I guess Tiger doesn't think Azinger can handle it?

[Smallville]

"I plan to watch the Ryder Cup this week, but I will not attend," Woods said. "U.S. captain Paul Azinger has my cell phone number and he or any U.S. player can call me anytime. If I can offer any assistance, I'm happy to help."

http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/8570668?MSNHPHMA

Did Nicklaus or Watson or Palmer or anyone say this (or something similar) before? I mean, I like Tiger and all but let's not go showing up the Captain of the squad. I know a lot of people think Tiger is bigger than golf itself but come on. He can "help the team" when he is captain. Regardless of whether the team wins or loses, this was totally unnecessary to say to the press. If anything, he should have called Azinger himself and told him this in private.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

"I plan to watch the Ryder Cup this week, but I will not attend," Woods said. "U.S. captain Paul Azinger has my cell phone number and he or any U.S. player can call me anytime. If I can offer any assistance, I'm happy to help."

I think you've misinterpreted the situation. Of course, I've been wrong before.

[kc8kir]

Wow, I didn't take Tiger's comment that way at all. I thought he was just saying that he was going to keep his nose out of their business, and if they needed him for anything, he would be available. I never considered Tiger as pompous. Talented yeah, driven yeah, egocentric just a little, competitive oh yeah, but he knows his place.

It's not like he said "I hope Mr. 'Pie in the sky' Azinger knows I'm on 24/7 standby for consultation when the s$%^ hits the fan" or "the team members can call me anytime in case they want a second opinion after Azinger gets through with his pep talks".

Nothing personal here, but we gotta keep a positive mental attitude. Live life expecting the best of people, not the worst. More often than not, they will suprise you.

[EquipmentJunkie]

I guess I don't interpret it as him demeaning the team or Azinger. I think this has a lot to do with Tigers competitive personality and a lot less to do with his ego or "one-up-man-ship." He obviously wants to be there and be in the game, so he is trying to interject himself (without intruding) and help in anyway because he feels he is letting himself, his team and the country down. When you are at the top people will find any reason to critique you, Tiger would be d@mned if he said something and d@mned if he didn't.....he has to do what is right for him and not care what anyone else thinks. Considering other "sports role models" are getting arrested or committing immoral acts most of the time I would consider the above "non-news." Tiger made an ffer of help, he didn't say he planned to take over and lead.

[Craig Mac]

"I plan to watch the Ryder Cup this week, but I will not attend," Woods said. "U.S. captain Paul Azinger has my cell phone number and he or any U.S. player can call me anytime. If I can offer any assistance, I'm happy to help."

Or maybe he was addressing a question that has been asked of him several times since he decided to take the rest of the year off. Also one of the first lines of the article says something about speculation he may be there for the matches, so he could have been addressing that as well. I interpret it as him not being there to

not show up the captain since he isn't playing. But like QQQ I have been wrong before...

[Smallville]

So no one thinks he should have said that to Azinger (or any tem members) in private? What was the purpose of saying it to the press? Maybe I took it wrong, but that was the first thing I thought of when I read it.

[Craig Mac]

So no one thinks he should have said that to Azinger (or any tem members) in private?

Maybe he did

What was the purpose of saying it to the press?

Knowing the media they probably asked him(at least once)

[EquipmentJunkie]

S What was the purpose of saying it to the press?

Well, I can say that, while it is not athletics the press plays an important or annoying role in my profession as well. At times you want to ignore the press rumors or questions in lieu of airing everything out. However, with the media at times a non-comment only leads to more gossip and damaging rumors. Eventually you go on the defensive and either put out a press release/statement or finally decide to answer a direct question. I'm not saying this is the case but it is certainly a possibility.

[Smallville]

Maybe he did

OK, maybe I should have said "So no one thinks he should have said that

ONLY to Azinger (or any team members) in private." And I think Tiger has been in enough press conferences to know how to avoid a question whether they ask him once, twice or fifty times. Like I said, this was my first impression of the interview when I read it. I still don't think he should have said this to the press. It has no bearing on the competition.

[iacas]

Did Nicklaus or Watson or Palmer or

So far as I can tell, they were never sidelined by an injury after making the team at the peaks of their careers. It's irrelevant what they did - this situation is different.

I mean, I like Tiger and all but let's not go showing up the Captain of the squad.

You're reading way too much into it. WAY too much.

If anything, he should have called Azinger himself and told him this in private.

He did. Probably a few times. They've talked several times this year. And the press has asked Tiger Woods probably hundreds of times.

I thought he was just saying that he was going to keep his nose out of their business, and if they needed him for anything, he would be available.

That's the right interpretation. Smallville, sorry, but yours is not.

What was the purpose of saying it to the press?

They've asked him. Hundreds of times. Maybe thousands. He won't get a call, and he's not expecting one.

[Smallville]

1. So far as I can tell, they were never sidelined by an injury after making the team at the peaks of their careers. It's irrelevant what they did - this situation is different.

1. It's different because it is Tiger.

2. I agree, I probably am. Do I have to say again this is what went through my mind the first time I read it? 3. If you would have read a later post I said maybe I should have said, ""So no one thinks he should have said that ONLY to Azinger (or any team members) in private." 4. Like they are going to need Tiger for anything when he isn't even there? Like I said, it has no bearing on the competition. Therefore, why say it? 5. I think Tiger knows how to avoid answering a question in a press conference. He should have continued to do so. You're right: he won't get a call, and you're right: he's not expecting one. So why say it?

[iacas]

OK, maybe I should have said "So no one thinks he should have said that

And Tiger also knows that sometimes if you don't answer the question appropriately, you'll become the story. By saying "I'm staying out of it," Tiger avoids taking the spotlight off the U.S. team and putting an end to speculation and all sorts of crap that would go on if he hadn't talked.

That speculation, of course, has been building since he said he would be out, and has really picked up momentum after the PGA. If you don't think it could have gotten blown out of proportion, you're nuts. Tiger ended it. Best thing he could have done.

1. It's different because it is Tiger.

No, it's not. It's different because Jack, Arnie, etc. were never sidelined during a Ryder Cup at the peak of their career. You can't equate the guys' actions in the past to Tiger's this week because they were never even close to this kind of situation.

2. I agree, I probably am. Do I have to say again this is what went through my mind the first time I read it?

No, but you seem stuck on that point of view, and alone with it as well.

3. If you would have read a later post I said maybe I should have said, ""So no one thinks he should have said that

If you wouldn't be so quick to judge, you might consider the possibility that the times on the two posts are so close that it's likely your post hadn't appeared when I started typing the reply I posted. Jeez.

4. Like they are going to need Tiger for anything when he isn't even there? Like I said, it has no bearing on the competition. Therefore, why say it?

Because it needed put to bed before it got legs and became a major distraction. If you don't think it would have gone that route, you've not been paying attention to the golf media for the past 10 years or so.

5. I think Tiger knows how to avoid answering a question in a press conference. He should have continued to do so. You're right: he won't get a call, and you're right: he's not expecting one. So why say it?

See above. You're repeating yourself. He had to say it, and saying it was the best thing he could have done.

[EquipmentJunkie]

4. Like they are going to need Tiger for anything when he isn't even there? Like I said, it has no bearing on the competition. Therefore, why say it?

It goes back to the d@mned if you do and d@mned if you don't comment. Not addressing the issue would make him look bitter and arrogant, and you would be here critiquing him for not supporting the American team due to his injury. Tiger would have been a distraction, by making this comment he has removed all the media "fuel," this is good sportsmanship, not overshadowing.

5. I think Tiger knows how to avoid answering a question in a press conference. He should have continued to do so. You're right: he won't get a call, and you're right: he's not expecting one. So why say it?

I think you have bought into the Media here and underestimated them, Vice Presidential Candidates, Police Chiefs and CEO's get questioned and "seemingly" falter in the media as well, why should Tiger Woods be any different? In the press, they will often take the refusal of answering questions as a conformation to what they believe to be true. At times you are worse off by saying nothing.

Perhaps, as you have indicated, your first post was how you read into the first time....maybe it's time to admit you overreacted?

[Smallville]

Junkie-

I did reply to iacas that I agreed, that I was probably reading way too much into this. But I still hold that opinion.

I like how you say what I would be doing if he had taken the other option. No, I'm sorry but I would have agreed with that response and a no comment would not have made him look arrogant and bitter. I am not one who believes Tiger is always right and perfect. I still think he should not have said what he said. Alone in the opinion though I may be!

Iacas-

By saying they could call him any time he was NOT staying out of it. He was jumping right in the middle of it.

It is different because it's Tiger. Way too many people think Tiger is more important than the game itself. I am not one of them.

OK, I can handle that I am the only person on this entire board who thinks he shouldn't have said what he said. I may have overreacted but my opinion hasn't changed.

[jonjones]

it wasnt a press conference, it was his newsletter:

NEWSLETTER
September 16, 2008
By Tiger Woods

My rehabilitation is going well. Although I won't be able to swing a club until early next year, my left knee is getting stronger and the doctors are pleased with my progress. I just can't rotate on my leg and I still don't know what my first event will be in 2009.

As for being away from the game, there are definitely certain things I miss. I miss the competition, and I miss the preparation. If I tried to play now, you would see some of the worst shots you've ever seen.

I plan to watch the Ryder Cup this week, but I will not attend. U.S. captain Paul Azinger has my cell phone number and he or any US player can call me any time. If I can offer any assistance, I'm happy to help. I doubt I can do much, since I can't play practice rounds and am not privy to their team chemistry. I also don't know who is playing well, who is injured, and have no feel for how the course is playing. But I'll be happy to offer my opinion. I wish the American team well and hope they can bring back the Cup.

The next big event on my schedule is the fourth annual Block Party on Oct. 11 in Orange County. This year, we're looking forward to a gourmet dinner prepared by Chef Mario Batali and a musical performance from Seal, who was fantastic at Tiger Jam III back in 2000. The Block Party has been a huge success for us and is our way of thanking the local community for supporting the Learning Center. So far, the event has raised about $3 million for the Center's career exploration programs.

I recently spent time at my golf course design projects, Al Ruwaya Golf Course in Dubai and at The Cliffs at High Carolina in North Carolina, reviewing the progress of both. The two are going very well.

I also spent a couple days in New York, where we launched my new EA Sports video game: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09. I attended a reception and U.S. Olympians Michael Phelps, Bryan Clay, Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor stopped by to say hello. I enjoyed hanging out with them, and Phelps was naturally exhausted. It was nice of him to stop by and wish me luck with my new video game launch. I watched most of the Olympics on television and have to say his performance was definitely one of the all-time feats of any individual athlete in one Olympics.

I also went to a New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox game with a few friends. Afterward, I caught up with my buddy Derek Jeter.

I was hoping to go see Roger Federer play in the U.S. Open, but it never worked out. He had reached three Grand Slam finals in a row and I was glad to see him win. We always give each other a hard time. He now has 13 Grand Slam titles and is one way from the record held by Pete Sampras. He's closer than I am to the record; I have 14 titles and Jack Nicklaus has 18. But I might be playing competitively a little longer than him.

As you have probably heard, Elin and I will become parents again, and we're as thrilled as you can possibly be. Elin is doing great and is perfectly healthy. The only difference this time is we're getting less sleep because of Sam. We didn't want to know if it was a boy or a girl the first time, and we're not going to find out this time.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading and talk to you soon.

Tiger

[EquipmentJunkie]

I plan to watch the Ryder Cup this week, but I will not attend. U.S. captain Paul Azinger has my cell phone number and he or any US player can call me any time. If I can offer any assistance, I'm happy to help. I doubt I can do much, since I can't play practice rounds and am not privy to their team chemistry. I also don't know who is playing well, who is injured, and have no feel for how the course is playing. But I'll be happy to offer my opinion. I wish the American team well and hope they can bring back the Cup.

Sounds like he is putting country and team before self, that is what we need more of if we want to bring the cup home.

As far as it being in a newsletter rather than a press conference, it makes no difference how the answer was delivered. In fact doing it in this controlled manner does not allow the media to retort, which puts an end to distraction. The fact is that the media has been posing this question immensely and a non-response would have been more damaging, there are plenty of examples to attest to this.

[EquipmentJunkie]

It is different because it's Tiger. Way too many people think Tiger is more important than the game itself. I am not one of them.

How is that his fault, should we make him play worse....or should we look to TV ratings sine Tiger was injured? TIger is not bigger than the game but he does draw people to golf who are otherwise not interested, some of these people eventually follow others and the game itself. I don't see Tigers promotion of the game as a bad thing, anyone who does should be classified as an elitist.

[jonjones]

"make him play worse" LMAO!