The Rhetoric of Writing About Tiger Woods

This post is a little different than one’s I’ve done before. It’s not about a specific image, or quote, or even a specific article. It is, however, about a series of articles – both printed and televised – and therefore from all different authors and sources.

This week, I write about the rhetoric of following Tiger Woods. By doing this, I indirectly add myself to the litany of people that I now write about. But, I think, for a different purpose.

As many people may remember, in late November of 2009 Woods shocked the world when reports of an infidelity streak came out and turned out to be true. He admitted to having affairs with dozens of women and the public began to realize just how little they had known about the golfing superstar.

Since then, Woods’ golfing career has been dismal to say the least. The man once believed to easily surpass Jack Nicklaus for the most all-time major victories now has people worried that he won’t win another.

So the question I pose is this: Our society acts as if it looks so far down upon those with moral flaws, that they not even be worthy of conversation. When the scandal broke, many companies that once endorsed Tiger dropped his contracts immediately, and Woods was made an outcast to the public. But, if all this is true, then why do people still consistently write about him? He hasn’t done anything on the golf course, and nothing has come out involving his scandal in over two years.

Personally, I still like and root for Tiger. No, he may not be a good role model, but (even though he can’t win recently) there is no denying that he is one of the best to ever play the game – and I find it entertaining to watch. What I have a problem with, are all the hypocrites that threw him under the bus two years ago – but can’t help but write [absolutely nothing] about him now. I think that there is great rhetoric in this phenomenon. I think that it speaks a great deal about the American journalist, and the quest to force news upon something very un-newsworthy. That is to say, I find rhetoric in the non-rhetorical.