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MIKE PURKEY
Let’s face it, we are not going to get
the answers we want from Tiger Woods
or anyone else. We are not even going to
get the opportunity to ask the questions.
Woods was quite clear about that. What
he said behind the podium in 13 minutes
or so is everything the outside world will
hear from him on this ugly matter.
That’s it.
So, we can do one of two things: We
can keep demanding a public account of
the events by Woods in front of a hungry
media – or even Oprah – or we can simply
move on. The former is never going to
happen. So, we might as well opt for the
latter. We are beating a dead Escalade
by demanding more than we think we
deserve.
Be clear, we are not entitled to any an-
swers to any questions from Woods. When
he says this is a private matter, he is en-
tirely correct. He owes us nothing. The one
and only reason he would go public at all
would be to restore or, at the very least,
control the damage done to his image and
reputation. In that sense, Woods used the
media the same way he has used it from
the first time he stepped in front of a cam-
era or conducted an interview. He tells the
media what he wants it to know, not the
other way around.
In that respect, the public confession
– please don’t call this a news conference
because it wasn’t – was an effort to use a
television camera to show the world just
how sorry he really is. Unfortunately, the
camera that showed the straight-on shot
of Woods – the one that was supposed to
depict his sincerity – went on the fritz, and
that strategy employed by Woods’ han-
dlers backfired miserably.
Now it’s time to leave this alone. If he is an
addicted person then let’s back away and
allow him the time and space to recover.
picked and only three media members
were allowed in and none were granted
the luxury of asking any questions. Woods
said exactly what he and his handlers
wanted to say and in no way did he deviate
from the prepared script.
Now it’s time to leave this alone. If he
is an addicted person – he hasn’t actually
said he is – then let’s back away and allow
him the time and space to recover. If he
is putting faith back in his life, then let’s
respect that wish and give him room to
practice his faith.
He seems intent on coming back to golf
a changed person. In recovery, you are
asked to change playgrounds and play-
Besides, not only what Woods has been
doing away from the golf course is objec-
tionable, his behavior inside the ropes is
less than savory. He swears, throws and
slams clubs, and is likely the most fined
player on the PGA Tour for using profanity
on camera – and in front of young children
who used to look up to him.
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