Official Tiger Car Crash/Infidelity Thread

[Tiger Spuds]

hey now, werent you just blasting us for continuing to talk about this whole mess a day or so ago?

Well it is an actual headline, something that actually happened.A lot of what's being talked about here is speculation.But whatever man, I'm willing to let it go, why don't you.

[Ole_Tom_Morris]

[I've been trying to put the whole Tiger thing into perspective in my head. Here's something I wrote up for my myspace blog. Sorry if it is not responsive to the previous posters.]

Years ago, I was among those who expected Eldrick Woods a/k/a Tiger to blow up.

It happens to prodigies, those who were pushed or who pushed themselves to excel in some pursuit from infancy. A drawing back, a reconsidering, a change of life, or a collapse. A blow-up. Or a blowing on to something else for fulfillment.

Tiger surprised us by continuing to be self-possessed, eyes-on-the-ball, consumately professional except for expletives emitted after a bad shot which were charitably seen as the by-products of an unwavering intensity. Tiger was the ultimate corporate sportstar.

Not that he was likeable. Tiger was never likeable after he outgrew the little-tyke-hitting-a-golf-ball-on-TV image. Though more recently, he seemed more relaxed, looser, more at home as one of the guys on the big tour. But you could never think he was a regular guy; the walls were always up and the gates manned with uniformed guards. A friendly Tiger was him peering over the wall at the rest of us and smiling.

Now it appears the blow-up was there, happening, right under our eyes and we didn't know it.

Not that extramarital sex or promiscuity is a blow-up. That is quite normal, especially in the rarified air of superstar athletics.

As I have written before, Tiger did nothing that the kings of the Old Testament didn't, and he is richer and more famous than they, and in far better physical condition.

But Tiger, this very private self-possessed person, took such chances in his affairs. With, it is said, his health, with his marriage, his privacy, and his image. Sooner or later, the [excrement] was going to hit the fan. Not half of the married men in the NBA would have taken the chances with their lives that Tiger did.

It wasn't a succumbing to temptation. It wasn't a fling. It was self-destruction.

Probably this is going to be written down as sex addiction. I am not sure there is such a thing, or that it is abnormal to not be so addicted. Certainly sex addiction is commonly-employed medical-sounding excuse for misbehavior.

Where does Tiger go from here?

He will lose some of the revenue, which is fine with me, since I regard the hired pitchman's income as illicit anyway. Misleading to consumers. Not that anyone but an idiot would buy a golf club, a car, or a wristwatch on Tiger's say-so.

It would be best if Tiger goes back to earning money the way he is truly good at: playing golf and winning purses.

And now, I think, the atmosphere in the locker room and on the course will be healthier, for everyone, Tiger included. No more will Tiger be regarded as superhuman and unbeatable.

[sonicblue]

I agree. That is how Earl raised him. He can only judge his worth through accomplishments and conquests. Everything is about putting another notch on his belt, whether it be golf, women or just about anything else.

I find it unfathomable why people just can't resist deciding why and how another person's mind works. You haven't anything even resembling enough information to make such a conclusion. Whatever the form, we either hold celebrities on the highest pedestal, or jump at the chance to wreck them and sling them down to the sewers below us. And we wonder why their lives tend to be so bizarre?

Tiger is not a 'pro golfer,' nor 'professional athlete,' nor even 'celebrity.' Tiger, quite literally, was made out to be a deity. Forget Kobe, Jordan, Jeter, Federer....NO ONE carried the clout of Tiger...ANYWHERE. Chosen from birth, he has been successfully writing the story of the best golfer, athlete and competitor EVER since he was 3. You name it, he's done it: win the amateur (multiples), win a major (multiples), win more than ANYONE else (he surely would have, and still may, if this doesn't derail his career), win one - why not - on a broken leg (Willis Reed who?), start a foundation, help kids pick up the game, marry a beautiful woman, have (I'm sure to be) beautiful children, kickstart an entire sport's marketing anew, design courses all over the world, host tournaments...and that barely scratches the surface. There is simply NO ONE in the world that can relate to Tiger...NO ONE. And he slipped up, big time. No, it wasn't a one-off, so f**king what. All of you have the NERVE to judge this fault as if, somehow, there is a clear ranking among faults? Tiger Woods has a stack of 'good' piled up so high - a bulk of which EVERY ONE of us has enjoyed via his play, and the thrills and the fire and the willpower we see in him when he competes and wins - that NO ONE has the right to declare him 'ruined' or his life 'over' or any such thing. To make a horribly-concocted golf analogy: his drive went way right, into the concession tent, maybe. ALL he can do - all ANY of us can do (b/c all of us have been there, in some sense) - from there, is make the best playhe can. Maybe birdie is out of the equation (although we all know Tiger's made better shots from a parking lot than a lot of us have from the fairway), maybe it's not. Maybe par is all he can make, maybe bogey. But no one is made to just pick up their ball after a bad shot and go home. He deserves the right to finish out the situation - and NONE of us could possibly know the right way for him to go about it - and make the best of it he can. And then on the next hole, you get to tee it up and start fresh all over, sins of the past forgiven. Shame on all of you who want nothing but to condemn his mistake. We are all flawed, there's is no hierarchy of flawed. Realize that, all around you, are people who make mistakes every single day, and they each deserve to live their lives without your judgment or ridicule. How pompous of any of us to think, "harump, well, at least I didn't do THAT!" Is that what makes you so good, that 'at least' you haven't made the mistakes of people 'worse' than you? I won't applaud him for getting through this, any more than I support and respect and applaud EACH of us for getting through whatever struggle we have on any particular day. With the detachment it deserves of someone I DON'T KNOW, I feel bad for him, for Elin, for the kids, everyone, just like I feel a little bad for - wait......wait......ok, now - the guy who JUST hit his wife, or the guy who just ignores his wife every night, or the guy who just screwed his coworker out of credit for a project, or the guy who just yelled "F**K YOU" out his car window in a fit of road rage....or all the people who make a mistake every minute of every day that aren't any better or worse than 'cheaters' and who are just as responsible for making the world a lousy place at times. Tiger Woods has given us a lot of things to enjoy, inspirational even at times, if not simply entertaining. And he made a bad personal mistake. And we all give good things to the world most days, and then other days, we all make personal mistakes, of all forms, severities and directions. Let's move on.

[golfdad]

I find it unfathomable why people just can't resist deciding why and how another person's mind works. You haven't anything even resembling enough information to make such a conclusion. Whatever the form, we either hold celebrities on the highest pedestal, or jump at the chance to wreck them and sling them down to the sewers below us. And we wonder why their lives tend to be so bizarre?

you said you find it unfathomable why people just can't resist deciding why and how another person's mind works. and the same time, you question other people expressing their own opinions.

let me give you a golf analogy: he cheated on hole 1-18. sure he has done good and wonderful things, such as those education foundations, encouraging under-privileged kids to grow up as responsible, honest and sincere role models for others. and then he pulled the rug under them.

[golf1234]

My thoughts, too. It wouldn't surprise me, if that story resulted in a long break, if not retirement.

I can't imagine that he wants to retire like this. I think he will play again in the tour and proves that he learns his lesson and will be a better person. It is highly possible that he will take a break from the tour though to solve his personal issues. I don't think that he wants to miss the Masters, but I am leaning toward to think that he will take a long enough break to miss the Masters, but back to the tour before the US Open. He will probably act a little differently when he returns also. My guess is that he will be a lot more friendly to the fans and a lot less cursing and throwing his clubs on the Tour. Just my opinion and guess though.

[sean_miller]

you said you find it unfathomable why people just can't resist deciding why and how another person's mind works. and the same time, you question other people expressing their own opinions.

He cheated like the Chinese Olympic team that had one of their female gymnasts lose a baby tooth during the competition - wtf?

I guffaw when people tell us not to form opinions on Tiger Woods, then procede to tell us what opinion we should have of Tiger Woods. Okly dokly. Keep putting your thoughts out there golfdad dude - if nothing else, they're interesting.

[RocketSauce]

I find it unfathomable why people just can't resist deciding why and how another person's mind works. You haven't anything even resembling enough information to make such a conclusion. Whatever the form, we either hold celebrities on the highest pedestal, or jump at the chance to wreck them and sling them down to the sewers below us. And we wonder why their lives tend to be so bizarre?

oh get off your high horse. we are all here discussing this

NEWS just like everyone else in the world is doing. if you are so above all of this, why are you even reading this??? go preach somewhere else

[topspin4hand]

Sonicblue, it's my opinion that more of the Sandtrap posters who are enjoying Tiger's 'fall' are those who already didn't like Tiger (their right) to begin with. There's no changing that and this fall - for some - is just justification for that negative sentiment they already held for Tiger. And for others, it's just interesting.

Good point that his misdeeds should not wipe out his good deeds.

[golfdad]

He cheated like the Chinese Olympic team that had one of their female gymnasts lose a baby tooth during the competition - wtf?

perhaps i am being a little too hard on tiger. as much as it does not make sense to hear it,,,even though i am referring to tiger, i am really not dissing him personally. rather, i am talking about this tiger phenomenon, the tale of a double life, or the practice of double dealing.

you know, perhaps that is why through out the years, no matter how people have berated john daly for his moronic ways, stupid ways, i have always had a soft spot for him in my heart. He is real and tiger is highly questionable.

[Ole_Tom_Morris]

Sonic wrote a good post. The flip side of what I feel.

I guess I am one of those who regard Tiger as an idol to be toppled rather than an idol to be admired.

Come to think of it, I regard ALL idols as idols to be toppled. Character flaw.

And the idea that a great golfer's greatness is somehow measured by the ability of his image to move products--well, that ain't golf.

Well, okay, it IS golf but not real golf. It is the business and not the sport.

When I look at our--and I say "our" because I am one of them--signature lines and obssession with the brands and labels of golf rather than the sport itself, well, I am aghast. It is capitalism run amuck.

I get into this too in cycling, where so many riders wear jerseys that are covered up with brand names. Where brand names are so visible on the bicycle. Like others, I prefer not to be a free advertiser for some company. There are plain jerseys.

I'd like to see a new brand of golf goods that features NO visible brand names or trademarks. All plain. Might take off pretty good.

And Nike--hell, I don't buy anything Nike anyway. Figure it has to be overpriced, the way they pay for celebrity endorsements. Do have some Nike balls, that I found. And if I see a good looking Nike club at a garage sale for 50 cents, I might buy it.

(My "magic wedge" is a Hogan fifty three I got for that price; love that club.)

The only endorsement that counts from Tiger Woods is what he would play with if they didn't pay him!

Have much greater respect for, say, Lee Trevino or Ben Hogan, because they had a far longer climb all on their own.

Tiger, Incorporated, is not about playing golf, it is marketing and image. Reminds me of the way Sam Snead endorsed a brand of cigarette--though he didn't smoke. All a bunch of nonsense.

[golfdad]

Sonic wrote a good post. The flip side of what I feel.

commercialism is a different discussion. if not tiger, they will try to search for another spokesman. corporate interests will never die with capitalism. palmer will go down history as a corporate guy but also a respectable human being. those 2 entities can co-exist.

the crust of matter here is human indecency or the degree of human indecency... perhaps the nike honchos are scratching their heads and wondering,,,many tiger mistresses can we handle?

[RocketSauce]

Gatorade just terminated their partnership with Tiger

http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.c...h-tiger-woods/

[Three Putt]

Damn! Gotta go back to Sweetbay and by some for collectors items and future Ebay sales!

Tiger Focus....is it in you?

[Three Putt]

commercialism is a different discussion. if not tiger, they will try to search for another spokesman. corporate interests will never die with capitalism. palmer will go down history as a corporate guy but also a respectable human being. those 2 entities can co-exist.

They are probably hoping for more, so the sex addict angle is an easy sell. Anyway...Nike deals with the NBA and NFL...this Tiger stuff is elementary school for them as far as "problems" go.

[Tiger Spuds]

Gatorade just terminated their partnership with Tiger

Well to be fair that only relates to a single product, and they said the decision was made months ago, before all this happened.They also don't say that they won't use him for advertising campaigns in the future.So saying they 'just terminated their partnership' with him is a little bit of an exaggeration.On the other hand though, Gatorade saying they made the decision months ago could be just a smokescreen to protect him from further embarrasment.

[Tiger Spuds]

Yes, and they haven't dropped 'him'.They've discontinued a product.When they release a statement saying they won't work with him again in future, then they've 'dropped' him.

[RocketSauce]

Well to be fair that only relates to a single product,

and??? that was his entire sponsorship with them

.So saying they 'just terminated their partnership' with him is a little bit of an exaggeration..

no it isnt??? they just terminated their sponsorship with him. how is that an exaggeration???

[RocketSauce]

Yes, and they haven't dropped 'him'.They've discontinued a product.When they release a statement saying they won't work with him again in future, then they've 'dropped' him.

now you're just splitting hairs. they discontinued his product and they arent paying him anymore... sponsorship terminated