Tiger Woods Voted Athlete of the Decade

I’m guessing votes were tabulated prior to his recent “transgressions”.

Or, maybe they actually looked at his on the course achievements, rather than what he has done off the course.

From the Associated Press:

He won 64 times around the world, including 12 majors, and hoisted a trophy on every continent golf is played. He lost only one time with the lead going into the final round. His 56 PGA Tour victories in one incomparable decade were more than anyone except four of golf’s greatest players won in their careers.

Woods was selected Wednesday as the Athlete of the Decade by members of The Associated Press in a vote that was more about 10 years of performance than nearly three weeks of salacious headlines.

Woods received 56 of the 142 votes cast since last month by editors at U.S. newspapers that are members of the AP. More than half of the ballots were returned after the Nov. 27 car accident outside his Florida home that set off sensational tales of infidelity.

Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor who won the Tour de France six times this decade, finished second with 33 votes. He was followed by Roger Federer, who won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other man, with 25 votes.

Record-setting Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps came in fourth with 13 votes, followed by New England quarterback Tom Brady (6) and sprinter Usain Bolt (4).

Five other athletes received one vote apiece.

Tiger Woods to Take a Hiatus From PGA Tour

Tiger Woods announced today that he is taking  break from the PGA Tour. I can only guess that it’s time to get his life straightened out.

Below is the statement issued by Tiger Woods from the Associated Press:

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What’s most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.

From CNN:

The 33-year-old golfer, who tops the sport’s world rankings, has been mired in controversy since he crashed his car outside his Florida mansion late last month. The crash prompted authorities to cite him for careless driving and fine him $164.

Woods was not required to talk to police about the wreck, and declined to talk with investigators on several occasions.

In the week following the crash, Woods apologized for “transgressions” that let his family down, on the same day that gossip magazine US Weekly published a report alleging that Woods, who is married to Elin Nordegren, had an affair with a 24-year-old cocktail waitress named Jaimee Grubbs.

Tiger Woods Issues Statement

I think it’s finally time to bury this.

Why should Tiger Woods have to apologize, unless he has something to hide which it appears that he doesn’t. ‘

Does this mean that everyone who is issued a ticket needs to make a public statement.

The police have let this go so why can’t everyone else? Thoughts?

From The Statement:

But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don’t share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one’s own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions.

Tiger Woods Will Not Play in Own Tournament

Tiger Woods has announced that he will not be playing in his own golf tournament in southern California because of injuries he suffered near his Florida home early Friday morning.

There are still rumors running wild surrounding this incident. Was Tiger drinking? Was there a domestic violence issue? Was Tiger cheating?

All I know is that Tiger is not speaking with the police but his attorney Mark NeJame (well known recently from the Casey/Caylee Anthony case) handed over the required documents on  Sunday at Woods’ home and no further discussion is expected.

From CNN:

“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week,” Woods said of the Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, California. “I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I’m very sorry that I can’t be there.”

He also canceled a Tuesday news conference for the start of the tournament, which helps raise money for Tiger Woods Foundation programs.

Woods suffered minor injuries in a vehicle accident early Friday in his luxury neighborhood near Orlando, Florida, according to a police accident report.

State police in Florida said Monday an investigation of the single-vehicle crash “is ongoing and charges are pending.”

The incident has ended Woods’ golf appearances until next season, according to a statement posted on his Web site.

“Woods will not participate in any other tournaments in 2009 and will return to action next year,” the statement said.

Tiger Woods Continues to Dodge Police

I guess he’s better at dodging the police than fire hydrants and trees

Tiger Woods has skipped yet another meeting with state troopers but talked about his accident on his Web site today, stating that the crash was his fault and that his wife acted courageously.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to believe Tiger. But something just doesn’t make sense in this whole thing.

Tiger denies the “rumors” that are being spread, but I hate to tell you Tiger, if you don’t come out and speak about the issues, the rumors are going to continue to fly. The more you keep this a private matter, the more chance you are going to have that you, or your wife, will continue to be scrutinized.

Oh, and for those of you familiar with the Casey/Caylee Anthony story, here is an interesting connection: Woods attorney is Mark Nejame.

Thoughts?

From the Associated Press:

The statement was posted about an hour before troopers were to meet with the world’s No. 1 golfer at his home inside the gates of Isleworth. A meeting was not rescheduled.

In a tape of a 911 call released Sunday, two days after the accident, a neighbor told dispatchers that a black Cadillac Escalade hit a tree and “I have someone down in front of my house.”

Woods’ neighbor never mentions the golfer by name, and the call is inaudible at several points because of the bad connection.

“I came out here just to see what was going on,” the neighbor, who was not identified, told dispatchers. “I see him, and he’s laying down.”

One woman is heard in the background yelling, “What happened?”

In his statement, Woods took responsibility for the accident.

“This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me,” Woods said. “I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Woods said it was a private matter, and he wanted to keep it that way. What he failed to address was where he was going at that hour.

“Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible,” he said.

Tiger Woods, Wife, Still Won’t Speak With Police

Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren, were not available to speak to Florida state troopers for the second straight day, asking them to return tomorrow to clear up questions about how he crashed his SUV into a tree.

The accident came just two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seeing a night club hostess, and that they recently were together in Melbourne, Australia.

I’m starting to think that something is definitely up with this story. Anybody else smell a cover up?

From CNN:

State troopers arrived at the home of Tiger Woods on Saturday to interview the pro golfer and his wife about a car crash near his home, but were told the couple was not available to talk as scheduled, a spokeswoman for the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The troopers were asked by Woods’ agent to postpone the interview until Sunday, spokeswoman Kim Miller said.

State troopers had tried to speak to Woods on Friday as part of a routine car accident investigation, but his wife said he was sleeping, said Kim Miller, a spokeswoman for the Florida highway patrol.

Woods was treated and released from a hospital after suffering minor injuries in a car accident early Friday in his neighborhood in Windermere.

A joint statement from Woods’ publicist and Health Central Hospital said Woods was in “good condition” after the accident outside his home.

From the Associated Press:

The Florida Highway Patrol said the announcement that Woods and his wife, Elin, could not speak to authorities on Saturday came from his agent. Mark Steinberg of IMG did not immediately respond to a text seeking comment.

Troopers previously tried to talk to Woods late Friday. The patrol said his wife told troopers Woods was sleeping, and they agreed to return the next day.

Woods smashed his Cadillac near his $2.4 million mansion at 2:25 a.m. on Friday and was briefly hospitalized, police said. His lips were cut, and Windermere police chief Daniel Saylor has said Woods’ wife used a golf club to smash out a back window and help Woods from the car.

Sergeant Kim Montes, the patrol spokeswoman, said it was “kind of normal” for Woods not to speak on Friday, the day he was treated and released from a hospital.

“It is unusual that we haven’t gotten a statement,” she said. “This just delays us to getting closer to the completion of the investigation.”

Were Tiger Woods Injuries Caused By His Accident…Or His Wife?

I’ve been wondering this all day since I first heard reports that Tiger Woods was in an accident outside his home early this morning.

It was about the same time that I read reports that Woods was supposedly cheating on his wife.

Now, check out this story on TMZ.com and decide for yourself.

From TMZ:

We’re told he said his wife had confronted him about reports that he was seeing another woman. The argument got heated and, according to our source, she scratched his face up. We’re told it was then Woods beat a hasty retreat for his SUV — but according to our source, Woods says his wife followed behind with a golf club. As Tiger drove away, she struck the vehicle several times with the club.

We’re told Woods became “distracted,” thought the vehicle was stopped, and looked to see what had happened. At that point the SUV hit the fire hydrant and then hit a tree.

Tiger Woods’ Wife Rescues Golf’s Number One Player

Reports this afternoon say that Tiger Woods’ wife, Elin Nordegren, used a golf club to smash the back window of his vehicle and helped get the golfer out of his car after a “minor” accident early this morning.

From ESPN:

Windermere police chief Daniel Saylor told The Associated Press on Friday that Elin Nordegren told officers she was in the house when she heard the accident and came outside. Saylor says officers found Woods laying in the street with his wife hovering over him.

Police said Woods hit a fire hydrant and part of a tree early Friday. Saylor says Woods was in and out of consciousness when officers arrived.

Saylor said Woods had cuts on his lips and blood in his mouth. He says his officers gave him first aid until fire rescue came about 10 minutes later. Woods was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released later in the day.

Saylor says his officers do not believe alcohol was involved.

Tiger Woods Expecting Child Number Two This Winter

UPDATE on Tiger Woods accident.

Well, I’m going to take a guess that his rehab from knee surgery is going quite well! It was announced today via his Web site that Tiger’s wife is pregnant with their second child.

From the Associated Press:

Woods said on his Web site that Elin is expecting in late winter without being more specific on a due date.

He has not played since his U.S. Open victory in June, and two weeks later had reconstructive surgery on his left knee that put him out for the year. Woods’ first child, daughter Sam, was born the Monday after the 2007 U.S. Open.

“Elin is feeling great and we are both thrilled,” Woods said. “While my injury has been disappointing and frustrating, it has allowed me to spend a lot of time watching Sam grow. I can’t begin to tell you how rewarding it is being a dad and spending time with her and Elin.

From Reuters:

The couple’s first baby, daughter Sam Alexis, was born on June 18, 2007.

Woods has been out of action since winning the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, California in June.

The 32-year-old American will be sidelined for at least the rest of the year after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery.