After 11 days of speculation, hype, over-hype, and severe over-hype what have we really learned about Tiger Woods wrapping his Escalade around a tree? Why does it even matter to the public if it’s off the course and didn’t affect the integrity of the game? I equate these last two weeks as an open season feeding frenzy where everywhere you look another woman is coming out of and selling her story (most of it is just speculation, the pregnancy, the playgirl photos etc but it still sells). Does this incident make him a poorer golfer? (pun not intended for him losing his sponsorship with Gatorade and others that are pending), because last time I checked the FED EX Cup standings he was still ranked as the number one golfer in the world. Taking away the salacious nature of his transgressions, why is this even news? This all started with a fender-bender in his own driveway. Why do the jackals feel the need to pry and pick and scrape at the incident to get a story? MONEY plain and simple, this type of story sells.

Is Tigers’ infidelity any more or less important than your neighbors or co-workers? People will say yes because he is a role model and should be held to different standards, why because he is famous? You have to understand that being a professional athlete comes with the burden of media scrutiny but as long as the athletes indiscretions are not illegal (looking at you Michael Vick) or affect his play then really how does it affect the sports world?

I actually feel bad for athletes today, with our media obsessed 24 hours a day coverage things are no longer kept secret. Take for instance Major League Baseball in the 50’s and 60’s when the media/reporters were actually friends with the ballplayers and were known to keep all of the secrets in-house for the trade off of exclusivity in team coverage. In the 80’s and 90’s in the NBA there were several reporters who were friends with Superstars and kept their secrets intact, it was seen a honoring the guys code, a badge of honor between players and reporters. Throw that away now, once something happens to a public person it’s everywhere in the blink of an eye or the speed of a tweet…the rules have changed and professional athletes have to acknowledge this and take precautions, if not then a simple traffic accident could unravel a career…what a shame because in the end we all lose.

- Jeff Powers

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Tags | Golf, PGA, Tiger Woods