Tiger Woods has been criticized recently for not being more socially active and not speaking out against Kelly Tilghman's "lynching remarks." One reporter asked Woods about this at his news conference earlier today:
"Some commentators have called for you to be more of a social activist, more outspoken on social issues. I was just wondering what your reaction to that expectation being made of you is."
Woods responded:
"Well I am. I am socially active every day of my life and that’s with my foundation and what we’re trying to do with kids. And we bust our tail to try and give as many kids the opportunity to better their lives, and go to college, and teach them how to lead and give back. That’s my directive, that’s my focus. I know that there are people who want me to be a champion of all causes, and I just can’t do that…I just know that what we’re doing with the foundation right now has been pretty good, and we’re looking forward to growing it globally, and moving on from there."
In other Tiger related news, Thomas Bonk of the LA Times wrote earlier today about the impact the world's number one golfer has on television ratings. Bonk writes:
"The ratings tell a story that begins and ends with Woods. According to research that traced Woods' effect on television ratings in 2007, tournaments in which he finished in the top five had a 171% increase in CBS' ratings over those in which he did not play or wasn't in contention. The ratings were 4.6 compared with 1.7. In similar tournaments on NBC, the ratings increase was 59%, or 3.5 compared with 2.2. The two-network average showed an increase of 111%, or 4.0 compared with 1.9."
