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Tiger doesn't owe us an explanation

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Jason Whitlock

Jason Whitlock writes about the sports world from every angle, including those other writers can't imagine or muster courage to address. His columns are humorous, thought-provoking, agenda-free, honest and unpredictable. E-mail him or follow his Twitter or become a fan of Jason Whitlock on Facebook.

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Updated Nov 30, 2009 3:13 PM ET
     
 
The media members/outlets asserting Tiger Woods owes the public and the Florida Highway Patrol an explanation for a fender-bender and his wife's jaws-of-9-iron rescue owe America an explanation for their self-serving jealousy and obvious stupidity. "Tigergate" is a Twitter, Facebook, TMZ and blog controversy. It's great gossip. It's excellent monologue material for Letterman, Conan and Kimmel.

Tiger's troubles

Yardbarker blogger Sports by Brooks continues to monitor all the twists and turns of the Tiger Woods saga.
Based on a story by the National Enquirer, "Tigergate" might be yet another example of Ms.Galore's incredible 2009 season. Quite frankly, if Ms. Galore is not Sports Illustrated's sportsperson of the year, the magazine should retire the award and admit its institutional sexism. "Tigergate" is humorous. It's not the lead talking point for Mike Lupica on "The Sports Reporters." When Lupica suggested on Sunday that Tiger needed to handle his driveway fender-bender the way A-Rod handled his steroids controversy, I damn near fell out of my hotel bed in anger when Bill Rhoden didn't leap from his chair and slap the former dwarf bowling champion. By Sunday night, by the time I re-watched the loop of Linda Cohn cynically chastising Tiger on SportsCenter for not satisfying his fans' curiosity with a detailed explanation, I was fully enraged and embarrassed. Tiger Woods doesn't owe us an explanation for non-criminal behavior that may or may not have transpired between himself and his wife. He doesn't owe the police an explanation for a minor traffic accident. His 2:25 a.m., smashed-SUV-window escape from his estate is not a window into his "real" character or lack of character. And neither is the National Enquirer story. We don't know any more or less about Tiger Woods today than we did before he left his house Thanksgiving night. Anyone arguing otherwise is a naive idiot. And anyone arguing that we need to learn more is a ratings-starved TV producer or a self-righteous, undersexed hypocrite. The Florida Highway Patrol's interest/obsession in cross-examining Woods and his wife is a publicity stunt and an effort to embarrass a powerful celebrity. Only a fool believes the police "investigate" every minor crime. And, yes, I'm aware that in the post-OJ era, the police take domestic violence far more seriously. But this, in my opinion, is a TMZ-fueled pi$$ing match. There are dollars to be earned digging up dirt on Woods and his wife. If anything, "Tigergate" is an example of Tiger's impeccably high character. Let's play this thing out like there are kernels of truth in the TMZ stories, which I believe are laced with kernels of lies.
  • It's 2:25 a.m. on Thanksgiving night and Tiger got behind the wheel sober.
  • Upset by the National Enquirer story, Tiger's wife scratched up his face. There isn't a hint that Tiger retaliated. He jumped in his SUV and tried to leave without escalating the physical confrontation. The man is sober and trying to avoid a fight. We're not talking about the next OJ Simpson. This isn't Teddy Kennedy covering up Chappaquiddick. It's not Tiger shacking up with a teenage waitress. Hell, it's not John Daly and his latest trailer-park hottie battling over the last hit of meth. This is a wealthy, handsome man who is required to travel telling his wife and mother of two children to ignore her insecurities and disbelieve a gossip magazine that profits from celebrities' personal problems. Do I think Tiger knocked boots with Rachel Uchitel, the 34-year-old party girl? I have no clue and even less interest in casual sex that doesn't involve me. I do know she's getting her 15 minutes, believe she'll try to parlay it into permanent celebrity, and I expect the National Enquirer to enjoy brisk sales this week. Everybody but Tiger is a winner. He has facial lacerations and everyone suspects he's done something wrong because he won't hold a press conference revealing how and why he backed into a fire hydrant and tree. He won't meet with police and throw his wife under a bus.

    Had he run over a neighbor's puppy, I'd get it. If police claimed his wife looked battered or Tiger smelled of weed and Grey Goose, I'd get it. When Tiger backs out of The Masters because of this accident, I'll join in the cry for Tiger to explain this Thanksgiving tragedy. But from what we know, Tiger was the lone victim. He had blood in his mouth and was bouncing in and out of consciousness. If he wants to concoct a story protecting the image of the mother of his kids, is that so bad? If he concocted a story to avoid discussing Rachel Uchitel, I don't have a problem with that either. The price of fame and wealth should not be the sacrifice of marital privacy. Tiger Woods plays golf for our enjoyment. He didn't marry Elin Nordegren for our entertainment. The media would love for every athlete to plop on a couch next to Robin Givens with cameras rolling as she savages his reputation. The people clamoring for Tiger to talk are really just begging Tiger to be as dumb as Mike Tyson. That's what we prefer, big, dumb, easy-to-exploit athletes. As you can see by the media's reaction to "Tigergate," his refusal to play the role is making some media members create their own negative Tiger narrative. You can e-mail Jason at BallState0@aol.com or follow him on Facebook or Twitter.

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