Here’s what Tiger Woods needs to tell us: Absolutely nothing
"Exclusive" photos of an SUV against a tree. Feel edified?
I keep hearing and reading that Tiger Woods “needs to come clean.” (Here’s a boilerplate screed from the self-styled King of Outrage.) But you know what I say?
No he doesn’t.
He doesn’t need to say one thing more. He doesn’t have to talk to police, and he hasn’t. That’s his right under the law. And we the people have no overarching Need To Know on this issue. From the above expression of outrage: “The public deserves to hear exactly what happened in the wee hours of Thanksgiving night outside his mansion in Windermere, Fla.”
One question: Why?
It’s clear Mr. and Mrs. Woods had a discussion that didn’t end well. We can surmise that it had to do with the National Enquirer’s report of a Tiger dalliance with a New York nightclub hostess. We the people are not naive. But what exactly is Tiger supposed to say to us after driving his Cadillac into both a tree and a water hazard? (When run over by a vehicle, a fire hydrant qualifies.)
Should he paint himself into a Clinton-esque corner by wagging a finger and saying, “I did not have sex with that woman”? Should he risk being caught in a lie? Or should he admit to being an adulterer and thereby expose his already-exposed family to deeper public humiliation? Where’s the upside in that?
Tiger Woods is a public figure, but that’s not the same as being an elected official. He has asked no one to vote for him. Yes, he’s a serial endorser, but that’s more a matter between him and his sponsors. The corporations who pay him millions must decide if that money will continue to be well spent. (My guess is that they’ll shrug and say, “So what? He’s still Tiger Woods.”)
As hard as this is to believe in the Information Age, there’s such a thing as too much information. Alex Rodriguez held a mass media briefing last spring to address allegations of steroid use, and lo and behold he admitted using steroids. And you know what we in the media did? We ripped him for not telling us the whole truth, for being fuzzy on the details. We in the media can be a little silly sometimes.
And that seems an object lesson: Once you start talking about something seamy, you’re not given credit for facing the issue. You simply throw yourself and your family open to deeper scrutiny. Was the nightclub hostess the first Other Woman? If not, would Mr. Woods please name names, places and pertinent details? Were photos taken? If so, could you provide them? And was it indeed a 7-iron Mrs. Woods apparently brandished on the morning after Thanksgiving, and if so did she choose the right club?
I say again: We are not naive. We have cause to believe something is indeed amiss in the Woods marriage. But that is not our business. Nobody has been arrested. No charges have been filed. As much as we might hunger for the latest dollop of dope from TMZ, we have no inalienable right to satiation.
Tiger Woods is a public figure, yes. But even public figures have private lives. He should shut up — to his credit, that’s what he has done — and tend to his.
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240 comments Add your comment
Bat Masterson
November 30th, 2009
2:33 pm
I agree, but then I don’t care what any of these famous people do, unless a crime is committed.
Bat Masterson
November 30th, 2009
2:34 pm
Now what happened, tell me what you know, damn it.
Bat Masterson
November 30th, 2009
2:37 pm
No don’t. When did Hines Ward become an idiot? Has he always been one and I, in my indifference, miss it. When will Coach Willie M be fired?
toga
November 30th, 2009
2:38 pm
If she is a nutjob and a danger to the children, he must come clean.
Da truth
November 30th, 2009
2:41 pm
I agree 100% …glad to see this coming from a member of the “entitled media” .
Ken
November 30th, 2009
2:42 pm
It the media that fuels these unrealistic expectations with their over the top coverage of these types of events. They are so desperate for a story they are willing to create one when none is there. I agree with your take on this completely, now lets move on the real news.
Bat Masterson
November 30th, 2009
2:43 pm
3rd and three, long field goal range, late in the game, you have been running the ball down Techs throat all night. Why not play it as 2 downs to make and run it? It’s beyond me, but what do I know. If it’s shooting, gambling, or promoting prize fighting, then I’m the guy to talk to.
Bat Masterson
November 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
Trifecta baby, where do I collect my winnings?
misterwax
November 30th, 2009
2:46 pm
Maybe so Bark Madley…we can just wait for the State Attorney’s office to tell us instead…..1 possible misdemeanor (DUI) and 1 possible felony (assualt and battery with a deadly weapon)…domestice violence 101. many folks have had to deal with it in the courts….this married couple would be no different….sadly, the state may take the kids away and ward them to either grandparents 1000s of miles away or else the state.
Bat Masterson
November 30th, 2009
2:46 pm
That should read and did I , sloppy.
bamafan
November 30th, 2009
2:47 pm
Mark – I agree but that includes any statement by Tiger or his wife that she had to knock out the back windows of the car to get him out of the front seat when the airbags didn’t even deploy. Maintaining silence does not include lying. Methinks that she did knock out the back windows but hardly in the manner she claims. Tiger does have a duty to cooperate with the police, up to that point where they accuse him of a crime. He is apparently not fulfilling that duty in a manner that would make his mother proud. His decision to not cooperate will likely result in a citation for some traffic offense if only because he hasn’t “come clean.” His argument with his wife is his business until he destroys city infrastructure and requires police officers to respond.
I only know all of these because CBS kept interrupting Alabama-Auburn to tell us all this as if it were important. Yes Mark – no court documents have been filed but a public record (the police report) has been made.
Realist
November 30th, 2009
2:47 pm
Mark, you are right… as long as there are no charges filed. If the issue is adultery, it’s none of our business. If the issue is drunk driving or assault, well, then the public does have a right to know what is going on.
hic
November 30th, 2009
2:50 pm
Can’t find UGAY ranked in any football polls!!! It sounds as if “one game” did make the season for the UGAY fans!!!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/bcs/
misterwax
November 30th, 2009
2:51 pm
Actually court documents have been filed by the police and the Da’s office in terms of subpoenas for hospital records and photos of his wounds…..to determine probable cause for domestic violence and assault…..also his blood data to confirm if he was driving while either on meds or alcohol….just want to get all the facts.
no longer dominate
November 30th, 2009
2:53 pm
Mark , Did your yeller Jackets and your bed buddy, paul johnson, win Saturday, screw golf in late november and leave tiger out of the news for at least 10 minutes!!!!
hello?
November 30th, 2009
2:54 pm
did your obama loving bosses make you write this article,, stick to football and your yeller jackets,,maybe you can continue to write for sesame street part time. liberal media elite
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
November 30th, 2009
2:55 pm
At first, I thought, “Man, just tell what happened and get it over with.” But, if he wants to stand up for his right to privacy, now I say, “Go, Tiger.” Like you, I assume there was a marital blowup that ended badly.
RedKneckerson
November 30th, 2009
2:56 pm
And why was Lane Kiffin being dogged about not saying anything about the kids arrested for “attempted” robbery?
I Now Pronounce You "Barack & Larry."
November 30th, 2009
2:57 pm
Tiger Woods got beaten up by his wife.
Friends, there exactly 4 types of women from whom we ALL need to stay as far away from as possible:
1. Blondes
2. Redheads
3. Strawberry Blondes
4. Ministers’ Daughters
Tiger done messed up as married a nutjob under Category # 1 when should’ve gotten him a good Brunette Lady like Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson or Shirley Hemphill.
Keep that in mind for your NEXT marriage, T W !!
hick Jacket?
November 30th, 2009
2:57 pm
yes …30 to 24 over the A She she runners up did make our season, i think the yeller jackets are ranked 12th now..slightly behind LSwho? laughing my f**** a** off
Herschel Talker
November 30th, 2009
2:57 pm
MB:
Nope. You’re wrong. If he wants to keep his endorsement contracts, he owes it to those who have him signed to contract to tell them the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Ruppert Brook
November 30th, 2009
2:58 pm
and suppose she shoots him tonight and kills Tiger Woods. Police have a responsibility to look into domestic violence (both sides). Imagine the uproar of police inaction if they had evidence that she did it to him and didn’t look into it. Imagine if it were the other way around and it was a woman.
M Anthony
November 30th, 2009
2:58 pm
Hopefully Tiger has another car available to go to the bank and check on all his money, while the morons are trying to figure out what happened. How about somebody telling us what happened to the bellyupjackets this past weekend? That is more news worthy. Let those country kids from Athens come to Atlanta and take over. “This is my house” what a great laugh.
AndyC
November 30th, 2009
3:00 pm
Mark, I agree with you. If he didn’t break any laws then it’s a private matter. The media is making a big deal about him failing to meet with the authorities. If he has no obligation to meet with the authorities then he shouldn’t. No good can come from it. Time will tell if the Woods mariage is still viable.
JDW
November 30th, 2009
3:00 pm
Jeff, nice article and I agree whole heartedly. I am not a Tiger fan and have not been since the 90’s when I lived in So Cal and had the dubious pleasure of competing in several events with the “Chosen One”. Tiger owes nobody but his wife an explaination and this unrelenting media frenzy is obscene.
Dap01
November 30th, 2009
3:01 pm
He wrecked into a fire hydrant. Are you saying for the police to turn the other way. He needs to answer like other citizens would HAVE to. It is sickening for celebrities to get special treatment.
not ranked?
November 30th, 2009
3:02 pm
nope but sitting back watching the 12th ranked teams fans make excuses is fun…like Paul Johnson didn’t think it was a big game…course to him ..Army and Navy is a big game i guess..or ga. southern and the citadel..but not tech and uga…..lmfao bug fans…we beat the runners up in the A She She!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Q. Smith
November 30th, 2009
3:02 pm
You are correct. Tiger owes us nothing. However, we also owe him nothing. He does have hundreds of millions of our dollars. So if we decide to stop purchasing the products he endorses, he will make less money and lose our adoration, both of which he craves. So in essence, it’s up to him to decide whether or not we deserve to know.
Bat Masterson
November 30th, 2009
3:04 pm
hello?
hic
your type are
no longer dominate
in our society, stick a sock in it
leave it be
November 30th, 2009
3:04 pm
regardless of what happened let the law handle it for pete sake and not the Press…they thought tech was gonna beat Georgia….what does the press know!!!!!!!
Whopper Dawg
November 30th, 2009
3:08 pm
A very wise and successful businessman once told me, “If there is a question out there, you better answer it or people will make up their own answer”.
This is true. It is alway true that Tiger doesn’t owe anyone an explanation, but he runs the risk of everyone filling in the blanks which they will do.
One thing is for sure, she didn’t go down the way he is telling it. Absolutely no logic in that story. A fool can see that.
spiderman
November 30th, 2009
3:10 pm
batman ..are you trying to socialize us…not gonna happen..wouldn’t be prudent…run for mayor of Atlanta but don’t talk down to us about your view of your society
spiderman
November 30th, 2009
3:12 pm
and leave tiger alone..if he broke a law then pursue that,,,,,,,,,,the media types continue to push the American people away from minding their own business, all in the name of making money for the media
anotherdawg
November 30th, 2009
3:14 pm
All right – can’t say I disagree with you Mark. In fact, the same logic can be applied to Mark Richt, who is the one resposible for the Georgia coaching decisions, not the AJC or the fans. Thank you!
Chip Harris
November 30th, 2009
3:25 pm
I think it’s important to know for one reason-There is enough information to surmise that Mrs’ Woods probably assaulted Tiger. I would like to know for sure, because if that is the case…Mrs. Woods should either get counseling, get arrested, some message should be sent that it is NOT OK to scratch, cut, punch, etc. anyone regardless of what they did. SHe obviously went nuts and thats understandable, but it is not OK if a man hits a woman, and it should be likewise unacceptable to assault a man. period-I think for that reason its important for the public to see that regardless of the circumstances, and who you are, if you cause someone bodily harm you should be punished.
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
November 30th, 2009
3:27 pm
Whenever I first got rich and famous, I got divorced so that I could take advantage of the daily parade of willing groupies without breaking my marriage vows. That said, Elin is sure a lot hotter than the brunette he was cheating with. But, there’s always the she’s-here-now factor with groupies … just ask Rick Pitino..
PMC
November 30th, 2009
3:27 pm
Come clean to what? If I were him I would pretend like this never happened. No good will come of knowing ANYTHING about whatever it was that happened at 2:30 in the morning. I don’t know what it was and I don’t want to know. Whatever it was certainly wasn’t good.
Georgia will allways dominate Georgia Tech
November 30th, 2009
3:27 pm
Hey Mark,
Remember this next year right about Thanksgiving…
Georgia will allways dominate Georgia Tech…
Georgia will allways dominate Georgia Tech…
Georgia will allways dominate Georgia Tech…
Georgia will allways dominate Georgia Tech…
Georgia will allways dominate Georgia Tech…
Georgia will allways dominate Georgia Tech…
midnite
November 30th, 2009
3:30 pm
I agree the adultery accusation is a family issue and not our business.
In my opinion by leaving the roadway and striking fixed objects, and because it was reported to and and responded by emergency services, then how does Tiger not have answer for the accident?
If you or I do that you can bet that we will have to answer to the police. Can regular people tell the cops to “just go away” and “maybe we can talk tomorrow”? I don’t think so. Unfortunately most of us don’t have a team of attorneys to do our bidding for us.
Do the Woods get to “take a mulligan” on this incident because of fame, wealth, and privilege?
MMOB
November 30th, 2009
3:32 pm
Mind your own business, peoole!
I Now Pronounce You "Barack & Larry."
November 30th, 2009
3:34 pm
Could it be that the C-U-R-R-E-N-T “Mrs. Woods” has a multiple-personality disorder, one of which happens to be a racist?
jamerson
November 30th, 2009
3:38 pm
GEORGIA WILL NOT ALWAYS DOMINATE,
you guys are goin’ to the ‘Gaylords’ Motor City Bowl in Memphis. We are goin’ to the Orange Bowl. You do the math, 12million payout and 250,00 payout.
LOL
November 30th, 2009
3:40 pm
1. drunk after argument
2. suicide attempt
3. ???
Zeus
November 30th, 2009
3:43 pm
JAMERSON,
30-24. You may end up as champs of the ‘Atlantic Children’s Conference’ but you’ll never consistently compete w/ us and the big boys of the SEC. Glad you guys’ confidence was high though after going 10-1 through your watered-down schedule.
Nice game, nerd.
He owes us everything
November 30th, 2009
3:45 pm
Actually i a disagree we made him what he is by paying to see him play and buying his products…As fans he owes us the truth and should not us his money that we payed him to hide behind the truth..He wanted to be in the limelight and have fame and fortune well then he owes us an explanation as to what happened!!!!!
Mark Bradley
November 30th, 2009
3:46 pm
“We” didn’t “make” Tiger Woods anything. Tiger Woods made himself. Get real.
Jon
November 30th, 2009
3:51 pm
Dap, you dummy, go read the US Constitution and then tell me if he is still getting special treatment. He is completely within the law to not to talk to the police. If they have reasonable suspsicion that a crime has occured then they can go get a search warrant and then he has to start answering questions.
j. spicoli
November 30th, 2009
3:53 pm
Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he’s got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.
bigdawg88
November 30th, 2009
3:55 pm
I want to agree with Mark, but my curiosity just want let me! Guess that’s why i love Maury and Cheaters. I feel for Tiger to have his private business brought out into public.
But… on the other hand, when you ran your dumb behind out into public and ran over a fire hydrant AND hit your neighbor’s tree, you brought YOUR mess out into the public domain. You should be more like the tech players and taken your butt whuppin’ like a man!
Now we all know good and well that back window was broken BEFORE he took off down the driveway. I know you’re the lord of golf, but who the heck leaves golf clubs lying around the yard? Why would you go grab a golf club and run down the driveway to rescue someone without even knowing what was going on?
What really amazes me is how small this world is… that a Scandanavian chick can come to a posh suburb of florida – AND GO STRAIGHT GHETTO!!! I didn’t even know they have ghettoes in Sweden?
Worse yet, I heard Tiger doesn’t have a prenup! Boy, you better run straight to Jared and buy your woman a Kobe rock!!
AJ
November 30th, 2009
3:56 pm
There is a reason that even though he hit a hydrant and emergency personnel responded we are still not entitled to anything: FLORIDA LAW SAYS IT IS OKAY. Under the current laws in Florida, he is only legally obligated to provide a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, & a valid vehicle registration. He does not have to speak to the police. It may be nice if he did, but he is certainly under no obligation to do so. He fulfilled that requirement the morning of the accident. So, if you must “blame” someone for his perceived celebrity treatment, start with the Florida legislature.
Dawg Foot
November 30th, 2009
3:56 pm
Tiger Woods new updated video game includes a crazy arse beotch who chases you with a 7 iron. If you make her really mad she pulls out the driver. Your challenge is to run, jump in your car, and drive backwards without getting your arse beat.
SwimTrunk Dawg
November 30th, 2009
3:57 pm
Every man’s (white, negro, et al) dream is to marry a hot white blond. Tiger’s dream came true, he blew it.
jim
November 30th, 2009
3:59 pm
Mark, When someone makes a billion dollars and 90% of that was made from being a pitch man and public figure, the rules change. Fair or unfair, Tiger signed an “unofficial contract” with the public along time ago. You make your bed and then you lie in it. You cannot have the perks and monetary rewards that come with fame and then say, “time out”. Again, may not be fair but the other half of that “unofficial contract” states that he owes an explanation.
Blah Blah Blah
November 30th, 2009
4:03 pm
If it were you or I the police would be beating down our door for a statement to complete the police report, but since it’s (bigger than life) Eldrick, then all of the laws are thrown out the window. Frankly I think that she beat him with a golf club.
He backs out of his own tournament as well as he backs out of his driveway
Chuckie D
November 30th, 2009
4:04 pm
Mark,
Does Florida have an automatic “domestic violence” statute in regards to spousal abuse (scratching the significant other’s face, breaking out a vehicle’s window, etc)?
Just wondering~~~
Shane
November 30th, 2009
4:05 pm
WRONG WRONG WRONG
When you set yourself up as the all-american boy and are the worlds most popular spokesman using that image then sorry but people have a right to know if that is all BS or not.
Either way TMZ will payoff someone to tell the truth about what happens.
Tiger wants his cake and gets to eat it too. Sorry not this time.
Lumpkin Street Larry
November 30th, 2009
4:06 pm
Kind of an odd stance for a “journalist” to take, don’t you think??
getoverit!
November 30th, 2009
4:06 pm
Tiger owes us nothing! We are fans because we love him for his golfing abilities. He is neither father, son or husband to none of us. This is a private matter between him & his wife. As far as the investigation leave it to the authorities and stop speculating.
Go dig in your OWN back yard and find some dirt!~
Voice of Reason #1
November 30th, 2009
4:07 pm
Any golf game you can do, Tiger can do better.
BUT, IMHO, the wife heard about the alleged mistress. Was probably kicking Tiger’s tail (and face). He left out to escape the beatdown or fuss; crashed into things (OR either they staged the car crash to cover the injuries she inflicted on his face. BUT for him to not simply meet with the FHP is only making everything point to this being more than a simple “Oops, my bad for hitting the fire hydrant/tree.” He doesn’t want to be seen. She probably beat his face!
His statement points to more than being culpable for a simple driving mishap. I read it’s “totally my fault” [i.e., the argument happened (maybe cuz he's been creeping around)]; the wife–he defends her (trying to score points) and not point a finger at her for beating his ‘cabalasian’ derriere [cough, cough, cough]. And that this ‘will never happen again’ and ‘he’s only human, not perfect”‘…that’s not about simply hitting a tree. That’s a WHOLE lot more than that. I’ve said it before and will again…men cheat. Wives need to realize it. and it doesn’t matter who he is, what profession he’s in, or how noble he profeses to be. The biggest protestors are easy to fall…then try to hide. But his statement didn’t do him any good. people aren’t stupid. Not everyone anyway.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 30th, 2009
4:07 pm
I’ve always wondered if Tiger even knew how to drive an automobile.
Focused, highly skilled, performers in any realm sometimes can’t perform the mundane becuase they never needed to.
But, like Eddie Murphy said, “Half!!!”
uga_b
November 30th, 2009
4:09 pm
I think Tiger needs to do the sensible thing and hire Steve Williams full time. That way, no pictures would have been taken and he wouldn’t forget to take his strokes after hitting a fire hydrant. Also, is ironic that golf clubs were being thrown at instead of by Tiger? Seriously, is this thing on?
I agree with you Mark, if Jay Mariotti says to do something, do the opposite. As long as he fulfills his obligation to the police and his insurance company, so be it.
Shane
November 30th, 2009
4:09 pm
Sure legally he is not required to tell us anything.
This is not a legal question. Its a question of this
Is the image that (yes the media) and his handlers put out all those years BS or not?
I love how celebrities love the limelight and attention when its all positive but when somebody reports the slightest negative they cry foul
Well cry me a river Tiger.
Observer
November 30th, 2009
4:09 pm
Dap & Jon – A search warrant DOES NOT compel a defendant to answer questions. The bottom line is that only two people know what really happened. As long as they don’t wish to talk about it, we will never know the truth – only speculation from others. Tiger’s private life is his. If he doesn’t want to talk, that’s his choice (and probably a smart one under the circumstances).
Dawg Foot
November 30th, 2009
4:10 pm
According to TMZ Tiger said his wife was “going ghetto” on him. Anyone know what that means?
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
November 30th, 2009
4:10 pm
people sure are nosey and don’t have a life.even the columnist.
Please Hammer
November 30th, 2009
4:11 pm
Tiger and Bobby Cox’s wife need to talk to each other. Spousal abuse can only be understood from the inside.
master
November 30th, 2009
4:12 pm
we need to see nekid pics of his new girlfriend
Been There
November 30th, 2009
4:13 pm
HONEY… I’m home!
Observer
November 30th, 2009
4:13 pm
Now, the real question – whose wife will end up sporting the larger ring, Kobe’s or Tiger’s?
Shane
November 30th, 2009
4:14 pm
One other thing. If the police knocked on your door to find out about a wreck you had been in do you think you’d just be able to tell them
“Oh im not ready now come back tomorrow”
Give me a break.
jamerson
November 30th, 2009
4:14 pm
ZEUS,
you were still itchy in your daddy’s pants when uga last won a nat’l title. you were in high school the last time tech won. all uga is happy with is a 10 win season and a trip to SUGAR BOWL…”sugar is fallin’ outta the sky”
uga_b
November 30th, 2009
4:15 pm
And if he did cheat on his super-hot wife, I am glad he went the Jeff Gordon route and not the Bill Clinton/Steve Phillips route.
hmmmmmmmm
November 30th, 2009
4:19 pm
the bigger issue is what he was dring, A CADDY, doesn’t BUICK pay his Bills!!
Hmmmmmmmmm
RealDawg
November 30th, 2009
4:22 pm
Another crazy blonde woman. Hot or not. If she used a 6 iron my wife probably would have to go with the 4. Just sayin.
master
November 30th, 2009
4:22 pm
I still think we need to see nekid pics of his new girlfriend
midnite
November 30th, 2009
4:29 pm
Jon, AJ
Y’all need to stop watching all of those daytime TV court shows. LMAO while SMH.
Ken Myers
November 30th, 2009
4:29 pm
Tiger Woods has complied with the Florida law regarding his accident. He provided his license, registration, and proof of insurance card. HE doesn’t have to do anything else despite what the media and the general public thinks. How about this novel idea? Let the Windermere, FL police and the Florida state police do their investigations and let them release their results when finished. I guess to most of the media and the general public today, it would make too much sense because of the 24/7/365 cycle of the media.
AthensSG
November 30th, 2009
4:30 pm
hic, yeah, we are an unranked, lousy excuse for a team, but, uh 30-24!. Talk about laying an egg!!Just take 2 tbl spoons of Maalox and that bile in your throat will go down after a while.
PS: Did you get your invite to PJ’s “bigger fish to fry” fish fry?.
TU87
November 30th, 2009
4:31 pm
You’re right Mark, TW does not owe us an explanation. But he does owe the police if a crime was committed. It may seem “funny” that he was beat up by his wife, if that is even what happened, but domestic violence is still a crime. The police have every right to investigate. Yes and unfortunately for Tiger it probably will be leaked, but that doesn’t mean that the police are not right to investigate.
Mr. McMahon - King of WWF
November 30th, 2009
4:32 pm
No, no, my friend Brad, here is what I suggest, and what I will offer to produce…
Tiger appears on the platform of a carefully staged press conference, with soft organ music playing in the background….and has a “Jimmy Swaggart” moment…you know…
“God could not have given any man a more wonderful wife….”
(Tears up, chokes on the following words) “I have sinned against you, and I beg your forgiveness”
Wait a couple of days, then beautiful wife goes on The View or Oprah, or both, and “forgives and absolves” him.
Wait about a week, then WWE produces the “Renewal of the Wedding Vows” pay-per-view.
MONEY MONEY MONEY!!
Karl Childers
November 30th, 2009
4:33 pm
Cool Hand Luke went to jail for vandalizing a parking meter. I’m just saying.
Zeus
November 30th, 2009
4:36 pm
Great point Jamerson, that burns…
We haven’t won a national championship in nearly 30 years, ya’ll haven’t won one in nearly 20.
Let’s see, in the last 20 years UGA is 15-5 against Tech and has 2 SEC titles and 3 BCS appearances.
How many conference titles and BCS appearances does Tech have? Oh wait, zero, nooooooooo.
Dave
November 30th, 2009
4:38 pm
While I agree with Bradley’s article I wonder if he would have taken the same position if it were a white superstar. The press always gives minorities a pass.
andy
November 30th, 2009
4:41 pm
Somewhere in America, maybe one person just had a similar kind of mishap. do we care? No. So why should we about Tiger. It is his business. We have to draw the line about information and privacy. Draw it now.
Reid Adair
November 30th, 2009
4:42 pm
Wait a minute, Mark. You want to rip Mike Smith and the Falcons because they won’t tell you the status of Matt Ryan and Michael Turner on Sunday after the game, but then you support Tiger Woods not cooperating with a law enforcement investigation?
Come on.
Skip
November 30th, 2009
4:43 pm
Someone tell Phil Hartman that cops shouldn’t check for abuse from wives, they can’t do any real harm.
Nativebird
November 30th, 2009
4:44 pm
“…and I hope Tiger’s reading this so I can be a good little Mark Bradley and kiss his A#$% some more, so as not to Anger the Almighty Tiger and thus be granted an interview from He, the chosen one, the Savior. Only Tiger can endow us with Self Worth, because he is Great, and I am only mud.”
I Now Pronounce You "Barack & Larry."
November 30th, 2009
4:44 pm
RE: ““We” didn’t “make” Tiger Woods anything. Tiger Woods made himself. Get real.” – Mark Bradley @ 3:46 pm
Sorry, Mr. Bradley, but you are DEAD WRONG on this one.
Without golf fans and their disposable income to spend on golf tickets/passes, golfing supplies, sportswear and good & services provided by parent companies which sponsor the PGA and professional golfers, Tiger Woods is merely just a guy who can hit a little, white ball into a hole with the fewest number of strokes in comparison to his competitors. If no there is no money involved, he is just someone doing a “stupid human trick” for his own amusement.
There are countless rednecks who can spit into a can from 20 yards with pinpoint accuracy or win flatulence competitions, but they are not celebrities are adored by the public & media because no one cares to pay money to watch that garbage and large companies have no interest in wasting money to sponsor that on television since no one cares to watch it.
The public “makes” celebrities, and it is that same public (particularly the media) that makes a spectacle of tearing down from their apex. There is less entertainment value in bringing down an obscure person of whom no one has (yet) heard.
Gold is only worth a great deal of money, because we collectively say that it is. Otherwise, it is just a bunch of shiny, yet malleable, rocks.
If no one cared about golf and no $$$ involved was involved, no one would care about Tiger Woods.
DCW
November 30th, 2009
4:44 pm
Shameless pandering, Mark. Grow a pair.
Ken Stallings
November 30th, 2009
4:47 pm
At last I read a journalist who refuses to subscribe to the tedious refrain of presumed self-importance on what are private matters! I agree fully with your point of view.
There was an era when journalism kept a check on its pomposity by understanding that only when laws are broken, or elected officials are involved, does the public truly have a need to know (much less a right).
The way the media is acting justifies why the rich and famous now live in gated communities so they can escape the tiresome voyeurism of the media and their paid hacks known as paparazzi. We would all be better served if the media returned to its core justification — to keep watch on government and ignore the private intrigue of disempowered people!
And part of keeping watch on government is for the media to divorce itself from political advocacy and remember that it has no friends in government, but merely individuals who’s power earns them an unbiased and unblinking eye which the media is served the public mandate to provide!
AthensSG
November 30th, 2009
4:49 pm
Bill Clinton had a super-hot wife, uga_b?
touchstone
November 30th, 2009
4:49 pm
Actually, Mark does a great job here of spreading gossip and innuendo, the very thing he is bashing the “media” for doing. I didn’t know any of the details of the waitress and really wasn’t interested mark. I also didn’t know that the wreck resulted from the aftermath of a fight between his wife and Tiger. At least until I read your article. If it’s no “body’s business”, why are you spreading all this gossip. You point the finger at others, yet do the same crap yourself. You are peddling smut and dirty laundry, face it.
In my opinion, he would have been better served to have just given a brief “man, I dropped something as I was backing out and bam! I crashed into the hydrant, in lurching forward to disengaged from the hydrant I then hit a tree, not exactly proud moments for me and you can imagine why I am now going to let the matter rest and won’t speak to y’all about it again.”
When he decried all the false stories out there, he should have set the record straight and then stopped talking about it.
Chris Broe
November 30th, 2009
4:54 pm
Tiger’s going to be fine. He may have been drunk and that’s why he wouldn’t interview police.
Only a few more hours till the Pats/Saints. Blitz City!
Sonny Clusters
November 30th, 2009
4:58 pm
Charlie Chan could figure out what happened.
Clay
November 30th, 2009
4:58 pm
John Q, you right on the money, except I haven’t seen evidence of Tiger wanting fan’s adoration. He is absolutely the biggest a–hole on the tour. Disrespectful and arrogant towards his own fans. I’ve seen it first-hand 6 times after his rounds in tournaments. I saw his caddie slap a glove out of the hand of a kid trying to get Tiger to autograph it. I for one hope he loses endorsements…
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
November 30th, 2009
4:58 pm
I disagree…if she hit him with a golf club that is “simple battery”…a misdemeanor crime…the Police have to charge her…
If I give my wife a black eye…and she calls 911..I am going jail….
Clay
November 30th, 2009
5:01 pm
Bob, you mean you couldn’t decline police interviews?
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
November 30th, 2009
5:03 pm
I don’t think so Clay…..LOL they’d break down the door…
Benjamin
November 30th, 2009
5:03 pm
Tiger Woods made Tiger Woods, Barack and Larry. He has been honing his craft for literally as long as he can remember, and neither you nor I nor MB nor anyone else can take credit for it simply because we pay to see him play. He’s the greatest golfer in the universe — and it’s not even close — and he’s cultivated an image and a trademark that no one can touch.
Tiger made a mistake — most likely, though not for certain — and the sensationalist masses that love to tear people down will do what they will from this point forward. As far as Tiger owing anyone other than the Swede an apology or explanation, outside of the minor stuff with the police, it’s a silly proposition.
I hope he comes out the other side okay.
Benjamin
November 30th, 2009
5:06 pm
And who in the world is Mark “pandering” to for stating a simple opinion, Touchstone?
You people and your Bradley fetish… is it seriously worth it to come on here and type such drivel day in and day out in response to every column the man writes? It’s as if having the comments’ section gives y’all a sense of power or something…