Dear Tiger Woods

via TigerWoods.com:

I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.


Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.


But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don't share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.


Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it's difficult.


I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger, well spoken (or typed). For the longest time, you've been more than just an athlete. From the stance of a young African-American male, the situation you are in is like realizing that there is, indeed, such a thing as racial profiling. It's actually damn near heartbreaking. Tiger, you were the one black athlete that transcended every single stereotype placed on the collective backs of black athletes. Squeaky clean and wholesome from your explosion onto the golf scene, it was as if you were the Golden Child. You were Stanford graduate, the 'Great Black Hype' that would go above the golf world. And up until about two weeks ago, that status was pristine.

Enter the meddling eyes of the media and that image is gone, at some fault of your own and through the media. In this day and age, as a celebrity, you can't frolic outside of your marriage and expect to not be caught. There are cameras EVERYWHERE and people just waiting to make their big break as a result of your downfall. Make no mistake, the blame starts with you, and will end with you. However, at some point, we have to draw the line as to what is acceptable media. Your statement is correct in asserting that personal and family problems should never be at the forefront of the media. I know, for a fact, that if your name was Terrell Woods, this situation would have been nothing more than an episode of Cheaters. We would have probably seen a funny picture of a beat up man on Digg, had our laughs and kept it moving. Therein lies the problem: You are Tiger Woods.

When you step outside of your home, you are automatically at the hands, whims and scrutiny of the media, no matter how much you want to shield yourself. Part of me wonders how long you've kept up this image up in front of an unfaithful marriage, but I suppose that's moot at this point. You know in your heart that what happened was of your own volition, and the media just is playing the opportunist. Whether violence was a part of the situation is something we may never know, but the metaphorical scars have already been left on your career and image. That being said, you may never get back to that level of media trust, but your biggest weapon is the same one you were supposedly beat up with: the golf club. When you get your life straightened out, you better come back to the PGA with a vengeance. Just as they said Kobe Bryant was playing for his freedom when he was on trial, you will be too. Hit the links and make them remember WHY you were golf's poster child, rather than try to defend your personal decisions. We all know athletes cheat, but at the end of the day, if they are winning, what can the media really say??