Sincere Or Not, It's Tiger Woods' Actions That Matter Most Going Forward

Opinions vary widely on whether Tiger Woods was being sincere or arrogant in his press conference on Friday. But it really doesn't matter. Because, in the long run, actions speak louder than words.

Actually, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall tone of his statement. While I had written that I wished Tiger hadn't read from a prepared statement , I was happy to see that he only blames himself and that he knows he has a long way to go.

But the bottom line will be what Tiger does, not what he says. Look, it's his personal life that needs to be repaired; we as fans shouldn't give a damn whether Elin ever forgives him.

For as sports fans, we must limit ourselves to what happens on the course and not in Tiger's bedroom.

Of course Tiger transcends sports; he is a celebrity. And as such, his life is held up to different standards and his every move is under a microscope.

Look, no pity party should be held for a guy who makes all this money and has gained all this fame. Yet at the same time, anyone who thinks an athlete (no matter how celebrated) is worthy of being a role model is simply fooling themselves.

I agree that the press should leave his kid alone, and that they shouldn't be speculating on whether any of this is Elin's fault. This whole charade is Tiger's fault and he made that clear.

Critics of Tiger's statement on Friday point to his somewhat stoic expression as indicative of arrogance or even defiance. But I saw a weary man who knows he is beaten. Something he hasn't had much experience in, by the way, until now.

But again, it doesn't matter what I think and it doesn't matter what anyone thinks. Tiger did what he did, and the past cannot be undone. All he can do is strive to live his life in a better manner going forward.

And all you or I should concern ourselves with is how he performs once he gets back on the golf course.

For Tiger's ultimate judgment will not come from you and me. Nor will his words bear any meaning if he does not follow though with his future actions.

In many ways, all this stuff runs counter to what sports is supposed to be for us. Sports are, for many, a pleasant deviation from reality. What Tiger provides on the golf course is entertainment. And escape.

Meanwhile, much like all the talk about the business side of sports, and steroids, Tiger's personal transgressions take away from the pure enjoyment of sports. So move on, people, and just wait for his return and focus on how he plays going forward.

It's OK to be interested. Hell, I'm writing about it, aren't I? But understand that none of this really matters in the long run to us as fans. We use sports figures like Tiger to escape from reality, not to get caught up in it.

So was Tiger being sincere in his statement on Friday? Well, if he wasn't, he's only fooling himself. Because we're not the ones who will have to answer for it in the long run.

Full transcript of statement