Here’s what Tiger Woods needs to tell us: Absolutely nothing
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
boo hoo
November 30th, 2009
10:37 pm
Mikey you’re on a roll although I think the sand wedge joke hits hardest.
sccatfan1
November 30th, 2009
10:52 pm
What a complete crock. A UK guy is supposed to offer something a bit more intelligent. Jenna Bush’s DUI, and Sarah Palin kid’s pregnancy are fair game for “journalists” like Bradley. However, the most highly paid athlete in the world, crashes into a fire hydrant and tree 50 feet from his house, after his wife bashes his SUV into a million glass chards (extra keys anyone??), refuses to talk to the police (good luck with that if you’re not TIger), and Bradley says…”nothing to see here folks, move along.” Nauseating, but oh PC and so predictable.
I’m a TIger fan BTW, but he’s getting some lousy advice on this incident.
Richard Heene
November 30th, 2009
10:55 pm
Wish I would have thought of this……That balloon thing kicked my butt.
Brian
November 30th, 2009
11:09 pm
i say who give a crap dude leave these people alone, our world is in much more desperate need of attention elsewhere we act like this is the most important thing going on in america. lol. retarded is what i think leave em alone tell me you’ve NEVER had a fight with your wife and ill call you a lyin pile a garbage for lack of better words, America has almost destroyed the lives of john and kate and their 8 children just because we’re a bunch of nosy lazy people that dont have anything better to do but dig into the lives of other ppl i seriously doubt that they are a danger to their children they’ve raised the very well thus far. What if she knocked his windows off What if he was high as a kite and drove into a tree would you really even care if it was me that this happened to but NO its tiger woods we DEMAND TO KNOW yeah right get a life and leave the man alone im sure he’s got enough issues to deal with now rather than america thinking they have the right to know.
Jim
November 30th, 2009
11:18 pm
Sure, Tiger can keep quiet. But because of who he is, he is going to suffer a consequence for this if he doesn’t say anything. It’s up to him.
By the way, I think he has to talk to the police. He damaged public property. Shouldn’t he have had to report this to the police anyway? I know a lot of poeple say he doesn’t have to say anything legally. I disagree with that. Why does he have the right to be quiet? Nobody else would?
NERDS!!!!!
November 30th, 2009
11:33 pm
Meanwhile, tech still sucks! Suck on it, NERDS!!!
Phil Mickelson
November 30th, 2009
11:49 pm
I’m the real family man and I’m going to kick Tiger’s butt in every tournament this year.
Paul in RDU
November 30th, 2009
11:52 pm
Jim,
Nobody has the right to be quiet? You never heard of the 5th amendment to the constitution? Everybody has the right to be quiet.
Now, if Tiger’s meighbour wants to sue him for damaging his tree that is well within his rights. That would be a civil matter. What do you bet that they would come to an “accomodation”.
The fire hydrant may or may not be public property. This did happen at a private, gated community afterall so who knows who “owns” the fire hydrant.
Once again, if the hydrant is “private property” (property of Isleworth), you can bet that Tiger will make “restitution”.
He wouldn’t be getting all that accomodation from the neighbours or the country club because he’s a celebrity, but because he’s rich.
To quote an old saying from my homeland “it’s the rich wot gets the pleasure, and the poor wot gets the blame”.
chemdawg
December 1st, 2009
12:32 am
this just in: video footage of Mrs. Woods chasing Tiger down the street!!!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sddhHD33hx4
About affair, woman rachel uchitel, tiger woods’ alleged mistress, alleged tiger woods mistress rachel uchitel | Find me About
December 1st, 2009
4:53 am
[...] 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. …Read Original Story: Here's what Tiger Woods needs to tell us: Absolutely nothing – Atlant… [...]
James Jolly
December 1st, 2009
5:30 am
I agree, Tiger doesn’t owe anyone anything! If he handles himself as he did 3 years in this interview, he won’t have a problem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMMahE9Slyk
SuperB
December 1st, 2009
7:43 am
Tiger has affair. Elin finds out and socks him in the kisser. He runs out of the house and she chases him as he gets in the SUV. As he peels out of the driveway, she blasts the rear windows with a golf club. He crasheds into the hydrant and tree. (This isn’t rocket science.)
Apparently, Tiger can only drive under pressure on the golf course.
Louis Skolnick
December 1st, 2009
7:55 am
Isn’t that is called profiling, erin.
I Now Pronounce You "Barack & Larry."
December 1st, 2009
11:01 am
Enter your comments here
arnica from Canada
December 1st, 2009
11:15 am
The columnist is 100% correct. Thank you.
About affair, tiger woods’ alleged mistress, alleged tiger woods mistress rachel uchitel | Find me About
December 1st, 2009
1:00 pm
[...] 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. …Read Original Story: Here's what Tiger Woods needs to tell us: Absolutely nothing – Atlant… [...]
Farnsworthy
December 1st, 2009
4:39 pm
Ain’t buying Tiger’s story at all. But it is totally up to Tiger to decide what he wants to say on this matter, if anything. The police apparently aren’t pursuing it, beyond collecting a traffic fine. The main concern I do have is this—the incident, whatever it was, had a very violent ending and there are very young kids in the house. So, if it was a domestic dispute, it must been an ugly one and these two need to get some help.
Bobby Knight
December 1st, 2009
4:45 pm
Mark: Why are you so nice to Tiger but say such horrible things about me?
PS: When Hewitt gets fired I’m coming after that Ga. Tech job
Jim
December 1st, 2009
6:04 pm
Maybe I’ll drive to the local mall and drive over some bushes (private property) and hit a door (private property). I’ll drive back home without stopping. I’ll park my car in my garage.
I’ll decline to speak to the police and will just go about my life like I normally would.
After all, I have the right to not talk to the police and they have no right to talk to me, just like the whole Tiger situation.
John Daly
December 1st, 2009
6:13 pm
I’m here when you need me Tiger.
PGA Tour Players Minus Tiger
December 1st, 2009
6:17 pm
The police should arrest him and lock him up for at least ten years.
janet
December 2nd, 2009
11:10 am
Didn’t anybody question why his wife broke the REAR WINDOW and not the DRIVER SIDE WINDOW? The auto pix showed the right front tire only as damaged. Wouldn’t logic tell one to open the door closest to the person? But it’s still all notoriety and until the public stops listening, watching, gloating – it will continue. We’re a sick society these days.
Mtn.man
December 2nd, 2009
11:28 am
Tiger may be taking the fifth after sharing one with Elin! Jest a sayin! Private or public fire hydrant involved? Makes a BIG difference! Mtn.man
Hubiep
December 2nd, 2009
11:34 am
The only persons Tiger needs to answer to are his God, his wife and kids and his mother. His personal matters are off limits to the public vultures that seek to destroy him. We don’t need to know or should want to know his personal business. We have nothing to gain or lose from knowing it. Only his family has a vested interest in this.
Marvin Mangrum
December 2nd, 2009
11:42 am
I love golf or at least I did during most of my life, but I will never understand the publics fascination with tiger woods, he is a fine golfer but there can be no bigger asshole cause he is the one and only champ. He walks off the practice course before meeting the crowds. He is a pompous ass, and you can say whatever about him, he finally got caught. I would hate to know I was caused to have an accident by a swede with a golf club. It is pathetically funny. And MB say what you will he is a pompous ass, and now I am glad some other folks see it too.
Why Tiger's plea falls on deaf ears
December 2nd, 2009
11:48 am
First of all Tiger needs to stop insulting people with the notion that is actions are inconsistent with his values. They are entirely consistent with his values. What they aren’t consistent with is his public image he’s tried to portray so he could make a billion dollars.
But when you whore yourself out to the advertising industry, and then try to perpetrate a false image of yourself, then don’t turn around and whine when the public rightfully calls you out on it.
This isn’t about a sports star who’s privacy is being invaded, as poor victim Tiger wants you to believe. It’s about a media whore who got caught selling phony goods, and now wishes he hadn’t got caught.
All he had to do was be honest and live his life as a successful young man who obviously likes to play the field, and has little or no use for monogamy. He still could have sold the watches, the cars, the sports drinks and whatever else he hawks, and not made himself look with a hypocritical fool in the process.
WoodstockGT
December 2nd, 2009
11:49 am
He dosen’t have to come clean. I agree with that. But you can’t critize TMZ and others for running stories on the affairs, women, etc. The public obviously wants to see/read it. I do. I think most are interested in it because we all had an image of Tiger that is now looking alot diff. I think the affairs are wrong and he wife should leave him but I actually respect him more as a golfer now… that he can be that good at golf and having these late night escapades at the same time. My impression was that he had to live and breath golf to be at his level, and could never have time for vegas trips, family, and now other women, etc. But I was wrong, wow what a natural born golf talent he is!
Hotrod
December 2nd, 2009
12:06 pm
Now that Tiger has come clean, we can all move on.
He did the right thing with the statement, there is no more story.
The changes he will need to make in his personal life will be a thousand times more difficult than dealing with the tabloids and media.
Dan
December 2nd, 2009
12:06 pm
If Tiger just wants to be a professional gofer he can do whatever he pleases as long as it does not break the law
If Tiger wants to be the alpha-endorser, with the marketing of an image that is used to support the endorsements, he can expect some return fire whan the man falls short of the image.
His confession today (issued only after the voicemail message surfaced) that was bundled with a complaint about the need for privacy is Clintonian (thats for teh Republican readers) or Nixonian (for the Dems out there) – if you want privacy quit being a pitchman
Ash
December 2nd, 2009
12:22 pm
This completely changes the individual who I rooted for each weekend and have told my son about. While this does not change his golf ability, he is no longer someone I will hope to see on Sunday’s or will have my son look up to. I pray for Tiger and his family.
tyger
December 2nd, 2009
12:41 pm
Genetically predisposed to cheat…
Tiger, despite his overt actions, is a black man, descended from Africa, where having 3 wives is the norm. His preference is blonds and that’s okay too. Just as long as its 3 or more…he doesn’t know why he’s doing it, he’s just doing it – and we all do it – so leave the guy alone. He killed a fire hydrant not a dog – let’s not Mike Vick him.
dougdawg
December 2nd, 2009
1:54 pm
who could be surprised at all of this? anyone who has known, associated with, or worked around the ‘golf society elite,’ should just be laughing it off. it is a closed society, to say the least. golfing communities — i know first-hand from THE elite ‘town that is golf’ in southern new jersey — protect their own, welcome only the insiders, and are unusually cruel and uncaring to those who work for them, keep up their lifestyles, and pamper to their every needs. they have their own monarchy, and they protect it above and beyond what could be expected in even the royal kingdom. let me tell you, i have seen this first hand. they all consider themselves ‘above it all’ while raking in millions/billions from those of us who worship them in so many ways. that this happened to Woods is sad, i suppose, but not surprising. he might be a pretty good good guy — surely the best golfer of his age — but he is not immune from the syndrome. there is a children’s song about ‘mr. fly.’ it ends with the admonition, ‘he who climbs too high must fall.’
Shea
December 2nd, 2009
1:57 pm
I agree! leave the man alone!
Yep
December 2nd, 2009
3:21 pm
I completely agree with Mr. Bradley. Enough said.
Connie
December 2nd, 2009
3:34 pm
Well said. I am now a fan of yours.
Ribbed for her pleasure
December 2nd, 2009
4:05 pm
HA HA!
RoryWhistler
December 2nd, 2009
4:14 pm
Tiger will survive the head on collisions with the fire hydrant and tree. He will reappear on the PGA tour with his ferrocious roar and growl. Tiger will roar back on the tour next year and tie Jacks major record by claiming ALL FOUR MAJORS and winning the elusive grand slam of golf. Tiger will soon rule the world again! Tiger continues to make his $100 million dollar endorsement pocket money OUTSIDE of golf. What an incredible athlete. I hope Tiger continues to be Tiger because the world needs him now more than ever.
UncleFester
December 2nd, 2009
4:35 pm
I cant believe all of the ungrateful Tiger Woods fans. Tiger has blessed us over the years with his SPECTACULAR, THRILLING and IMMACULATE golf. TIGER IS IN SECOND PLACE ALL TIME FOR PGA VICTORIES. So many of you are jealous of his accomplishments. He is human and had a simple fender bender and it seems most people are ready to crucify him. TIGER WILL BE THE NEXT PREDIENT OF THE UNITED STATES!
sickodaspin
December 3rd, 2009
1:00 pm
Tiger needs to deal with it in confidence with his wife – all the others need to get off. In addition – he’s rich enough to have his own brand – so nike can step off. Tiger needs some good folks around him – not haters and folks poking around his personal life.
Skank #1
December 4th, 2009
3:23 pm
All I got from Tiger was the shaft.