Dec 19, 2009
As the brown stuff piles higher and higher for the world’s number one golfer, more sponsors are starting to pull away from the situation, and Tiger Woods himself.
Notably, EA Sports is seen appearing to question its stance on the issue.
The original statement, sent out by Electronic Arts on December 2nd, read:
Our strong relationship with Tiger for more than a decade remains unchanged. We respect Tiger’s privacy, we wish him a fast recovery and we look forward to seeing him back on the golf course.
Now that Tiger has announced his indefinite break from the game, as well as more and more issues regarding his infidelity continue to crop up, a new statement’s come out from EA that is a little less rosy.
Sent to the New Britain Herald on December 17, EA Sports representatives said the following:
We respect that this is a very difficult, and private, situation for Tiger and his family. At this time, the strategy for our Tiger Woods PGA Tour business remains unchanged.
Certainly it’s not an outright cancellation of the sponsorship, like Accenture, Gatorade, and the reported distancing by Gillete and TAG Heuer, but it doesn’t look great for Tiger either. After all, by the time next year’s golf game comes to market, he might not even be playing golf – not that that’s affected John Madden’s endorsement deals any.
But then again, how many cocktail waitresses are sleeping with John Madden?
Tiger Woods had some pretty shitty golf for a few years there, and EA didn't dump him because the quality of his game didn't change the fact that he was "a name." Even if he stops golfing, he'll still be "a name."
Personally I wouldn't want my product associated with a dude who has been chased and beaten with a golf club by his wife after repeatedly cheating on her, but name recognition is name recognition.
I mean personally I've never had a very high opinion of the guy though. He's such a fucking crybaby when things don't go his way, and basically the only thing he ever brought to the game was a crushing drive.
Frankly, I could care less about Tiger's adultery. In Canada, a bigger story seems to be Don Cherry swearing at a news reporter. /shrug
I like Tiger, always dug his effect on golf and golfers as a whole. Plus anything or anyone that pisses off old white dudes is grand in my book. Personally I hate playing golf in real life but dig it in video game form.
His adultery is a total non-issue for me. I can't think of any sports star of his level that doesn't have an affair at some point. It's sucks to have it all play out in public but that's a spectator sport in and of itself here in the states. We all know how this pans out in the end. We've seen this story enough times haven't we?
EA...fuck em. They've made lackluster golf games for ages now. If they want to use this an excuse to rebuild the franchise then great...but I don't see it happening. They need a face for that brand with crossover appeal. Personally I'd rather see ANYONE revive the strong legacy golf had on the PC. That still remains the home of the best golf games ever made. Sad MS and other companies abandoned it in favor of the console market...then promptly gave up after screwing up the first titles.
Oh well, still have Hot Shots! Oh and that other one you guys here are so fond of.
Personally I wouldn't want my product associated with a dude who has been chased and beaten with a golf club by his wife after repeatedly cheating on her, but name recognition is name recognition.
The only effect tiger has had on golf has been to force golf courses to lengthen their fairways to keep him from getting on the green in one shot (when he can hit straight), and for other golfers to concentrate on power to try and keep up with him. Golf has never been a power sport, it's been a finesse sport, and a focus on monster drives (and equipment to help achieve monster drives) isn't necessarily good for the game.
I'm not sure what he's done to "piss off old white dudes." All I've ever seen him do is 1) win and 2) lose and have a fit about it.
The thing that amuses me about people who talk about old white dudes like they are some kind of club of assholes, is that at least 50% of them will one day themselves be an old white dude.
I'm not sure what he's done to "piss off old white dudes." All I've ever seen him do is 1) win and 2) lose and have a fit about it.
As far as piss of old white dudes. It's been hilarious.
My problem with tiger is he's a whiny crybaby who whines and cries when he does poorly, even as he's collecting ridiculous amounts of money for just showing up. Show me any 'athlete' who whines and cries as much as this dude who is also on the box cover of a video game and I'll be surprised.
every 'old white dude' I know is in love with the dude and wants to have his babies, he's been the darling of the pga for my entire adult life, who is he pissing off and how?
My problem with tiger is he's a whiny crybaby who whines and cries when he does poorly, even as he's collecting ridiculous amounts of money for just showing up. Show me any 'athlete' who whines and cries as much as this dude who is also on the box cover of a video game and I'll be surprised.
what are you talking about? That's the second time you've claimed tiger 'pisses off white dudes' without saying HOW or WHY he does it. that it is, according to you, 'hilarious' isn't an explanation of what you mean
every 'old white dude' I know is in love with the dude and wants to have his babies, he's been the darling of the pga for my entire adult life, who is he pissing off and how?
I'll start on that Why Tiger Pisses Off Old White Dudes Essay right away.
Wasn't really trying or wanting to explain why I found it hilarious. It's like explaining why a joke is funny. In the sports pools I was in the old guys would bitch and moan about him...not on a racial level just on about every other level. Kinda like your comments only way way way more ridiculous. They'd go on about the classic days of golf and blah blah blah. Given 80% were old white dudes...it was hilarious to hear them idealize the past just the way so many do about baseball, hockey, etc. The other 20% were a mix of gambling junkies of all types...they'd bitch too but not as much. They'd go on about Football players more often then not and how baseball is a tragic joke of a sport.
Yet we'd all sit watching this crap in hopes of making a fast buck. THAT was hilarious too.