Today someone from MSNBC called me about Tiger Woods, leading me to do even more research on his current predicament. Normally, I'd have a lot to say, but I think that many of you already know what I am thinking. Tiger may have made a mistake, but he is compounding that mistake with even more mistakes. By avoiding the media and the police, Tiger is turning a molehill into a mountain, giving every hungry reporter, paparazzi and investigative blogger an even bigger bounty to chase down the details of his not-so-perfect private life.

If Tiger had been open and honest from the beginning, the story would have been eaten up by the slow weekend news cycle and the world would be on to something else by now. Instead, Tiger has given the media food for another two weeks, plus even more reason to believe that the excessively private golfer has that much more dirt in his personal endeavors. This is going to be a long year for Tiger Woods, for he needs to simply accept the fact that as hard as he might try, he cannot pretend to be squeaky clean for the rest of his life.

Here is the statement Woods released to the media about the incident that took place that night:

"As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week and sustained some injuries. I have some cuts, bruising and right now I'm pretty sore," Woods' statement read. "This situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again."

In reference to the public speculation, Woods had this to say:

This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible. The only person responsible for the accident is me. My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false. This incident has been stressful and very difficult for Elin, our family and me. I appreciate all the concern and well wishes that we have received. But I would also ask for some understanding that my family and I deserve some privacy no matter how intrusive some people can be.

Below is the audio of the 911 call that was made on the night of Tiger Woods' car accident.




I am admittedly baffled at Tiger's incredibly flawed PR strategy. Simply releasing a statement on your website that provides no additional insight in to the situation and shunning the public in to leaving you alone is in stark contradiction to the fact that you've spent the last 10 years of your life begging for the public's attention. I respect Tiger Woods a great deal, and I admire his focus, but the truth of the matter is that as intelligent as Tiger might be, you can never trick the game of love and you can never make the public believe the image that you'd like them to see. The world is watching you closely, Tiger, whether you like it or not.


Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.