Tiger's poor driving continues

[Harlan Huckleby]

I could only stand to watch 5 seconds of the Tiger Woods show, but here's my take:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/02/tiger_woodss_disgusting_apolog.html

Why did David Letterman give a long, heartfelt, on-the-air apology to us and his staff? Why do we need to know how hard he is going to work to repair his marriage?
Same answers apply to Tiger.

[Patler]

I could only stand to watch 5 seconds of the Tiger Woods show, but here's my take:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/02/tiger_woodss_disgusting_apolog.html

Why did David Letterman give a long, heartfelt, on-the-air apology to us and his staff? Why do we need to know how hard he is going to work to repair his marriage?
Same answers apply to Tiger.

What did Letterman do that Woods did not?
or
What did Woods do that Letterman did not?

There is a large portion of sports fandom that likes nothing more than to see the king toppled. For them, nothing that Woods will ever do will be enough for them.

Woods is a worldwide phenomenon. Very few really give a crap about Letterman, one way or the other. Not that big of a name.

Just my opinions.

[Zool]

I guess I could care less what the man does in his personal life and why people give 2 shits what these guys do at home baffles me.

[Patler]

I guess I could care less what the man does in his personal life and why people give 2 shits what these guys do at home baffles me.

Exactly. I have never been able to understand the emotional or personal attachment people develop toward someone they have never met. Athletes and entertainers.

[Kiwon]

I guess I could care less what the man does in his personal life and why people give 2 shits what these guys do at home baffles me.

Exactly. I have never been able to understand the emotional or personal attachment people develop toward someone they have never met. Athletes and entertainers.

That's surprising given that star athletes and entertainers make more money through endorsements then they do through their professions. So when your favorite player endorses a certain product that doesn't make that product just a little more appealing to you? If not, then I'd say you are decidedly in the marketing minority.

There's reasons why 20 years ago you could go to almost any corner of the globe and find a Michael Jordan / Nike poster. Celebrity advertising works.

[Patler]

I guess I could care less what the man does in his personal life and why people give 2 shits what these guys do at home baffles me.

Exactly. I have never been able to understand the emotional or personal attachment people develop toward someone they have never met. Athletes and entertainers.

That's surprising given that star athletes and entertainers make more money through endorsements then they do through their professions. So when your favorite player endorses a certain product that doesn't make that product just a little more appealing to you? If not, then I'd say you are decidedly in the marketing minority.

There's reasons why 20 years ago you could go to almost any corner of the globe and find a Michael Jordan / Nike poster. Celebrity advertising works.

I know it works, but for the life of me, it makes no sense. Why would shoes fit me better just because MJ endorsed them? Who is a spokesman for a product has no effect on my buying decision. At best, it makes me aware of the product so I consider it, but that is all.

In fact, I am just the opposite. I know celebrities endorse things not because they approve of them, but because the company paid the most. I tend to look for lesser-known, but perhaps better products, which often are less expensive, too.

[Kiwon]

I guess I could care less what the man does in his personal life and why people give 2 shits what these guys do at home baffles me.

Exactly. I have never been able to understand the emotional or personal attachment people develop toward someone they have never met. Athletes and entertainers.

That's surprising given that star athletes and entertainers make more money through endorsements then they do through their professions. So when your favorite player endorses a certain product that doesn't make that product just a little more appealing to you? If not, then I'd say you are decidedly in the marketing minority.

There's reasons why 20 years ago you could go to almost any corner of the globe and find a Michael Jordan / Nike poster. Celebrity advertising works.

I know it works, but for the life of me, it makes no sense. Why would shoes fit me better just because MJ endorsed them? Who is a spokesman for a product has no effect on my buying decision. At best, it makes me aware of the product so I consider it, but that is all.

In fact, I am just the opposite. I know celebrities endorse things not because they approve of them, but because the company paid the most. I tend to look for lesser-known, but perhaps better products, which often are less expensive, too.

About your comment about people developing an emotional or personal attachment toward strangers they have never met.....

Without one, you've just killed the television soap opera for males....professional wrestling.

[Scott Campbell]

What did Woods do that Letterman did not?

A porn star.

[Kiwon]

What did Woods do that Letterman did not?

A porn star.

[pbmax]

I could only stand to watch 5 seconds of the Tiger Woods show, but here's my take:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/02/tiger_woodss_disgusting_apolog.html

Why did David Letterman give a long, heartfelt, on-the-air apology to us and his staff? Why do we need to know how hard he is going to work to repair his marriage?
Same answers apply to Tiger.

What did Letterman do that Woods did not?
or
What did Woods do that Letterman did not?

There is a large portion of sports fandom that likes nothing more than to see the king toppled. For them, nothing that Woods will ever do will be enough for them.

Woods is a worldwide phenomenon. Very few really give a crap about Letterman, one way or the other. Not that big of a name.

Just my opinions.

I think Harlan is saying the public apology in each case was a financial consideration first and was not really connected at all to becoming a better father or husband.

For Letterman, he was trying to beat the story before it broke, but he also had to be mindful of the affect on his ratings. Tiger can earn plenty of money on Tour without a public mea culpa, but his endorsements would have suffered.

Being beholden to a specific public image is an ugly situation, no doubt.

As for the emotional investment in strangers, think of any teenagers you have known. Affection for, knowledge of and status symbols associated with success are part and parcel of conforming and trying to fit in. They have discovered their parents are not perfect and do not hold the (easy) answers to the universe or even their problems at school.

A pair of Air Jordans was as important to teenagers in my suburban neighborhood as they were in Chicago. Same with his posters, wristbands and baggy shorts. Its all about children wanting to belong to a group. Some in that group will imbue the character they are mimicking with the qualities they imagine they share. That leads almost invariably to disillusionment and the realization that you might have to be your own role model.

Some adults just refuse to learn.

And some are just along for the spectacle and gossip.

[Harlan Huckleby]

What did Letterman do that Woods did not?
or
What did Woods do that Letterman did not?

See Scott Campbell's analysis above, but I think they just misbehaved in their private lives. Letterman pulled a Clinton and banged a homely intern behind his girlfriend's back. Woods was more adventurous.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I think Harlan is saying the public apology in each case was a financial consideration first and was not really connected at all to becoming a better father or husband.

Right. These guys don't call a press conference and apologize to the public when they skip their kid's parent-teacher conference.




Another unconvinced lady:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/19/AR2010021904960.html

[Patler]

I never said he needed to apologize. In fact I said he owed us nothing.
BUT, seeing that he did, I thought what he said was sincere, even if prepared and rehearsed.

The problem that he and others run into is that if he says nothing, many will complain. When he talks, just as many are unsatisfied. I did not criticize him for avoiding the press for two months, nor will I criticize him for sticking his foot back in the water, unless he seems insincere. As I said, I thought he was sincere, whether he needed to do it or not.

Basically, when they screw up, no matter what they do to make amends is wrong in the eyes of one group or another. If they only realized that ahead of time they would watch themselves a little more closely.

[MJZiggy]

I'm thinking of putting a sign in my son's room: before you do it, think of the press release you'll be holding when you get caught.

[pbmax]

I'm thinking of putting a sign in my son's room: before you do it, think of the press release you'll be holding when you get caught.

Tell him to think of the video on You Tube.