Public people, private lives, and Tiger Woods

[SacTown Chronic]

That's true, Alex. But a transcript of the cops being turned away at the door by my wife would go like this:


Suspect's wife: "I'm sorry. He's sleeping."

<several minutes of threats, bullying tactics, and outright lies about her obligation to let the cops come in and talk to her husband>

Police: "Oh, okay. We'll come back."


Unless, of course, they knew I had a lawyer behind the door.

[lashbear]

He's a 100 X Millionaire!!! For ****s sake, guy, retire NOW, get out of the limelight and stop doing endorsements etc. Then you can have your total anonymity and avoid dismay.

Geezus. How much money does ONE person need ???? That is so totally out of balance.

Sorry, I get like this at times because hyper-enormous amounts of money get thrown at people who have a talent for hitting a little ball into a hole, or into a goal, or over a net. I am so totally non-sports oriented, therefore it boggles me to see the amounts of money these people earn.

*prepares for onslaught*

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by lashbear

He's a 100 X Millionaire!!! For ****s sake, guy, retire NOW, get out of the limelight and stop doing endorsements etc. Then you can have your total anonymity and avoid dismay.

Geezus. How much money does ONE person need ???? That is so totally out of balance.

Sorry, I get like this at times because hyper-enormous amounts of money get thrown at people who have a talent for hitting a little ball into a hole, or into a goal, or over a net. I am so totally non-sports oriented, therefore it boggles me to see the amounts of money these people earn.

*prepares for onslaught*

I wonder how many people work for Tiger either directly or indirectly.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by lashbear

He's a 100 X Millionaire!!!

Actually, he's something like a 1,000 x Millionaire (or, that's what he's earned, presumably he has spent some of it. And the FedEx Cup had to change their annual prize money rules because it was quite possible under the initial rules that Tiger Woods could end up with an annuity worth more than a billion dollars if he won most of them over the next 15 years (he's already one the two he was eligible for, would have been three if it weren't for his knee surgery last year).

But I'm not really bothered by his money. He literally does one thing better than anybody else in the world and regardless of whether you or are I willing to, a lot of people are willing to spend money to watch him do it (I just enjoy doing it for free on TV, which impels other people to spend money to make sure I can).

SacTown Chronic - You're right that is likely how the conversation would go with most people. But I don't know that being able to efficiently invoke your constitutional rights is quite the same thing as abusing your celebrity and fame.

Plus, if you weren't Tiger Woods I suspect they'd never even be on your doorstep again. A couple years ago a guy came home into our complex and managed to drive his Jeep over a water pipe and then lodge it into a tree. The police came out, asked if anybody was hurt, asked him if he'd been drinking (his "no" was apparently credible testimony), helped pull the car off the tree and left.

I do think the tone of coverage (and our responses likely) would be dramatically different if the genders involved were switched. If we suspected Tiger had intimated his wife with a golf club there would not be comments of "that's what you get if you cheat" or "she's just being chivalrous and doesn't want him to go to jail." It wouldn't be a humorous "ha ha, Tiger got beat up by a girl!"

I still wouldn't care (I'd be interested in knowing, but that's not the same as caring; I'm a curious snoop just like everybody else) but I suspect the official pursuit and media condemnation would be much stronger.

[SacTown Chronic]

Originally Posted by Alex

I do think the tone of coverage (and our responses likely) would be dramatically different if the genders involved were switched. If we suspected Tiger had intimated his wife with a golf club there would not be comments of "that's what you get if you cheat" or "she's just being chivalrous and doesn't want him to go to jail." It wouldn't be a humorous "ha ha, Tiger got beat up by a girl!"

For sure. As soon as I heard the "golf club to the window to save Tiger" crap, I asked Crystal what's the point of such a lame lie. I think my exact words were "It's not as if Tiger chased her with a golf club. Nobody cares enough to justify such a half-assed, transparent attempt at a cover-up".

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by lashbear

Geezus. How much money does ONE person need ???? That is so totally out of balance.

To which I will pose the question: how much is too much? Where exactly is the line to be drawn?

Personally, I don't think he makes too much.

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

To which I will pose the question: how much is too much? Where exactly is the line to be drawn?

Personally, I don't think he makes too much.

well, as Alex pointed out, the guys a billionaire+, so I say to him: don't crap on about how you've got to be scrutinised in everything you do in the public eye, retire and get out of the public eye. Then you won't be required to behave in order to placate your sponsors.

I think 1 billion is probably enough to live on for the rest of anyone's life. Why do they need more?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by lashbear

well, as Alex pointed out, the guys a billionaire+, so I say to him: don't crap on about how you've got to be scrutinised in everything you do in the public eye, retire and get out of the public eye. Then you won't be required to behave in order to placate your sponsors.

I think 1 billion is probably enough to live on for the rest of anyone's life. Why do they need more?

Retire and do what? Golf?

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Retire and do what? Golf?

Become a doctor. Oh wait.
Become a hockey player. Oh wait.

What do professional golfers do when they retire.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Nicely put, Bear.

I don't mind that he earned a crap-ton of cash in sports; lots of people do and I find certain sports entertaining. Cool. Earns money from his image? That's fine, too. Whatever.

As far as the privacy issue- yes, he should expect that when he steps out of line, the media will go bonkers. I don't think they have a right to criticize him for asking for his privacy when he has no obligation to talk to anyone.

The media also has a history of stepping over the lines in regard to celebrities. Reporting on what they do in public: boring, but sure. Go for it. Finding out where they go on vacation? Borderline, but whatever. Following them into their home? Not cool. Sure, they're public figures, but even then, they deserve a measure of privacy.