The Rotunda

Issue date: 2/24/10 Section: Sports

Last Friday, Tiger Woods addressed the public for the first time since the controversial incidents dating back to Thanksgiving have progressively come out. There isn't a person on the planet as well that didn't hear at least a fraction of Woods' speech, because it was broadcasted on nearly every popular news outlet known. There is no doubt that Tiger is the most influential and well known individual of our time, and possibly ever. But as usual, I can't find it in myself to leave well enough alone.

From what I hear, what most people took away from Wood's statements was that they were heartless. I also hear that because he read a prepared scripted statement, his words were meaningless.

Before I make my stance and point, I want to make it crystal clear that I condone none of Wood's actions whatsoever. He demonstrated careless judgment, and acted in a way that many single men wouldn't, not to mention a married man with kids. What he did was inexcusable, and should not be tolerated by those who care for him. If I could somehow place myself in Elin's shoes, a divorce would have come immediately.

Now that's cleared up, I want to make point of what I took away from Wood's statements. To say that scripting his words takes all the meaning from his message to me is ludicrous. This event was televised as much as a presidential address, and was made by a person that everyone and their mother admired. And you wouldn't want to be well equipped and prepared!? I would think it too be damn near impossible to go up in front of the entire world, and speak solely from the heart with nothing written. I mean, he did write the words, so I find nothing wrong with him wanting to make sure everything he wanted to say gets said. In that position, one of nervousness that no other single person could possibly relate to, I bet it would quite easy to freeze up and forget something important.

The one thing that I think Tiger did wrong was refuse to answer questions. His address was made in front of a selected audience, mostly family and friends. They are the people he owes the most to, and the ones he loves and cares about. That's much different than answering to a bunch of head-hunting reporters looking to burry him with meaningless questions.

Which brings me to my next point; if I'm Tiger Woods, that whole event we all witnessed never would have happened. Like I said, the people he owes answers to are his wife Elin, his parents, and closest friends. Who the hell are we as the general public to demand answers and reasons? As far as I'm concerned, Tiger doesn't owe me a thing; or any of you who are reading this for that matter. Sure, he was wrong, and we are all entitled to make our own opinions and draw our own conclusions. But what makes us so entitled to demand answers to why he did what he did? To me, I think the coolest thing he could have done was not speak a word to the media, and go out and dominate every tournament he plays in. He's a professional golfer, and that's what we love (or loved) him for. And it's now obvious that he is far from a professional husband and father, however that is none of my business. We didn't care about his family life before, and just because he obviously didn't either doesn't mean we all of a sudden can. But like I said, this is just my opinion. I wish the best for the man, although his actions broke a bridge that even Tiger Woods can't repair. But until my slate is clean, he doesn't owe me a thing. No I've never committed such a ruthless act, but nor have I been the richest most wanted man in the world either. I will always disagree with what he did, but I won't be the one to demand answers why either.

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