While Jay is still out on a combination of bereavement and sick leave, the two best reads of the day are from Steve Elling of CBS Sports and the Daily News Team. Jay does have some comments at the end of this piece, and sends his best, and thanks everyone for their support, love, prayers, and concern. He’s deeply grateful, and hopes to return full-time by the end of the week.
Elling had this article debunking the FHP, predicting Woods’s return at the Masters, and AT&T dropping Woods: From the piece:
“Just when it seemed like the Woods news had started to die down, AT&T dropped him as a pitchman to end the new year with yet another kick to his ribs. But the intrigue hardly ends there, so please indulge us and follow the ellipses on this train of thought. The communications giant sponsors the AT&T National event, hosted by Woods, and another event at Pebble Beach, making the firm the lone two-tourney title sponsor on the circuit. … Last Thursday, the PGA Tour announced that Woods would not serve as host at AT&T National this year, even though tournaments are like fast-food franchises and are run by individual owners, not by the tour, which has no real power over such decisions. … The tour said it reached the decision to lift Woods as sponsor in concert with his foundation, which runs the tournament, because Woods has taken an indefinite leave from the game and will be unable to handle the host duties. … When asked how that differs from two years ago, when Woods was on the shelf after having knee surgery and skipped attending the event entirely, the tour declined to elaborate further. … Add it all up and the impression is clear: AT&T, a huge player in the tour’s sponsorship pantheon, wanted to sever its ties to Woods across the board.”
However the Tim Finchem, Kultida Woods, and the rest of Team Woods think they can get back to the way things were – by going to ground and hiding, and them acting as though nothing had happened or that the problem was just a brush-off, a blip. The New York Post published this article which includes revealing glimpses into the thinking of Kultida, and by implication, Tiger, his team, and Tim Finchem:
“While the golf superstar had hoped to see their two young children over Christmas, Elin balked, insisting, “He’s not stable enough at the moment,” the friend said.
“They did speak briefly on the phone, but it ended with Elin begging him to seek professional help,” the source said.
“And when Tiger’s mom, Tida, asked to see her grandchildren for Christmas, Elin told her to [mail] her presents.
“Elin feels that Tida is totally against her,” the source said. “[Tida] keeps urging Elin to talk to Tiger and sort things out — as if it was just a silly argument over a trivial matter.
“[Tida] had been telling everyone how ‘Team Woods’ would soon be back together and this all would blow over. That made Elin furious.”
But one of the final straws between the mother and daughter-in-law was when Tida accused Elin of hiring “pretty women” as house staff to try to test her husband amid rumors of infidelity, the friend said.
“Elin blew her top,” the source said.”
So that’s the party line, a disgusting, revolting yet picture-perfect look at exactly how little all of this really matters to Tiger Woods, Tim Finchem, and all those in Woods’s camp. Forget doing what’s right – protect the money, down to the last dollar. No ethics and no accountability: what a way to run a business, what an affront to the virtues golf teaches and represents. They’re not sorry at all.
Tiger and Finchem still refuse to learn from their mistakes, so they repeat them. Have they forgotten? It was the attitude of silence, cover-up, and hoping this would all blow over that got them into this mess in the first place.
Now the best detectives in the world, the tabloids, are putting all their formidable skills and resources into homing in on any high-profile tour player that might have juicy secrets. That’s where Tim Finchem – at the end of the day still confusing making money with doing what’s right – has led the the professional game. Now everyone with a colorful personality will find themselves subjected to increased scrutiny. The tabloids have found an un-mined lode to tap – golfers – and players are rightfully paranoid. Everyone is looking over their shoulder more than ever before, but trusts each other significantly less. Welcome to Fear and Loathing on the PGA Tour.
We warned you Tim Finchem couldn’t handle a serious crisis, and he’s proving it with every bad decision he makes. He is not competent enough to keep secrets from either the tabs or the various network and press investigative I-teams seeking out the truth about more affairs and about PEDs. Whatever’s out there, they are going to find, because they make their living by being better at finding things than anyone could possibly be at hiding them. You know, the best way to avoid scandal to come to light is to avoid getting yourself into those positions in the first place.
That’s why what guys like Elling, Van Sickle, the Post, and the Daily News, and bloggers like Steph Wei and Ryan Ballengee are doing is so important to the story. They’re out there fighting for the truth and representing the voice of every Sports Fan.
Never forget the garbage Kultida, Tim, and Team Tiger are still trying to sell to you: “Team Woods will soon be back together and this will all blow over.” Don’t think they aren’t trying, but now that you know the truth of who and what Tiger really is – is that really what’s best for golf? For society? Not a chance.
