Tiger Woods (Offical Thread)

[Merih]

Colin Cowherd just made a good point.

Let's take a look at the athletes that have never been forgiven for their actions. Roger Clemons, Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, Sammy Sosa, Mike Tyson, Mark McGuire (early on)...they all deflected blame and did not take responsibility for the entirety of their actions. They left the media with many caveats with which to attack them.

Now, the athletes who have bee, nearly fully exonerated and forgotten about in terms of their transgressions. Kobe Bryant, Mark McGuire (later on), Ray Lewis, Marion Jones, Miguel Tejada, etcetera. They all took full blame for what they did. They left the media with nowhere to go with the story.

I think that is what is going to save Tiger. He owned up to everything he could have owned up to. Any new revelation will have the sting taken out of it. What else can the media do? The best way for them to make money now, is to follow the story of his comeback and prepare themselves for when he hits the course again.

 

[Bucklion]

When sports enters politics as metaphor, it's fair to say that the world has turned against Tiger Woods. That's my opinion, you may see it differently, and who knows? You may be right.

My opinion of Tiger is evident in earlier posts in this thread.

To Tiger fans, it seems like its fair, but to fans of opponents who watch him work a crowd to ensure that his opponents have all kinds of distractions, glare and even hard charge people who make the slightest noise in the crowd when he's addressing the ball--no, it hasn't been fair and square.

He has played golf in a manner intended to manipulate the course and galleries to his advantage. This is what so many respected golfers have spoken about in recent weeks...his disrespect for the game. In the past, opposing golfers felt that if they spoke up, his army would just make it worse. Clearly, that fear is gone. Even his closest friends on the Tour, like Els, have spoken out about his behavior now.

Again, maybe those who think this will all blow over are right. I just don't think so.

I don't think "blow over" is the right phrase exactly, I think it's more when the media (and most fans) jump the shark and turn from bringing it up as a negative thing to "And there's Tiger winning the Masters...DESPITE EVERYTHING HE HAS BEEN THROUGH" When that happens, I think Merih might well be right, and I do think it can happen if he wins a couple of more majors quickly. If he struggles though, the media will sense blood in the water and pounce. Make no mistake, his play will dictate it, nothing more.

All that said, I have from the beginning of Tiger chasing Jack said I will always think Jack was better, and I haven't changed my mind obviously. Nevermind the difference in the men themselves, I just happen to think Jack played against far better (not deeper, but better) competition. Tom Watson, Gary Player, Seve...these guys didn't wilt when Jack was in contention like everyone did with Tiger.

 

[Merih]

When sports enters politics as metaphor, it's fair to say that the world has turned against Tiger Woods. That's my opinion, you may see it differently, and who knows? You may be right.

My opinion of Tiger is evident in earlier posts in this thread.

To Tiger fans, it seems like its fair, but to fans of opponents who watch him work a crowd to ensure that his opponents have all kinds of distractions, glare and even hard charge people who make the slightest noise in the crowd when he's addressing the ball--no, it hasn't been fair and square.

He has played golf in a manner intended to manipulate the course and galleries to his advantage. This is what so many respected golfers have spoken about in recent weeks...his disrespect for the game. In the past, opposing golfers felt that if they spoke up, his army would just make it worse. Clearly, that fear is gone. Even his closest friends on the Tour, like Els, have spoken out about his behavior now.

Again, maybe those who think this will all blow over are right. I just don't think so.

Let's not get this twisted. Any major that Tiger Woods has one, apart from the Rocco Mediate US Open, has usually been by multiple strokes. You don't win majors by 10 strokes because of your fans being rowdy. He has far and away outclassed his opponents over and over again. The big money available in these tournaments is partly due to the tremor he gets out of the crowds.

Anyone who wants to complain about his fans is just making excuses for their own shortcomings. Most likely, they aren't fans of another player but just fans of whoever Tiger is teeing off against.

I do take issue with how his respect for the game on the course has eroded in the last few years.

 

[BB73]

This will be a huge issue for him. When he returns, the cameras, sneezes, and blatant "F YOU!!" stuff in his back swing are going to drive him farking nuts.

Most golf fans are classy enough to not yell 'F YOU!' in his backswing.

But when he takes the club back, I'm looking forward to frequent screams of 'Put it in the hole!'.

 

[Steve19]

Colin Cowherd just made a good point.

Let's take a look at the athletes that have never been forgiven for their actions. Roger Clemons, Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, Sammy Sosa, Mike Tyson, Mark McGuire (early on)...they all deflected blame and did not take responsibility for the entirety of their actions. They left the media with many caveats with which to attack them.

Now, the athletes who have bee, nearly fully exonerated and forgotten about in terms of their transgressions. Kobe Bryant, Mark McGuire (later on), Ray Lewis, Marion Jones, Miguel Tejada, etcetera. They all took full blame for what they did. They left the media with nowhere to go with the story.

I think that is what is going to save Tiger. He owned up to everything he could have owned up to. Any new revelation will have the sting taken out of it. What else can the media do? The best way for them to make money now, is to follow the story of his comeback and prepare themselves for when he hits the course again.

I guess that is where we differ. He may have "owned up" but he didn't admit to everything. They want to ask him infinite questions about this list of women and examine each case individually. They only want ratings and the details will put eyeballs on screens.

Now, if he had come out in December and said what he said today and then said...

"I have a wife and family and I am not going to discuss my indiscretions in public. I owe them this respect now and I owed it to them when I engaged in affairs and inappropriate encounters with many women. I thought I was entitled, but it was my wife and kids who were entitled to a lot more respect than I showed them. My opponents and the game deserved more respect to. I ask you all to keep me in your prayers as I enter therapy and try to regain control over my life and relations with my loved ones."

...this would be over. But, he didn't. He kept a lid on it today again. It's not over.

 

[Bucklion]

Let's not get this twisted. Any major that Tiger Woods has one, apart from the Rocco Mediate US Open, has usually been by multiple strokes. You don't win majors by 10 strokes because of your fans being rowdy. He has far and away outclassed his opponents over and over again. The big money available in these tournaments is partly due to the tremor he gets out of the crowds.

Anyone who wants to complain about his fans is just making excuses for their own shortcomings. Most likely, they aren't fans of another player but just fans of whoever Tiger is teeing off against.

I do take issue with how his respect for the game on the course has eroded in the last few years.

Let's not get too carried away, in addition to the 2008 US Open, he won the 2005 Masters and 2000 PGA in playoffs, the 1999 PGA by 1, and the 2001 Masters, the 2006 British, and 2007 PGA by 2, and the 2002 Masters and US Open by 3...great victories to be sure, great performances, but hardly "outclassing" everyone.

 

[OSUsushichic]

Still an ass.

 

[OH10]

Lost in all of this, Tiger mentioned something today that was actually relevant to golf... you the reason we even know his name. He did apologize for his behavior on the course. It will be interesting from here on out to see he meant that.

The personal [censored] is still just... personal. Is it over? No. The media will continue to try and beat this story to death because we'll watch it. But it is the sad state of our society, not the media, that will drive the story. The media wouldn't bother with it if we didn't care so much about where Tiger Woods puts his dick.

Still want the guy to play golf. The majors feel like a AAA baseball game without him.

 

[Bucklion]

Lost in all of this, Tiger mentioned something today that was actually relevant to golf... you the reason we even know his name. He did apologize for his behavior on the course. It will be interesting from here on out to see he meant that.

The personal [censored] is still just... personal. Is it over? No. The media will continue to try and beat this story to death because we'll watch it. But it is the sad state of our society, not the media, that will drive the story. The media wouldn't bother with it if we didn't care so much about where Tiger Woods puts his dick.

Still want the guy to play golf. The majors feel like a AAA baseball game without him.

From the sound of it, he probably won't be back for the Masters. I bet he plays Pebble and especially St. Andrews though. He may then take the PGA off for "family time" but I bet he at least plays those 2.

 

[OH10]

From the sound of it, he probably won't be back for the Masters. I bet he plays Pebble and especially St. Andrews though. He may then take the PGA off for "family time" but I bet he at least plays those 2.

He owns those 2 courses. I'd be surprised if he didn't show up. Regardless of everything else going on, I would expect him to win at least one of them if he plays.

 

[BigWoof31]

He owns those 2 courses. I'd be surprised if he didn't show up. Regardless of everything else going on, I would expect him to win at least one of them if he plays.

Perhaps. But if you think that he's getting saturated with coverage here - wait till he goes across the pond.

And Pebble Today is not Pebble of 1998-2002

 

[Steve19]

Perhaps. But if you think that he's getting saturated with coverage here - wait till he goes across the pond.

And Pebble Today is not Pebble of 1998-2002

The UK tabloid press will welcome him with open arms...

 

[ysubuck]

I think the Masters is tailor made for Tiger to come back.

He's going to want everything controled when he comes back and what venue exercises more control over access than Augusta National?

Now will Augusta bend to what Tiger wants? Who knows?

I would think that the British Open would be one that he sits out with those crazy paparazzi over there.

I think the poster who said that life as he knows it on a golf course is over is correct. Gone are the days of having your caddie bark at every cameraman and fan who isn't breathing correctly. Tiger is going to have to do some serious PR work to get those endorsement millions back, but I don't think it will take long. Win a couple of tournaments and nobody is talking about him banging the chick from Perkins.

 

[scooter1369]

I think the Masters is tailor made for Tiger to come back.

He's going to want everything controled when he comes back and what venue exercises more control over access than Augusta National?

Now will Augusta bend to what Tiger wants? Who knows?

I would think that the British Open would be one that he sits out with those crazy paparazzi over there.

I think the poster who said that life as he knows it on a golf course is over is correct. Gone are the days of having your caddie bark at every cameraman and fan who isn't breathing correctly. Tiger is going to have to do some serious PR work to get those endorsement millions back, but I don't think it will take long. Win a couple of tournaments and nobody is talking about him banging the chick from Perkins.

Whatever tournament wants the highest ratings will give him everything he wants.

 

[Steve19]

Whatever tournament wants the highest ratings will give him everything he wants.

[gratuitious babe picture?]