Since his car accident on Nov. 27, Tiger Woods has been at the center of a media firestorm. Rumors have been swirling around Woods as to why he crashed his car early that Friday morning.
Coverage of the accident has expanded beyond Woods’ usual stomping grounds on ESPN and the Golf Channel. Now, Tiger is finding himself on CNN and Fox News, as every major news outlet wants a piece of the story. The biggest news so far is how little Woods has said publicly about the crash. Of course, his hesitance to speak on the issue has become a story in itself. His request to keep this matter private would be perfectly understandable if he were not one of the most popular and highest paid athletes in the world. When someone is that well known, some things just cannot be kept private.
Woods is paid to be seen. Like most athletes, he is a celebrity. He receives truckloads of cash from Nike and Gatorade because he is one of the most recognizable people on the planet. There is no question that he had to become the best player in the world to get there, but that does not mean he is off the hook when it comes to any personal misfortune.
Woods is not the first prolific athlete to face media scrutiny for possible foul play. A Detroit Tigers’ outfielder did not get any privacy when there were reports of an altercation with his wife. Kobe Bryant did not get any privacy during his rape case in 2003. In fact, none of the athletes who show up on Deadspin in compromising positions seem to have much privacy. It is part of the job description to be a part of the public eye when an athlete gets paid millions upon millions of dollars to play a game.
With Woods’ case, many people have accused the media of violating his privacy when they should be leaving him alone and taking him at his word. It is important to remember that it is not in the best interest of reporters to let negative stories just go away. When the world’s best golfer gets into a car accident at 2:30 in the morning, it is a story. When it may possibly be tied to infidelity and an angry golf club-swinging wife, it becomes the non-stop media juggernaut that now graces the airwaves.
The public should not feel so bad for these professional athletes. They are incredibly talented and make more than enough money to provide for their family. But when stars mess up, they need to recognize that they are not just like everyone else. Whether or not it is fair for athletes to be under more media scrutiny is not up for question. It is a part of the job which is otherwise filled with incredible perks. So Tiger Woods should not be surprised or indignant about reporters starting to pry into his private life. In sports, privacy goes away with anonymity.
You can reach this columnist at slindauer@theeagleonline.com
