Rumor: Tiger Ignores Sick Half-Brother

[mvmac]

As Tiger prepares to tee off at the Masters on Thursday, an ESPN report said his half-brother is suffering from multiple sclerosis and is in danger of losing his house, but has not been able to reach Tiger .

I know Tiger is known to be cheap but there has to be more to this story than Tiger just ignoring Kevin Woods.  Or he might be, I don't know how close he really is with his step family, they weren't close growing up.

Quote:

Another of Woods' half-brothers, Earl Woods Jr., said Kevin Woods, 52, was diagnosed with the disease in 2009 and has been unable to work, prompting them to reach out to Tiger for assistance.

"I leave messages," Earl Jr. told ESPN columnist Rick Reilly. "I leave updates on Kevin, but for whatever reason I don't get a response. ... Kevin loves Tiger. A call from Tiger would really pump Kevin up. When he doesn't call, it just makes him feel worse."

Earl Jr., Kevin, and their sister, Royce, were the children of Earl Woods' first marriage. Tiger, who is between 17 and 20 years younger than his half-siblings, was the product of Earl Woods' second marriage, to Kultida Punsawad.

The siblings say they have not heard from Tiger since 2006 when their father died. Earl Jr. said the family had been close until Tiger turned "15 or 16."

"We haven't asked Tiger for a dime," Earl. Jr said.

"Not even tickets to a tournament. But Kevin's losing his home. He needs a caregiver and he can't have a caregiver and keep his home at the same time. And we can't do that; we don't have the means."

According to the report, Tiger's spokesman declined to comment on the matter. It is unclear what led to the apparent falling-out between the four-time Masters winner and his siblings. Earl Jr. now lives in Phoenix while Kevin and Royce live in San Jose, Calif.

"I'd like to [slap] Tiger, wake him up," Earl. Jr said.

"Maybe when you see the world like he does, you don't see what other people are going through. But, seriously? You've got problems with your knee? That's nothing compared to what Kevin is going through. Nothing."

The revelations come one day before the year's first major. Woods has arrived at Augusta in his best form in years, recently winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill to break a 30-month PGA Tour drought.

But the 36-year-old has been stuck on 14 major championships since winning the 2008 US Open, dealing in recent years with injuries and a messy divorce that was highlighted by his public admission of infidelity.

[iacas]

I know lots of people that don't talk to certain members of their family. I know Tiger talks to his niece (Cheyenne), Earl Jr.'s kid, fairly often.

And that's about the limit of my interest in this story. Nice timing, Rick Reilly.

[RichWW2]

They were talking about this on ESPN radio today when I was driving into work. Rick Reilly was on The Herd talking.  Actually took Colin's side as he was defending Tiger, and Rick was just sounding like a TMZ tabloid journalist just trying to sell papers. No professional at all.

These two paragraphs say everything:

"We haven't asked Tiger for a dime," Earl. Jr said.  Not even tickets to a tournament. But Kevin's losing his home. He needs a caregiver and he can't have a caregiver and keep his home at the same time. And we can't do that; we don't have the means."

According to the report, Tiger's spokesman declined to comment on the matter. It is unclear what led to the apparent falling-out between the four-time Masters winner and his siblings. Earl Jr. now lives in Phoenix while Kevin and Royce live in San Jose, Calif."
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Seems to me they just want to make a quick buck by selling a story, or they want to use the media into pressuring Tiger into giving them money/care.  What better way to force Tiger to give you money or get charity from others?  Come out with the story of the sick relative and either Tiger looks like more of a d-bag for not helping a sick family member and you get support from the community and the media world, or he ponies up the cash.   Either way is a win/win for them as they get money from somebody.

I'm guessing they tried get money from Tiger previously and that's what lead to Tiger writing them off.  But I am just guessing, so I don't have any evidence to back this up.  Money and fame do crazy things to people...

[Paradox]

I think that its pretty bush-league of them to act like Tiger owes them something.  Even in that article, it says they haven't been close since Tiger was 15 or 16 years old.  Thats a long time ago.  Why is it Tigers responsibility to just fork over money?

Would you hand a friend money if you hadn't seen them in years?

[k-troop]

This story is pretty long on innuendo, and very short on facts.  I really like Reilly's books--I think he's a clever, witty writer--but his "journalism" is lacking.

I know two facts that might have bearing on how you interpret this story.  Tiger was really, really close to his Dad.  And Tiger's Dad hated Reilly.

[RichF]

The idea that anyone would prefer this story to come out any other time doesnt really hold any water - they'd rather it not be told at all

The reason for this is that initial instinct to blame  the media, accuse the people making statements that put Woods in a bad light, and give him a free pass.

Because he remains above scrutiny, yeah?

[LobWedge]

I think if anyone is equipped to cope with such an untimely story then Tiger is the man. I would prefer if all of people who enjoy sitting in little sewing circles and chatting about such things would move over and let us golfers watch the Masters in peace.

Who started this thread anyway?

[shades9323]

Originally Posted by RichF

The idea that anyone would prefer this story to come out any other time doesnt really hold any water - they'd rather it not be told at all

The reason for this is that initial instinct to blame  the media, accuse the people making statements that put Woods in a bad light, and give him a free pass.

Because he remains above scrutiny, yeah?

Giving Tiger a free pass for what? Why should he be scrutinized for this?

[mtsalmela80]

Come on Tiger, give him a million. It would be like me handing my cousin a couple bucks.

[colin007]

rick reilly sucks.  hes a juvenile, manipulative writer.  hes not a journalist.

[Mr. Desmond]

Actually, a similar story appeared on CNN in December ... didn't get traction then .. I guess it took ESPN.

I generally stay out of family situations.

If the family wanted help, based on Tiger's past regarding people turning on him, the odds are, they won't get it now.

[brocks]

Would you hand a friend money if you hadn't seen them in years?

Yes. Even an ex-friend, if I had a billion and they just needed a few thousand. Even Haney, if he truly had no other options. Family, absolutely, even if I hadn't seen them for 20 years. I agree the timing on this sucks, but if it's true, it makes Tiger look like an incredible jerk.

[Ernest Jones]

I heard that Tiger is the one who made him sick!

Bastard!

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by brocks

Yes. Even an ex-friend, if I had a billion and they just needed a few thousand. Even Haney, if he truly had no other options.

Family, absolutely, even if I hadn't seen them for 20 years.

I agree the timing on this sucks, but if it's true, it makes Tiger look like an incredible jerk.

I agree with all of this, but the story seems incredible on its face.  As much as Tiger loved his Dad, don't you think he would help them?  Seriously, he'd have to be the world's biggest prick.  Or there has to be more to the story.

[RichWW2]

Originally Posted by brocks

Yes. Even an ex-friend, if I had a billion and they just needed a few thousand. Even Haney, if he truly had no other options.

Family, absolutely, even if I hadn't seen them for 20 years.

I agree the timing on this sucks, but if it's true, it makes Tiger look like an incredible jerk.

I call BS on this.  Can you imagine how many "friends" and "relatives" you'd have ask you for money if you had a billion dollars?  Every distant 4th cousin twice removed from your dead cousin's sister's in-laws and every person you talked to once in elementary school would be asking you for money and you'd just give it to them? Not a chance in the world.

If Tiger wanted a relationship with them, he'd have one.  Odds are they are just money grubbing people who want Tiger give them free handouts and take care of their problems for them.

[brocks]

I call BS on this.  Can you imagine how many "friends" and "relatives" you'd have ask you for money if you had a billion dollars?  Every distant 4th cousin twice removed from your dead cousin's sister's in-laws and every person you talked to once in elementary school would be asking you for money and you'd just give it to them? Not a chance in the world.

Wow. If you wouldn't help a sick relative save his house for money that was trivial to you, I guess that's your right. But it is not your right to call me a liar.

[colin007]

actually, it is his right to call you a liar.  he can call you whatever he wants short of libel.  but thats really neither here nor there.  you dont really care what some anonymous person on the internet calls you, do you?

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by RichWW2

I call BS on this.  Can you imagine how many "friends" and "relatives" you'd have ask you for money if you had a billion dollars?  Every distant 4th cousin twice removed from your dead cousin's sister's in-laws and every person you talked to once in elementary school would be asking you for money and you'd just give it to them? Not a chance in the world.

If Tiger wanted a relationship with them, he'd have one.  Odds are they are just money grubbing people who want Tiger give them free handouts and take care of their problems for them.

I agree, but it in the situation it's a half brother that Tiger had contact with earlier in his life. If it was some cousin he's never met it would be a totally different situation and the media probably wouldn't have even grabbed on it.