Walters spars with publicist over Tiger Woods scandal management

Barbara Walters sparred with publicist Cindi Berger over the handling of the Tiger Woods scandal during Monday morning's The View.

'The View' co-hosts rate Tiger Woods' apology press conference (video)

Berger, who provides advice to celebrities with public relations crises, slammed Tiger Woods and his publicity team for their complete mismanagement of the golfer's sex scandal and the failure of the beleaguered golfer to "come out ahead of the story".

"The apology speech came far too late and, um, different from other people who have been involved in scandals," said Cindi Berger, who provides advice to celebrities like Jessica Simpson. "You know a full ten days to two weeks before the scandal breaks. David Letterman handled himself perfectly. Right on tone. Came out ahead of the story. Was contrite in his own way, self-deprecating, but honest. Tiger Woods didn't come out ahead of the story, didn't answer nay questions, wasn't seen by anyone."

Photo slideshow and quotes: Tiger Woods apology press conference

Berger said that Tiger Woods should have given an exclusive, but comprehensive interview before the news of his wild sexual escapades broke and that his biggest mistake was not "coming out ahead of the story":

"The Wednesday before the scandal broke, which happened to have beent he Wednesday before Thanksgiving, what he should have done was done an interview with an ESPN journalist. It would have gotten him out ahead of the story-that ESPN journalist who covers the golf beat would have asked him the tough questions, given him the opportunity to say ahead of story 'I was unfaithful to my wife'."

Berger also criticized Tiger Woods' decision to refer to his wife Elin Nordegren ten times during his apology speech despite the fact that she was not in attendance.

The View top dog Barbara Walters strongly disagreed:

"I don't think he should have done an interview and I've said this again and again...For Tiger Woods to have to sit down with any journalist: 'Which woman? How many times? Why did you do it? Did she have an abortion?' And then the woman comes on and says 'I was the one'-no-he made his speech, he went back into rehab. He was dignified. And then to force his wife, tight lipped to stand next to him while he did this, I disagree."

Barbara Walters has repeatedly stated that she would love to do an interview with Tiger Woods, but that she believes it is not in his best interests.

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