Tiger Takes Break From Golf

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Off Topic
Posted on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 06:21:14 PM EST
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Crazy:

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try.

[. . .] After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.

The man has chosen to live his entire life in public now. Nuts. Yes, this announcement is living your private life in public to me. Just go do what you think you should do and STOP issuing press releases.

Speaking for me only

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Tiger Takes Break From Golf | 31 comments (31 topical)

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Inasmuch as he's a public figure, (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by jeffinalabama on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 06:34:51 PM EST

I think he HAD to issue a press release on this one. Let's hope there aren't weekly counselling updates.

Honestly (none / 0) (#12)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 10:56:23 PM EST

I hope his friends and counselors are keeping a very close eye on him, some kind of informal suicide watch. I haven't ever had even a smidgen of interest in Tiger Woods professionally or personally, but I've since heard enough about him with this to learn he has always ferociously guarded his privacy. Now his sexual technique is being discussed around water coolers and his whole super-carefully managed image has crashed down around his ears, not to mention his marriage and family. He likely no longer even knows who he is anymore, since the whole edifice was apparently a big fraud he constructed.

I haven't got a lot of sympathy for him, and God knows he's fabulously rich enough to weather anything financially, but they'd better keep a close eye on him or this could turn into an even more appalling tragedy.


: I have to agree (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by nycstray on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 01:05:50 AM EST

I also think the media has gotten totally out of control along with the women. Whatever he's done/what his problems are, it's really none of our business, especially to the extent they've taken it.

: I have never wanted to know about (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 08:46:58 AM EST

his sexuality either and I'm not much for celeb gossip, but in spite of all the current life distractions I too now seem to know more about his sex life than his own mother does. He doesn't owe me anything and I have never bought a shoe because of his endorsement. If I was ever interested in anything it was his golf abilities. Since my own father had a problem with fidelity when I was growing up, and it causes huge family upheavals, I would probably like it a whole lot better if he saved his splainin himself for his children over me!

This news does not surprise me at all; (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Anne on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 06:49:31 PM EST

I've been trying to picture that first time Tiger walks out on the course to the inevitable scrum of spectators and media who are not so much there to pay respectful homage to this great athlete, but to gawk and titter and boo and clamor at someone who has been reduced to being tabloid fodder.

If he were playing in tournaments of one, I could see him toughing it out, but there are other golfers who deserve to play in something less than a three-ring circus atmosphere; Tiger would be nothing but a huge distraction, and really, is that fair?

And God knows how many more women will be coming forward; I figure it's only a matter of time before one of these women produces a child, and then it's really going to get insane.

As for the press releases, I'm guessing this is because Tiger is a brand, and there are millions of dollars at stake.

: He'll be treated just like MJ was (none / 0) (#24)
by Yes2Truth on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 03:01:18 PM EST

The public & the media will greet him with thunderous applause & syrupy praise whenever TWoods
pronounces himself cured.
If Joe Blow gets caught "cheating" (e.g.smoking dope
or snorting Peruvian marching powder) - Joe doesn't
get to take time off to "heal" himself and renew his
relationship with his wife and family.
What's the difference? Nobody knows Joe. And what Tiger did isn't considered a crime by those who profit from his celebrity.

Can this marriage be saved with Tiger (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by oculus on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 07:21:01 PM EST

Woods staying home? Doubt it. For better or for worse but not for lunch.

: Listen to jaded you :) (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 08:49:38 AM EST

Ummmmmmmm, this would be my nonprofessional opinion as well :) Cheaters of this caliber.......just.....can't.....ever....really.....seem......to......stop.......cheating :) He should just golf and take care of his family to the best of his abilities. Taking care of me would be rather fruitless.

I do not understand (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Steve M on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 07:33:43 PM EST

how taking a break from golf is a private matter.

Theres always the option (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by jondee on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 07:54:11 PM EST

of not paying attention to the press releases.

Btw, I still think airing golf tournaments for the detainees would work at least as well as the Chinese water torture


: I'm with you on the last (none / 0) (#13)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 10:59:05 PM EST

part, but apparently we're very much in the minority. Curling is more interesting, as far as I'm concerned, and it's not very interesting!

Well, if Woods didn't play pro golf it (none / 0) (#7)
by oculus on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 07:49:03 PM EST

would be a private matter. Personally, I think he is internet-addicted. Must post on website.


Yeah (none / 0) (#20)
by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 08:53:07 AM EST

Cuz we will hear about every single game he doesn't show up at. And then there will be the punditry commenting on what would have happened if he had been there, followed by people in the know testifying to the success of his marriage efforts. I can't wait.


If he EVER wants to return to the course, (none / 0) (#21)
by Inspector Gadget on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 09:59:07 AM EST

he's better off doing it sooner rather than later. The first game he plays will cause this story to explode open again and he's only going to prolong the inevitable by delaying.


: Outside of he should have thought (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by Militarytracy on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 10:10:39 AM EST

about all this before catting around (I can slur cats because I'm not a cat person), I don't know what to tell him outside of I really wish I knew less. Oh Yeah....and ummmmm, DUH Tiger....Pron Stars are never closed mouth about who, what, when, where they do the deed. It is how they make their living.

asked for it? (none / 0) (#1)
by diogenes on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 06:34:06 PM EST

I don't think that he asked for tabloids to print interviews with women he was having affairs with or to chronicle his mother-in-law's hospital visits. He didn't do it years ago and he didn't do it now.

Depends what one means when (none / 0) (#9)
by scribe on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 08:51:53 PM EST

they say "Asked for it."

I'm watching the NBC Dateline program right now - they're devoting the whole hour to this story.

The event which triggered the avalanche? Apparently, it was a catfight between two of the girlfriends, which one of them decided to end/win by selling her story to the National Enquirer.

So, while one could say he asked for it by (A) fooling around or (B) having multiple girlfriends who were aware of each other (dumb, dumb, dumb....), there are surely better ways of phrasing it.


: He paid for some of it. And is still paying (none / 0) (#10)
by oculus on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 08:57:45 PM EST

the price.

: Doing something well enough (none / 0) (#11)
by jondee on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 09:02:58 PM EST

to glean a lot of media attention and public adulation and then falling from grace in such an appallingly fascinating (sic) way, is apparently asking for it.

I'm still (none / 0) (#15)
by Natal on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 12:13:59 AM EST

wondering why the airbags in his Cadillac didn't deploy after a 25 mph hit. GM should do a recall.

Celebrities of Wood's stature don't have private (none / 0) (#17)
by Faust on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 01:37:00 AM EST

lives. Even their "private lives" are public. Maybe a black box. But one that gets held up so that people can comment on its possible contents.

: After overhearing Inside Edition (none / 0) (#23)
by jondee on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 02:11:12 PM EST

Im for pinpointing their location and giving a plane hi-jacker a get-out-of-jail-for-a-day pass, I'll say that.

Tiger (none / 0) (#25)
by Lora on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 10:46:07 PM EST

I think he's shown some class, saying what he did.

The consequences of his un-classy behavior are between him and his family and I'm perfectly content to focus on other things. I don't think his public statements are going to make any difference to the tabloids, but I have more respect for him for saying what he did than if he remained silent and just let the rumors and stories fly. I wish him and his family well.

Class? Seriously? (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by Anne on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 11:11:55 PM EST

"Class" would be someone who actually honored his marriage vows, who didn't have sex with anything that moved, who gave one minute's thought to his wife's and children's feelings instead of thinking only about himself. Tiger wouldn't know class if it walked up and bit him on the nose.

He's a great athlete and a great golfer whose play has done more for golf than anyone since Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus - and I can respect that.

But I have little respect for him as a person; apologies are cheap and they are easy.

The only reason Tiger has apologized is because of what happened on his driveway - absent that, do you really think Tiger's going to stop screwing around?

Really?


Only a self-loathing woman (2.00 / 1) (#27)
by jondee on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 11:25:51 PM EST

with little strength of character would stay with a man like that.


It couldn't be healthy staying at this point (none / 0) (#28)
by Militarytracy on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 04:08:05 AM EST

She is young though on the path. I wish her peace, contentment, and clarity however she can find those things for herself.


Elin is not who jondee (none / 0) (#29)
by Inspector Gadget on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 11:04:42 AM EST

is speaking about. She's slamming Anne for being a Hillary supporter.


: Im just not into (none / 0) (#30)
by jondee on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 11:14:37 AM EST

what Freud called "the narcissism of small difference", (look it up).
And, just to clarify, all things considered, I think Anne is pretty cool.
Btw, That's HE. I know, I know, it figures, right?

Better than no apology (none / 0) (#31)
by Lora on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 12:01:30 PM EST

What he does now is up to him and between him and his family. I still think it took some courage AND class to admit wrongoing and apologize.

John and Elizabeth Edwards have made their fair share of public comments and I don't recall such disapproval directed at them for taking their private matters to the public. Why dump on Tiger for doing the same?


I think it is easier (none / 0) (#32)
by Militarytracy on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 01:03:34 PM EST

to deal with the compulsions of one man when he has made efforts to be giving to others. Can't help it, but Tiger Woods hasn't done much to improve the lives of those who live in poverty that I'm aware of. He is a billionaire celebrity bedding pron stars at his wife's and children's expense. At least Clinton and Edwards have some public deep redeeming qualities they possess along with their infidelity. There are levels of infidelity in my book. If my spouse starts hooking up with pron stars and hiding it from me (I think about my health here first and the fact that my children need me as healthy as possible) I might find myself a golf club.


: I hear ya (none / 0) (#33)
by Lora on Sun Dec 13, 2009 at 06:37:16 PM EST