American professional golfer Tiger Woods has come under some heat lately for his indiscretions. This is a shock to many, as Woods was not only the highest-paid professional athlete last year, but he has also been a son of the media. Wood’s public image has been very positive and wholesome.
So naturally, when something is not going right, the media will grab onto it. We all understand that when a man bites a dog, it’s big news.
Yahoo’s web traffic recently surged as the Woods saga continued to unfold, reportedly being better for its business than Michael Jackson’s death earlier this year, said Yahoo chief executive Carol Bartz.
What makes Woods’ current trouble most interesting to people is that he refuses to talk about it. Initially, he completely denied it.
Woods was reportedly upset with the media scrutiny. In a recent public statement, Woods apologized for his “transgressions.”
But he also added, “There is an important and deep principle at stake, which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. … Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions.”
To that, we have to say, “Baloney!”
Woods is one of the most famous celebrities in the world. He cannot expect the media to only talk about good things. We have the right to talk about his philanthropy work and his scandals, not just the former. The accident happened outside of his home. It’s public knowledge. The media has the right to ask questions about it.
He, of course, has the right to say, “No comment.”
But he is being very arrogant if he honestly expects the media to back off because he said so. He is a husband, father, business leader, and role model. His actions impact people — this is why his scandal is holding the world’s attention.
Now, perhaps a public figure deserves some measure of privacy, especially when it has nothing to do with his or her profession. But in Woods’ case, it seems that his personal life has spilled into his professional life. He has withdrawn from a golf tournament, and Gatorade has dropped his signature drink.
Perhaps most importantly, the scandal has changed the way everyone sees the world’s greatest golfer. It has, maybe, challenged many people who have idolized him into rethinking what qualities make up a role model.
This week, we ran the story, “Tiger’s troubles widen his distance from Blacks,” an interesting exploration on how people of different races view Woods, a self-described “Cablinasian” (Caucasian, Black, Indian, and Asian). To us, these kinds of discussions are newsworthy. ♦
Well, although i agree with the thing you write here, i am sure some are not, but thanks for the information.
Seems like the Tiger Woods scandal hasn’t done him too much damage. He still made $90 million last year!
I am happy that Tiger Woods is back playing. It makes the game thrilling all over again.
When you’re taking that much money for pushing what turned out to be a Fraud of an image on the paying and viewing public—you best better be ready for a full invasion of privacy when its concluded you have been and continue to be a fraud upon the public.
Everything you have detested about the public and the press is now upon you—privacy, distance, respect, secretiveness, its all changed now, not because of us, but because of you and your actions.
You never told Nike you were a Fraud of a Human being, allowing them to write ad campaigns around not just your golf skills, but you’re supposed skills as a human being. To wit you have proven to have none.