But what goes on in this billionaire athlete’s private life and should he be held to account for his action? Not only is Tiger the world’s best golfer, he is one of the best-paid pitchmen for various products. Nike alone pays him some $30 million a year to wear clothing, shoes, and equipment bearing its logo.

Why Tiger did not talk immediately with the authorities is puzzling. Why he continues to refuse to talk to them is an act of defiance. As the old saying goes, something smells rotten in Denmark. Although the press releases say that alcohol was not a factor in the incident, one wonders whether something else was amiss. Could it have been a domestic squabble with his wife over whether he was having an affair, as that bastion of faux news the National Enquirer has been claiming? What was Tiger’s wife doing with a golf club, anyway? Could Tiger have been under the influence of drugs?

Tiger should set the record straight and come clean with exactly what happened. Although he has led a fairy tale life, he is after all only human, like the rest of us. And like the rest of us, he is capable of not exercising the best discretion and judgment at all times. I respect Tiger Woods’ athletic abilities and his work with kids. But he is not above the law. The authorities and investigators should be allowed complete access to Tiger to get at the underlying cause of  Tiger’s bizarre conduct.

What effect will this incident have on Tiger’s career, or perhaps more importantly, on his popularity? When Ted Kennedy left the scene of the accident and disappeared until the following morning after the Chappaquiddick  incident, it nearly ruined his career in the Senate. He had to live under the cloud of suspicion for the rest of his life and that event dashed any realistic chances he had of becoming President, even many years later.

Although Tiger Woods’ actions don’t amount to the seriousness of Ted Kennedy’s, one wonders why he hasn’t be more forthcoming and straightforward with the authorities concerning his accident. Also to be considered is the effect this may have on some of his endorsements. Will some of his endorsements bail out on him, or will Tiger Woods’ almost mythical qualities survive intact?

If nothing else, this incident has turned into a public relations nightmare for Tiger Woods. Will all of his fans forget about this and claim it was a “private affair,” or will they take Tiger down from the pedestal many have put him on? In any event, I believe a thorough investigation should be conducted into the accident – after all, he did damage public and private property – to determine the cause of Tiger’s unusual conduct and whether there are any legal grounds for pressing charges against him.

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