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Tiger Woods, Trashed

The only thing I have to say about Tiger Woods.

His reputation as a golfer: perhaps the best ever.
His reputation as a human being: trashed.

I'm curious to see how I'll feel when I see him playing golf in two months. I've rooted for the guy in the past because I enjoy good golf and I want to witness greatness.

But now, well, I don't know.

Tiger's statement on his website:

I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.

Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.

But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don't share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.

Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it's difficult.

I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.

It's not even that he cheated, but that he lied about it too. He flatly denied the "rumors" earlier in the week.

3 Responses to "Tiger Woods, Trashed"

  1. I'd like to know what really caused the wreck. Pretty odd that someone has an accident of that magnitude when pulling out of their driveway....
    I didn't know that his infidelity had been confirmed. If he did cheat, it is very disappointing.

  2. He denied rumors of him with a specific other woman, didn't he? Which turned out to be true.

    I'm not saying he didn't screw up majorly, because he clearly did, but I've seen no evidence that he's lied, only not given the complete truth.

  3. Erik,

    I try to always respect others opinions and also their privacy. I heard the statement on the radio and thought that most of what he said was valid.

    I remember hearing something you said (wrote) above after Bill Clinton "cheated". A lot of people said "it isn't so much that he cheated, it's that he lied about it". Why is lying so much worse than cheating? Isn't cheating the worst form of lying? And if your best friend was caught cheating, wouldn't he (or she) have lied somewhere to cover it up? Would you stay friends with someone who had cheated, and if so, why not still enjoy Tiger as a golfer of great skill but questionable judgement.

    Please, I am not attacking anyone, I just have these questions in my mind and this is a easy forum to ask.