Tiger Woods
Everyday the media keeps reporting new stories and allegations about the cause of Tiger Woods accident outside his Florida home. First, it was a fight between his wife Elin and him over an alleged affair with a New York nightclub hostess, which they both denied. And now the latest twist in the story is the 24-year-old cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs, who sold voice mail and text messages to US Weekly magazine from an alleged affair the two have had.
When I first heard about the crash Saturday night, I couldn’t help but think about the car crash that nearly ended Ben Hogan’s career and what golf club did Elin use to smash the window of his Escalade.
All kidding aside, here’s my take on the whole situation: Who cares! That’s right, who cares! The only people that are concerned with this story is the media, tabloids, and the people who love to see high profile celebrities and athletes get knocked down. Tigers Woods is golf’s most celebrated athlete and has a huge fan following, me included, but when it comes to his personal life very little is known about who he is off the course, with the exception of his closet friends and family.
While I can understand it’s the media’s responsibility to report the facts of the story the developed last weekend, I’m not sure what the point of all this scrutiny into his personal life is really necessary, except to knock him down, boost ratings and sell magazines. Even if the allegations of an affair are true, aren’t there other more important stories that deserve news coverage???
Tiger Woods didn’t commit a crime and he’s not the first high profile athlete, actor, or celebrity to be accused of having an extramarital affair. I don’t approve or condone infidelity, but what Tiger Woods does in his personal life is his business and is a private matter that he needs to deal with his family, not in the media spotlight, even if it’s a bit intriguing.
One cannot help but think, that the people who are coming out of the woodwork are just doing it to get their fifteen minutes of fame and to capitalize on the situation which we’ll probably never know what happened. Yes, you can argue that he’s a role model and that young kids look up to him etc…But who is Tiger Woods hurting? No one, except his family. Maybe, Tiger will lose some fans from this whole incident or possibly a sponsor, who know’s. To quote Justin from The Hills, “Only truth and time will tell.”
Let’s move on already! And start covering more important issues, like health care, Afghanistan, the economy, etc. Those are newsworthy items, not Tiger Gate!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Well put Rob!
I would normally agree with you ‘who cares’. But Tiger is a public figure, he gets paid multiple times what he earns on the course for endorsing products. So if he is doing that, the public has some right to know.
Its like Natalie Gulbis endorsing sky caddie but not using it in tournament. Well why is that, do you know. Its because although the rules of golf permit it, local rules put in place each tournament do not permit it. Thus allowing the USGA to by pass the rules it puts into place to suit pros. If you endorse the product put your livelihood at stake by using it. The fact that she does not have too, is a benefit to her, because most GPS distance simply aren’t accurate enough.
We have to have accountability. If we don’t question Tiger, then where is the accountability. Before you say it has no impact on the sport, remember this is sport where both amateurs, pros, the golfing associations, the tour, everyone says its a game of honor. Well where is the honor in Tiger’s actions and where is the accountability if we don’t challenge.
What if Tiger’s isn’t practicing safe sex? Isn’t that a public policy issue, I know its a stretch but it could be. How will you know or not know if he isn’t challenged and held accountable. Tiger says let me have privacy. I agree with him let him, but let him also not endorse any product or be a public figure. Lets hold everyone, you and me included accountable and lets not brush things aside simply because our perception of something is that its not an important issue.
Paul,
Thanks for your thoughts and point of view. What it sounds like your getting at is that TW should be held morally accountable for what he does off the golf course because he’s a public figure and he endorses products. I agree that people should be held accountable for their actions, but TW didn’t commit any crimes by having these alleged transgressions, except break his marital vows and trust with his wife.
We have a right to know to a certain extent, but constant flood of news reports is a bit ridiculous and out of hand in my opinion. All we can do is hope for the truth and real story to come out. Thanks again for your comments.
R
I am saying more than that, I am saying the entire golf industry goes around saying its gentleman’s sport, but the USGA, the PGA of America, the PGA Tour and the players are finding ways to get around the rules.
Can you explain to me why the LPGA assess penalty strokes for slow play, but the PGA Tour does not. Please tell me how does the USGA allow this to happen. How is it that this institution that is supposed to make and enforce the rules of golf allow two tours of the same sport in the same country interpret the rules differently. Perhaps the rules of golf really don’t stand for anything.
TW’s actions are simply an extension of the industry’s belief that they can have their cake and eat it too.
No one is demanding accountability in the sport. Not the blogs, not the publications that follow it and certainly not the USGA.