"I think the first tournament Tiger Woods plays again, wherever it is, will be the biggest media event other than the Obama inauguration in the past 10 or 15 years."
Richard Deitsch reports at SI.com that CBS Sports President Sean McManus is delighted with the prospect Tiger's possible return at the Masters, even though the opening rounds are on ESPN.
The reporter -- taken aback by that claim -- asked if he had heard correctly.
"It is hard to overestimate how much interest there will be," McManus continued. "Tiger Woods is the most famous, most recognized, most accomplished athlete in the world, and his celebrity and prominence is even larger than it was. When you look at the fact that he gave a very simple press statement with no questions and every broadcast and cable news network in America carried it with great interest, I think that is an indication that whatever he does has enormous interest. And whatever he does on the golf course for the first time since Thanksgiving will be of interest to almost every man and women in this country."
Considering that CBS has instructed their guys not to talk Tiger and are notorious for treading carefully during Masters coverage, this comment is a bit silly:
"I don't think there is a lot of reason to dwell on what has happened in the past because it is one of the most exploited and overexposed stories in recent memory. But I will be fascinated to hear what Nick Faldo, Ian Baker-Finch, David Feherty or Jim Nantz, or any of the broadcasters have to say on what Tiger is doing on the course, how he is reacting, how the fans react, how the media reacts, and how his fellow competitors have reacted. Those will all be fascinated stories."
Maybe he means he'll be fascinated to hear if they say anything other than glowing praise?
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 09:14 AM
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (25)
It's "patrons", Sean.
We have two wars going on. Don't blame the Viewers, media cover the story and make it compelling.
We have an world economy on the brink because of bad mortages.
The reporters of today are under funded and under motiveted instead we get a room full of idiots across the street from a closed press conference they could watch on Tivo.
Agreed on Baker-Finch having anything worthwhile to add, never has, never does, never will.
Richard should know that there aren't "fans" at Augusta, just Patrons.
Don't expect a rundown on the mistresses but a little light shed on WTF happened would be nice. Wonder if we'll ever get it? Wouldn't hurt to ask...
A to Q1: yes
A to Q2: getting the hell out of dodge
You're right, of course. The combination of voyeurism and Schadenfreude that has driven this story from Day One has been remarkable to witness, in the manner that a train wreck is a horrible thing to witness, but an impossible thing to take your eyes off of. It surely has been fueled by the celebrity culture that Tiger and his team artfully ginned up for the ten years or so that he's been on the professional sports landscape, but the internet and tabloid media have now morphed into a real beast.
What exactly do you want from golf writers that they aren't giving you? It seems people like to call out golf writers for doing a poor job, but then when reporters report 'hard news,' people in the golf world say they are stooping to the level of TMZ. Maybe it has more to do with the nature of golf, and its lack of controversy, its desire for a pollyanna image, etc., that
http://www.masters.com/en_US/news/articles/2010-03-15/201003151268674188359.html
My girlfriend just said "3d golf wouldn't make her wet..." I dunno, I guess I'll just have to fill in, 'cuz it sounds awesome to me!
-LK
I've got two words for Sean McManus....Wilt Chamberlin.
Woods released a statement that said: "The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta ... The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played."