I watched him this morning when he had the press conference and gave his "apology". He did not seem sincere to me. He never mentioned the phrase "sex addict". He seemed to be trying to not laugh or smile. It sounded like the predictable public apology. For his family's sake I hope I'm wrong.

He basically said, although not in these words, that he's used to get what he wants and he thought it would be fine to partake in every temptation he came in contact with. So basically "I'm a spoiled brat and I can have what I want" is the message I got.


washingtonpost.com

What do you think?

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I didn't see it and have no wish to see it. He's a loser in more ways than one. However, he mirrors many people who talk out of both sides of their mouths and pretty soon they can't keep anything straight.

Yet, these types believe themselves and believe that they have everyone else fooled.

dl

I think he owed no one in the public an apology. His personal life is his. I thought he seemed sincere. My DH and I went through something like this over 10 yrs ago. My DH went to therapy and has completely changed. I hope for his families sake he has the same luck. Hopefully he gets the support he needs and his life turns around. I for one will be praying for him.

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Mom to Jake, Zach & Meghan
SJCC STREAKS FOOTBALL!!
CLEVELAND BROWNS FOOTBALL!

I agree jazame. I heard it on the radio (not intentionally...it just came on) and I don't think Tiger owes anyone and apology except his wife and family. OK...maybe his sponsors who forked over $$$ because of his image (which is now tarnished). He didn't owe ME an apology for heavens sake! I think it's stupid he even did this. I don't understand this kind of thing...

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

He seemed sincere for the most part, that was my sense anyway. It's of course hard to judge.

However, his little speech to the press kind of ticked me off. I don't think they should be following his family around, following his children to school etc.... BUT...he did this. HE caused people to be more interested in his family and their activities. This is HIS fault, so to scold the press...please. Get off your high horse and take what comes whether you like it or not. HE blew it!!

IMO, that attitude just continued to prove his level of arrogance. It kind of took away from the sincerity of the whole event.

I did appreciate his defense of his wife...

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Melissa

Yes, he did owe the public an apology. He chose to make himself a public figure. He has been held up as a "hero" to African-American youth--and he seemed to welcome that role.

He's not going to change with or without support unless he wants to change. Perhaps his wife and kids would be better off without him in their lives if he makes the decision to not change.

I have better things to pray for than some sports star who has made bad decisions.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

He's just another narcassistic (sp?) celebrity who thinks they are above the rules that apply to everyone else. It's the same song and dance we see over and over. A total player until they get caught, then they're SO sorry and need to go to rehab. Whatever, who cares?! He's not the 1st and won't be the last!

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

I was impressed with the speech. And I can understand his anger directed at the press. It's one thing to go after Tiger, he took ALL the blame for what happened, but for the press to stalk his kids and PUBLISH where they go to school... That's just wrong, it doesn't matter what their FATHER did, THEY should not be punished for it.
And Annadrose, he actually came across to me as saying "I acted like I was above the law, and I'm not..." I liked how he said it, I thought it was well put.

Did you even see the conference? That's basically what he said... "That he felt like he was above the rules, but he knows he's not..." Granted he had to get caught, in order to feel this way, but isn't that how most people leading double lives are? Celebrity, or not.

I totally agree that they, the press, should not follow his kids, and especially publish where they attend school. My point is, who is he to be so arrogant about berating the press when he is the one that put his family in the position they are in in the first place.

It wasn't happening before his actions became public, HE is responsible for putting his family in the position they are in, not the press.

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Melissa

Yep. I watched the whole thing. I didn't care about it, but it came on while I was getting ready. Plus they've replayed parts of it and "analyzed" it all day long.

He only realizes he's not above the rules now because he got caught. If he hadn't gotten caught, he would still be doing it. I think he was sincerly sorry, but he should have thought about that before. Grow up and go back to rehab and learn to say no, like the rest of us did when we were 12.

I think what makes him worse is he gave the impression that he was so clean and honest. Yeah, right. He's just like all the other loser-low-life-cheaters...Kobe, Mel Gibson, John Edwards, Bill Clinton, that SC Senator (can't remember his name), etc., etc.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

I watched it, he looked uncomfortable to say the least. I was just watching a news program on TV and the person said I felt it was too much information. He went on to say he cheated in life not golf. I think I agree.

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Sometimes the elevator often the shaft

It was so staged. I feel sorry for his family.

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Donna

I think he apologized because he got caught. Not sure if he's really sorry or just needs to do this so he can golf again and try to restore his image.
I also feel he does owe the public an apology. He's made a heck of alot of money from endorsements based on his image and his talent. It's all part of the package when you become a celebrity - whether it's fair or not is beside the point because that's simply the way it is. If you enter the celebrity world you have to take the good with the bad.

I personally did not care to watch it. For mostly it does not effect my life at all. However in my personal view I could care less if he gave 10 speeches or interviews, bottom line he is a man just like any other man and capable of committing acts of cheating on his spouse. Again yes he is a public person and I realize that many many young boys look up to him and this a total blow and shame to the person he was before. I do believe he took advantage of his public fame and fortune and believed he was above others. He is a lowlife and thats the bottom line. I only only feel sorry for his wife and children. Peace. Catherine

I didn't watch it and had no desire to although everyone was talking about yesterday. I think the only one he owes an apology to is his wife. The general public and his fans only care about how good his golf game is. I don't believe that he's a sex addict at all. I think he just likes sex and knew that women were readily available. It's just a shame that he didn't realize this before he got married and just stayed single. At this point I don't think his words mean anything....it will be his actions. ~Lisa

I didnt watch it but did hear parts when it was on the new. Why it is news, I will never understand. Anyhow... I think that he only owes an apology to his wife and family. I dont think that he should have needed to apologize to the public, but understand that his job is all about image and this was a first step in finding his way back.

So, that being said.. where are the women?? Why arent they apologizing to Elin and the kids? Why are they allowed to play the victim? They knew that he was a married man, and they still participated in behavior that they shouldnt have. They too should have known better.

When this all started one of his many women stated on tv " the heart wants what the heart wants", well that is all fine and dandy but the brain should be able to say.. oh he has kids and a wife... I should have morals. I think the women should stop acting like victims, they went willing down this path.

As for the press following his kids, I agree that kids should be off limits. They had nothing to do with their fathers choices and shouldnt have to deal with the press at all.

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Sell crazy some place else, we are all stocked up here.

I didn't watch it, and had no desire to watch it! He does owe an apology to his family and sponsors, but since I do not know him, I don't feel he owes an apology to me, or anyone else who is not part of his immediate, daily life. Its none of my concern what he did, or does in the future. There are big idiots all over the world who have done the exact same thing, and none of them have felt the need to apologize on national television!

Exactly. Too bad he didn't care about how his actions would affect his wife and kids before he had sex with -- how many was it? - 14 women???

To be clear, though, I do agree that the press should leave his wife and kids alone.

Whoever wrote his speech did a much better job of writing it than he did of delivering it.

Personally I think he is a guy who likes sex and I dont feel he needs to apologize for that...

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Be careful what you wish for.....

Liking sex is one thing....
But, he chose to marry ONE woman, and unless she gave her permission (and I'm guessing by the fact she alleged whacked him w/ a golf club, she did NOT give permission) then he should have only had sex with his wife. If he wasn't able to do that, then he should have gotten out of the marriage or he should have gotten psychiatric help!

Cheating on one's spouse shows that you either make really bad decisions, you have a very poor character, you have a problem, or you're just a narcissitic bastard (or bitch) who doesn't care about anyone else!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I agree with you. I think the only reason he made this "statement" was because he wants to golf again and apparently his statement clears the air and path for him to golf again. This was not for his family, but for for his career.

I also could only hope that all those sponsors who made him mega rich, drop him.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

You can clearly see that the ONLY reason he is sorry is because he got caught....

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Be careful what you wish for.....

"Whoever wrote his speech did a much better job of writing it than he did of delivering it."

That's what I thought. In fact, I was wondering if he was on drugs.

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

I said the same thing to my dh, looked like he was glazed over.

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Sometimes the elevator often the shaft

He did look like crap but I'm sure this scandal has taken it's toll on him. And no, I don't feel sorry for him at all. You reap what you sow.

I don't know exacatly how you meant that, but I really don't know that there is any way for us to know anything 'clearly'.

We can't know if he wishes he was still living that life, and he is just sorry he got caught because now that 'dark side' has to be suppressed, and he LIKED living on the dark side...

Or if being caught woke him up to the stupidity of his behavior, and he now regrets being so irresponsible and jeopardizing so much, and thinks the fun was not worth the price he is paying.

He did not look like a man that was remorseful... Nor did he seem to be sincere in the apology. If he was sincere he would have spoke from the heart, NOT a card or something that was prewritten by someone else....
And I highly doubt that he is or was a sex addict. In my opinion, he was a horny man who got caught screwing around....

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Be careful what you wish for.....

I don't think using notes or speaking a pre-written speech is a sign of insincerity. I know when I'm speaking about something that is very difficult for me, I lose my place, I forget important points, I get teary-eyed and a little shaky... and my message suffers because I don't have great focus under pressure.

I have to assume that was just about the most pressure Tiger has ever felt during a speaking engagement. If he needed notes to stay focused, big whoop.

But I do agree - it doesn't sound so much like an addiction as it does a straight-up power trip he was on. It sounds like he had several of these women on a string, thinking he was eventually going to leave his wife for them, etc.

I don't think, at this point, any of us can know if he was sincere. We can only speculate. We'll have our answer ten years from now, when he has either gotten his act together or slipped back into this pattern.

I'd be curious to know if this behavior has been part of his entire adult life, or if it began after his father died. His dad was such a foundational part of who he is today, and I wonder if finding himself without that 'guiding light' in his life left him so unsure of how to 'be' that he went way off course. While I certainly didn't behave like Tiger, for me, the loss of a parent really shook my foundations. My point of reference was gone. I was an adult with kids of my own living many miles from home, but I was suddenly TRULY at the top of my own food chain, no going back, ever... and that effected me in ways I would never, ever have anticipated.

I read that Drew (?) the therapist dude believed him to be depressed when he read the speech. He thought it was unusual for Tiger to have to go back in, and that he should be in some sort of transitional therapy by now? Something like that.

My personal opinion is that he did not need a huge conference like he was the president. That was presumptuous and pompous, imo. What I thought would have sufficed was an interview in Parade or People. He does owe an apology to his sponsors. How he and his wife deal with it is their business, imo.

Fwiw - His father seemed to be such a good influence on him, and it's a shame he died because it's almost like Tiger lost his way a bit afterwards, or is it me?

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"Dance like no one is watching."

Wow, have you forgotten that Earl Woods cheated on Tiger's mom???? I don't think that makes his father a "guiding light" at all I think it made his father a bad role model as far as his morals.

Do a google search "did Tiger Woods' father cheat on his mother?".

I didn't mean in terms of fidelity.

His dad was behind his professional success, and was the single greatest influence in his life. When someone loses someone who has been so influential, it's not uncommon to feel like a ship with no sail. Both personally and professionally, Tiger was mentorless. For the first time ever.

It doesn't excuse his actions. I just wonder if it was a catalyst.

Uh Oh. I had no idea! Now I feel sorry for his mother... the two most important men in her life didn't care if they hurt her. That's a shame.

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"Dance like no one is watching."

I know I will probably be looked down on, but the truth is, if you dont please your man he will go elsewhere.

pepperpot:

There's some amount of truth to that.

According to Dr. Harley, founder of Marriage Builders ® - Successful Marriage Advice, sexual fulfillment and recreational companionship are ranked among the top emotional needs for most men, so I do agree it's very important. However, not all men are going to cheat because they aren't getting any (or enough).

Divorce and all the pain it causes (hurting your children/losing time with them, financial hardship, etc.) is too high a risk for many men. There is also the morality/religious end of the spectrum. (There are still many men out there who would rather masturbate, take antidepressants, risk eventual ED, or withdraw emotionally and live as roommates than go against their religion or cheat and live with all its possible consequences.)

I think when there's any sort of addiction present, the addiction pretty much supercedes all else, and until that's taken care of, any personal relationships are going to be secondary. It's good that he sees the need and is going for therapy, but it would not surprise me at all if his wife had to threaten him with all sorts of things if he wouldn't, because addictions can be pretty mind altering.

It still amazes me though how we, as humans, will often repeat even bad history. As a boy he must have felt his mother's pain of his father's infidelity. Why would he put his own wife and kids through what he and his mother went through? (Sigh)

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"Dance like no one is watching."

Wowitsdark I agree with you about the father/son relationship from the beginning of his youth and his career his dad was always there. I know it seemed to me at least they seemed extremely close.I also wonderered if his dad was alive if Tiger would have done what he did, which of course never ever ever is an excuse for his infidelity to his wife. I also never knew his dad cheated on his mom I was not aware of this again no excuse I do not buy it at all. He is a grown man and he made some serious bad choices father or not. To pepperpot sorry I do not buy that either, while I know for some men who claim their wifes are not satisfying them, they decided to cheat. When your married or in a committed relationship you cannot have your cake and eat it too. In the end it truly comes down to him and his family and only time will tell what will happen. Peace. Catherine

Yes, and some men, no matter what you do are going to cheat.
Some men just can't be faithful.

So, frankly, I find the whole "if you can't please him he will go elsewhere" argument a load of horse ****.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I don't think Tiger has/had an addiction, and I'll bet he doesn't think so, either.

Going into rehab is probably the way his handlers said was the way to go. It's likely just an image-cleaning attempt - demonstrating an invested interest in changing his ways. I think it's a publicity move, nothing more. Then, (at least he and his people are probably banking on, anyway,) he can emerge again as a certified cleaned-up man, and the world will forgive him...

FWIW, I absolutely do feel he owed the public an apology - and way before this one. My goodness, he's been peddling this phony clean-cut image to young fans, selling himself to the world (and reaping the multi$$ benefits) of his facade. Too many people - countless children among them, who looked to Tiger as someone to emulate, were duped. Too many parents had to explain some really skanky behavior to kids who looked up to Tiger.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

I agree.

It makes me nuts when people say that stupid stuff. If a wife doesn't want to "please" her husband (as much as he would like!), that's just too bad. It does not give him the right to cheat on her

Geez.

Or perhaps they can work on it themselves instead of turning outside the marriage. I think sex "addiction" is just a poor excuse for bad behavior. If he wants to continue to have sex with multiple women then he should have never gotten married.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

To justify a man's cheating by saying the wife isn't pleasing her man is ridiculous. Maybe the husband is such an ass there is no pleasing him for one example. I agree with those of you who say that the couple should work on the marriage and that a married man, unless both have agreed to an open marriage, has no right to go outside the marriage.
If people are having sexual issues or housework issues or money issues it doesn't give the man the right to go have sex with 40 women, most of questionable moral values. Tiger Woods is a public figure and you would have to be living under a rock to not know that he has a wife and children and that he has bragged in the past what a wonderful family he has and how blessed he is to have such a spectacular wife.
To blame a woman for "not pleasing her man" is an ignorant statement.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I think the less attention paid to the Tiger Woods situation, the better for everyone involved.

And, ladies, don't we all know by now that pepperpot is a TROLL!?@# The less attention paid to trolls, the better for everyone involved, too!

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips