Tiger Woods Should Speak from the Heart, Not from a Prepared Statement

If Tiger Woods really wants to make amends for the people he's hurt and let down with his behavior, he should speak from the heart and not from some antiseptic, contrived piece of paper probably scripted by one of his handlers.

As Bleacher Report's own Editor-in-Chief Joe Yanarella told me, "If it reads anything like A-Rod's forced, scripted statement that was awkward, uncomfortable, and felt like he was struggling to read the highly-paid words of a PR spin doctor, it's going to be a disaster."

And I couldn't agree more.

Now, we don't know for sure yet what that statement is going to say. All jokes aside, he may actually admit that he was wrong and that it was his fault.

But if not, and he instead blames others for his missteps or he simply says we're not here to talk about that past, then the whole thing will be a complete and utter waste of time.

Haven't these celebrities learned from others' mistakes by now? I mean, consider how foolish former major league baseball slugger Mark McGwire came off with his recent statements.

McGwire continues to insist that his steroid use did not improve his ability to hit home runs and that he only did it for health reasons.

Right, and I am the easter bunny.

Hey, sometimes honesty truly is the best policy.

I know that there are people who are paid huge sums of money to derive these statements and that I am no expert on these matters, but I believe that Tiger should simply come out and say something similar to the following:

"I made mistakes that were my own fault, and I lived my life in a way which didn't begin to compare to the image that was created. Much of what you have heard about is true. I was unfaithful to my wife and was not the family man that my PR people portrayed me as. And, in the process, I seriously disappointed my family, my fans, and my sponsors. For that, words alone cannot express how truly remorseful I am for being such a jerk.

I will make every attempt to be a better person going forward, but now I need to go play the game of golf because that is what I do. I understand if you never want to be my fan again, but I sincerely hope that you will forgive me."

Instead, I fear we will hear some pile of garbage about how the media has blown everything out of proportion and that it wasn't his fault due to his "sickness". He will probably say it's a personal family matter and to please respect his privacy.

So why even hold the press conference then? If all Tiger is going to do is to read from a prepared statement and not accept questions, why not just publish the statement on his web site and be done with it?

Still, wouldn't it be refreshing to actually hear the truth for once? Wouldn't it be a pleasant surprise if Tiger appeared truly remorseful?

Well, that is unlikely since it is difficult to project honesty when you are reading some words made up by a spin doctor.

Look, just the fact that he will not be taking questions indicates, to me, that his statement will leave important issues unanswered. For if his words were truthful and done well, there wouldn't need to be any questions.

But regardless of the outcome, it is sure to be a media spectacle on Friday. Heck, it already is. Even bookmakers are getting into the action.  

According to The Associated Press on ESPN.com, "a British bookmaker has set odds at 4-to-7 that Woods wife, Elin, will be with him. William Hill didn't stop there, however. It offers 8-to-1 odds that Woods will announce he is getting a divorce, 12-to-1 odds that his wife is pregnant and 100-to-1 odds that he is retiring."

Here's betting that it will be as disappointing as Tiger himself.