FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
He's the most recognizable name in sports and arguably the greatest golfer who ever lived. But Tiger Woods has a problem.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/30/art.tiger.woods.jpg caption="Tiger Woods has canceled plans to attend his own golf tournament."]
Woods earns millions playing golf and hundreds of millions more in endorsements. One estimate has him as the first billionaire sports star. The mind-boggling endorsement money is based in part on Woods' squeaky clean image and his ability to persuade the rest of us to buy the products he's selling.
But last week a tabloid alleged that Woods has been having an affair with a New York nightclub hostess. According to the Associated Press - the woman has denied having an affair with Woods.
Then last Friday at 2:25 in the morning, Tiger crashed his SUV leaving his driveway - hitting a fire hydrant and then a tree. The neighbor who called 911 said Woods was unconscious at the scene of the accident, and police said he had cuts and bruises on his face. He was taken to the hospital and treated and released.
For three days Woods refused to meet with state police to talk about what happened. He still hasn't and he's not legally obligated to.
The airbags on his car didn't deploy, but his face was cut and swollen. Police say when they arrived they found Woods' wife over him - claiming to have broken out the rear window of his SUV with a golf club to help him escape.
Then yesterday a terse statement from Woods on his web site saying it is all a private matter and nobody else's business.
Finally - late this afternoon, word that Woods has canceled plans to attend his own golf tournament in California because of his injuries.
Here’s my question to you: Does Tiger Woods owe anyone an explanation?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Steve from Florida writes:
Any other citizen of this country would certainly have to speak with at least the police. He was in a traffic accident, Jack. He destroyed public property. He had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance. There are multiple signs and indications that this was a case of domestic violence. Why does this man get to take a 3 or 4 day nap first? Because he's good at playing some game? It's absurd.
Jeff from Connecticut writes:
Absolutely not, not to the public and definitely not to the "news" hounds who can't seem to find anything substantial going on in the world to report on. Tiger Woods’ private life is none of my business and it's none of yours.
Mike from Luling, Louisiana writes:
No, he doesn't owe us an explanation. But, he has stated that as a 10-year-old, he had a poster of Jack Nicklaus in his room and he emulated him. Imagine the kids out there now who are Internet-savvy and fans of Woods, trying to emulate him, now they're cruising the web and reading the stories. This is the sad part, that this is Tiger's debt to his young fans: be honest. Own up and come clean before your young fans stop calling you Tiger and begin calling you Cheetah.
Jim from Ohio writes:
If people cared as much about health care, we would have universal coverage by now. He doesn't owe anyone an explanation. It seems he gave his wife an explanation that she didn't care for.
Kevin from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania writes:
I'm not a lawyer. I'm not a P.R. guy. And I'm not a journalist. But I am a golfer and a big-time Tiger Woods fan. I look at it this way: If he had a fight with his wife, left in a huff and ran into a fire hydrant and a tree, just say so. Everyone would get that. He doesn't have to tell anyone what the fight was about.
Buddy from Illinois writes:
Jack, He certainly doesn't owe the general public any explanation. However, I can't get the image of a man fleeing a golf club-wielding wife out of my head.