Does everyone have a right to their own privacy? Absolutely but the game changes when you’re in the spotlight.
I’m not going to excuse the behaviour of Tiger Woods. His transgressions are morally and ethically wrong. But is it really our business?
The public have this week reconfirmed their insatiable appetite for drama and scandal involving high profile people.
The wake up call for Tiger and every high profile athlete around the world is obvious. The lines between athlete and celebrity are blurred and have been for a while now. These days people are not only interested in how you perform your talent, but they are interested in how you live your life.
Sometimes this sucks, but its reality.
One prominent Australian who can probably relate to what Tiger Woods is going through is former NRL player and media personality Matthew Johns. Earlier this year, Johns was hammered in the Australian media for an incident that happened years ago. By the time the public put their swords away, the common feeling towards Johns was one of remorse. Looking back, the majority of people thought he was hard done by. Yes the same people who at the time poured petrol on the media’s fire.
The media know the public are gagging for these kind of scandals. So from now on, they’re not going to sit around and wait for someone to kiss and tell. They’re going to chase it. And chase it hard.
Athletes beware. Your private life is someone else’s gateway to a big pay day. Michael Phelps learnt that last year and now its Tiger’s turn.
Tags: Matthew Johns, Michael, Michael Phelps, NRL, Tiger Woods
I do agree, but for slightly different reasons. I think as soon as the sporting star cashes an endorsement cheque he is in fact being paid by the customers of that endorsing company. If he/she wants to take their money, he/she will be subjected to their over the top interest. Anyone who has ever purchased a Gatorade, anything Nike etc. have contributed to the ‘Tiger fund’, believing that he was who he said he was. Those companies paying him the big bucks deserve to know if he’s not living up to his end of the bargain (i.e. being who he says he is). If he doesn’t live up to his end of the bargain, I believe they are absoulutely entitled to terminate their contract with him.
The tip, I believe, is for athletes not to pretend they’re someone they’re not. Too often they are coached into being like robots and that will never work because in this digital age, eventually they’ll get found out. Look at John Daly, his honesty was so refreshing and scandals never hurt his reputation. He is who he is!
“It sucks, but it’s reality”. Of that I agree entirely!
Thanks for your comment Denver.
You make some strong points. Personally I don’t buy products he endorses because he is a family man, I buy them because of what he represents on the golf course. Winner, talented, determined, focused, the best etc.
But I appreciate not everyone shops the way I do.
I agree with the “be yourself” comments. Spot on.