Donte Stallworth didn't get this much coverage and he killed someone.

Whomever this is doesn't have the name recognization that Tiger Woods has.

The media is driven by sensationalism and not accuracies, and so forth.

Well either way, I don't care.

Now...did anyone hear about the guy who got busted trying to marry a 2nd wife by the first wife?

Let's talk about that...

link

There seems to be a run on scandals involving Gillette's Mach 3 guys. First, Thierry Henry's handball gets France into the World Cup over Ireland, making him Public Enemy Number 1 to Irish folks around the globe, and now Tiger. Watch out, Roger Federer.

You created this thread.

ETA: Even discussing whether something is overblown results in it being discussed and therefore being overblown. :)

hey...somebody else was going to do it eventually

:D

Derek Jeter AIDS scandal? IT'S ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS, SANTA!

I think part of the reason people are so interested in this scandal is the fact that he built his brand (semi-conciously imo) on a squeaky clean/wholesome, above it all image, and "house" is now crumbling fast. When it rains it pours I guess. I think a lot of people are enjoying seeing him become "human".

Wondering if he acted "normal" in the beginning with respect to the accident, if this would be coming out in this manner? Also wondering if the FHP had an axe to grind with him over something(s) else and that is why they persued him hard core initially.

Yes. The dude who built his reputation on cut-throat tactics both on the course and off (no loyalty to teachers, friends, etc.), petulance, throwing clubs, swearing, berating photographers on the course, and generally being ice-cold on the course certainly built his empire on being "squeaky clean."

Also, people aren't enjoying seeing him become "human" - it's pure schadenfreude, they're enjoying reveling in watching someone fall off what they perceive to be a "high horse" rightly or wrongly.

All this talk about Elin Nordegren Woods, and no talk about her handicap...

While Tiger Woods is famous for golf and the vast majority of people know him as a golfer, the vast majority of people aren't watching golf. So, NO they don't know about this behavior because a lot of it is semi-private and on the golf course (which again many aren't watching). And it is that body of "many people" that companies and marketers are seeking to reach. And yes, he comes of as pretty wholesome, family oriented, driven, etc. And he uses that to his advantage, despite some instances of otherwise.

As for your second point, 6 of one half-dozen of the other. It's pretty much the same thing.

Wait what? He does? Can we prove that, or is it just convenient for your narrative to claim it by rote? Don't those "instances of otherwise" really go against what you're claiming here?

I must have missed all of those times he shoved that image down our throats, or claimed that image as his own, or exalted those qualities as superlative, because I know of zero, and I'm his target demographic.

Eh, I'm OK with thinking this, but I don't see it as such at all - I think there's a marked difference between a prurient interest and simply "stargazing" as it were. I guess I agree to the extent that both kind of suck, but intent seems to matter here.

I always love it when "schadenfreude" makes an appearance on GC! It's definitely on my list of my 10 favorite words.

I'm thinking that most of the entertainment/social news these days is pretty strongly rooted in schadenfreude. Sad, really. I feel bad for Tiger and his family; private matters just don't stay private.

I believe it was said earlier in this thread (although I can't confirm because I haven't not had a chance to go back and look-not to mention I've read/heard/saw so much about him in the past week I can be confusing my sources) that TW is probably one of, if not the, most recognizable athletes around the world. Working on this assumption, but sticking to the US because I don't have international numbers, the US open on average generates about 6 million viewers during the entire tournament (the exception being 2002 when it had 10+ million viewers). A single Sunday night NFL game garners about 10+ million pretty regularly. The game on 11/22 garnered almost 13 million, double that of the average US Open viewership, yet many of the NFL (super)stars, are not as well known outside of the US as Tiger is. There are additional factors, like the popularity/universality of golf compared to that of American football. However, be that as it may, many people know of Tiger Woods as a golfer, but do not necessarily follow golf enough to know of the behaviors you referenced earlier. Is it wrong for people to automatically assume that he is a "great man" based on his golfing record, i.e. the wins, sure it is, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. And with few exceptions, much of the media has fawned over him until recently.


You don't have to stand up and openly state you're taking a "purity pledge", are the next savior, etc. to market yourself (and reep tons of money from said marketing) as "Mr. DoRight". I'm sure you know much in marketing is infered and never directly stated and about how companies and their marketing make the consumer feel/what they can get them to believe. And in my opinion his marketing has done so. You may not agree.

I know that there was an opinion piece to that effect making the rounds of Facebook today - that he actively promoted the "Tiger is perfect" image.

Personally, I'm so tired of hearing about this dude for all these years (ooh! Black guy playing golf! And straight ahead, you will see the unicorn!) that I don't care if he's doing a goat by the ball washer.