(insidesocal.com)
Where does Tiger Woods go to get his reputation back?
What we had thought was an indiscretion then became two indiscretions to a market basket full of indiscretions akin to a raging forest fire. Someone surely has asked, tongue-in-cheek, "Who hasn't he slept with?"
How does he rehabilitate his image? Can he rehabilitate his image? Does it matter if the only thing that's important is his golf game?
Is Tiger Woods finished?
Rightly or wrongly, he had a squeaky clean reputation. Whether he endeavored to have the squeaky clean reputation or if the people who managed his career decided to paint him as a person with a squeaky clean reputation is not the issue. He had a squeaky clean reputation. He doesn't have it anymore.
It's hard to find words for this story. Look at what's happened here. Here's a sophisticated, urbane, talented golfer who has tainted his career with a tawdry brush because he couldn't control his libido. I'm not sure he's finish but I'm not sure he'll ever be the same golfer again.
Maybe that's a question to ask: How many fans will he lose and how will that impact his career? Will he be welcome at some of these tournaments? Can you imagine a tournament as storied as the Masters saying Tiger isn't welcome because of his behavior?
If Tiger wanted to have mistresses at various ports of call, one wonders why he bothered to get married. You have to wonder if he ever cared about his obligation to his wife, his kids, his family. In the space of two weeks he went from contrite husband to whoremonger.
I heard someone say maybe he was a sex addict.
When you have the ability to focus so well that you can play the game of golf almost better than anyone on earth, then you have the ability to recognize that your behavior is not only patently wrong but extraordinarily dangerous.
Surely a man as smart as Tiger Woods knew that there would come the day of reckoning.
There's a story going around now after Tiger appeared on the cover of Men's Health even though he had an exclusive deal with Golf Digest. How does he appear in a 35-hundred word article in Men's Health when he's exclusive with Golf Digest? The rumbling is that maybe he cut a deal because maybe somebody found out something they shouldn't have known.
The question for you isn't about morality or golf and all that business. It's simpler than that: Do you think Tiger's career is over? How many more women will come out of the woodwork before the collapse is irreversible? What is it, 11 women now? It's been a relentless pursuit of what I heard one person describe as porn-star sex. How many more women will appear before you think, Tiger's finished? And if so, can you imagine throwing away a career and a life as rich as this because you just cannot satisfy your libido and aren't smart enough to consult someone to get that libido in check? And to make things even seedier, there are now rumors that someone is offering nude photos of Tiger Woods to Playgirl magazine.
This sex story also has gone from gossip to scandal to something darker, seedier and more disturbing: A celebrity sex outsourcing industry.
As his mother-in-law was rushed to the hospital Tuesday morning with stomach pain (she was later released) the sports website Deadspin exposed Las Vegas porn star Veronica Siwik-Daniels as Tiger's 11th mistress. But, Deadspin says, what's significant about the story isn't how many mistresses Tiger had, but the system he used to acquire them.
According to the website, "The biggest misconception about the Tiger cheating scandal is that… two of the first three women named by the tabloids, were his full-time lovers." Rather, they were likely on retainer to provide Tiger with women and parties as he traveled around the world.
According to an unnamed "VIP concierge," professional athletes regularly pay women $10,000 to $15,000 a month for these services, as well as upward of $50,000 in tips. A number of Tiger's mistresses may not have even slept with him, the source said, but were kept on salary "to provide women for Tiger during his globetrotting excursions to various tournaments, charity functions and 'bleep'-and-run private-jet weekends with his Fortune 500 party pals that he seemed to enjoy so much."
As the scandal gets more coverage, Deadspin speculates that it could expose the system that's in place for high-profile professional athletes to outsource their sex and partying.
Tiger is a great golfer, but as a man, he's a total failure. Does that mean he's finished as a golfer, or can he survive this? Have we come to a place in our society where enough people are not bothered by what he did and who he is that they'll go to see him play golf?
Correction:
A reader, Patricia, commented: "i don't think it was men's health that he was on the cover of, but men's fitness. men's health is Jann Wenner's magazine. men's fitness has the same parent company as the national enquirer."
Thanks for your correction, Patricia, and the distinction between the two mags. But you made me think of something else because the larger point is how someone's reckless behavior can jeopardize his professional life. The magazine story --if true-- is tantamount to blackmail.
Imagine if these stories hadn't come out. A serious criminal element somewhere could have used that information to make him throw a tournament! What if THAT story comes out next? It would be like those old war stories about fixed fights in the boxing world. Such a thing wouldn't just be ruinous to Tiger but would cause immeasurable damage to golf. A lot of revenue gone, a lot of people affected, jobs lost. Maybe we're lucky this story broke when it did. I can't imagine Tiger having to face such a dilemma: Throw the match or we'll go to the papers with your 11 mistresses. Yikes!
Comments
I fail to see the political relevance of gossip about the personal life of a successful athlete.
i don't think it was men's health that he was on the cover of, but men's fitness. men's health is Jann Wenner's magazine. men's fitness has the same parent company as the national enquirer.
it's not political, it's moral or immoral and the relevance is that you have based your opinion on previous history - now you have a new more correct version of the history to digest and seemingly it ain't over...however, history shows that he's not finished, his marriage might be and loved one's perception of him is, which is sad. But do we realy care about the perpetrator - actually i'm more intrigued by the potential for even more scandal and who else is in the mix "Fortune 500 pals" that list is now under scrutiny, let's hope theres a few politicians in there, then you will have your wish to "fail to see the political relevance". In the mean time, I hope the economy recovers, climate change ceases to be an issue and the wine is chilled in time for my party!
Who the hell cares?
I've just recovered Tigers mp3 player..his top 3 tracks:
-luda: "area codes"
-dre:" bit**** aint sh**"
-NWA: "always into something"
I was under the impression that to have someone to have sex with when you are on globetrotting excursions to various tournaments, charity functions and 'bleep'-and-run private-jet weekends, you should take your wife with you!!! That is ofcourse when you aren't so rich that you can buy anything. ITs a shame that famous people cant just be happy with who they marry, they have to have more. Its sick really. I guess when you gain money you loose morale, character, and common sense!
oh.. and to think.. so many "normal" people want to be famous! I think "normal" people are the lucky ones... We know what we have.. thats something that money can't buy!
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright,
Hiding in your mansion all a-fright!
What immortal hand or eye
Could pull you out of this web of sex and lies!
YAWWWWWWWWWWWN, He plays golf BIG FRIGGIN' DEAL. Wonder if any of our men and women fighting over in Afghanistan are worried about tigger's image now?
For those who say yawn and "who cares" why do you google his name and search for his latest "transgressions" if you don't give a s.
...
wut now?
“Tiger is a great golfer, but as a man, he's a total failure.”
Wow! A person who: A. Has the strength, intellect and courage to overcome multiple prejudices to dominate a sport and break down social barriers for generations to come, B. The entrepreneurial tenacity to build a billion dollar brand and empire, and C. In addition to his super model wife can bed at least 10 other beautiful women and still compete at the highest level is a total failure as a man? He fails miserably as a husband but has many great accomplishments as a man. That said I am disappointed but if Bill Clinton can still be taken seriously even revered in some cases, Tiger will survive this.
I come to Brucie's page almost daily and happened to see this article about this overblown dingleberry so I responded. I hate golf and think it rates with shuffleboard, cricket, bingo etc. I really don't give a rat's ass REALLY, I'm just sick of hearing this lame story.
If you're THE "tito o" I do love MMA and you will get your arse beat for the third time by the Ice Man.
thanks for the support, brah!
doing my thing up in big bear..hummer barely getting through the snow...can't wait to do some gnp on belly boy!
Hey tito what about when Randy Couture literally gave you a spanking? Whew talk about adding insult to injury.
Catman, you're nothing but a peice of bigoted white trash...go die
stop drinking the haterade, brah! even the best have off days...
back's feelin good..aahhh... breathin' in that cool big br air! ..livin the dream!
Come on tito your best days are behind you what happened with Forrest? You know the Ice Man has got hands of steel brah.
i got miles to go, brah! Now that dana's got my back aint no stopping this bad boy...time for some jits...peace!
Is he finished playing golf? I fail to see how any of his current activities have anything to do with golf.
Americans have funny notions about sex.
Catman Hater says: Catman's comment was deleted. His language was completely unnecessary.
REDNECK -- I appreciate your patronage but if you don't care, why did you comment?
Citizen M -- I don't measure one's masculinity by his sexual prowess but by his dignity. And gender has nothing to do with accomplishment. That said, I understand your point: Failure as a husband.
DeAnna -- Your thoughts resonate for me. People aspiring for fame? For what? But there are many famous people who never make the tabloids because their morals are sound, their work is good and their private lives are private. I wish we'd stop being voyeurs. It bothers me that we're such gossip hounds but it sure drives a lot of things, which is why I raise this question about Tiger's career. Soon you'll hear PR "experts" saying Tiger needs rehab and things like that. Will that help? Is there anyplace he can go to get his reputation back? Is it even retrievable?
Tracy B Ann says: Is he finished playing golf? I fail to see how any of his current activities have anything to do with golf. Americans have funny notions about sex.
I agree with you on our Calvinist attitudes on sex, but I added something to the column after you posted your comment that I hadn't thought of before until after reading another reader's comment. Do you think the potential for blackmail could have connected his current activities to his career. That's something he obviously hadn't thought of, but it's something we can all imagine. What if we learn that he's already thrown a match?
last time i checked i was a grown man, and stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago. Some people need to take their heads out of the sand and stop thinking that your political leaders, athletes and movie stars are holding themselves to a higher standard. Why? because they have money, fame and all the other trappings. Your values, morals,ethics are fundamental to your being, so if you have any deficiencies they will eventually be exposed either good or bad
The sad part is no matter how many women come out and more details emerge, his "fans" will still laud him and cheer like little puppy dogs bowing down to their master just like letterman whose audience still claps even when he admits hes a cheater/womanizer..pathetic!
b.a. -- Your comment also resonates. When I worked in New York, it was a time when celebs stopped at three places to plug their stuff: Regis, Letterman and our radio station. Name the 80s celeb, we had them on --all of them. I can tell you to a person that they responded best when they were treated like regular human beings. On air, sure, lots of bells, whistles and hype --that's just business. Off air, they're normal. I don't have space here but I could tell you a GREAT story about Kirk Douglas that would make the point. I've never treated famous people as special, just people with a talent, maybe some luck, etc, but no better than you or me as human beings. As you point out, we, as a society don't do that. I've never liked that and hate the gossip rags, puke entertainment shows, etc. But we revel in them and we're stuck with it. Most celebs realize that's part of the deal, but we're fools to think they're any different than us. Richer, yeah, but still human, still flawed.
Bruce said:
"Do you think the potential for blackmail could have connected his current activities to his career. That's something he obviously hadn't thought of, but it's something we can all imagine. What if we learn that he's already thrown a match?"
That seems a bit far fetched to me but... I did get another perspective from a semi pro athelete today. His thoughts were that if Tiger Woods just played golf his personal life would be no ones business. Doing endorsements means he is selling his image (especially endorsements that have nothing to do with golf), which makes his personal life everyones business.
I thought that was an interesting view point.
No
He's finished as far as a great player. This will definately affect his game. How can it not? One aspect taht made him great was his incredible consentration and determination. That's been rocked I'm sure. So what he would've done on the tour will be radically different when all is said and done. As far as the scandal , he should've said "It's a matter between my wife and myself period. It's none of your busines. Do you want to know which hand I use to wipe my ass too?"
Rob M says: "...he should've said 'It's a matter between my wife and myself period. It's none of your busines. Do you want to know which hand I use to wipe my ass too?'"
Sadly, Rob, if a tabloid outfit knew the answer to that question, they'd publish it. Front page, even... banner headline. And someone would buy it, click it, link it and pass it on to their friends.
Sex is natural, sex if fun...Leave Tiger alone!
Tiger dosen't need forgiveness from the public. As far as that's concerned he is HISTORY!! He need to focus were he will spend eternity and I can let him know they don't play golf in Hell.
Stick a fork in him. He's done.
It's my gut feeling that Tiger is finished. His golf will not improve to the championship level ever again. He will just fade away.
Woods is done..now it is my turn.
How can he deal with it when the media and public refuse to give him the time and space to work through it? Why do we need to constantly berate him and then complain that his game is not what it was? The ONLY reason people are after Tiger is because he is a black man who is the greatest challenge to records held in a sport dominated by white men and who married a white woman.
Too bad the Internet wasn't around when JFK & MLK were on the prowl; even John Edwards gets a free pass.
Other golfers can drive farther, pitch and putt better. Tigers advantage was his intense drive to succeed. Sadly, this drive is misplaced because it wasn't to prove he was the best golfer but to prove he can receive acceptance from the white woman. This is a secret drive all black men have to combat the racism by white men. His mistresses turned against him and his white wife severed all ties. What is left for Tiger to live for? Tiger will be just another average golfer, good but not championship material and a crushed black man.
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