This Just In: Tiger Woods Taking an Indefinite Leave from Golfing

It is just that bad.

But as I said earlier, he was badly served by his lawyers. The PR people should have swung into action, putting up a defense against TMZ. But noooooooo…

CBS News’ Katie Couric just announced it near the close of the Evening News.

From Tiger’s webpage:

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.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What’s most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

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.

I mean, I couldn’t watch the TV gossip shows any more. It was wall-to-wall Tiger, Tiger, Tiger. It was more hysterical than the O.J. coverage.

They were just casting about for anything. That there was a love child. Whether he was an addict. That Tiger was leaving his wife for Rachel Uchitel.

The jumpoffs were parading all over, from Extra! to the British tabs. Now rumors are that Rachel Uchitel, the number one mistress so to speak, was thinking of exposing herself in Playboy. That Jaimee Grubbs was trying to get pregnant by Woods. That one or all of the jumpoffs were angry that she had competition in being the beloved of Tiger Woods. A British court also issued an injunction this afternoon, banning any purported naked photos or video of the golfer to be published or run there. Playgirl magazine reported yesterday that they had been offered nude photos of Tiger.

He’s already lost Gatorade. They discontinued the sports drink, but now the relationship is all but ended. Three other companies–PepsiCo, Gillette and Proctor and Gamble–were said today to be discussing whether they should keep him as a spokesperson for their products, said Faux (Fox) News. Nike, however, is holding firm, as is EA Sports, who emphatically denied that they were dropping the sports star. But no Tiger Woods ads have run on television or in print since the scandal hit. Mike Ozanian, speaking from Forbes.com’s SportsMoney, declared:

Sponsors like Gillette and Electronic Arts are going to drop Tiger Woods regardless of what they are saying now. Near term, Tiger is done as a corporate pitchman. Fallout: companies that throw big money at athletes are going to do a lot of research on them to make sure they are not phony (or make risk-adverse decisions based on information they do have) and funnel their endorsement dough at popular athletes whose image will not blow up. Some of these athletes may not even be among the best in their field, but they will typically be in global sports and not be ticking time bombs. But forget about any golfers picking up the sponsorship slack. According to E Poll Market Research, aside from Tiger, they generate no buzz with consumers.

Which means that Tiger, if he so chooses, could return after he gets his act in gear. His stock can only go up, but this whole scandal not only impacts him, but the sport of golf as well. He was their big ticket draw. As much as he took from the game, he gave to the game. Golfers could be superstars, too. Golf wasn’t a bore because it was slow and tedious. It was a battle of both wits as well as of strength. He was an oasis in their desert. It’s going to take a lot of time to find another golfing star of Tiger’s caliber.

He needs to get back to basics. He needs to devote time and real effort towards patching his relationship with his wife and getting to know his children. Don’t get me wrong: I’d like to see Tiger again winning games. But not at the expense of his family.

~ by blksista on December 11, 2009.