This Week in Idiocy: Jemele Hill

First, link.

For the first time in his career, his personal life is a far bigger attraction than his golf achievements. It’s unusual for a one-car crash — in which Woods managed the hat trick of somehow hitting a fire hydrant and careening into a tree while leaving his own driveway — to elicit this much attention, but when the accident reportedly might be linked to an altercation with his wife over a possible affair, it becomes the paparazzi’s highest priority.

This isn’t true…when Tiger’s father died and Tiger missed the cut at the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot, Earl Woods was the bigger story.  When Tiger won at Hoylake and he had the memorable tears in his eyes during victory, that was the bigger story.

Before you TALK golf, you must KNOW golf.

So far, Woods has handled his greatness with incredible aplomb and grace. He usually says and does the right things, makes the right moves, whether we’re talking club selection or business.

But the controversy Woods is in the throes of now is unlike anything he’s ever faced. This incident isn’t going to just blow over. Winning the U.S. Open with an injured knee is going to look easy compared to what he and his family will face in the coming weeks.

And like the rest of his career, he handled this well.

Believe it or not, this isn’t his biggest hurdle.  He was the first African American to win the Masters, at Augusta National, the legendarily lily white club where the only color they like that isn’t white is green.  Facing death threats and the pressure of breaking a color barrier is MILES away from having to deal with TMZ and Alan Shipnuck.

Woods is naive if he believes the carefully constructed statement he released Sunday on his Web site is going to put an end to the speculation, the Internet rumors and the tabloid stories. In fact, it’s going to get worse.

A lot worse.

OH NOES!!!  Not internet rumors!!!  Not tabloids!!!

Woods’ request for privacy became irrelevant the moment the conjecture began that there might have been a conflict between Woods and his wife on Thanksgiving over last week’s National Enquirer story about an affair. Nothing has been verified, though TMZ.com reported Monday that the Florida Highway Patrol is seeking a search warrant for hospital records to investigate the probable cause of Woods’ injuries — a report the FHP doesn’t confirm. But at this point, confirmation doesn’t matter. What matters is the speculation that the rumored conflict was the reason not only for Woods’ hasty late-night departure, but also for his refusal so far to be interviewed by the Highway Patrol.

Jemele said it herself…FACTS DON’T MATTER, WHAT DOES IS SPECULATION!!!

Who cares if the FHP has pretty much given up following up with this case?  RAMPANT BASELESS SPECULATION!!!

As of now, Woods doesn’t have to explain anything to the police or the public; and truthfully, it’s in his best interest to keep quiet unless he wants whatever happened in his Orlando home prior to the accident to become a matter of public record.

Good point.  You should stop here.

But whether or not these rumors of infidelity and a wild argument with his wife are true, there’s now a media bounty on Woods’ head — or rather, his marriage. Every tabloid — and probably some mainstream media outlets — is going to comb through Woods’ personal life, playing the “Let’s see if we can catch the married guy” game. It happened to Roger Clemens. Once Clemens was linked to steroids, the allegations that he engaged in a 10-year affair with country singer Mindy McCready — a tryst that reportedly started when McCready was 15 years old — came soon after. If Woods has so much as winked at a woman who isn’t his wife, Anderson Cooper is going to do a 30-minute special on CNN.

Are you new here?

Tiger has known that the media is out for him since the day he turned pro.  He goes to incredible lengths to have some privacy, rarely going out in public to high profile events, not granting interviews…and guess what?  It’s worked incredibly well.  If anything, the media at large just completely pissed away the insignificant access they already had.  Now?  I’d be shocked if you hear a single fucking thing from the man himself.

The intensely private Woods isn’t used to any of this. He’s used to controlling the media’s access and manipulating how the media covers him. He’s used to going to golf news conferences, saying absolutely nothing and occasionally entertaining golf writers with a corny joke. If he is criticized, he’s used to those criticisms as being centered on golf, not his merits as a father or husband.

But now Woods has given the media a new, sexier story to track — Tiger Woods, Lothario?

How is he not used to this?  Remember his famous GQ interview where he told racially and sexually charged jokes?  Sure, they were relatively benign, but his image took a minor hit and he bottled up.  He’s used to controlling the media, sure, over things that actually have merit.  This?  This does not.  What does he care if a bunch of unsubstantiated rumors flutter about?

And if someone really wants to base a series of posts or articles based off of completely baseless rumors, like from TMZ, well, that’s their problem.  But all you end up doing is looking like a total jackass.

I don’t anticipate Woods will lose any endorsements over this, but it’s already dramatically changed the way Woods is viewed; and it isn’t implausible that it will impact him on the golf course, particularly if it balloons into a larger legal issue. According to his agent, Woods has already dropped out of his own golf tournament, the Chevron World Challenge beginning Thursday in Thousand Oaks, Calif., because of his injuries.

Woods’ calling card is discipline and mental toughness, but it’s an entirely different scenario when “Entertainment Tonight” and “Access Hollywood” are camped out on the 18th hole. Woods was one of those athletes whose business was rarely in the streets, but you can bet folks will be rushing to tell media outlets what they know now.

First off, there’s no way this balloons into a larger legal issue because it was a single car accident with no victim, and even a potential spousal abuse issue is irrelevant because he hasn’t pressed charges.

Second, Tiger’s only place to escape is a golf couse.  It’s where he feels most comfortable and where he can do his thing and escape without having to worry about the ET and Access Hollywood people because guess what?  They wouldn’t even be let into the tournament.

And what “people” are going to rush to the media outlets?  Mark O’Meara?  Jasper Parnevik?  John Cook?  Charles Howell III?  These are his closest friends, the guys he lives near and have been with his entire career.  Nobody even knows Tiger Woods except for these guys, and you think THEY’RE going to run to TMZ with juicy stories?

Some athletes, such as Derek Jeter, might be able to handle that kind of scrutiny. Others, such as Tony Romo, are affected by the intense interest in their personal affairs. It can become a huge distraction. I’m sure Alex Rodriguez doesn’t miss answering questions about his divorce and alleged infidelities, and Romo surely didn’t enjoy the use of those photos of him vacationing in Cabo with Jessica Simpson during the Cowboys’ bye week two years ago to suggest he wasn’t focused on football.

Tony Romo and Alex Rodriguez.  Two guys known for their COMPLETE LACK of mental toughness.

Tiger Woods.  A guy pretty much exclusively known for his mental toughness.

Great comparisons.

When a professional athlete’s private sanctum is constantly violated, it takes a toll. I also live in Orlando and can tell you that Woods enjoys a carefree existence here. He’s not bothered when he’s out socializing or when he goes about his daily business. He’s mostly treated like just another resident.

Right, because Orlando’s population is 50% retarded, PBR swilling hillbillies and 50% professional golfers.  This is true…look at the census reports.

Life has changed permanently for Woods. We’ll see if he can handle it. At the very least, he has learned two painful lessons: This is the downside to having a marriage in the spotlight, and fame is almost always give-and-take.

Did Michael Jordan’s life change when similarly baseless speculation ran rampant about his gambling and infedelity?  Nope.

Did Derek Jeter’s life change amidst rumors of an STD?  Don’t think so.

Remember when Andre Aggasi ADMITTED he did meth and threw games?  Something much more damning than a POTENTIAL affair?  Sure, but I doubt you’re losing sleep over it anymore.

Here’s my point.

Tiger doesn’t give a flying fuck about this.  If he really did, he’d probably do what you and your disgusting brand of fellow journalists want and say something.  But what does he have to gain from that?

You say that you want him to say something, anything.  Yet all that would accomplish is giving you more fodder to write bullshit about him.  Tiger knows how to use the media to his advantage and how to get the press off his back.  If the only shit we know about this is from the statement he released, then that’s the end of it.  There’s nothing more to say and everyone can move on because, well, what else can you possibly do?

And even then, you base your entire article around your “FACT” that Tiger cheated.  You even went so far as to infer that he’s a lothario.  If that’s TRULY the case, why would his alleged mistress lawyer up and go through such pains to ensure that people understand that she DIDN’T have an affair with him?  Don’t you think a woman of her stature, who throughout her life has sought out the spotlight, would revel in something like this?  Yet she vehemently denies any and all contact.

Listen, Jemele, you’re not a capable writer.  You constantly ignore details and facts in order to make a point that’s way over your head, just like this article.  Perhaps next time, you should do some actual research on the subject before wading into murky waters.  But that would require actual work, so I guess you’ll just pass.