Those who are cynical about the extensive amount of coverage on the Tiger Woods accident — in the wake of announcements of the 30,000 troop surge to Afghanistan and an economy that sucks almost as much as the Great Depression — simply don’t understand the power of infotainment.
Americans feed off of absurd stories and follow celebrities religiously, so a peculiar story spotlighting a private, shy celebrity with an otherwise “clean” record will no doubt get full coverage.
Through a computerized diagram showing the entire travel path of the crash that was released by the Florida Highway Patrol, or full speculations into his alleged affairs and fights with his wife, people seem to care — a lot.
For those who don’t know, golf hero Tiger Woods has recently found himself the object of media frenzy. After leaving his Florida mansion early last Friday morning, he crashed his 2009 Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and his neighbor’s tree. He then exited his damaged vehicle after his wife smashed in the back window with a golf club, a local police chief said.
Woods’ wife, former bathing suit model Elin Nordegren, was inside the house when she heard the accident and somehow knew to run outside with a golf club to help her husband out of the car. Police arrived to find the wife very upset, hovering over her husband who was falling in and out of consciousness.
Woods received minor lacerations to his face and was released from a local hospital in good condition. Reports say alcohol was not involved, however on Tuesday the Florida Highway Patrol charged Woods with careless driving, resulting in a $164 fine and a four-points penalty on his driving record.
Although the world’s highest paid athlete tried to remain quiet about the incident, it happened amid rumors of alleged affairs that sparked much curiosity. Los Angeles waitress Jaimee Grubbs claimed to have a 31-month affair with the golfer, and a voicemail that he left on her phone three days before the accident was released three hours before he put out his much awaited statement on his Web site.
“Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions,” he said. “I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves.”
Many are comparing the Woods fiasco to Kobe Bryant’s ordeal back in 2003. What Bryant did that helped ease the rumors and accusations was hold a press conference admitting his infidelity to public sponsors, fans and the general public.
Because Bryant was up front from the beginning, people had no reason to ask more questions. Today, he is still one of the most respected players in the NBA.
Instead of refusing to speak out by claiming people shouldn’t be involved in his personal issues, Woods needs to realize he should do whatever is best for his reputation and career.
It must be extremely annoying to have everyone caring so much about your personal life, but being a celebrity comes with both responsibilities and consequences. If you’re the highest paid athlete in the world, it might mean divulging certain information.
Nobody’s perfect, but if Woods is straightforward and answers lingering questions, the media will eventually run out of reasons to pry — and everyone will be satisfied.
Sofia Yassine is a sophomore journalism major and contributing writer for the Daily 49er.