I put a question out for readers on my Facebook page on Saturday, asking sports fans about their feelings regarding Tiger Woods press conference, staged on Friday, by Woods and his agent, Mark Steinberg. I was wanting to know if those who watched the 15 minute presentation, found Woods to be sincere or perhaps more scripted, or maybe a bit of both. I was somewhat surprised to read comments from a few individuals, who felt that the media was at fault for the on-going Tiger talk. I was baffled that any sports fans would blame the media for the focus on Woods, when it was the superstar golfer and his agent who arranged for this on a Friday, in the midst of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Oh, by the way, Accenture, was the first sponsor to drop Woods after some of the rumors about Tiger, became factual. The televised press conference was picked up by most of the major networks, so probably most of the planet could see Tiger and listen to what he had to say. It is amazing to me how often idol worshipping fans will blame the media, when their heroes fall flat on their faces. It is mind boggling beyond belief, how the angry fan reaction erupts , even though the media was used by the player and his representative in this case, so Woods could get his message out, and not be challenged by the electronic or print press. The enormous success that some professional athletes enjoy financially, is in part due to the media, in terms of conveying their image, thoughts, personalities and other traits to the public. Potential sponsors pick up on what the athletes bring to the table, primarily in terms of their skills, but just as important, their personalities, and how they come across on a TV set, or the radio. This is how corporations and ad agencies decide, if an individual athlete is a good fit, as a spokesperson for their product. Without the media,this can not happen. The negative fan reaction to the media, for doing their job the way they’re supposed to,is a scary sign of the degree of hero worship that goes on with fans and their favorite athletes or teams. Some sports fans don’t like it when the media presents facts about athletes and entertainers, just like journalists do with politicians. It’s a pretty sad day, when an individual athlete arranges his own press conference, and then some fans get upset about the media commenting on the players self ( or agent) arranged speech to the world. Some fans would obviously prefer a communist like society, where any and all electronic and print journalists, are controlled and monitored by the government, and where criticism of the high and mighty, is forbidden. How ironic is that ? I thought most people enjoyed living in democratic societies so they and others could enjoy free speech. I guess the speech can only be free with some folks, when they hear what they like,but not something that is justifiably critical of their beloved idols.