The Kapio Newspress

Issue date: 2/23/10 Section: Editorial

Media Credit: AP

Media Credit: AP Pro golfer Tiger Woods finally addressed the controversy caused by his irresponsible actions. His public apology was 13 minutes and aired Feb. 19. His mother, Kultilda, was in attendance to show support for her son.

Tiger Woods has finally manned up and publicly addressed the controversy surrounding his multiple indiscretions.

The pro golfer gave a 13-minute apology, Feb. 19.

Those who were applauding his decision to remain mum on the situation are now giving him flack for opening up about it. Since his public address, many critics have said the only apology that Woods needs to make is to his wife.

However, Woods said it best in his public apology: "As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in form of words. It will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss. And however, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us."

Woods has a responsibility to the public. Woods can't cower away from that. It comes with the territory of living in the spotlight.

His silence has only led to negative repercussions. Many of his endorsers have pulled out because of the bad media buzz surrounding him. Remaining quiet only fueled speculation. His silence became the story, and that's never good.

His evasiveness paved the way for the media to take the lead on the story. As soon as the Thanksgiving incident occurred - last Thanksgiving, the media claimed that his wife, Elin Nordegren, chased him down the driveway, golf club in hand, while he was in his car - Woods should have jumped at the chance to get in front of the camera to control the flow information.

Woods should understand by now that he's held to a different standard. Woods has a duty to answer to the public.

So, does his public apology get him back into the good graces of all the fans? Likely not. While his apology seemed sincere, Woods chalks up his indiscretions to the fact that he's held to a different standard. He said that he felt that fame and money made the normal rules not apply to him, that he was entitled to succumb to temptations.

The only time he wants to be held to a different standard is when he wants to cheat on his wife, not when he owes the public an explanation.

However, it's not the content of the apology that's being analyzed, it's the intent of it. Obviously, Woods has come to the realization that nothing good can come from staying silent.

Regardless of what his critics have said, Woods made the right decision to finally address the scandal. He directly apologized to all his fans and owned his shortcomings.

"Now every one of you have every right to be critical of me," Wood said in his public address. "I am deeply sorry for irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in. The issue here is my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated. What I did was not acceptable and I am the only person to blame."

All this controversy is no reflection on his golf game. Woods is an outstanding golfer. He has been since he was two-years-old and he putt his first ball against Bob Hope on "The Mike Douglas Show."

But in light of all this scandal, his fan base is dwindling. Lets hope that this apology can return him to the golden boy status he once was.





The view we take is written by the editors of the Kapi'o. We welcome all responses to this subject. E-mail "Letter to the Editor" at kapio@hawaii.edu.

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