04/18/24
February 19, 2010
Tiger Woods sorry, admits all: 'I had affairs. I cheated' : Disgraced golf superstar Tiger Woods is sorry. Mr. Woods said he and wife Elin Nordegren have started to deal with his infidelities. His wife was not obviously present at the event. “My real apology to her will not come in the form of words, it will come in the form of my behaviour over time.” “I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable.” “I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife’s family, my friends, my foundation and kids all around the world who admired me. I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I’ve done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It’s now up to me to make amends. And that starts by never repeating the mistakes I’ve made.” Mr. Woods said he plans to return to golf, perhaps this year. “When I return, I need to make my behaviour more respectful for the game.” Audio of his statement included in article.
posted by tommytrump to golf at 11:49 AM - 57 comments
This strikes me as a pretty hollow apology from a man who was essentially living a lie. The fact that the statement was issued under conditions totally controlled and dictated by Woods and his "handlers" make it appear to me to be more damage control than a heartfelt apology.
I was one of his biggest fans, but I'lll no longer be counted in that number.
posted by jm_mosier at 12:16 PM on February 19, 2010
Pardon me while I puke.
posted by jjzucal at 12:20 PM on February 19, 2010
MOre scripted then an Obama speech. Do you think the cards had written on them(now look up at camera and and attempt to look sad and remorseful)
Letterman and Conan will have a field day with this. I cant wait for SNL this weekend.
posted by Debo270 at 12:35 PM on February 19, 2010
The only people he owes apologies to in my opinion are his family and his corporate sponsors. Anybody that buys into the sponsor bought image bull**** athlete or actor endorsers sell deserves to be disappointed since although they may be very good at some activity, Kobe, Jordan, Woods, Manning etc are just people screwed up like the rest of us. You have to be dumb to believe the marketing firm, packaged persona they are selling. I don't buy it and never will. NO surprise to me Tiger is just a jerk, trying to live his life like the rest of us.
The news conference was a joke because he did announce his return to golf. That would have been the only thing newsworthy in his statement as his plans for golf are really all that anybody should be concerned with as it relateds to sports.
posted by Atheist at 01:15 PM on February 19, 2010
I have no idea why he did this.
Based on most of the opinions stated here, it sounds like no one was going to believe what he had to say, and everyone was going to assume it was "staged" and "scripted".
Just like the McGwire statement about steroids, even when the star does come out and apologize, it's never going to be enough.
Letterman and Conan will have a field day with this. I cant wait for SNL this weekend.
I think you're going to be waiting a long time for anything Conan has to say about this, and there isn't an SNL show (on NBC) scheduled until February 27th.
I'm guessing you aren't really paying too much attention to current events.
posted by grum@work at 01:26 PM on February 19, 2010
Anybody that buys into the sponsor bought image bull**** athlete or actor endorsers sell deserves to be disappointed
This is the only thread of sanity that I can pull through all of this. He's [insert famous celebrity/athlete here] celebrated, adored, and idolized because he's good at [insert whatever role/sport here] ... and he's got a consumable image/persona. Rarely is it because he's an outstanding human being.
I'm not saying it's right, I'm just endorsing Atheist's sentiment.
posted by Spitztengle at 01:31 PM on February 19, 2010
Anybody that buys into the sponsor bought image bull**** athlete or actor endorsers sell deserves to be disappointed
Atheist just said what I was trying to say in the previous Tiger thread. Commercials and advertisements are fictions created by a sponsor to sell a product.
posted by cjets at 01:41 PM on February 19, 2010
I'm guessing you aren't really paying too much attention to current events.
I have just been watching the olympics. I did not think about SNL not being on too. As soon as i watched the "Tiger speech", I could only think of the "SNL bit" where she kept beating him up off the camera. That was funny stuff
OK, Letterman will have fun with it.
posted by Debo270 at 01:46 PM on February 19, 2010
Based on most of the opinions stated here, it sounds like no one was going to believe what he had to say, and everyone was going to assume it was "staged" and "scripted".
I bought it. I thought it was very thorough. He certainly came clean, took full responsibility for his actions, apologized for disappointing everyone, and defended his wife and kids. I don't really know what more he could have said.
posted by bperk at 02:05 PM on February 19, 2010
*checks*
nope. still don't care about his personal life.
posted by scully at 02:09 PM on February 19, 2010
I don't really know what more he could have said.
The lack of self-flagellation seems to have disappointed a few.
posted by grum@work at 02:10 PM on February 19, 2010
I bought it.
I bought it too. With the caveat that it was completely stage managed. But just because it was stage managed doesn't mean it wasn't sincere.
For example, I have no doubt that Tiger hugging his mom was planned in advance (stage managed). But I also have no doubt that it was a very emotional moment for him when he hugged her as well.
posted by cjets at 02:11 PM on February 19, 2010
The lack of self-flagellation seems to have disappointed a few.
There was plenty of self-flagellation. It's just hard to believe that it's genuine contrition, as opposed to a step in a carefully managed PR campaign.
posted by rcade at 02:20 PM on February 19, 2010
There was plenty of self-flagellation.
No, I meant LITERAL self-flagellation. That would have removed a lot of doubt about it being a PR campaign.
Unless everyone thought the cat-o-nine-tails were made of velvet and cotton.
posted by grum@work at 02:26 PM on February 19, 2010
It's just hard to believe that it's genuine contrition, as opposed to a step in a carefully managed PR campaign.
Why can't it be both? And what would you suggest he do?
posted by cjets at 02:32 PM on February 19, 2010
If he is going through therapy, this was probably one of the steps he had to go through as well.
posted by bperk at 02:34 PM on February 19, 2010
I'm with bperk and cjets. Of course it was prepared and rehearsed, but what was he supposed to do, find a random cameraman on the street and spontaneously pour his heart out? He doesn't owe me anything. He apologized to the kids and the parents and said he's trying to make it up to his wife and family. The apology is plenty, and what happens from here forward in the Woods household is their business.
posted by bender at 02:37 PM on February 19, 2010
Never liked him from day one,and now I actually hate him. He is very deceiving and acts like the world owes him. I hope his wife puts him in the poor house.
posted by Doehead at 03:19 PM on February 19, 2010
Why can't it be both?
Because most corporate marketing is self-serving bullshit, and Tiger's life is rotten with it. I don't think Tiger owes me anything, but delivering the apology the weird way he did seems inauthentic. I think he went through the motions to rehab his image and make his remaining sponsors happy, and perhaps to assuage his wife.
In any case, it doesn't matter much to me. I'm more interested in what it says about our media that 300 reporters could drop everything and travel to Jacksonville to cover a statement they could've watched on the Internet. The TV news isn't news anymore.
posted by rcade at 03:26 PM on February 19, 2010
Interesting take here, from a feminist columnist:
But whether or not you believe that sex addiction is real, or that the richest athlete in the world has been struggling with it, what Tiger did today was what anyone familiar with 12-step programs would call one hell of a qualification.
He didn't lay any of the responsibility on "the disease." He owned up to his actions and the considerable damage they've caused. Did he list the people he'd harmed by his actions? Step 8. Did he state directly "It's now up to me to make amends"? Step 9. Did he spend considerable time talking about his Buddhism, how it "teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search"? Step 2, Higher Power, come on down (and thanks but no thanks, Brit Hume). Did he express gratitude for the support he's received, and his intention "someday to return that support to others who are seeking help"? That's Step 12! All of which, by the way, take humility and guts.
posted by rumple at 04:13 PM on February 19, 2010
From Dave Zirin's take, titled 'Tiger Woods: Brand Rehabilitation':
"The sad truth is that you could feel that Tiger Woods the man clearly wanted to get up and say, "I publicly apologize to my wife and family who I have publicly humiliated. To everyone else, it's none of your business." That might have felt right to the Tiger the man, but today we saw what you do when you're a brand before a man."
posted by owlhouse at 04:34 PM on February 19, 2010
As someone who has been critical of Woods, I'm satisfied with what he said. I'm sure it was mainly staged, but I can't have too many expectations. I'll always believe someone like Woods who chooses to put himself out there in front of humanity for pay does owe an apology, to some extent, because his success has always depended on the public. He's fully counting on the vast majority buying back into him in the near future.
posted by dyams at 05:00 PM on February 19, 2010
Some people didn't need a reason to hate Woods before all of this, but they did. So they went into today's statement with their minds made up that no matter what he says, he is scum. He might be scum but he did take full responsibility for his own actions. He is human just like us. He slept with over a dozen women. I'm sure in this thread there is a couple of you, with the fame, money and opportunities that Tiger had with these women that they would have taken advantage of these women as did Tiger. He was wrong, and he admitted it. I'm glad he got out there and talked about it, even if he didn't write the statement he made today. Good enough for me. I don't really care about his personal life, I just like to see legends on the field/course. He is the only reason many people, including myself watch golf.
posted by sgtcookzane at 05:31 PM on February 19, 2010
Tiger Woods' sponsors accept his apology
posted by rcade at 08:07 PM on February 19, 2010
Unless everyone thought the cat-o-nine-tails were made of velvet and cotton.
The one I gave my wife for Valentine's Day is.
I don't really understand what some people wanted from Tiger today. Was he supposed to ask people to shout out suggestions from the crowd like an improv comedian ("o.k., now I'm a remorseful pirate ordering coffee at a Starbucks"), or was he just to stand at the microphone and let people shout epithets at him? The man felt it was time to say something, he wrote down/had written down for him what he wanted to address at the presser, and he stuck to the script like a smart person. It's the first step toward us getting to watch him golf again, which to most was his value in the first place.
If you hated him going in, you probably still do. If you were indifferent, then I doubt that changed, either. I like to watch the man hit golf balls, and the sooner I can do that again, the better. I'm betting it will be somewhat more tolerable now (at least for a little while) that he's not on the pedestal.
posted by tahoemoj at 08:13 PM on February 19, 2010
"Tiger Woods states the bleedin' obvious".
posted by Drood at 08:30 PM on February 19, 2010
I buy his apology, and I do believe he is truly sorry for his actions and that he is trying to change the course of his life.
What I don't buy is his statement that there was never any domestic violence involved. He was driving as fast as he could to get away from something, and the busted out windows on both sides of his Escolade just don't back that up. Maybe it's none of our business because Elin and the authorities haven't pressed any charges, however, that doesn't mean that I have to buy it.
At this point, I'm looking forward to seeing how the tour reacts to him coming back. Prior to the incident he was given a fair amount of leeway on the course, and his sometimes boorish behavior was tolerated. I doubt that will be the case going forward, and it should be interesting to see how he handles that.
posted by dviking at 10:46 PM on February 19, 2010
Elin and the authorities haven't pressed any charges
Of course, it's hard to press domestic violence charges when you're the perpetrator.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:46 PM on February 19, 2010
None of this was anything short of predictable. But Owlhouse got it, and rcade got it. It's just the mechanisms of a brand at work. Maybe Tiger really wanted to come clean and be more honest, but there is simply too much at stake.
And i think it will work.
Moderately depressing that our combined apathy allows this unmitigated bullshit to not just continue, but be successful.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:56 PM on February 19, 2010
Couldn't care less. His infidelities are between him and his wife. Why should I, or you, give a damn? All I care about is if he'll make the putt. The rest is soap opera shit.
posted by bobfoot at 12:16 AM on February 20, 2010
Tiger Woods' sponsors accept his apology
a vain attempt to salvage some business, or otherwise stated ... "we couldn't care less about that whore mongers' life or family, but the whole deal is costing us big time on our TW branded crap"
posted by cixelsyd at 01:06 AM on February 20, 2010
Of course, it's hard to press domestic violence charges when you're the perpetrator.
Assuming of course, that it was all Elin...not saying it wasn't, but who knows? The authorities don't seem too interested, which given the high profile of the case isn't too surprising, so I guess I'll leave it at that.
As to the TW branded crap, maybe if we all stop buying it things will change. I wasn't in the market for a TAG watch anyway, so I guess all I have to do is to stop buying Nike golf items. Done.
posted by dviking at 01:38 AM on February 20, 2010
stop buying Nike golf items
I'm getting that on a T-shirt. You should stop buying Nike golf items. Not because of Tiger's behaviour, just because it's really poorly designed, badly made and completely overpriced. If you want decent golf clubs, buy them from a company that has spent more than 10 years in the field (and a company that did more than just copy&tweak existing designs from other club manufacturers).
posted by JJ at 04:06 AM on February 20, 2010
It must of been not only humiliating for Tiger to stand there and apologize on national television for his behaviour but it must have been humbling as well. Sure, there are going to be skeptics that say, "Yeah he apologized but it didn't sound sincere" but with all due respect, it isn't easy to apologize in the first place let alone while the world is watching.
No matter the situation, the point is, Tiger is still a human being with flaws (just like the rest of us) except that his life is out there in the open for the world to see and to nitpick.
posted by BornIcon at 11:40 AM on February 20, 2010
John Feinstein ain't buying what Tiger is selling: "At a moment when the arrogance that makes him a great golfer should have been put aside, he couldn't do it."
posted by rcade at 11:55 AM on February 20, 2010
No matter the situation, the point is, Tiger is still a human being with flaws (just like the rest of us) except that his life is out there in the open for the world to see and to nitpick.
He lives a life in a fishbowl by choice. The manner of his apology was chosen -- by Woods and his handlers -- to maximize publicity and included an explicit apology to his corporate sponsors, which shows that he's trying to rehabilitate his marketability. It was orchestrated in a manner that ensured worldwide live media coverage.
If Woods doesn't want to live a life that open, he could let his sponsorships drop and just concentrate on golf. He's the world's richest athlete. How much money and attention does he need to achieve his goals outside the game?
posted by rcade at 12:03 PM on February 20, 2010
Whatever Tiger does on a golf course win or lose, the public has a right to know but what he does outside of a golf course is really no one's business. Of course people are disappointed with Tiger's behavior since regardless if he likes it or not, he is still considered a role model (maybe not so much now).
Maybe his apology was in fact orchestrated but it's still not an easy thing to do to stand in front of all those people, in front of the entire world and say I'm sorry like he did.
posted by BornIcon at 12:20 PM on February 20, 2010
You've become quite the apologist over the years, BI. The man put himself out there. He's smart enough to know that if you plaster your face and name all over ten bazillion products that are sold in nearly every corner of the globe, you are public property.
He slunk around like a common trailer park man-whore, sticking his junk in every half-cute cocktail waitress he could find within walking distance of his hotel/whatever course he was playing that week. He is married, with children. It was wrong, and he was caught, multiple times. Women are roaming around with explicit text messages, voicemail messages, and in at least one case (allegedly) naked photos of the man!
You said, it's still not an easy thing to do to stand in front of all those people, in front of the entire world and say I'm sorry like he did. I disagree. Your publicist tells you what to say, you say it, then you retreat back to your cocoon, where nobody can get at you. It's not like he had to run some horrible gauntlet or anything. He hand-picked who was going to be there, he didn't allow questions, and was completely controlling of the whole process. A difficult apology is one you have to make while in handcuffs, being dragged up the courthouse steps.
He stepped in shit, and now the line of acolytes who want to clean it off his shoes is getting longer and longer...
posted by The_Black_Hand at 01:06 PM on February 20, 2010
You seem crazy when you write things like that. I mean, what on earth is a "common trailer park man-whore?" Apologies aren't difficult unless you're going to jail? Anyone who thinks this is a tempest in a teacup is a Woods "acolyte?" Weird. Really weird.
Your rhetoric has apparently outpaced your sanity. For the sake of your own credibility, scale it back a notch.
posted by Hugh Janus at 01:19 PM on February 20, 2010
LOL, while I didn't write it, "common trailer park man-whore" is a pretty funny, and fitting, description. Trailer trash is trailer trash, anyway you slice it.
As to the difficulty rating on this apology, I'd give it a 7. Had to admit his failings to the world, and in front of his mother. The carefully choreographed and controlled script/location/time/spectator list/etc keep it from being rating any higher.
posted by dviking at 02:21 PM on February 20, 2010
Yes, it was scripted. Yes, it was staged. Was he sincere? As much as he could be with cameras, lights and a mike. Thank God he didn't act like the televangelists who got caught and "broke down" on camera and begged our forgiveness (talk about scripted and staged). I have to agree with the feminist article that it was part of his therapy and 12-step program (or similar at least). And I'm glad he didn't allow questions. Most of the reporters would have asked stupid questions anyway. What I love is a couple of his bimbos upset that he never apologized to them! Geesh.
posted by skippy at 04:40 PM on February 20, 2010
Trailer trash is trailer trash, anyway you slice it.
No, trash is trash. What the hell does where you live have to do with it? When did sportsfilter become bigotfilter? What's next, ghetto trash? Disappointing.
posted by justgary at 05:01 PM on February 20, 2010
wow, didn't mean to offend anyone that may, or may not, be living in a trailer.
It's a fairly commonly used euphemism, but to be be fair, not everyone that lives in a trailer is trash, nor does everyone that is trash live in a trailer. Glad we cleared that up.
BTW, if you want to know when this site used ghetto references, here's a good start
posted by dviking at 07:43 PM on February 20, 2010
It's a fairly commonly used euphemism
I second that. I honestly thought that reaction was a joke at first. Was it such a slow sports day that picking a fight over the use of the phrase trailer trash was somehow going to get a good old fashioned interweb shouting match started?
posted by tahoemoj at 08:33 PM on February 20, 2010
What would kerrycindy say ?
posted by tommybiden at 08:37 PM on February 20, 2010
Was it such a slow sports day that picking a fight over the use of the phrase trailer trash was somehow going to get a good old fashioned interweb shouting match started?
No, I don't think it was. Why do you ask?
posted by Hugh Janus at 11:41 PM on February 20, 2010
I don't think it was. Why do you ask?
Well, I ask because that phrase is a fairly well-embedded part of the American lexicon. It really seems that to call someone a bigot for using it is an aggressive position to take, especially when that person is a member of the community who contributes in a positive way on a regular basis and has never before shown signs of bigotry. Then to escalate the position to the point where you speculate about the possibility of the phrase "ghetto trash" being used just seems a little bit teensy-weensy like inflammatory rhetoric designed to get a reaction. And statements designed to get such a reaction often have that effect, leading to what some people flippantly characterize as an "old fashioned interweb shouting match." Glad you asked.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:04 PM on February 21, 2010
I don't think the phrase "common trailer park man-whore" is difficult to understand at all. But there are plenty of trashy people at all levels of economic status in the U.S., so to pin it on trailer park residents is unfair. John Edwards is ridiculously wealthy and had millions of people convinced he ought to lead the United States. Didn't stop him from banging the campaign videographer behind the back of his cancer-stricken wife.
posted by rcade at 02:11 PM on February 21, 2010
That's exactly why I thought it was out of line to accuse the user of bigotry. He's using it to characterize the actions of the richest athlete in the world, obviously not to generalize about those of lesser economic standing.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:19 PM on February 21, 2010
I agree, bigotry seems a strange choice of words, but what I find stranger is, in this thread and others, how personally some commenters took Woods' actions and apologies. The trailer trash thing was part of a wild jeremiad full of graphic inaccuracies that had me wondering what was fueling such uncompromising anger.
I still think it's pretty weird, I mean one might expect people (like me) who say, "hey, no big deal, let him be" to be relatively mellow in their choice of words; on the other hand, it seems some of the people who won't accept his apology are firing up their language to a fever pitch, which wouldn't be so bad if they weren't also aiming their dragon breath at any other users who don't share their outrage. It's a nasty business.
I'm not accusing anyone of bigotry, I'm just wondering what justification people have for lashing out with such pain and anger over Tiger's apology to his family and friends for betraying their trust.
posted by Hugh Janus at 02:50 PM on February 21, 2010
Well, I ask because that phrase is a fairly well-embedded part of the American lexicon.
And that means what exactly? There are plenty of phrases that were well-embedded in the american lexicon that aren't used today. That people use to say/do X seems like a bizarre way to support anything. I'll spare you the examples.
It really seems that to call someone a bigot for using it is an aggressive position to take, especially when that person is a member of the community who contributes in a positive way on a regular basis and has never before shown signs of bigotry.
Please read more carefully before accusing me of calling someone a bigot. The remark, in my opinion smacks of bigotry. The remark is what I'm commenting on. I don't know the person that said it.
Then to escalate the position to the point where you speculate about the possibility of the phrase "ghetto trash" being used just seems a little bit teensy-weensy like inflammatory rhetoric designed to get a reaction.
Feel free to believe what you want. There's no difference between calling someone 'ghetto trash' and 'trailer trash'. Interesting that you accuse my comparison to 'inflammatory rhetoric' but have no problem with calling someone trailer trash. There's your 'inflammatory rhetoric'.
I'm not trying to clean up the internet. When the black hand used the phrase, I didn't bat an eye. I wouldn't use it, but that's just me. But to then respond with calling the phrase 'fitting' seems over the top. It's the opposite of fitting.
obviously not to generalize about those of lesser economic standing.
Excuse me? That's exactly what it's doing.
People live in trailers and ghettos for the most part because of economics. I have no problem accepting that no harm was intended. but to take a privileged, super rich athlete and condemn his actions by comparing him to trailer trash sucks for many people, and sucks in general. I have no interest in a shouting match, but I also have no problem with saying so.
BTW, if you want to know when this site used ghetto references, here's a good start
Yep, sucks, huh?
posted by justgary at 03:20 PM on February 21, 2010
To me, it is most definitely not a generalization of underprivileged people. I guess I'm looking at it as "trailer trash"="trash that happens to live in a trailer," rather than "they live in a trailer, so they are trash." Kind of a conjunctive test, as opposed to one condition being sufficient to bring about the other. Maybe that's not how the phrase came into existence, maybe it is. I don't guess I'll split hairs over it any more. I do see how, if the latter interpretation is used, it could be deemed inappropriate.
posted by tahoemoj at 04:02 PM on February 21, 2010
I guess I'm looking at it as "trailer trash"="trash that happens to live in a trailer," rather than "they live in a trailer, so they are trash."
To me, it says trash is what happens, and lives, in a trailer park. That's the part I don't get, and why I said trash is trash. If trailer trash simply means 'trash that lives in a trailer park', how does the phrase make any sense when discussing Tiger Woods? Maybe it's not saying that everyone that lives in a trailer is trash, but it's saying that this behavior belongs in a trailer park, and that's where it normally happens.
Anyway, I probably shouldn't have used the word bigotry, which is loaded. So I apologize for using the word dviking.
I should have said that I simply find the constant use of that phrase troubling and tiring and angry, it doesn't make sense to me, and I think it makes sportsfilter look bad. Just my opinion.
posted by justgary at 04:37 PM on February 21, 2010
no need to aplogize to me.
I'm not a big fan of use of terms like trailer trash or ghetto trash when used literally, so I probably shouldn't be for their use in a humorous setting as well.
I just thought that Tiger had behaved in a rather trashy way, so the line used seemed appropriate.
posted by dviking at 06:20 PM on February 21, 2010
I have a better euphemism - "nightclub hostess".
That should work.
posted by owlhouse at 06:53 PM on February 21, 2010
I dunno, he is still pretty much stage-managing this - a public statement to close friends with the press there "to bear witness"? I don't know what his alternatives were but this seems to be Tiger II: mildly updated to run in a new operating environment.
Has anyone ever linked to this 1996 Sports Illustrated Profile? It is a fascinating glimpse into the father-son dynamics and the prodigy dynamics of [the chosen one] which may underpin a lot of this.