What the Tiger Woods Incident Can Teach Us About Our Society

Why do we really want Tiger Woods to come clean?

We’ve all read the numerous articles virtually begging Tiger Woods to come clean, but why? 

What is really fueling our desire to find out exactly what happened outside of Tiger Woods’ private home at 2:30 am last Friday morning?

Are we concerned that he’s gotten away with a crime?

Not likely. 

He hit a fire hydrant and a tree on private property.  The only person injured in the incident was Tiger Woods (the fire hydrant got banged up to).  In fact, the police have already issued him a citation for careless driving and closed the case.

So legally speaking, it’s a done, finished, finito.  The exact same punishment would have been handed down to any one of us had we been in the same situation.  

Are we concerned that he’s making a huge PR mistake and that his sponsors might jump ship?

Well, no.  First of all, it’s highly unlikely that anyone will lose any sleep over whether or not Tiger Woods’ sponsors decide to drop him.

Second of all, his sponsors have already publicly affirmed that the statement Woods released through his website was good enough for them.  

In fact, just this week, Bank of America decided to pursue a larger role in the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Sounds like this whole incident has really rattled the world of corporate sponsorships...not really. 

Are we angry that we bought that $6 bottle of Gillette shaving cream because Tiger Woods promoted it and now we feel as if we deserve answers from him?

If that’s the case, you might want to seek some professional help.

Let’s be completely honest here. No one is going to go out tomorrow and purchase Old Spice shaving cream instead of Gillette just because Tiger Woods won’t tell us why he crashed into a fire hydrant.

Are we angry because we spent $30,000 on a Buick Enclave last year because we thought Tiger Woods drove the same car and now we feel entitled to know what happened outside his house at 2:30 am last Friday?

Once again…the professional help thing might be looking pretty good if that’s the case.

The fact of the matter is that Tiger Woods hurt no one but himself—and a fire hydrant— during the car accident.  He did not commit a crime other than careless driving, which he has been issued a citation for.  His sponsors have publicly stated their support for Woods and the way in which he handled the situation. Even a new sponsor has decided to come on board with the Tiger Woods Brand since the incident took place.

So, why does he need to come clean?

Well, the answer to that question is simple.

It’s the same reason why when we overhear a couple arguing on the train, we can’t help but eavesdrop.  

It's the same reason why when Nick Lachhey and Jessica Simpson allowed cameras into their home, Newlyweds became one of the most successful shows in MTV history.

It’s the same reason why US Weekly and People Magazine are two of the best selling magazines in the country.

It’s the same reason why every single night at around dinner time channels two, four, five, and seven are airing celebrity gossip shows such as Entertainment Tonight , Entertainment Weekly, and E! News .

The reason is because we, the public, are nosey.

It's plain and simple.

No one ever wants to be painted with the "nosey" brush; our society typically views it as a negative trait.  Yet our intense desire to know what happened outside of Tiger Woods’ home at 2:30 am last Friday is what is ultimately fueling all the talk about how “Tiger needs to come clean” and “Tiger needs to tell everyone what happened.”

It’s for no reason other than we are just desperate to know.

Now, not to rain on anyone’s gossip parade, but there are only two people who truly know what went down last Friday—Tiger Woods and his wife—and neither of them are going to be sitting for a tell all interview anytime soon.

So, as much as it rips at our gossip seeking guts, it is unlikely that Tiger, his wife, or anyone else will decide to feed the wolves on this occasion.

Love it, hate it, or never really cared about the story in the first place, it makes no bit of difference.

No amount of interest, curiosity, or nosiness is going to change a thing.

His current sponsors aren’t going anywhere. New sponsors will continue jumping on board the "Tiger Woods brand," he’ll continue winning golf tournaments, and six years from now he’ll probably be worth $2 billion.

As sports' most popular saying goes—it is what it is.