By Teddy GreensteinTiger Woods, taking a serious and sorrowful tone, apologized Friday for the behavior that turned his personal life and career upside down.
"I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior," Woods said. "I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that the normal rules didn't apply. I thought only about myself. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I thought because I worked hard, I deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled ...
"I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable. ... I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife's family, my friends, my foundation and kids all around the world who admired me."
Speaking for 13 minutes from TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra., Fla., home of the PGA Tour, Woods barely talked about golf.
Only at the end, after saying he had been in treatment for 45 days and would depart Saturday for "more treatment and more therapy," did Woods say: "I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don't know when that will be. I don't rule out this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful to the game."
Photo: Tiger Woods kisses his mother, Kultida, after reading his statement Friday. (Eric Gay/AP)
That statement would lead one to assume that Woods will not be back in time to play the Masters, in April.
In his first publicly spoken words since his personal life crumbled under the weight of a sex scandal, Woods glanced down at notes on his podium from time to time.
He concluded with: "Today I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again. Thank you."
Woods then hugged his mother, Kultida, who was sitting in the front row.
"I said, 'I'm so proud of you. Never think you stand alone. Mom will always be there for you and I love you,"' Kultida Woods told the Associated Press.
Despite the tight media restrictions, the event attracted reporters from as far away as Sweden, Norway, Australia and Asia -- not to mention some 20 satellite trucks.
The Golf Writers Association of America boycotted the event because of Woods' decisions to allow just a handful of reporters and not take questions.
Here is some reaction to Woods' statement, as reported by the Associated Press:
*Elin's father, Thomas Nordegren: "I watched it but I have nothing to say right now." Elin's mother, Barbro Holmberg, declined to comment on Woods' apology.
*PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem: "I think that since Day 1, people that know him and people that don't know him, what I've heard from most people is mainly, I mean there's some anger in some corners, but mainly it is a sense of sadness. He's an American hero. And he's had his issues. At the end of the day, he's a human being. We all make mistakes. My personal reaction was that his comments were heartfelt. He clearly recognizes that there has been serious impact to a wide range of individuals and organizations."
*Golfer Stewart Cink: "I was moved by how difficult it seemed to be for him. But it's a big part of the process to go through that difficulty and to face up to what's happened. And especially the hurt that other people are feeling, his friends and family."
*Former champion Nick Faldo, whose own personal life has been subject to media scrutiny, told the Golf Channel: "It has left a big question mark: When is he going to return? We have had the apology but as golfers we are back at square one."
*American Alpine skier Julia Mancuso posted on Twitter from the Olympics: "do we think this is coming from the heart or the paper! come on Tiger! give us some reality here."
*Veronica Siwik-Daniels, one of Woods' alleged mistresses and a former pornographic performer, said she wants an apology for the unwanted attention the scandal has given her: "I really feel I deserve to look at him in person face to face in the eyes because I did not deserve this."
In his first publicly spoken words since his personal life crumbled under the weight of a sex scandal, Woods glanced down at notes on his podium from time to time.
He concluded with: "Today I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again. Thank you."
Woods then hugged his mother, Kultida, who was sitting in the front row.
"I said, 'I'm so proud of you. Never think you stand alone. Mom will always be there for you and I love you,"' Kultida Woods told the Associated Press.
Despite the tight media restrictions, the event attracted reporters from as far away as Sweden, Norway, Australia and Asia -- not to mention some 20 satellite trucks.
The Golf Writers Association of America boycotted the event because of Woods' decisions to allow just a handful of reporters and not take questions.
Here is some reaction to Woods' statement, as reported by the Associated Press:
*Elin's father, Thomas Nordegren: "I watched it but I have nothing to say right now." Elin's mother, Barbro Holmberg, declined to comment on Woods' apology.
*PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem: "I think that since Day 1, people that know him and people that don't know him, what I've heard from most people is mainly, I mean there's some anger in some corners, but mainly it is a sense of sadness. He's an American hero. And he's had his issues. At the end of the day, he's a human being. We all make mistakes. My personal reaction was that his comments were heartfelt. He clearly recognizes that there has been serious impact to a wide range of individuals and organizations."
*Golfer Stewart Cink: "I was moved by how difficult it seemed to be for him. But it's a big part of the process to go through that difficulty and to face up to what's happened. And especially the hurt that other people are feeling, his friends and family."
*Former champion Nick Faldo, whose own personal life has been subject to media scrutiny, told the Golf Channel: "It has left a big question mark: When is he going to return? We have had the apology but as golfers we are back at square one."
*American Alpine skier Julia Mancuso posted on Twitter from the Olympics: "do we think this is coming from the heart or the paper! come on Tiger! give us some reality here."
*Veronica Siwik-Daniels, one of Woods' alleged mistresses and a former pornographic performer, said she wants an apology for the unwanted attention the scandal has given her: "I really feel I deserve to look at him in person face to face in the eyes because I did not deserve this."
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To JayKo, you say Duchovny was caught cheating. Really? There was one accusation by a tabloid that was proven to be a lie and it was retracted. NO ONE else has said he cheated. His problem was a porn addiction. He did not cheat on his wife. Get your facts straight
Tiger should not have read from a piece of paper...the most heartfelt apologies come from your heart not the crib notes. I agree with Mancuso.We need to put this in the past and realize that he is a human being and prone to make mistakes like the rest of us.
Hey...this guy is number 1 in a sport that is traditionally very suspect. Let it go people...you're never going to beat Tiger!
Golf is a boring game. Close all the golf courses and make public parkland out of them.
He hits a little ball around for sport. Not a big deal. He had sex with some willing women (they are insulted? HUH?). NOT a big deal. His wife expected him to NOT do this. A BIG deal because he did not have permission to do so. Now he owes her 300MM. Ooops!
If sex really is an addiction, Tiger should have apologized to all the women he used as drugs.
At this morning’s press conference, Tiger said he was sorry to his family, his wife, his kids, his fans, his sponsors, but he left out the more than a dozen women he had sex with. Tiger further objectified these women when he only referred to them in his speech as “temptations” of power and fame.
Tiger, do you get that women are human? Or does insight come later in your recovery– around day 56 or so?
He apologized to his wife, as he should, of course, he supposedly loves her. But the skills men learn to divide women into wives or whores creeps me out, and if there really is such a thing as sex addiction, this dichotomy seems to fuel it.
I’m not saying Rachel Uchitel and all the porn stars and models and single moms who slept with Tiger are all victims; they could very well be sex addicts themselves who used Tiger to get off. But, as far as I know, they aren’t the ones in intensive recovery programs making public apologies More commentary onm y blog ReelGirl http://bit.ly/cSXGH4
Tiger's ego is way too big. You had so much, and you cared so little. Now I don't care at all.
Does anyone else find it amusing that his Nike Golf Logo (the T and W thing) looks like a stick figure guy standing up and plugging a female stick figure laying down with her knees bent and legs spread?
T
W
See the image and REALLY see the image...
Hehehe...
"Gregorio on February 19, 2010 1:02 PM
It's Obama's Fault."
No- I think he is big "Bush" fan!
Okay...this whole "Sex Addiction" thing is total hogwash, and I'll explain why:
1) If the definition of "sex addiction" is that people crave it beyond anything (like a drug), then every male (at least teenagers) have this disease. Who doesn't want to get a little nookage all the time? I mean, come ON!
2) Am I the only one that's noticed that no single people have come out with this "addiction?" It's only married men. This leads me to believe that it's some made-up disease that cheating husbands can use to explain their behavior! Why hasn't Madonna come out with this? She's been stuffed more than a Thanksgiving turkey and she was single! Remember the "Truth or Dare" days? No, she was just a skank. And look, David Duchovny and Tiger Woods have been caught cheating and they go to therapy as if they are the victim? BS! If a married guy really needs to "just get a little taste" that only addicts truly have, they could fire off a few knuckle children and just be pervs like Pee Wee or George Michael. Same end result, ain't it?
So two compelling arguments, at least to me, that "sex addiction" is just a cop-out for infidelity.
Again, show me a single man who's in rehab for it and I'll change my opinion of it. All it takes is ONE unmarried celebrity who has buried more bones than Marmaduke that is in rehab. Please, prove me wrong!
Wow, can you even imagine being in those shoes....I wish him luck, he has a long, long, road ahead.
Sounds like those were the words of his psychiatrist. In November/December, Woods used dismissive terms for his affairs ("transgressions"). I'll bet if he weren't in for (ahem) "treatment" he would still be using the word "transgressions" as if the affairs were a big "so what" to his marriage. I agree....he's putting on the big baby boo-boo face because the gal-pals started chirping. Too big a deal is being made of this.
I wonder if Tiger has ever done steroids to enhance his performance.....? Seems like he was as slim as Sammy Sosa at one point....
I watch him because he's the greatest golfer in the history of the game. What he does when his pants come off is none of my business. Or yours.
I'm with Union Tom.
Did I seriously see a Twitter message from American Alpine skier Julia Mancuso regarding Tiger's speech at the bottom of the article.
The whole world has gone insane.
Buddhism and his Mother. Reminders of John Lennon. Tiger's mother resembles Yoko.
Media cherishes moments like this. It's unfortunate society gets off on other peoples failures. The only people that should be extra critical of Tiger should be his family and close friends. Unless you are perfect yourself who are we to judge? Go Tiger.
It's Obama's Fault.
He's really only deeply sorry that his paycheck just got whacked. Criminals are always "sorry", only after they have been caught.
Q: Doesn't he look as if he is pledging allegiance to the flag?
Just wondering
And I want to know about his lewd sex life....why? This is between his wife and his minister.
One of his floozies says she wants an apology from Tiger because of the unwanted attention.
You can't make this up.
None of this is any of our business. The "press" loves this stuff - when it first broke in November or whenever they reported the SAME story about 8 times in one 60 minute "news" broadcast.
Remember when mj died? Non-stop wall to wall coverage. MILLIONS were made from it by various night-crawlers, including FOX news, which I used to watch. I shudder to think of the coverage it got from MSNBC, that bastion of balanced reporting.
But I'll never know.
Lucky me
They wonder why we don't take them seriously
duhhhh?
So one of his mistresses,a former porn actress, wants a face to face apology because she claims she didn't deserve the unwanted attention this brought her. What bs. You screwed around with a famous married man. You knew exactly what you were doing.
Anyone who thinks this is all a stage, i DARE you to do the same thing in his shoes.
We who are so quick to judge this man by how he speaks may not be so willing to do so with the glare of the world on them. Yes, I along with many of you want to wrap a tire iron around his head for doing what he did. But how many of you are willing to even take the first step of recognizing YOU EVEN HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE?
Answer that question and MAYBE I'll consider your wanting to hate on Tiger because of this event.
I would have admired Woods so much if he had opened his remarks with something along the lines of "I deeply regret that so many Americans have such small, petty lives that they hate that I'm enjoying mine."
TIGER GET A LIFE. YOU DON'T OWE anybody any explanations but your wife. Screw the media Screw the talk shows, they are making money at your expense while you are in a sex clinic. Please that bashing of people by the media and the news and judging people like they are GODS HAS GONE TO FAR. The citizens of the world have allowed it to go to far. THEIR ARE SO MANY GREAT MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE COMMITED SINFUL THINGS in the category of sex. Does that mean they can't get their jobs done? NO. Just play golf you are so good at it. And if your wife or YOU THINK you have to go through all of this MEDIA BLISS to prove you are not decent because you had affairs, get a grip. I like your golf game, never cared what you did outside of it. As lone as it is not RAPE OR MURDER OR EVEN STALKING..
To all the "it's the media's fault" people. Hmmmmm ....well let's see, YOU'RE reading the story and even commenting on it. Makes sense?
dude, make amends with your family in privacy. all you have to do in public play golf. so please shut up and go play some gd golf.
sincerely,
everyone on Earth
The only thing he is sorry for is that he got caught. For someone who appeared to be so smart he was not thinking with his brains.
People cheat all the time and it truly is none of our business so the media needs to back off.
I hope his wife leaves him and I am so glad she was not there today. Good for her.
He will not stop cheating and she will never be truly happy with him. I don't care how much money they have it will not make them happy.
Move on both of you and Tiger try to be more discreet and don't pick such skanks next time.
The media should apologize for broadcasting this nonense, not to mention falsely portraying him as a hero, then turning on him when he isn't. I wish he never apologized (except to his family). Meanwhile Iran continues enriching uranium...
idot... moron... looser!
What? No Nike hat for this momentous event? This whole story and the excess attention and compensation this man gets is pathetic and a sad commentary on propriety in our society.
the speech is about money his and hers. an individual that earns what he does is a money making machine. the words are mere tools to control damage. like most of these self obsorbed celebs either in athletics, music, et al their egos just won't allow them to come clean right away. locally the cohen story has the same spin. come clean from the start as it's a very forgiving pc society these days. take a look at bill clinton for a glowing example. he blanked over everybody and still he commands big bucks wherever he appears.
Do we need to pry, how about leaving somethings just private, I will remain a loyal fan, it's his marriage not mine. His troubles didn't affect my life or change my opinion of his great talent.........leave the man alone!
Hold on a second, now what tiger did was wrong and he deserves whatever happens to him, but if it was the other way around and his wife was cheating and he hit her in the face with a golfclub, he would be locked up. Whats the difference and how is that fair????
OMG.
Daytime TV isn't exactly University of the Air, but for most networks to interrupt regular programming to cover this hyper-orchestrated event live is certainly a new low in our society.
Analyze the comments on this page after a few days. I think you'll find this "event" rang hollow for most people.
We all know the motivation for this event. And that is: his damage control handlers descended out of their Learjet(s) and said he had to. *IF* he desires Nike, Gillette, et al to be on board in the future.
Sigh...
I deeply don't care. Of course, I am not a sponsor or agent losing fistfuls of money.
"EVERYONE, please, the sins of Tiger were not committed against any one of us. This is between him and his wife/family. GOD will be the one to forgive."
Tiger is Buddhist. God has no place in this one.
i think tiger didn't need to apologize to the public, to his family of course. i also think that all these women should be held accountable for what they did also.
Good for Tiger Woods and his family. I hope he continues with his therapy. I have said from the time this happened that I do not see him returning to competitive golf; I highly doubt he ever will, at lesat competitively.
I hope he continues to make amends and shows his family that he can straighten up and be the father/husband/son he was so highly held up to be. Sometimes the general public elevates 'stars' to such heights and makes them into 'larger than life' people and we forget that they are really just ordinary people just like you and me who may just have a particular talent whether it is acting, sports or whatever.
I hope it turns out well, especially for the children involved, and that someday we may get to see him do his magic on the golf course once more, but he is right he needs to take care of his family and himself first before he is ready for that challenge as people can be really rude as we can see from comments here.
EVERYONE, please, the sins of Tiger were not committed against any one of us. This is between him and his wife/family. GOD will be the one to forgive.
Big deal... like who cares? Life goes on...
I think it's hilarious that with all of the media hype and preparation for this, not to mention it being a major historical moment in sports history.. The one and only main head on camera that was allowed to film this had "technical difficulty" and broke down mid way through his speech. With the entire world watching. Haha. Someone better have gotten fired for that.
i think he did a great job right up until he became indignant about the press following his wife and kids. Maybe he should have thought about that BEFORE he dipped his pen in a series of strange inkwells. But, of course, he wasn't thinking with the big brain. He wanted all the "temptations" and "opportunities" of fame and fortune, but none of the responsibilities. The sins of Tiger truly are between him and his God and him and his wife. It is with them he must make amends and ask forgiveness. That said, he does owe the millions and millions of people who supported him and paid his sponsorships and bought his gear an explanation as to how he could be so deceitful. He has done that. Now let him get his act together and prove himself worthy of his sport.
@Yikes
I don't cheat. My father and grandfather didn't cheat. My brother didn't cheat. MEN don't cheat. A MAN'S word means something and he honors his promises. BOYS cheat. Which are you?
I love how all of you haters are speking up. The man is human, he got caught up in the fame and money and thought that the rules of marriage didn't apply to him -- he wa wrong. He got caught, has paid a significant price and has apologized. Despite him being an athlete, this is a PERSONAL crisis that he and his wife have to deal with. Face it - men cheat, women cheat they cheat more when there's money and fame. Get over it.
Staged - worst acting I have ever seen!!!! Only a poor attempt to keep his sponsors - for now !!!!
I can't wait until he comes back. Golf is not the same without him!
Tiger's statement is obviously part of his therapy. All addiction programs have a stage where you have to apologise to those you have hurt by your actions. that is why the room was full of "friends and business associates".
Hate the sin, but love the sinner.
Only sorry to be caught. This episode was as fake as the statement after the beating he took. If I recall, he was on his way to get diapers, or something, when he had his "accident. That was a lie too.
the only reason he sorry is that he got busted.
As per NY Daily News:
The 950-member Golf Writers Association of America officially boycotted the affair, saying its "presence, without the ability to ask questions, gives credibility to an event that isn't worthy of it."
I think that pretty much sums up this "apology."
He's deeply sorry alright ... deeply sorry that he got caught and now he has to be a lot more careful. What a loser. And his wife is a soulless gold digger. They deserve each other.
To everyone in this comments section saying "who cares about this?" Let me give you a quick answer for you: Obviously you do, you most likely listened/watched the apology, you read this article, read through the comments, and took the time to leave a comment on the board...You can disagree with what Tiger said, did, etc. But don't say you don't care when you obviously do...And this is coming from someone who hated the apology
oooh the horrors and pain BILLIONS of people in the world must be suffering because of those whores Tiger Woods dealt with. Oh my! please no more! Please tell these courts to consider the death penalty. He's a threat to society. I cannot get married and have children because of this catastrophe. All I want is a whore; ...im a crimminal because of TIGER WOODS!!!. The continuous pain i'm suffering because of this ordeal.
Okay, okay! We get it, Tige. Now go do the other two things you do best: Play golf and shut up.
Charlie, no because every sucker is watching it right now which is boosting ratings which advertisers pay for spots around which brings the networks ridiculous money. No, Tiger Woods is not paying them, the networks are grateful for the boosted ratings.
FUTW stands for Family Unit Terrorized by Woods. Or does it?
If Tiger doesn't have the right to have relations with all the women he wants, who does? Give the guy a break!
Tiger is protecting his marketing image. That's it. He's a serial philanderer. Got a porn star pregnant TWICE??? At least 12 women have come forward the they were Tiger's flings. This is not a one time only discretion. I personally don't care, since I don't idolize sports celebrities. But this is to answer the question "why should we care about his personal life?". It's because his personal life was crafted to make him marketable. He might love his wife, and I'm sure he loves his kids (despite almost having them with a porn star). But in the end, this is about money and marketing. That's what makes this sad.
He’s baaaack!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2NQ9HA956I
You know, I don't get why Tiger Woods making a speech for his own pathetic personal behavior is such a BIG NEWS item! I can't believe that this speech has been such a dominant news item, both in anticipation of his speaking out, and now that he has given it, all the stupid analysis that's going into it! I mean, seriously people...get a life and live your own...and just be GOOD to everyone around you! Really!!
If Tiger was sorry his apology would have been more sincere and much sooner after the accident. But it is hard to listen to an apology from a grown man/woman who is a famous athlete, actor/actress, or politican and believe it is sincere. We all know that it was written by their PR Team and handlers to make sure it is perfect.
It is not our place to judge him, for we will all be judged in the end.
He had the audacity to dictate to the press ~ Too bad the press didn't have the audacity to not show up. Really, who gives a rat's ass??!!
Couldn't agree more with the comments. Who cares and he's not sorry. Sorry is for mistakes not calculated acts. How about some attention on our soliders, abused kids and elderly, unemployment and real crisis. Tiger sums up all that is wrong with America. Poor morals, values and emphasis on matters of no meaning.
Everything is about him, for him, to him. He's a morally bankrupt self obsessed jerk. Who cares what happens to him.
Couldn't agree more with the comments. Who cares and he's not sorry. Sorry is for mistakes not calculated acts. How about some attention on our soliders, abused kids and elderly, unemployment and real crisis. Tiger sums up all that is wrong with America. Poor morals, values and emphasis on matters of no meaning.
Here's a huge idea for most of you: Kiss it.
I can't wait for the day I can watch one of the greatest golfers ever back on a course with all this personal crap behind him. Welcome back, Tiger.
Honestly, Tiger's biggets mistake was doing all of this AFTER he was married. His second biggest was getting married in the first place, because he obviously wasn't prepared for it. He would've been better served doing all of this while he was single, then he would be celebrated as a modern-day gigolo. Now he's viewed as a philanderer.
Who cares? Just another adulterer.
He is 1 of the over 50% of couples that have done the same thing.
It is nice to have someone that we all know accept the limelight for the majority.
Who cares. Be consistant,leave Tiger alone.
Who cares!! He isn't any different than a lot of other guys and gals. They don't see it as cheating until they get caught. I personally don't care for sleazy cheats.
Why should I or anyone else give a rat's hankie about
assignation and sorrow in the billionaire'sboy club?
he needs to stop thinking we all care. Tiger who???
He's very sorry that he can't bang models and Perkins' hostesses anymore (or at least, not until he's divorced). Sex addiction is not the problem. Needing to sleep with every woman on this earth--other than his wife--is the problem. Glad Elin wasn't there. She should take the money and go back to Europe.
Tiger is the best golfer ever.. And what his problem is has nothing to do with what a good golfer he is. I am glad he is getting help but feel it is none of anyones business what goes on in his personal life/
yawn - didnt address a thing but demands press stay away from his family.
Does he not realize by his behavor, will result in increased press tracking his every move?
The fact that he wont take questions says it all - he wants everything on his terms (or as everyone calls it "damage control").
Last week I left chocolate on the coffee table. Our pooch ate it...which can be poisonous for her. We had to administer hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting...which was effective...all over the couch.
I WISH I had to apologize for my irresponsible and selfish sexual behavior...instead of this. Wifey would have forgiven me quicker, I'm sure.
Charlie, no because every sucker is watching it right now which is boosting ratings which advertisers pay for spots around which brings the networks ridiculous money. No, Tiger Woods is not paying them, the networks are grateful for the boosted ratings.
I don't understand why he owes the public an apology ... he didn't cheat on US.
I don't care. I'm sad I even clicked on this story but now that I'm here I will at least say let's talk about our Olympians who deserve attention!
Is he paying for all the network coverage??? A load of _rap!
Sleezeball. He's only sorry because he got caught.
Who cares!?