Mr. Woods: How dumb do you think we are?
Tiger Woods apologized in front of real people. Not on his Web site. Finally.
Let's call it 85 days late and $20 billion short.
Reading from a script, Woods looked into a camera and talked about issues in his private life. He said he was sorry. Repeatedly. And many of us watched. That's our fault.
There were several problems with the event, starting with the access. Three wire services were represented. There were two cameras and one didn't work half the time. There were no questions from those in the room. So, the term "press conference" doesn't apply. This was a flaw.
Woods wants acceptance, but isn't willing to answer the questions. Without that, his sincerity has to be brought into question. The whole thing felt too orchestrated. You wondered if there was a bag of onions behind the blue curtain to bring the needed tears.
At times, Woods raised his voice, especially when talking about invasion into his privacy and that of his family. Sorry, but when you become a pitchman for multiple products and try to sell yourself as beyond reproach, then commit multiple indiscretions that fly in the face of that image, your private life is gone. Is that right? Maybe not. But it's reality.
The way Friday's non-press conference was treated, you would have thought Woods was returning from a serious illness or from serving the military in a faraway land. Uh, no. He cheated on his wife. According to reports, often. Of course, we should have empathy for his wife and family. Just like we should have empathy for anyone who is the victim of adultery.
Woods wants what happens with his wife to remain private. He wants to avoid questions of when he did what and who he did it with. Good luck with that. You can't control the public's curiosity, especially when you become as big as Woods. Unless he wants to give up golf, his private life is now in play. Forever.
The attack dogs in the media need to tone down the indignance here. Even on ESPN, someone was issuing a threat that Woods will be followed forever.
The public is getting weary of the indignance. And if his prior actions aren't deserving of today's circus, then they aren't deserving of lifelong pursuit, either.
Of course, this does provide an excuse for those "Tiger is only 12 shots off the lead!" stories we had been inundated with for years.
This was a good first step for Woods but if he thinks this will ever go away or people will look at him as they did before he is sorely wrong. The event itself was too contrived and with no questions he still hasn't confronted the world. Those questions will come and he will be both cheered and heckled when he reurns.
He was placed on the highest pedestal in all of sports not just because of his records in golf which of course was the greatest reason but also of his perceived character. It will never be as it was for him before this.
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