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I could not care less how Tiger Woods or any other athlete conduct their private lives (unless they’re operating a dog fight operation, of course). Whether or not Woods is having an affair should be of concern to only his wife and their children. But in a world where the public is fixated on the minutiae of rock stars and athletes, it turns out that it is a big deal…for Woods…and I’m not referring to his rocky marriage.
Tiger Woods is a money machine, and while many fans might think he earns most of his money by winning golf tournaments, it’s his outside commercial endorsements and ventures that bring in 90 percent of all his money. He’s made an estimated $1 billion in endorsements in his 13-year career, the most of any athlete ever, far eclipsing Michael Jordan’s athlete-as-mega-business model of the 1990s; Sports Illustrated estimates he’s now bringing in almost $100 million a year pitching products.
What this all means: Tiger Woods is not dealing just with medical recovery, marital strife, and legal headaches following his car crash early Friday morning. Enormous financial issues are at stake.
[...]
…some of his largest endorsements—brands with more mainstream images—could be threatened if Tiger dithers and the personal story gains a tawdry steam. With a large pool of athletes to choose from, large companies are extremely reticent to tie their products to anything with the whiff of scandal.
As we’ve seen in politics countless times (Sanford’s Appalachian trail anyone?), the intoxicating allure of sex numbs the rational part of even the strongest minds. It is only with this understanding of sex and human nature, can we begin to fathom how anyone living in a fishbowl can for a moment convince themselves that inappropriate behavior can go unnoticed. Combined this with the sense of invincibility which comes with power, fame or wealth and it’s not difficult to figure out at all.
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I think Tiger would walk away from all of it for his family.
Here is one other thing to think about. Tiger Woods was never tested for any kind of intoxication. Any of us taking out a fire hydrant or hitting a neighbor’s tree would have been tested on the spot. Why wasn’t this done? The hospital, as a routine procedure, normally takes blood samples for testing to make sure there are no other indications for why he lost control of his vehicle. Why didn’t the police get a warrant to get a look at the test results to see if Tiger was on any kind of medication that might impair his judgment at the wheel? Even cold and flu type OTC drugs can impair driving ability. I’m really curious as a journalist sort as to why this was not done. I am eager to see if his medical blood work is ever tested from that night. If he was impaired by any substance, then he is getting away with something the rest of us would never get away with. That bugs me. I thought we were all equal. Guess it never hurts to be a sports star who can afford a criminal defense attorney!
One other thought. I wondered why charges were pending. Turns out that the fire hydrant is the property of the city. If Tiger was impaired by any substance, then he could be charged with the damage to that property and subsequently be charged with impaired driving as the cause of that damage. Another reason he probably hired a criminal defense attorney. It might also be possible that is why he was also unconscious for over 6 minutes when he was actually not driving fast enough to inflate the bag! If he was on some type of cold or flu pill it could have made him drowsy enough that the slow crash could easily knock him out for that amount of time. This is going to be interesting to see what develops!
It is a sad affair but Tiger Woods is human. Sports phenoms have human frailties like everybody else and because their lives are under scrutinity by all who want to make money,they need to deal with their problems extra carefully.
Now let me see…. if he was convicted or even got off,he would still be between a rock and a hard place. Convicted would be the shame of it all ( although his millions would not require him to go back to any hard life ). Found innocent would be the worst of it all as everyone would always have that nagging suspicion that he got away because of his lawyer and his celebrity status.
Being poor is the best position to be in. You have nothing to lose in reputation or endorsements and you don’t have to worry about your money. Wonder what Tiger is thinking about today ?
@Jovial – convicted of what? Wiping out a fire hydrant?
My only problem with this is the “consideration” he is being given by authorities.
Let Frances, Jovial or Tennessean tell the Police on 3 occasions they are tired and don’t want to talk to them. See how well that works for ya! :-)
Tiger is relinquishing his right to make a statement. Even if he were to be brought into custody for questioning, he would still have the right to say nothing.
I understand and agree. I just don’t picture the police knocking on MY door on 3 different occasions and asking me to pretty please talk to them.
That is not what they did.
That’s what’s reported on my T.V. I’m not positive about the number of times but I understand it was more than once. (Ironically, the newscast just stated as I am typing this, “Officers were turned away on 3 occasions by his agent…..”) Yours may have said something different.
I really have ZERO interest in Tiger Woods, his difficulties with his driving OR his wife and girlfriend. I really have no interest in his golfing. Actually, I have virtually NO interest in Golf at all.
Argue with that. ;-)
You know, as I started to turn away from my computer I thought I would add this comment. It’s really not about you, me or even Tiger Woods.
Just as Mario (scares me to think he and I may think alike at times) I have often wondered what could possibly be going through the heads of these people to think they could engage in such stupidity and not get caught?? And even more, what could cause a person that has the world by the proverbial tail to risk it??
Look at Adam “Pacman” Jones. (Which that should have been a yellow flag. Someone that WANTS to be recognized by “Pacman”.) He had the world by the tail 3 or 4 years ago when he came in the NFL. But he either was too stupid or too weak to step away from the thug life and enjoy the level of prosperity brought to his life by his athletic abilities. I mean really!! With the money he had, why frequent strip clubs? Hire private dancers and put up your own stage and pole!!
But he just couldn’t step away from it and now he’s bankrupt and flipping burgers somewhere.
How can these people be that dumb?
What stupidity TN? Oh, wait. I see what you’re getting at. And it IS about you.
Frances, are you “Chester” in disguise? That was not very bright.
Sorry, Frances, I have to (gulp) agree with Tenn. The facts are that the officers came to Tiger Wood’s home 3 times and were turned away 3 times. I don’t think most of us would have gotten such preferential treatment.
Don’t feel too badly Melody. Many of my thoughts are based in simple common sense. Hopefully, most of us have at least a bare minimum of that.
TN, I’m not surprised that you don’t view your comment as bigoted.
Tenn., I just go where the facts are. I have to. That is journalism. That is the standard I try to stay with. If I have an opinion, I try always to base it on the facts. There is no other way for me.
Melody, I’m having a hard time finding “facts” that didn’t come from TMZ or US Magazine. Did you find a good source? I prefer AP or Reuters. I’ll keep looking though.
Frances, What in the heck are you talking about?? Woods? Jones? Both? Me? Melody?
And how is anything I said any more “bigoted” (while still wondering how you come up with that!!??) than what Mario stated??
These two gentlemen happen to be black. (Actually, Woods is half Black, Half Asian) Would it make you feel better if I mentioned Ryan Leaf also? I spoke of Jones because I am more familiar with his circumstances, because I live in Tennessee and he was a first round pick for the Tennessee Titans! Duh!! Friggin’ Duh!!! Not to mention that it is more timely!!
Now, if you’re looking for “facts” on Jones, there is ample Court Record not to mention a few million msm reports.
If you are talking about Woods, here’s a start you should trust. A simple google search will render a few million more.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34223570/ns/business-sports_biz/
Reuters does mention that Tiger “denied an interview request three days in a row.” Whether they actually knocked on his door, I don’t know. If Woods becomes the target of an investigation, he will be required to speak to the police. That is not the situation according to the FHP.
If Woods was under the influence of a drug or alcohol, the police certainly have a right to know and he should be charged accordingly. If it turns out that he wasn’t, then what actually is his crime? Being held at fault for a traffic accident means that you are held liable for damages and that is all. It isn’t a criminal offense.
http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSTRE5B001820091201
There are links on the page to other Reuters articles on the subject. References in the articles to stories about his personal life are categorized as tabloid speculation.
TN, I’m saying that your remark likening Tiger Wood’s situation to Jones’ is bigoted.
Frances, If Tenn. was simply comparing circumstances between two people who just happen to be black whether wholly or in part, then that is not being bigoted. I believe that Tenn. was simply referring to the FACT that Pac showed bad judgment in going to a public strip joint and getting into trouble. It’s like when young Hollywood starlets let their new success go to their heads and start living the fast lane. Color has nothing to do with it. Even long time stars have trouble handling fame.
I do feel for their position in getting far more scrutiny than most of us would ever be comfortable living with, but still, bad judgment is bad judgment. If Tiger Woods made the mistake of ingesting something, even something legal like OTC cold pills, then getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence of that substance, then that is still bad judgment and has nothing to do with the color of his skin.
Talking about the conduct of character is not bigotry. It is, in fact, the living out of MLK’s dream of being judged by the content of character rather than the color of one’s skin! Hooray if we are arriving at that ability! Tenn., I’m in agreement with you on this one….again, for factual reasons.
Then Frances, you are wrong.
Melody, we don’t really know what happened do we? There are no police reports of substances involved or a domestic dispute. His injuries were consistent with the type of accident he was in. There are no charges filed. That’s all we know.
Frances, the facts are clear. If Tiger had nothing in his system, then there would, most likely, be no accident. One does not take out a fire hydrant and then run across a yard to hit a neighbor’s tree without there being some type of impairment, especially since he went unconscious for over 6 minutes when the crash was at less than 33 miles per hour, otherwise the bag would have inflated! The weather was clear, the car apparently operated correctly since Tiger has admitted responsibility and did not try to claim malfunction of his Escalade, his wife was not at the wheel, the early hour might have contributed to a sleepy state of mind and disorientation from fatigue but, in that case, the law is clear that any person operating a motor vehicle is legally obligated not to drive if they know they are impaired in any way that would interfere with the safe operation of a vehicle. So whether overly drowsy by extreme fatigue by the lateness of the hour or whether drowsiness was also aided by some substance, Tiger Woods clearly had some type of impairment since normal, healthy functioning of a driver does not result in taking out a fire hydrant and then hitting a neighbor’s tree half way across another yard! Clearly, there was some type of impairment! The facts leave that very clear!
Melody: We don’t really have any clear facts other than that he was in a car accident and hit a fire hydrant and a tree, and was dazed for about 6 minutes. Everything else you are putting forth is speculation. If you want to disagree about speculation, then fine. Here’s some more speculation: I think he was on Ambien and was sleep-driving. So there. Whose fault is it now? Is he a thug with poor judgment now? Let’s argue about that while we’re arguing about something we don’t know enough about to argue …about.
Francis, if he took Ambien, then he should have read the possible side effects and then hid the car keys! I doubt, though, that Tiger would be taking something with such a long list of possible side-effects as I read for this drug. He would not want his performance affected. Neither would he like the idea of taking a drug to which one can become addicted! That is not Tiger’s belief system. I have followed his career nnd that type of drug does not seem like something he would choose given his health regimen. Admittedly, this is an educated guess but one based on all available facts I have found about him thus far.
So he wouldn’t take a drug and you know Tiger’s belief system. Okay. And the accident couldn’t have happened unless he was impaired in some way. Honestly, if he fell asleep at the wheel, does that make him a bad person? It makes him a lucky person because he didn’t kill anyone. My dad fell asleep at the wheel and wrecked his car years ago. My niece was injured. Turns out the air vents were set on recirculate and he didn’t realize it. Is he a bad person? The accident was his fault, but that doesn’t mean he did it intentionally. That’s why they call them accidents.
Frances, I suggest you go back over the original post, the comments and recalibrate.
Mario states in part (but what I feel was the center piece of his comment), “…can we begin to fathom how anyone living in a fishbowl can for a moment convince themselves that inappropriate behavior can go unnoticed.”
I made a couple of lighter comments about how the Police would never give you or I three chances to answer the door. You took some sort of exception with that which I really don’t understand but hey, you’ve got the right to be wrong.
I then reflected on it a little more in depth and pretty much just echoed Mario’s sentiment, using as an example a high profile athlete whose circumstances I am familiar enough with to comment on it from some degree of knowledge. You seem to think that “observation” proves I’m a bigot. Oh well…..
Then you strike off on that tangent and the complexion of the original comment begins to change. Now, I’m supposed to defend that I’m not a bigot because YOU seem to think so based on your lack of understanding. My comment was to essentially echo Mario’s that I find it incredible that these people living in the spotlight as they do, can make such poor decisions and engage in such behaviors that ultimately wind up being career threatening.
Frances, allow me to make an observation. “Frances” wants “Tennessean” to be a bigot. She wants him to be stupid. She wants him to be a racist. She wants him to be a homophobe. She wants him to be the caricature of all the things she perceives as not very nice. My guess is because you feel it gives your responses to me more credibility if first you make every effort to discredit the basis of my thoughts and/or words.
Perhaps you should spend a bit less time trying to turn me into your preconceived misconceptions. Quit trying to read Frances’ “image” of who she “thinks” Tennessean is into my comments.
Or don’t. I really don’t care. I’m beginning to find your comments bordering on hysteria.
TN, You’ve obviously put a lot of thought into this. Far more than it warrants. If I had disagreed with your previous comment, I would have said something. It was not just the correlation you made between Woods and Jones that lead me to my belief, it was in the details (“But he either was too stupid or too weak to step away from the thug life…”) and your conclusion, “How can these people be that dumb?”
That is all I have to say about that specific matter. I will accept your denial and stand corrected.
Well, he’s admitted to … something about betraying his family. I hope you all are happy now. :|
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Now I’m beginning to wonder if he was on his cell phone when he crashed and we have a case of “distracted driving”, trying to contact the woman in Nevada. 31 months? Text messages? While his wife was pregnant? Wow! I agree with you Tenn., he really wasn’t using good judgment if this woman was telling the truth!
Go on discussing people.
Frances, is it better if YOU choose the topic and it’s a “people”?
Frances, please look at my comments on the Economy site.
The way I see it all is simple. A company has a vested interest in the image of a person who’s endorsing the company product. When that image is squeaky clean, there’s no problem. When the buying public discovers that that squeaky clean image is not what it was carefully crafted to be, the company who uses that image to endorse their product is tarnished. It is associated with a reputation for unreliability, or failure to live up to a good name. No reputable company wants that. Hence, anyone who wants to continue to receive megabuck endorsements will live the life of decency that upholds a society’s virtues. If the person paid won’t or can’t do that, then he — or she — isn’t really interested in the money those endorsements bring.
Well said, Jake! Right on!