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Randall Mell

14Johnny Miller: "Woods must show genuine sorrow"

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profileIconRANDALL MELL, Senior Writer, GolfChannel.com   Posted 02/06/2010, 5:07 PM EST

NBC-TV analyst Johnny Miller weighed in on Tiger Woods during the Northern Trust Open telecast Saturday afternoon.

If you missed it, Miller said he normally reserves his comments on players to what’s happening when they arrive for a tournament, but he offered this on Woods:

“His integrity’s been shattered,” Miller said. “More importantly, he’s injured his marriage and his family and it’s going to be tough for him. President Obama did say something. He said `I’m a strong believer that anybody can look within himself, find their flaws and fix them.’ I hope Tiger, I’m sure he’s heard that, knows he has a heck of a road to hoe to get that respect and integrity back and build the game back up again.”

On the challenge Woods faces in a return, Miller said he is going to have to address some personal issues publicly. Miller referenced media reports that Woods has visited a sexual rehabilitation clinic in Mississippi.

“As Phil Mickelson said, he has got things more important than the game of golf," Miller said. "But I really believe he’s the kind of guy, he’s a fast starter when he takes a lot of time off. He’s been injured before, he’s had his father’s death he’s had to deal with. He’ll come back strong. He has so much talent and so much game, but he’s going to have to go through a lot of media blitz. He’s become almost bigger than the game of golf. He’s come past that, it’s almost Entertainment Tonight and People Magazine. Everybody’s going to want to know what he does, what he’s thinking, what he’s been through. He’s been at Gentle Path there in Mississippi. They are going to want to know all these things, but he’s going to have to face the music. He’s going to have to show people he’s done everything he can to repair his marriage and [show] some genuine sorrow in his voice and feeling from his heart that he wants to change and make his life better.”

 

6
Feb

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  1. yleecoyotee

    yleecoyotee Said on 02/15/2010, at 7:07 PM EST

    “Don't any of you Tiger fans find it weird that all of these golfing greats are coming out and saying Tiger needs to face the music? Has it not occurred to you that maybe they are trying to help the guy? Instead you try to cover-up the truth and pretend Tiger is just fine. Well... I hate to break the news to you but your superhero is actually a super pervert. He is one real sick dude. Stop making excuses for Cheetah and call him to task. Tell him to face the music, and tell the truth.”

  2. 4robbins

    4robbins Said on 02/10/2010, at 2:31 PM EST

    “It's "row to hoe" not "road to hoe".”

  3. Piko

    Piko Said on 02/07/2010, at 2:07 PM EST

    “I watched JM's entire statement, and nothing he said was judgmental and derisive. He prefaced his comments by saying normally his comments are for things that occur from when the players tee off and until the final putt is made. What happens before and after the final putt is not his business. That was not verbatim but the gist of his opening comment. Mell in the article correctly sets out the genesis of JM's comments and nothing he said was judgmental or critical of the events surrounding Tiger's predicament. What he says is true, Tiger has to repair the damage and as much as I am a Tiger fan, nobody can deny that damage has been done to himself and to golf.”

  4. enid

    enid Said on 02/07/2010, at 9:53 AM EST

    “Johnny like Tom Watson need to talk to Tiger in private or send him a message. No one is perfect as I'm sure Johnny is aware Those who find the need to judge and criticize need to clean their windows and get a better perspective.”

  5. TTech

    TTech Said on 02/07/2010, at 9:50 AM EST

    “3irons - I hate to tell you but TW doesn't owe me anything. He has done nothing to disgrace the game. He disgraced himself big time but that has nothing to do with golf. In my opinion PM recent actions re the groove fiasco comes closer to offending me as a PGA Tour member than TW philandering. Furthermore you disgrace all veterans by implying you were in the Marines when the closest you came was having a father serving. There is a difference!”

  6. macer

    macer Said on 02/07/2010, at 5:47 AM EST

    “Tom Watson and Johnny Miller earned my respect as players years ago for winning multiple times and major tournaments. I hope that each great from the past texted or left messages with Tiger regarding their respective recommendations for Tiger should he return to golf. It's one thing to air comments through the media and another to discuss issues face-to-face. I have full confidence in Tiger to handle a return to golf (should he return to the game) appropriately. Macer ”

  7. Big Snowman

    Big Snowman Said on 02/07/2010, at 4:42 AM EST

    “Newsflash!! Tiger Woods is the 1st and only person ever to cheat on his wife. Really? I wonder how many other golfers are saying "whew, glad I didnt get caught". Does that make it right? No. I'm also sure that no other golfer ever drank too much, cheated on a math test or whatever. Yeah right. Johnny wants to be like Tom Watson. That being said, I do agree with one thing Tom said. When Tiger comes back I wish he would show more class on the golf course and show the fans more respect.”

  8. hatjuly

    hatjuly Said on 02/07/2010, at 3:21 AM EST

    “Who says Tiger's been living a lie? We sit in places that are totally removed from the invasive, demanding and public profession that Tiger dwells in on a regular basis. We know how we feel on the odd moment that we have to go in public and give a speech, we know how anxious we feel in our limited exposure. Tiger's anxiety coul be a reality for him and WE have taken his steely mental focus for granted. Whether we agree or not, there has been a lot of pressure on Woods, and many in the crowds did not want to appreciate his desire to jut be a regular person playing golf - rather than the phenom. We, public, kept saying he was not human, was stuff, etc. Hopefully, with this break from golf, Tiger has gotten the coping skills to put the public, fans, and golf in the proper perspective. Johnny is trying to take a page from Watson, but I have yet to see the acknowledgement, that the reason many are ticked is because they did not know! So Tiger did not harm golf, tabloid media tried to destroy Tiger for their personal profit. They used the capitalist system to their advantage making money. Sorry if anybody was hurt by it! I think there is fair blame for Tiger, media moguls, gossip mongrerors, etc. Plenty of blame for everybody. Even those comparing Tiger to other sportsmen involved in criminal behavior. Tiger committed no crimes. ”

  9. TerryinAustin

    TerryinAustin Said on 02/07/2010, at 2:46 AM EST

    “So here is more "expert" commentary about the private life of TW. Of course Miller gets paid to stir the pot. Someone has got to explain to me why people think someone has to explain their personal life publicly and explain it so that it makes sense. Get a GRIP!”

  10. Chest Rockwell

    Chest Rockwell Said on 02/06/2010, at 11:24 PM EST

    “It should be mentioned that Johnny also said that Tiger has caused damage to the game. I've never been a huge fan of Miller's work in the booth, but he hit the nail on the head with his Tiger comments.”

  11. 8handicapper

    8handicapper Said on 02/06/2010, at 10:29 PM EST

    “You tell them Johnny your the greatest.”

  12. Jarhead

    Jarhead Said on 02/06/2010, at 9:28 PM EST

    “Surfergirl, do you honestly think the PGA Tour is going to tolerate some clowns to heckle Tiger? Security will be tight and hecklers will be swiftly shown the gate or worse the back of a squad car. Besides, can you imagine someone, who you "do not know from Adam" coming into your place of buisness to heckle you because you cheated on your spouse or did something in your private life that was no buisness of theirs? Some of us need to get a life already,”

  13. Patchez

    Patchez Said on 02/06/2010, at 8:29 PM EST

    “All TW has to do is come back and continue to dominate "HIS" sport again. Once the weakened coffers start filling up, all will be forgotten. That's just the way it is in the business of sports entertainment. Patch”

  14. Mathias

    Mathias Said on 02/06/2010, at 7:22 PM EST

    “Man, I can't believe to hear all these bold and brassy guys like Miller and Watson. Woods damaged the sport? That's absurd. Anf by the way...Still 90% of all these so called news are not confirmed. Nobody has all the information to make the statements as Miller and Watson did. Did anybody hear Palmer or Niklaus give any comments? Why can't evrybody wate until Woods returns onto public stage and faces the media. Perhaps the game of golf is bigger than Tiger Woods, but not the professional golf tours.”