Why do the media think Tiger owes them an explanation?

[senorchipotle]

The golf channel et al are ripping Tiger cause he didn't report his strained neck, or whatever it is. They say he owed it to them. That because of this they can't trust him. They say he should have told them at Torrey Pines he was playing on a torn ACL and broken foot. Why? Tiger doesn't owe them, nor us, anything. When will people get it through their thick skulls that Tiger isn't that guy, and never will be. There are other champions, like Ernie, who do not coddle the media and stroke their little egos by spilling their life story and telling them what color underwear their wife wears.

Do they really think Tiger will wake up one day and turn into Phil? After 15 years, why do they still have expectations that tiger is going to give them anything they didn't ask for? I, for one, don't understand what it is they're after. He always answers their questions, and is always respectful to them. What else do they want?

[zeg]

Agree 100%. Except I think he should tell us what color underwear his wife wears, or at least, he should have when things were in better shape on that front. Otherwise, I don't see why it's anyone's business that he's injured. If he wants to share, great, if not, that's his business.

[Ole_Tom_Morris]

Tiger owes the media nothing. You can understand their viewpont, though. They run on news. If Tiger let them know ahead of the Players' that he had a neck problem, they'd do a 3 hour pre-tournament special on Tiger's neck and necks in general, including interviewing various neck specialists and recounting all the athletes from football players to ice skaters who also had neck problems.

Every time Tiger reached up to scratch or wipe off sweat or to adjust his collar, we'd get a gasp from the commentators and an ultra-closeup of Tiger's neck.

Some athletes don't let it slip that they are playing hurt, some lie and pretend to be hurt when they are not, or to be hurt worse than they are, and some bring out injury as an excuse for failure after it's all over.

I think the media would prefer to have disinformaton and rumors to talk about than nothing at all.

[mtsalmela80]

Its everybodys business because as far as the media is concerned, Tiger IS golf. After the tournament, I saw a report in a local paper on the tournament, about the fact that Tiger withdrew due to injury. It had NOTHING to say about who won, despite it being a huge win for golf.

[Kieran123]

Agree 100%. Except I think he should tell us what color underwear his wife wears,

LOL, I agree

[shortstop20]

Had I known the number to the Golf Channel, I would have called them up yesterday and told them to STFU.

They talk about the guy 24/7 before like he's a God, and then they dump him when it's convenient for them. The media is a bunch of backstabbing vultures.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I also agree. And they always use us the fans as some kind of front for demanding that sports figures give them the information they want...They inflate their importatance. We dont give a damn about 95% of the crap they talk about. Just a bunch of middle aged morons with a wife and a morgage trying to justfy their jobs in a bussiness that really doesnt need them.

[Chilli Dipper]

The annoying part is how every insignificant thing Tiger does these days is blown up to ridiculous proportions, to the point that everything else in game is pushed into the margins. There was a great final round yesterday, but you wouldn't know it if you weren't watching it live. If any other player in the world withdrew due to neck pain midway through the round, no one would care.

[JWL1957]

Nike, The Media, and the PGA pumped out a squeeky clean Tiger Woods image since the day he arrived. They all had pie on their faces after the scandal broke open. And now they are all over reacting.

[holeinon3]

I was really hoping Tiger would come back and win The Players just to shut everyone up. Now I just hope Tiger will be back this summer..

[GaijinGolfer]

What else is TGC supposed to talk about?

[iacas]

What else is TGC supposed to talk about?

You've got a point.

[shortstop20]

What else is TGC supposed to talk about?

As much as they talk about him they should change the name to "TTC" or, "The Tiger Channel".

[Three Putt]

I also agree. And they always use us the fans as some kind of front for demanding that sports figures give them the information they want...They inflate their importatance. We dont give a damn about 95% of the crap they talk about. Just a bunch of middle aged morons with a wife and a morgage trying to justfy their jobs in a bussiness that really doesnt need them.

Well Said.

I think Tiger has done just fine with his interviews. If the GC had any brains they would start televising some good college golf matches, build more interest.

[GaijinGolfer]

As much as they talk about him they should change the name to "TTC" or, "The Tiger Channel".

I mean, seriously, when you are a 24 hour a day channel about golf, theres really only so much you can talk about, so its only natural that they would obsess over everything Tiger.

[jamo]

I also agree. And they always use us the fans as some kind of front for demanding that sports figures give them the information they want...They inflate their importatance. We dont give a damn about 95% of the crap they talk about. Just a bunch of middle aged morons with a wife and a morgage trying to justfy their jobs in a bussiness that really doesnt need them.

I would like to start a slow clap...... Well said. TGC reports as many non-stories as any network on TV.

[Stretch]

Mass media made Tiger a billionaire and he wasn't bitching then. The meat grinder doesn't care if you're on the way up or the way down, just that your story is engaging enough to get people to watch/read/click.

[GaijinGolfer]

Mass media made Tiger a billionaire and he wasn't bitching then. The meat grinder doesn't care if you're on the way up or the way down, just that your story is engaging enough to get people to watch/read/click.

Agree. Tiger has enjoyed all the perks and advantages of his fame, yet wants the media to respect his desire for privacy and space. Sorry Tiger, it doesnt work that way. In some ways, I think Tiger does owe his fans more of an explanation and that a lack of an explanation only makes him look worse.