Baraka_Guru

CTV Toronto - Tiger Woods prepares to tee off at Masters - CTV News

What do you think about Tiger's return to golf?
What do you think of the new Nike ad? (That's his late father's voice, btw)

The Nike ad appears to be the company's attempt to start revitalizing their "Tiger" brand. I think it was a huge risk, but in the long run I think it will pay off.

Either way, the sooner things get under way, the sooner Tiger can put this behind him. I think it's time to move on. His private life has had enough of the spotlight already.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

snowy

I'll be honest--the ad made me tear up. People make stupid mistakes all the time. I agree, I think it's time to move on, and time to give Tiger a chance to show what he has learned from this experience.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Glory's Sun

I think for the most part, people are starting to relax about Tiger. I don't care what he did in his personal life. It's none of my business and he doesn't owe an apology to anyone except for the people that were directly involved in the situation(s).

Shame that the weather is going to take a bad turn while he's on the course today. I don't know if he'll win, but I think he'll be in the mix rather heavily. I just hope he has the same fire and passion on the course because he is a rare breed when it comes to sport.

As far as the ad, it confuses me. I know where Nike is going with the ad, but it just seems like it's continuing something that is better left laid to rest. Perhaps it's also a way of Nike explaining why they stuck by him when his other sponsors didn't.

Anyway, I hope he wins 2 or 3 majors this year.

markd4life

He is the best at his sport. He will be forgiven. We will watch. I don't see him being on the leaderboard but it would be great for the sport if he was. Come on, without Tiger golf sucks.

fresnelly

LALALALALA-Idon'tcare-I'mnotlistening_LALALALALALA...

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Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

dlish

fresnelly, 10 bucks says you want to know who won the Masters



Nike's looking at cashing in on old news still? FFS, let it go.

__________________
An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere

I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
- Filthy

Glory's Sun

Have to say, it's pretty amazing that Tiger is sitting at -4 after being out for so long. Best score he's ever had on opening day at the masters on top of that. The man no matter how you feel about him is a machine when it comes to golf.

hunnychile

My husband thought the ad was incredible.

I thought it was yet another example of Tiger putting Money before Family. Using his dead dad's voice like that is tasteless and rather creepy IMHO. (He's just another Media Whore)

Late Edit: Okay I should have said Media Commodity, (not Whore).

But I do feel sad that he made his dad a commodity, too by saying ok about using his voice. It's hard for me to believe his mom was okay with it...

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"I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

dlish

media whore? i dont see him prancing in front of the cameras vying for attention. In fact, its quite the contrary!

the guy gets paid to play golf. he makes money from endorsements and sponsors. I bet if you put the sort of money that Tiger was offered, you'd be up there hell for leather yourself. i know i would.

But as tasteless as the ad was, its doesnt make Tiger a media whore. Nike knew this ad would draw attention. Hell, they even knew people would be talkinga bout it online. I was driving home from work when they interupted the sports programme to tell us that Nike had run the ad, and then played the voice over.

Good marketing strategy by Nike if you ask me.

as far as his return goes, the guy was born to play golf. he takes a 6 month stint and is back where he left off at -4. Golf is never the same without him.

__________________
An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere

I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
- Filthy

Glory's Sun

Why is Tiger to blame for the ad? I think Tiger is very genuine in wanting to make amends to his family for what he's done and he wants the public to know that he's sorry. Tiger is a GOLFER. He's not a marketing guru or an advertising genius. Nike's ad department is solely responsible for the ad and the thought process involved in the ad.

Again, Tiger doesn't owe anyone an apology with the exception of his family and the people directly involved. He didn't hurt me, you or anyone else with his actions. How is that possible? For the simple reason that he's merely a golfer who is dominating at his sport. At the end of the day that's all he is to any of us, with his family being the sole exception.

In regards to the ad again, Tiger has always said that his father was his rock. He admitted that he got away from the morals that his father taught him and this ad is merely pointing to that and posing the question to all the idiots who want to know all of his off the course issues that perhaps they should either butt out of his personal life, or they should be more willing to find out the whys instead of the hows. Nike is not stupid, and they want to prove to their shareholders that they made the right choice in sticking with him. Nike is also not stupid and they want to make sure that Tiger's wishes are respected as well. If Tiger thought this would damage his image even further or was at all disrespectful to his father he would have told them to piss off. They came up with the idea for the ad and probably changed it several times before Tiger was comfortable with it.

I still just don't understand what people would have Tiger do. The man is a golfer and that is how he supports his family. Golf is going to help him in his recovery and he's going to rehab and will do anything to prove himself to not only his family but to everyone else even though he owes us nothing. I say that's pretty remarkable, because 99% of other men who were in this situation would have crumbled.

Iliftrocks

A-fukin-men brother. Geez, he's a ( very talented ) athlete. Why would anyone put this guy up on a pedestal for anything other than being a hard-working and talented athlete? He's not a friggin preacher ( even so, they screw up and get forgiven ). People are doing themselves and their children a great disservice in pretending that rich and famous people are somehow more moral by virtue of their success. Success at one thing, sports or business, does not mean that you are otherwise a good/moral person.

Also, fucking up doesn't make you the devil either.

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bill hicks - "I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out."

Baraka_Guru

Nike is brilliant.

The ad makes complete sense. It acts as a bridge between the controversy and his return. It marks Tiger's moving forward and returning to his core influence and values.

If you consider the role of advertising on all fronts, this isn't just about selling golf bling decorated with swooshes. This is about brand management. Nike has stood behind their spokesman where others bailed. This says more about Nike and the spirit of sports than it does about Tiger alone.

Sure, Tiger is a brand built by Nike, but at the same time they're a team. You don't bail on your team when they make a mistake. You stand behind them and help them get back on their feet, and back into the game.

The ad has a powerful message: it's Tiger reflecting on his mistakes, contemplating the words of his father—his major influence—as he returns to the game he loves.

It sends a strong message about the nature of sports, self-determination, and persistence: essentially, overcoming failure.

Sure it's going to help sell a lot of products, and it is business, but ask Nike executives and marketing personnel what they think of their brand and I bet you'll hear something more akin to religion than you will business.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Glory's Sun

The more I see the ad, the more I like it. It's fitting in seamlessly with Tigers style on the course so far. Tiger still has passion but seems to be more respectful and not so quick to anger.

He's now -5. I love watching this guy play.

Jove

What do I think of Tiger returning to golf?
Well, golf is his job, so he should get back to work.

What do you think of the new Nike ad? (That's his late father's voice, btw)
I would like to know what question his father answered that fit this scenario so well.

Lasereth

Wow!!!!

__________________
"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

Baraka_Guru

Jesus, that kid can play.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

snowy

Ahem, the ad is by Wieden+Kennedy, Nike's long-time advertising agency (they are independent of Nike). Wieden+Kennedy are the big boys of advertising in Portland. Let's not forget who really made the ad in all of this

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Glory's Sun

Nike and Oregon kinda go hand in hand

rahl

Tiger has argueably the best at pure mental concentration. Any time the man is under preassure he generally performs better. To be -5 at the masters(his first pga event in 6 months) with all the controversy surrounding him speaks volumes of his focus and determination.

I used to play Golf competetively on junior tours in my teens and mini amatuer tours in my early 20's, and I can tell you that Golf is %80 mental and $20 physical skill.

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"Your life is Yours alone...Rise up and live it"

Baraka_Guru

I think this speaks about sports in general—it speaks about many things, actually. And I'm sure Nike has touched on this countless times.

If Tiger continues as he is, he's surely earning his endorsement dollars.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Glory's Sun

as of right now Tiger is sitting in a tie for 3rd at -6. Well within striking distance to make a charge tomorrow. If he's in the final grouping on Sunday, hold on to your seats.. it's going to be an interesting ride.

yournamehere

$100 Million per year from endorsements for 10 years.
A Billion dollars - for selling shit; from automobiles to razor blades.
How is that contrary to being a media whore?

I respect his ability as a golfer, but I sure didn't miss seeing his face plastered all over my TV screen every weekend.

__________________
If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors:
"If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too."
It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

Glory's Sun

Hmm..

so a company asking you to endorse products is a media whore? If that's being a media whore I'd love to hear what you think Paris Hilton is.

filtherton

To be fair gucci, a whore is someone who sells their body for money- that's kind of exactly what he was doing.

Glory's Sun

I wish I was a whore like that. I can't blame the man for putting something on his bag or being in commercials..especially for that kind of cash. Hell I would do it for 1% of what he got.

filtherton

I'd be right there with you. We could tag team them. Sexxxy text messages and all.

Glory's Sun

I'm down with that.. as long as we don't make eye contact..

actually.. for that kind of money.. I'll stroke your hair and stare into those eyes all night.

Baraka_Guru

Then why don't all professional athletes get the same endorsement money as Tiger Woods? Are they not hot enough?

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

filtherton

They are definitely not hot enough.

yournamehere

No, the company is the pimp.
As for Paris, she's just an attention whore. The media is the john, in her case.

And just to set the record straight, although it's been a staple of American culture since the invention of the radio, I've always thought that celebrity endorsements are a sign of a gullible society. If you buy Gillette razors because a celebrity or professional athlete says they're better than others, doesn't that make you lacking in critical thinking skills? I mean, it really does defy logic. I just don't understand the level of celebrity worship in the U.S.

Anyway . . . . despite my opinion, it happens. But as in everything, how about a bit of moderation?

__________________
If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors:
"If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too."
It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

Glory's Sun

I agree with this.

I buy what works for me.. not because someone says it works better.

dlish

so now endorsing products amounts to being a media whore?

i call that selling a product and getting paid to associate your name to it. It's called good business sense. If he were a media whore, he'd have not gone into hiding for 6 months avoiding all the cameras.

As for gullibility of the american people or people worldwide for that matter, thats a totally different topic here.

i do hope he wins this thing so that he's whored to death come this weekend.

__________________
An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere

I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
- Filthy

yournamehere

Once more - A billion dollars over 10 years?
Yeah, I'd say so.

__________________
If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors:
"If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too."
It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

silent_jay

That makes him a corporate whore, not a media whore, a media whore is say Paris Hilton, Kate Gosselin, people who have no career if they aren't in the media's eye, where Tiger obviously has a career regardless if the media is around or not, so yeah he definitely isn't a media whore.

Baraka_Guru

Hey, I like the interesting commentary going on in here. I wonder what they call people who are jealous of those who capitalize on being highly successful and popular.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

silent_jay

Jealous whores? That's al lI got haha, I don't blame the guy at all, I'd put my name on a bag of shit and sell it if people wanted to buy it and I was as famous as Tiger.

Baraka_Guru

I'm willing to believe that deep down inside we're all whores....

...deep, deep down inside....

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

dlish

once again, what you're referring to isnt about being a media whore. He's not vying for the attention of the media. It's called a commercial arrangement where he makes money to build his empire.

the question is, how much money is enough?.

...that said, i'd wipe his ass for 10 billion, and then i'd sell the story.

If i wiped his ass for 10 billion, thats called doing my job. selling the story would make me a media whore

__________________
An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere

I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
- Filthy

Taralynn

I'm glad he's back, although I never followed the sports scene. We all make mistakes in life, some of them epic. The thing I love about it is he is trying to move onward and in doing so, might give others the hope that one CAN move through a "fall" and maybe see light at the end of the tunnel.

It's just that when you are a celebrity, the rise and the fall are that much more magnified.

As to the Nike ad? I'm still sitting on the fence. I'm moved by it but not so much by marketing part of it.

filtherton

I think that it is important to note that advertisements exist in and are comprised of the media.

Someone who will appear in commercials for many different organizations in exchange for large sums of money is whore-like. That whoredom can't exist without the media, and indeed is in large part defined by the media in which it takes place. Hence, media whore. Just because he wasn't a staple of TMZ.com or celebrity news shows doesn't mean he can't be a media whore.

A general note on Tiger Woods: he'll be fine. He isn't a household name for not sleeping around. He's a household name because he's good at golf and has made a lot of the people who decide what goes on TV a lot of money. If he can no longer do either of these two things, then he'll be done. Tawdry affairs don't ruin family values politicians who define themselves as paragons of virtue (see every third socially conservative congressperson). Why would tawdry affairs ruin Woods?