves the podium after a 13-minute confessional, taking no questions. (Bloomberg photo)
We are used to witnessing confidence and cool. We are used to seeing Tiger Woods standing over a 12-foot putt, with several million people watching and several million dollars on the line, and calmly tapping a small white ball into a four-inch cup.
We are used to uncommon resolve: 14 victories in majors, the first at the Masters when he was 21, the last at the U.S. Open when he labored on a torn knee ligament and a double stress fracture in his tibia.
We saw none of that Friday. We saw a broken man. We saw flaws. It was uncomfortable. Woods, who used to own the room because he owned his sport and to a degree the celebrity landscape, read from a statement that he might’ve rehearsed 1,000 times. Still the words tumbled out of his mouth slowly like he was speaking a foreign language. In a sense, he was.
This is what happens when reality hits. We’ve seen it before — weeping evangelists after sex scandals, fallen athletes after failed drug tests, Hollywood celebrities after DUIs. This was Tiger Woods off stage. It wasn’t pretty.
“I have a lot to atone for,” he said.
Tiger Woods' mother, Kultida, watched his speech from the front row. The two embraced afterward. (AP photo)
What will public humiliation mean for his future? Possibly everything. Some boxers are never the same after they get knocked down for the first time. The air of invincibility is gone. We can’t be certain how Woods will be affected by the knowledge that he is no longer universally admired and revered.
What does it mean for his future? Possibly nothing. Great athletes operate with tunnel vision. Woods thrived, despite meteoric expectations and pressure, the death of his father, injuries, certainly multiple women texting his cell phone. The great ones are driven by failure and criticism and a doubting public.
But Woods said it himself: We judge by actions, not orchestrated press conferences. To predict what happens the next time Woods steps onto a golf course is futile.
We’ve come to expect greatness from Woods. If he entered and won the Masters in April, it wouldn’t be surprising. Why? Because it would be so Tiger. Because he’s that good. Because unlike a mountain of record holders in sports, Woods never cheated his game. He broke commandments.
He no longer has the perfect life. He is staple content on TMZ. Some 40 Stepford-looking supporters and a few hand-selected media members witnessed Woods’ statement in a room from the PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. But among the missing: his wife, Elin Nordegren.
“Every one of you has good reason to be critical of me,” Woods said in a 13-minute statement, with his mother, Kultida, watching from the front row. “I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. I am the only person to blame.”
A dozen women, from porn actresses to a coffee shop waitress, claim to have had affairs with Woods. Multiple reports said the news led to an argument between Woods and his wife, leading to him rushing out of his home Thanksgiving night and crashing his Escalade into a tree. Woods denied reports that Elin hit him with a golf club, although it was strange he actually made an issue of it Friday, saying: “There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise. Elin deserves praise, not blame.”
Question: Who was ever blaming her? And why even address allegations of performance-enhancing drugs, a story that has received little attention, on this day?
He admitted spending 45 days in rehab, and will return there soon (though for the record he never specified it was for a sex addiction, only “the issues I’m facing”).
“I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in,” he said. “I convinced myself that normal rules didn’t apply. I thought only about myself. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled.”
When it was over, Woods and his mother, Kultida, embraced. “I’m so proud of you. Never think you stand alone,” she told him.
He is not alone. But he’s no longer on a pedestal either. Now we’ll learn how he reacts to that.
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119 comments Add your comment
Tom
February 19th, 2010
9:28 pm
Hey June agenda? Is this a stock message board? What could someone possibly gain by writing on here? Are they trying to sway public opinion because they placed a bet on Tiger? What a dumb word choice.
Good article
February 19th, 2010
9:32 pm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/golf/article7034461.ece
David Granger
February 19th, 2010
9:34 pm
This “press conference” didn’t help him. He’d have been better just to release a written statement, without this charade of people sitting quietly while he recited his little speech.
Brantley
February 19th, 2010
9:40 pm
Did anyone see the woman sitting on the right move her head and roll her eyes when Tiger said the media needed to leave him and his family alone? Too funny
benchwarmer
February 19th, 2010
9:52 pm
I really respect Tigers ability and heart on the course. He is probably the greatest of all time. However even in the beginning of his career to this day he has shunned most of his fellow professionals and acted exactly like he said, entitled. I would like to see what happens the next time he or his caddy take it upon themselves to break someones camera or curse one of the spectators. A class act he ain’t. We just didn’t know how bad it was. Jesper had it right. Tiger we didn’t know you.
Carmen
February 19th, 2010
9:55 pm
I am glad that Tiger Woods broke his silence. After listening to Tiger I feel positive that he is going in the right direction to get his derailed life back on the right track. I think that in each one of us there is a divine power that can be used to help us overcome any obstacle and adversity. I am encouraged that Tiger mentioned he is using his inner strength to regain balance in his life to save the two things that are most important to him, his wife and his children. Tiger said that Elin deserves praise and I wholeheartedly agreed. I want to tell Tiger that I hope and pray that one day Elin find room in her heart to believe in him again. God Bless!
oldfart
February 19th, 2010
10:11 pm
My bs meter works pretty good. Today’s was enough to grow a field of corn.
dbc
February 19th, 2010
11:03 pm
I feel sad for any adult blogger who feels Tiger owes them an apology. “Believing” in a professional athlete or celebrity that you don’t even know just because they’re on TV is more a reflection of your own insecurities than the failure of that individual. Tiger owes nothing to anyone except his family. If you live and die by what Tiger does, and feel slighted by his actions, perhaps you need to get a handle on your own situation.
Scott Anderson
February 19th, 2010
11:43 pm
Nothing more than trying to get back on track to make another billion dollars in the future.
I dont see how Elin can stay with him at this point. Too many memorys of his past transgressions will probably do them in.
Go Tiger !
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
February 20th, 2010
12:52 am
woods is a moron. this could’ve been handled back in november and the press/media would not have had a field day with it. he gets what he deserves.
white man
February 20th, 2010
2:38 am
For anyone who does not know, this is THE YEAR OF THE TIGER. Anyone who looks to sports figures as role models are idiots.
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:41 am
protect your club
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:43 am
protect Tiger’s wood
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:45 am
for the man who had everything- i mean every woman
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:46 am
mat not help you out of every sticky situation
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:47 am
Enter your comments here
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:49 am
does your wife hate a dirty club?
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:49 am
never a hole in one
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:50 am
good for your long game
TIGER CUB CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:51 am
good for your short game
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:52 am
get out of that trap safe
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:53 am
a swingers choice
TIGER CONDOMS
February 20th, 2010
2:56 am
when your not thinking about your wife
dawgdip
February 20th, 2010
7:57 am
” Let the man or woman who has never broken one of the ten commandments cast the first stone at Tiger Woods.” Tiger, the real place for total forgiveness is in Jesus Christ. Buddism might get you through this life but it will not get you through eternity.
BuLLdawg
February 20th, 2010
8:06 am
Elin Nordegren is a sweet gal who should not have had this happen to her. Do I believe she took a golf club to his cheating butt ? Yes. Absolutely she did, in my opinion. It is what happens in this situation. God Almighty Tiger Woods you are entitled.
Tiger Woods is married.
All the porn stars with their 18 porn movies in the last 2 years of their affairs with Tiger Woods, and there are dozens who say they have slept with Tiger Woods are all well aware that Tiger Woods is married to one of the world’s greatest ladies.
All of them owe Elin Nordegren an apology.
Tiger Woods looked horrible today.
The only reason I watch any golf is because of Tiger Woods.
Tiger Woods failed to mention all the dozens of women who were willing to share his bed with him, married. In fact, he named none of them
Rachel Uchitel: the original Tiger Woods’ mistress. She is a 34-year-old woman with a history of dating celebrities who lives in New York.
Jaimee Grubbs: A cocktail waitress from Las Vegas, Jamie Grubbs is the woman who released text messages and voicemails from Tiger Woods, and she also appeared on Tool Academy on VHI.
Kalika Moquin: A marketing manager for the Bank nightclub also in Las Vegas.
Jamie Jungers: She is the Las Vegas model who says she met him in a nightclub, and then again in California and Chicago.
Mindy Lawton: She works as a waitress in Orlando, she says that she met Tiger while working in a diner near his home.
Cori Rist: She met Tiger at a Manhattan nightclub and then met up with him numerous times at other hotels.
Holly Sampson: She is an LA porn star, having made over 85 porno films and TV shows.
The next woman is called a VIP server at an Orlando club, although she has not officially been named to the press. She claims their affair began in 2004 before he married Elin, but continued after.
Another woman is apparently a television broadcaster and another is just described as a sex-addicted cougar.
Joslyn James: Another porn star who also goes by the name of Veronica Siwik-Daniels, and she bragged about having an affair with Tiger on her Facebook page.
The next alleged mistress is the one who claims to have had an affair with Tiger and aborted his child in 2007. She has not been named at this time.
The next woman comes from the biographer Ian Halperin who says a woman approached him two years ago with an audio file of Tiger Woods having phone sex. However, there is still no proof that this is real.
Yet another woman who hadn’t been named had come forward and hired the same lawyer as Rachel Uchitel. RadarOnline insists that this woman has not come forward already. This woman may be Theresa Rogers but that has not been confirmed officially yet.
Loredana Jolie: She is supposed to be Tiger Wood’s favorite call girl from the whole list. She’s a Playboy model and she says she was paid for her services.
The next woman (this brings us to number 16) has also not been named, but she is claiming that she tried to get pregnant by Tiger Woods and have his baby without him knowing.
Number 17 may be Julie Postle, whose ex-boyfriend claimed that their affair continued after Tiger was married.
So that’s it for now – 17 women all of whom know exactly who Tiger Woods is, and all 17 who were very aware of Elin Nordegren and their entire family.
2 Children, both boys born 2007 and 2009 Sam and Charlie.
Their 2 million dollar
Wedding attended by Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan among 150.
Billion.
Tiger Woods has more than a Billion Dollars.
He has Lost all his Endorsements.
He did not make a billion dollars golfing.
Tiger Woods said today that he is entitled to pay for sex on a daily basis with whomever he wants. That is exactly what he said.
And, that it is none of our business.
I will not be watching golf.
I never did before Tiger Woods.
I never will now, either.
To all the golfers who are hurt by the timing of today’s statement, when of course, this all transpired while we ate Turkey Thanksgiving 3 months ago.
Excuse me, this is a selfish man.
And, your sport is nothing without him.
Nothing, that is what golf is.
I know that the 17 women mistresses we know of who have come forward so far and are somewhat verified going back over a decade so far, feel like they are miffed by Tiger Woods prepared news non-conference, not naming them.
The golfers are upset; that part I am quite clear on.
Elin Nordegren, dear, I know how you are wounded. All I can say, is that in time, you will get over it only by looking at Tiger Woods for the man he is. No other way.
Sam and Charlie are the ones who will be impaired the most for the longest.
His now former sponsors are damaged by his selfishness; I can appreciate that.
Buddhism. I really do not know much about Tiger Woods’ religious obedience. Buddhism does not condone what is happening here. Tiger Woods can claim Buddhism all he wants. This is all completely contrary to the teachings and principles of Buddhism.
Selfish.
Self-centered, self-seeking, self-interested, egotistical, egocentric Tiger Woods.
Elin Nordegren did not spend the night with Tiger Woods tonight. She will not. Her 2 boys Charlie and Sam are not spending the night with Tiger Woods tonight. The 17 known mistresses ? He has certainly thought about it.
I know folks who are in committed-relationships who are not married and would never find themselves with 1 mistress. Ok, the 17 are beautiful. So what ? Is his life worth nothing ?
There are so many people you have injured Tiger Woods. So many. I do not feel that you have even apologized to me, let alone all these whom I name by name Tiger Woods.
I will listen to you Tiger Woods. That is more than you deserve. You are fast approaching 100 days gone by during which extended time, you have not addressed me, indeed anyone except Elin Nordegren.
If you really believe in your heart of hearts that this is only private between you and Elin Nordegren, then fine, I will just turn my back on you too. Your days to get this fixed are in short supply with me because you need to understand that fundamental to this marriage and children, is speaking freely from your heart. You don’t get it, not with Elin Nordegren, Sam, Charlie, 17 known mistresses, thousands on the Golf Tour, billions in Sponsorships, or just a plain ole country boy sitting there waiting on the 18th green to get a glimpse of their hero after waiting 8 hours for that 1 fleeting moment, or watch endless parades of no-name golfers never doing anything on TV just to see your freeze-frame of one of your putts. I’m ill-treated by you Tiger Woods; I’m one of your little ole fans who sat and watched you. You haven’t apologized to anyone. Try facing us; we might just listen if you answer our questions. I would do that quickly. I would have done it 100 days ago. At this point, you are an elitist cad in a sport that frankly is probably eat up with cads like yourself for you to sit there and try to tell us that you felt entitled. Now, where’s your apology, facing us ?
BuLLdawg
February 20th, 2010
8:07 am
Elin Nordegren is a sweet gal who should not have had this happen to her. Do I believe she took a golf club to his cheating butt ? Yes. Absolutely she did, in my opinion. It is what happens in this situation. God Almighty Tiger Woods you are entitled.
Tiger Woods is married.
All the porn stars with their 18 porn movies in the last 2 years of their affairs with Tiger Woods, and there are dozens who say they have slept with Tiger Woods are all well aware that Tiger Woods is married to one of the world’s greatest ladies.
All of them owe Elin Nordegren an apology.
Tiger Woods looked horrible today.
The only reason I watch any golf is because of Tiger Woods.
Tiger Woods failed to mention all the dozens of women who were willing to share his bed with him, married. In fact, he named none of them
Rachel Uchitel: the original Tiger Woods’ mistress. She is a 34-year-old woman with a history of dating celebrities who lives in New York.
Jaimee Grubbs: A cocktail waitress from Las Vegas, Jamie Grubbs is the woman who released text messages and voicemails from Tiger Woods, and she also appeared on Tool Academy on VHI.
Kalika Moquin: A marketing manager for the Bank nightclub also in Las Vegas.
Jamie Jungers: She is the Las Vegas model who says she met him in a nightclub, and then again in California and Chicago.
Mindy Lawton: She works as a waitress in Orlando, she says that she met Tiger while working in a diner near his home.
Cori Rist: She met Tiger at a Manhattan nightclub and then met up with him numerous times at other hotels.
Holly Sampson: She is an LA porn star, having made over 85 porno films and TV shows.
The next woman is called a VIP server at an Orlando club, although she has not officially been named to the press. She claims their affair began in 2004 before he married Elin, but continued after.
Another woman is apparently a television broadcaster and another is just described as a sex-addicted cougar.
Joslyn James: Another porn star who also goes by the name of Veronica Siwik-Daniels, and she bragged about having an affair with Tiger on her Facebook page.
The next alleged mistress is the one who claims to have had an affair with Tiger and aborted his child in 2007. She has not been named at this time.
The next woman comes from the biographer Ian Halperin who says a woman approached him two years ago with an audio file of Tiger Woods having phone sex. However, there is still no proof that this is real.
Yet another woman who hadn’t been named had come forward and hired the same lawyer as Rachel Uchitel. RadarOnline insists that this woman has not come forward already. This woman may be Theresa Rogers but that has not been confirmed officially yet.
Loredana Jolie: She is supposed to be Tiger Wood’s favorite call girl from the whole list. She’s a Playboy model and she says she was paid for her services.
The next woman (this brings us to number 16) has also not been named, but she is claiming that she tried to get pregnant by Tiger Woods and have his baby without him knowing.
Number 17 may be Julie Postle, whose ex-boyfriend claimed that their affair continued after Tiger was married.
BuLLdawg
February 20th, 2010
8:08 am
Elin Nordegren is a sweet gal who should not have had this happen to her. Do I believe she took a golf club to his cheating butt ? Yes. Absolutely she did, in my opinion. It is what happens in this situation. God Almighty Tiger Woods you are entitled.
Tiger Woods is married.
All the porn stars with their 18 porn movies in the last 2 years of their affairs with Tiger Woods, and there are dozens who say they have slept with Tiger Woods are all well aware that Tiger Woods is married to one of the world’s greatest ladies.
All of them owe Elin Nordegren an apology.
Tiger Woods looked horrible today.
The only reason I watch any golf is because of Tiger Woods.
Tiger Woods failed to mention all the dozens of women who were willing to share his bed with him, married. In fact, he named none of them
Rachel Uchitel: the original Tiger Woods’ mistress. She is a 34-year-old woman with a history of dating celebrities who lives in New York.
Jaimee Grubbs: A cocktail waitress from Las Vegas, Jamie Grubbs is the woman who released text messages and voicemails from Tiger Woods, and she also appeared on Tool Academy on VHI.
Kalika Moquin: A marketing manager for the Bank nightclub also in Las Vegas.
Jamie Jungers: She is the Las Vegas model who says she met him in a nightclub, and then again in California and Chicago.
PTC
February 20th, 2010
8:19 am
WGAS?
leland
February 20th, 2010
8:42 am
If people really want to help Tiger, they should never yell, “Get in the hole,” when he’s around.
Gen Neyland
February 20th, 2010
8:43 am
Geez..Did anybody catch Gloria Allred defending her Tiger jilted porn star client last night on FoxNews..? Talk about a comedic distraction to this whole thing. SNL couldn’t have written a better script than Ms Allred was laying down. To paraphrase Ms Allred, “Men should not promise love and affection to a porn star to win a trip to play Sandy’s Trap.”
CHEF MONTUER
February 20th, 2010
8:43 am
Geaux Tiger! You da man!
CHEF MONTUER
February 20th, 2010
8:45 am
Except for all those skanks! Coulda found some hotter chicks at that Orlando strip club!
CHEF MONTUER
February 20th, 2010
8:46 am
Except for all those skanks. Coulda found hotter chicks at that Orlando strip club
Terrible Truth
February 20th, 2010
8:56 am
If he wants to start living a life of integrity as he said in his statement, start by dropping that stupid ass fist pump on the green, the strutting and open mouth roar and the pawing of caddie, Steve Williams. Honestly, I always thought THEY had a down low relationship. Still, if he never wins another tournament, he will go down as THE greatest, arrogant, mouth-breather jerk to ever play the game.
PDawg
February 20th, 2010
9:06 am
Tiger will never be the same on the course or off. I don’t believe he will win 5 more majors. I just don’t see that Tiger ever coming back. He could win 25 majors and not be a better golfer than Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer.
oconeedawg
February 20th, 2010
9:16 am
Ah yes, another narcassistic, immature, ego maniac, sports figure who treats the world as his personal playground and the people in it as his toys. With all the announcers and sports pundits telling us what a firece competitor Woods is, maybe he was going after Wilt Chamberlin’s record.
Yet another weak intellect who was bested by his animal instincts.
Sloan
February 20th, 2010
9:22 am
I listened to Tiger’s statement on the radio yesterday as I was unable to get in front of a television. Not having the benefit of seeing his body language (and I have not watched a video yet), I thought that Tiger said the right things and the inflection, emotion, etc. evident in his reading of the statement convinced me that he is sincere in his desire to change his ways. Whether or not Elin and Tiger reconcile is their business not mine. We are all human and therefore born into sin. We are all in need of constant apology because of this so while I think what he did was very unfortunate and unwise, I cannot stand in judgement of him. But I do hope that he comes to know Jesus Christ as Tiger needs the grace of his maker to truly make things right and wash away his sin. No amount of public apologies will do that for him. He’ll be a better man when he becomes a new creation baptized by water and the Spirit. Golf is just a game.
Dr.Phil
February 20th, 2010
9:36 am
Needs to be drug tested before being allowed to play in another PGA tournament!
vafalconfan
February 20th, 2010
10:18 am
All I can say is Buddism is not the answer..until he ackowledges Jesus his life will continue to spiral downward.
rex
February 20th, 2010
10:26 am
how can anyone believe he did NOT use PEDs when the police refuse to even give him a blood test or breathalyzer after crashing your truck at a fairly high rate of speed from your driveway ?
IF Tiger was tested I would not trust the results…..obviously he can still wield power from behind the scenes and would show clean no matter what he may have taken. Maybe PEDs did help him hit the ball farther ? Who knows now, and since he has zero credibility…..we may never know.
Pago Pago Trojan
February 20th, 2010
10:41 am
So what? He’s the worlds greatest golfer and with billion $$ in the bank. And, likes blondes. Who doesn’t!
Without-a-clue
February 20th, 2010
11:03 am
For backgound: I am not a Tiger fan and I am white. That said, he has given the press and public all he owes us. The rest is between he and his wife. Let them alone.
SOUTHGADAWG88
February 20th, 2010
11:25 am
Tiger Woods made golf chic…made a billion dollars along the way…does ANYONE really care about him running around on his wife?Seems to me it didn’t have much affect on peoples opinion of JFK,Bill Clinton,MLK or M.Jordan,Charles Barkley etc so WHY is it such a big deal for Woods?
Reid Adair
February 20th, 2010
11:50 am
I was disgusted by this scripted speech from the beginning, and when I saw a clip on the news last night, it looked like Woods was preaching to a small congregation.
Then, I heard about this quote: “I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled.”
So, basically, Woods thought that adultery was OK since he was a celebrity? Seriously?
And how about the fact that many people believe he intentionally chose yesterday for the event to distract from the Accenture golf event? Remember Accenture? The first company to drop Woods from endorsing their company?
Woods was able to control this environment, but he, his agent and the PGA won’t be able to control it forever. Sooner or later, he’ll be sitting in front of reporters who are allowed to ask questions. Sooner or later, he’ll be on a golf course and able to hear comments from people who aren’t looking to pat him on the back and kiss up to him.
Then we can truly see how he handles it.
Stan Kelley
February 20th, 2010
1:46 pm
I hope he goes to a Buddhist Monastery for a year or more or maybe forever. He owes me, you (especially reptilians like Dutch Schultz (the Kraut) nothing whatsoever. He owes the game of golf nothing. He should have never tried golf. His mother’s Buddhism and his father’s passion for golf could not maintain any kind of balance (Yin/Yang). So, God Bless you Tiger, you mother, your wife, your children and those who really care about you. The rest should go and meditate on their own sins for about a year!!!
Eric
February 20th, 2010
2:48 pm
Tiger who?
Dostoyevskiy
February 20th, 2010
3:38 pm
Deal with this: “Does Tiger have credibility?
“If not, do you want to be seeing someone constantly in front of a national camera who does not have credibility?
Stan MAY be a moron
February 20th, 2010
4:18 pm
If you think Tiger got where he is because of something other than the game of golf, you’re certifiable. Please tell us that was a “senior moment” or a typo or something.
Joseph
February 20th, 2010
5:22 pm
I hate to say it, but apologies are for endorsements. Tiger only has his wife and children to apologize to. I am sick and tired of political correctness. Say what you feel and get on with it.
Whopper Dawg
February 20th, 2010
5:27 pm
If you are going to enjoy the press and the limelight and money that goes with being an international celebrity, and enjoy the enormous paydays that come from the public’s support of golf, then when you screw up as large and as vast as he did, you are going to get some scrutiny. His actions pre and post this event are his responsibility, but in the real world, there are ramifications to your actions. To think the press and public will be content to act as if it never happened is naive.