Tiger Woods-Is a Public Apology Enough?

In the case of Tiger Woods, a public figure, a golf icon, is a public apology enough for his numerous episodes of infidelities? On Feb 19, 2010, Tiger Woods offered a ten minute public statement regarding his years of numerous infidelities and so called public betrayal to his family, friends, golf colleagues, and fans. All the mainstream television stations and ESPN preempted scheduled shows to show Tiger Wood's ten minute statement reading.

Tiger Woods is just one of many public figures, considered one of our heroes, who've fallen off their public made pedestals into debauchery by selfish, self-centered behaviors. Tiger Woods is one of many public figures who've given a public apology after immoral or scandalous behaviors are exposed. Is their public apologies enough?

Does Tiger Woods even owe us a public apology because of his personal indiscretions, many as they may have allegedly been? Due to the fact that Tiger Woods is a public figure does he owe us a public apology because of behaviors that affected his wife and family? Did Tiger Woods really do anything to affect us, the public? Did Tiger Woods let us down, ruin our personal lives?

The public and the media have created heroes out of sports figures, music figures, actors, and politicians. These public figures entertain and serve us, and because we spend hard earned money to support them, we've expected these figures to uphold certain standards and follow certain moral codes. The responsibilities of being placed in the hero role in the public eye can affect human ego and expose frailties that go along with it. Tiger Woods is just one of the public figures who couldn't handle the massive power and ego the public eye handed to him. Tiger Woods today admitted he followed the wrong path in his personal life due to this great power, admitting he committed numerous acts of adultery. Is the public to blame? Do we owe a public apology to Tiger Woods for placing him in this mighty position on a pedestal?

Adultery isn't the only issue Tiger Woods and some other public figures have dealt with. Tiger Woods admitted during his statement today that he's seeking professional help for his faults and the damage he dealt on his wife and family. Infidelity is a marital issue, based on lies and trust issues. Does Tiger Woods need to apologize to the public due to these personal issues? The public assumes Tiger Woods owes them answers to questions. The public wants details with a public apology. Tiger Woods said today the answers to numerous questions are going to be kept secret between his wife and himself. Does the public really need to know what happened in Tiger Wood's marriage because we considered him a public hero figure?

Gossip magazines are stocked on store shelves. Entertainment Tonight, Extra, The Insider, and, Access Hollywood are just a few highly rated television shows based on the public's thirst to find out more details about the personal lives of our self-inducted heroes. The public are curious seeking individuals and expect our so-called named heroes, in the example of Tiger Woods, to give us answers, personal or not. Where should the line be drawn that tells the public enough already? When should the public bow out, back down, and mind our business?

Personally I believe Tiger Woods is a sore excuse for a husband, to say the least, but I'm not married to him. Professionally he remains one of the greatest golf figures. The golf world believes Tiger Woods let them down, marred the sport. Tiger Woods has lost sponsors because of his damaged clean cut public image.

Elin Nordegren, Tiger Wood's wife, the one Tiger failed the most, is the only person I believe is owed a private apology. Elin Nordegren has taken the higher road in the public eye, remaining silent, showing a dignified front, continuing to take care of their children. Elin Nordegren is the only person who should expect answers from Tiger Woods.

Tiger Wood's alleged mistresses who crawled out of their immoral gutters yelling foul against Tiger Woods and demanding public apologies are owed nothing. They of all people realized who Tiger Woods was and his public stance. They alone made the decision to be with Tiger Woods. They weren't forced and they're owed nothing for shaming Tiger's wife, Elin Nordegren. And I'm sure she doesn't want or need to hear their public apologies.

Tiger Woods fell into a hornets nest by his wrong personal decisions. Being a public figure his actions were eventually going to be exposed to the public's eye, as previous public figures have stood on a platform offering public apologies. I don't know if public apologies are enough, but then again I don't know if a public apology is due the public for matters of personal indiscretion. The story will go on, with more public figures I'm sure standing where Tiger Woods stood today.

The End.