The Finktank

I tried to give Tiger Woods the benefit of the doubt last Friday, when it appeared his indiscretions were, at worst, limited to two or three. That, to my mind, is still a personal matter not worthy of public discourse.

But now that the tally has allegedly exceeded ten, we are dealing with something else and the Woods saga has become one of the most bewildering scandals in sports history.

The mind boggles how someone with such a huge profile, who enjoyed virtually universal adoration for his professionalism and talent, is now such a cause célèbre for all the wrong reasons that a porno is being made about him.

His legion of sponsors are rattled, pulling advertisements he features in off the air, and some will undoubtedly be scrutinising the fine print of their contracts, looking for an out.

Woods's marriage might not survive this tsunami of infidelity, and his sizeable bank balance will surely take a big hit if Elin Nordegren files for divorce, but he need look no further than the Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen for an example of a star who came unstuck because of his sexual addictions but bounced back.

In fact Sheen's philandering and his willingness to acknowledge his errant ways made him more popular than ever before and one of the richest men in Hollywood.

If there is one thing the American media craves more than titillating gossip it is public figures or celebrities who face up to their demons and ask for a second chance. Those who pass the buck or fudge the truth are never truly forgiven in the court of public opinion.

There is no reason, then, why a contrite and chastened Woods can't go on to dominate professional golf for another ten years. He might even become a better golfer in the process. He's certainly going to become a better human being even if his carefully constructed life and career falls into ruin, which won't and doesn't need to happen.

It's also worth sparing some sympathy for the man.

Yes, he's an ass for cheating on his wife and that is inexcusable. But from the age of two he was groomed for superstardom and as a young person probably didn't get the same opportunities for sexual adventure and experimentation most of us take for granted in our late teens and early 20s.

His mistress, for so much of his life, has been the golf course. He discovered women at completely the wrong time.

So let's afford him the same benefit of the doubt, empathy and human kindness we reserved for Sheen, for Robert Downey Jr, for Mike Tyson, for Bill Clinton, for our own Matthew Johns.

People make mistakes. Just not all of us pay for it so spectacularly.


:: For more Fink musings on the big issues in football, check out Half-time Orange on The World Game.