Tiger talked – and mere moments after the golfing great completed his very public apology, the public was already talking back.

Tiger Woods’ 13-1/2 minute mea culpa for cheating on his wife and disappointing legions of fans was aired live Friday on dozens of broadcast networks, cable news outlets and online streams, allowing millions to tune in.

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos called the speech “one of the most remarkable public apologies ever by a public figure.”

“He (Tiger) left nothing on the table,” Stephanopoulos said. “This is a man who has thought a lot about what he did.”

Rick Cerrone, former New York Yankees public relations director, disagreed. “What I saw was arrogance. … It was basically an infomercial,” he said on CNN.

CBS’ David Feherty, who has covered Woods on the circuit, said, “I have never seen him appear so vulnerable. … I was very impressed with what he said.”

“The vast number of people just want their Tiger Woods back,” Feherty said.

Harvey Levin, head of TMZ, gave Tiger an A for effort.

“Obviously I watched,” he wrote on Twitter. “I think he hit the right notes. In a big way. He’s not converting everyone today, but this is the foundation. An A!”

At least one celebrity wasn’t letting Woods off so easily.

“Tiger, wa, wa, wa!” tweeted Patti Stanger, relationship expert and star of Bravo’s “The Millionaire Matchmaker.” “That was a ploy to save sponsors. I can read body language. He’s not sorry. I bet he called [alleged mistress] Rachel Uchitel this morning.”

“Saturday Night Live” head writer Seth Meyers had a lighter critique of Woods’ speech. “To come out of this scandal and still be named valedictorian is an amazing accomplishment for Tiger,” he tweeted.

With News Wire Services

source=http://www.nydailynews.com

Good morning, and thank you for joining me. Many of you in this room are my friends. Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered for me or you’ve worked with me or you’ve supported me.

Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.

I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish. People want to know how I could have done these things to my wife, Elin, and to my children. And while I have always tried to be a private person, there are some things I want to say.

Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss; however, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us.

I am also aware of the pain my behavior has caused to those of you in this room. I have let you down, and I have let down my fans. For many of you, especially my friends, my behavior has been a personal disappointment. To those of you who work for me, I have let you down personally and professionally. My behavior has caused considerable worry to my business partners.

To everyone involved in my foundation, including my staff, board of directors, sponsors and most importantly, the young students we reach, our work is more important than ever. Thirteen years ago, my dad and I envisioned helping young people achieve their dreams through education. This work remains unchanged and will continue to grow. From the Learning Center students in Southern California to the Earl Woods scholars in Washington, D.C., millions of kids have changed their lives, and I am dedicated to making sure that continues.

But still, I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position.

For all that I have done, I am so sorry.

I have a lot to atone for, but there is one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that. Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame.

The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame.

I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn’t apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn’t have to go far to find them.

I was wrong. I was foolish. I don’t get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. 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.

I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I’ve done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It’s now up to me to make amends and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I’ve made. It’s up to me to start living a life of integrity.

I once heard, and I believe it’s true, it’s not what you achieve in life that matters; it’s what you overcome. Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count.

Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology. I want to say to them that I am truly sorry.

It’s hard to admit that I need help, but I do. For 45 days from the end of December to early February, I was in inpatient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I’m facing. I have a long way to go. But I’ve taken my first steps in the right direction.

As I proceed, I understand people have questions. I understand the press wants to ask me for the details and the times I was unfaithful. I understand people want to know whether Elin and I will remain together. Please know that as far as I’m concerned, every one of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me. These are issues between a husband and a wife.

Some people have made up things that never happened. They said I used performance-enhancing drugs. This is completely and utterly false. Some have written things about my family. Despite the damage I have done, I still believe it is right to shield my family from the public spotlight. They did not do these things; I did.

I have always tried to maintain a private space for my wife and children. They have been kept separate from my sponsors, my commercial endorsements. When my children were born, we only released photographs so that the paparazzi could not chase them. However, my behavior doesn’t make it right for the media to follow my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter to school and report the school’s location. They staked out my wife and they pursued my mom. Whatever my wrongdoings, for the sake of my family, please leave my wife and kids alone.

I recognize I have brought this on myself, and I know above all I am the one who needs to change. I owe it to my family to become a better person. I owe it to those closest to me to become a better man. That’s where my focus will be.

I have a lot of work to do, and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it. Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don’t realize it, but I was raised a Buddhist, and I actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously, I lost track of what I was taught.

As I move forward, I will continue to receive help because I’ve learned that’s how people really do change. Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy. I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I’m making these remarks today.

In therapy, I’ve learned the importance of looking at my spiritual life and keeping in balance with my professional life. I need to regain my balance and be centered so I can save the things that are most important to me — my marriage and my children.

That also means relying on others for help. I’ve learned to seek support from my peers in therapy, and I hope someday to return that support to others who are seeking help. I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don’t know when that day will be.

I don’t rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game. In recent weeks, I have received many thousands of e-mails, letters and phone calls from people expressing good wishes. To everyone who has reached out to me and my family, thank you. Your encouragement means the world to Elin and me.

I want to thank the PGA Tour, Commissioner Finchem and the players for their patience and understanding while I work on my private life. I look forward to seeing my fellow players on the course.

Finally, there are many people in this room, and there are many people at home who believed in me. 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.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Golf Channel will deliver wall-to-wall coverage of Tiger Woods’ statement to the media on Friday, Feb. 19, with the network’s reporters on-site at Ponte Vedra Beach, its Orlando studios and in Arizona at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Golf Channel and GolfChannel.com’s live coverage will begin at 10:30 a.m. ET, followed by Woods’ statement to the media at 11 a.m. ET. Kraig Kann, Brandel Chamblee and Charlie Rymer will anchor coverage from the network’s Orlando studios, joined by Rich Lerner and Steve Sands from Ponte Vedra Beach and Jim Gray and Frank Nobilo from the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Golf Channel’s coverage is scheduled to include:

* Interviews with PGA TOUR Professionals prior to Woods’ statement.

* Look-ins to the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship for player reaction during Woods’ statement.

* Interviews and reaction from PGA TOUR Professionals immediately following Woods’ statement.

GolfChannel.com’s editorial coverage will include reports from Jay Coffin and Randall Mell on-site at Ponte Vedra Beach and Rex Hoggard from Arizona.

During the network’s Golf Central Pre Game show at 1:30 p.m. ET, Kelly Tilghman and Nick Faldo will provide reaction from the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, and Golf Channel contributor John Feinstein will join the show in-studio.

Golf Channel Friday Airtimes (All times Eastern)

9 – 10:30 a.m.
Honda PTT LPGA Thailand (Second Round, TD)

10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Golf Central Special: Tiger Woods

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Allianz Championship (Round One, Live)

1:30 – 2 p.m.
Golf Central Pre Game

2 – 6 p.m.
WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship (Day Three, Live)

6 – 6:30 p.m.
Golf Central (Live)

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun (Round Two, TD)

While we don’t know what Tiger Woods will say at his press conference today (11 a.m. ET, streaming live from FOXSports.com), but a fellow golfer says he knows who will be there with him.

Fellow PGA Tour player Brad Faxon says NBA legend Michael Jordan will be in attendance to show support for Tiger.

But more telling is that Faxon says Woods’ wife Elin will not be there.

“I know Michael Jordan’s going to be there. I know Elin is not going to be there. … I think Tiger really wants some friends there. That’s why this thing is really a mystery to me,” Faxin said by phone in a radio interview on WEEI in Boston this morning.

One group of people who definitely won’t be there are members of the Golf Writers Association of America, who voted to boycott the event over not being allowed to ask questions.
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While we don’t know what Tiger Woods will say at his press conference today (11 a.m. ET, streaming live from FOXSports.com), but a fellow golfer says he knows who will be there with him.

Fellow PGA Tour player Brad Faxon says NBA legend Michael Jordan will be in attendance to show support for Tiger.

But more telling is that Faxon says Woods’ wife Elin will not be there.

“I know Michael Jordan’s going to be there. I know Elin is not going to be there. … I think Tiger really wants some friends there. That’s why this thing is really a mystery to me,” Faxin said by phone in a radio interview on WEEI in Boston this morning.

One group of people who definitely won’t be there are members of the Golf Writers Association of America, who voted to boycott the event over not being allowed to ask questions.

So here we go. At last we will hear Tiger Woods publicly address the media today at 11:00 a.m. EST during a press conference. Actually more of a public statement as Tiger will not take any questions from media. But the question is…does whatever he spouts out really matter? From what I’ve seen in the past athletes who mess up one way or the other never start to repair their public image until a public apology is made. No matter whether Tiger deserves his privacy or not when it comes down to it he is a public figure and the fans need to hear him address the topic of his infidelity.
Tiger Woods Practices Near His Home In Orlando

Although I think his life off the golf course should stay separate from his accomplishments in golf it’s a different story when Tiger profits from sponsorships that make him out to be a golden boy. Years ago Charles Barkley stated “I am not a role model” during a Nike commercial. He was right. Barkley didn’t pretend to be something he was not. He got in referees faces during games, got in confrontations with other players and got thrown out of games. Those aren’t things a role model does.

Tiger on the other hand had a meticulously crafted public image. One that would get him the most money from advertisers. One that had him in magazines with the “perfect” family. Beautiful wife, two kids, dogs, etc. Happily ever after, right? An image that every advertiser wanted when it came to picking a face for their brand. Well, that well crafted image came crashing down after the Thanksgiving weekend incident with Tiger driving his SUV off the road. From there it was a whirlwind for the next two to three weeks with all the mistresses that were lining up to claim they had been with Tiger.

Personally I do not care what Tiger Woods says today in his press conference. In my eyes he’s a golfer. A great golfer. I watched golf tournaments to see the great shots that he made and appreciate his game. I never bought a product because Tiger Woods endorsed it so I don’t think he owes me any sort of apology. But I do see where the rest of the world and the golfing society feels Tiger needs to answer for what he’s done. He duped them and the companies that gave him millions to be part of their advertising campaigns.

I don’t see advertisers signing him on anytime soon but I’m sure it will eventually happen. By the end of his career he’ll sure to be considered the best golfer to ever play the game. Over time the infidelity story will take a back seat if he can win a few majors and companies will sign him onto represent their brand. But remember he is not a role model.
source=http://www.gather.com

Miss America 2010 zipped along like a reality show Saturday, except much much faster. “After the break, 39 will be eliminated,” host Mario Lopez promised early on. Think if most TV competitions moved at such a clip.

The venerable contest has deteriorated to such a point that nobody seemed to mind that the Top 15 was made up of three viewer votes, one was selected from among the other girls and 11 by the judges, one of whom was Rush Limbaugh.

The talent was mostly a lot of opera singing and dancing. One played piano. Proud parents basked in pride in the audience; paying for years of lessons had paid off.

Alas, there were no YouTube moments. Nobody fell down (though one slid a bit in her evening gown). And though the questions posed to the finalists were contemporary enough to name both Tiger Woods and Simon Cowell, they were pretty benign as well.

Winner Caressa Cemeron, Miss Virginia, was asked how to fight obesity in the young. Turn off the TV and take them outside, she said.

Done and done.

Country singer Darius Rucker said he’ll be depressed on Feb. 7.

What? How could he?

Rucker had a 20-year run as lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish and now has become a rising country star.

He already has three No. 1 songs on his debut country album “Learn to Live.” He’s on a national tour with megagroup Rascal Flatts. And he recently won the Country Music Association New Artist of the Year Award.

“It’s going to be a big letdown for me around 10 p.m. that night,” Rucker said slowly. “That’s when football season will end, after the Super Bowl. See, there are two times of the year: football season and waiting for football season. Why can’t they play pro football Wednesday through Sunday?”

Rucker, who was raised in South Carolina, is a huge sports fan and has met a lot of athletes on the road. In fact, pro wrestler Ric Flair does a video introduction to Rucker’s performance on tour, and the Nike-adorned Rucker has played golf with Tiger Woods.

In the past handful of years, Rucker has gotten addicted to fantasy football and actually won this year’s title over his band and crew. “I wear this ‘Fantasy Football Legend’ T-shirt on tour just to rub it in,” he said.

Rucker traditionally heads to the Super Bowl to watch in person, but he’ll be off for a few days from the tour and will spend time with his family at home.

Rucker, who is married and has a couple of children, has a room in his house called the “Man Room,” with six TVs ranging from 42 inches to 70 inches.

“We’re just going to sit there and watch,” he said. “I hope it’s a good game. In my heart, I don’t really care who wins. But I think the Colts probably will do it.”

This day’s Patriots Ravens match is not a replay of the game in week seventeen. In this particular case, the Patriots-Ravens encounter is a replay of the match of week four rather. Which may be a really bad signal for the Baltimore?

The day before, both the Cow-boys & Jets have beaten up their oppositions for the 2nd straight week, as there was no retaliation for the unsuccessful squads. By that particular pattern of the game, Baltimore would not be getting revenge against the New-England squad for their very 1st loss of the entire season. Nonetheless, the Patriots-Ravens match till yet carries with it, a plenty of uncertainty.

The Patriots ar again back within the play-offs for the very 1st time from way back since their very famed year 2008 Super-Bowl loss. As well, T. Brady has his 1st play-off match from the time of his year 2008 accidental injury, but he comes in a bit deficient. With W. Welker all out for the post-season, the New-England must finally go back to the Super-Bowl with no leading pass receiver within the football game.

As Luck Would Have It, for them, the Patriots-Ravens encounter is in Fox-boro, where the New-England has never lost the whole year. That is inclusive of their encounter within the week four, in which Balti-more did lose aft, M. Clayton dropped a 4th pass down within the red zone. Aft. that, the Ravens kept on losing some really really close matches till the time that they virtually missed the play-offs completely.

Patriots Ravens