Tiger Woods hysteria

[Lars77]

Over here in Europe most people are shaking their heads in the same manner they did after Americans went ape shit when Janet Jackson flashed her nipple at the superbowl.

One of my big interests when studying North America is the cultural difference, and i think this is a major difference from most European countries. Something happens in America when sex enters into the "family-oriented sphere". I guess Tiger Woods was one of those people who was "trusted" by some Americans to live a good, clean, healthy life by American "family values standards".

It's like squaky clean celebrities are somehow "approved" by these people, and then they go nuts when they feel decieved by the person they decided was of a high moral standing without even knowing that person. But the very same people seem absolutely entranced and wants to know every little piece of info fed to them by the press who switches into high gear.

I'm not saying Americans are stupid or that something like this would not be newsworthy in Europe (it is), but the hysteria and fascination seems to take on a whole other level in America. I seriously doubt that a European athlete would have to set up a whole press conference like Tiger did to apologize to "the nation".

It's actually starting to remind me of the Lewinsky thing.

[L0oniX]

1. Proudly unrec'n ...sick of tiger wood bull shit on DU ...get a life!

[Lars77]

9. It's about a difference in culture that I find interesting, not TW.. nt

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

2. 3 people showed up at his "press" conference.

[tularetom]

7. That's because that's all he invited

I still don't get why he even bothered to have anyone present. He did not take any questions.

I'm not sure he changed anyones opinion of him but at least I'm glad he didn't play the jeebus card.

[spanone]

3. our media is embarrassing ....meanwhile cheney admits his love for torture & media yawns

go figure

[dflprincess]

4. Our corporate owned media is adept at finding non-stories to distract the public

I don't think they even care that a good many people are tuning them out.

What disgusted me was the amount of time two liberal talk hosts (Stephanie Miller & Ed Schultz) spent on this crap today. They should know better.

[JPK]

10. Re: Ed Schultz today

I love Ed but really.....the Tiger shit just droned on and on and on..........Really Ed, your obssesion with him today bordered on something un-natural. If I want the latest on Tiger I'll tune in sport radio or ESPN. Stick to politics. I wasn't able to listen to Steph today.

[dflprincess]

13. Stephanie's show actually went live to Woods' press conference

the only semi saving grace is the rude remarks they made during it. Though even that didn't excuse them covering this crap.

[Kutjara]

5. Not sure there's much of a difference.

Look at the recent feeding frenzy over England Captain John Terry's affair.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1247042/John-Terry-Married-England-captain-affair-team-mate-Wayne-Bridges-partner--launched-legal-cover-up.html

Excuse the link to the rightwing trash rag Daily Mail, but a tabloid story deserves a tabloid link.

[Lars77]

8. I think there's a difference.

In the UK everyone pretty much expects Footballers to behave like drunken idiots. But i think it's more of a thing where people laugh at it because he could do something so stupid. Still, the UK seems to me to be much more celebrity fixated than many other countries. They usually have an entire end wall of the supermarkets full of those pink glossy gossip rags.

Seems to me that in America it's more anger, but then again Europe is more secular.

[JPK]

6. Re: TW's "public apology"......

I live in Jax and am a freelance videographer. Fortunately I had previously booked work but was contacted to work the TW presser. I am so glad I had other work and did not have to suffer through the media circus over at the TPC clubhouse. I've heard from friends that worked it....it was a total CF and media zoo. I personally don't give a shit about his extra curricular activities. In fact, I am in awe that he could keep all that under wraps and play spectacular golf! Either way it goes, divorce or staying together, he's so fucking rich it really won't matter. Tiger could never swing a club again, get divorced and still live better than 99.99999999% of the planet. Why do not feel like I give a shit?

[Garbo 2004]

11. Media driven coverage doesn't equate to what most people actually give a shit about.

Media coverage of Woods, J Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith and other tabloid crap does not equal degree of majority's interests, concerns or "hysteria."

Re: tabloidized media regarding public figures/celebrities....guess you don't consider UK part of Europe?

Also, most of Woods' fortune came from product endorsements & advertising...I'd guess part of his "apology" and attempt at public image rehab may be in large part due to longer term economic interests related to his commercial endeavors and remaining sponsorships.

[Name removed]

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