MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann has an Apology Hall of Fame... filled with inductees ranging from all walks of life... from Mark McGwire to Eliot Spitzer.
Enter, Eldrick.
I'm sorry that T-102 thankfully didn't participate in what I'm calling, "I'm Sorry Friday." Everywhere I turned on TV today was the teaser for Tiger's apology. Just about everyone was boasting of its coverage of this made-for-TV event.
I didn't watch it... when I saw it on a TV here in the building, I turned away. I already knew what the message was going to be. I've seen it all-too-often, and I've said those same things all-too-often. Trust me, I'm no angel.
Can we trust Tiger like he was? I dunno. When you see Kobe Bryant on TV, do you think of his run-in with something similar 7 years ago? When you see Ray Lewis on TV, do you think of what he went through the year before he won the Super Bowl MVP? When you see Eliot Spitzer on CNBC, or former NJ Governor Jim McGreevey, do you think about their escapades in the headlines?
Only time will tell how Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Public perceive Tiger from here on in. There will be those who want to hear every sordid, tedious detail. There will be the crowd who will tell him what Dr. Phil likes to say, "You choose the behavior, you choose the consequences." When he decides to return to the PGA, there will be rowdy fans who will remind him of his transgressions.
I don't envy the guy one bit. He has more weight on his shoulders than every single government official and school board member combined. I do object to the timing of his statement today... some are overanalyzing how he's sticking it to Accenture ( a sponsor that dropped him as a spokesperson) by doing this during their sponsored event this week.
Yes, he should have done this much earlier. But, he's living his life now the way his uber-bloated PR machine wants him to. Must be nice. Boy, I wish had that machine with me every time I screwed up here at the station, or when I made my Mom angry.
I can't wait til the day that Tiger removes the veil of secrecy and gobs of red tape, and just opens totally up. I doubt that'll happen, but more of America would accept him as a human being, rather than someone who is more teflon than tin cup god. I remember back in 1999, when the Greaseman made an off-color remark on radio about African-Americans, got fired from his job in Washington DC, then went on local TV. I'll never forget the short clip I saw... it was the angriest I ever saw WRC-TV's Jim Vance, who is African-American. "What the hell were you thinkin'?" spewed Vance. Greaseman's answer was simple... "I wasn't." I'd love to see Vance interview Tiger one-on-one, no holds barred, no PR people... just Vance, Tiger, and a camera. I know it won't happen, but I can dream, can't I?
It'll be a good 36 hours before this news gets moved to the back burner. Then, he'll be front and center again when he returns, Masters or otherwise... and I'll be changing the channel.
Buckle up,
TS
Friday, February 19, 2010
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