Rick Reilly Needs to Shut It Down Way More Than Tiger Does

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 9, 2009 12:24 PM EST Comment 52 comments

So, Rick Reilly went on Sportscenter yesterday to talk even more about Tiger's disgressions and mistresses and blah, blah, blah. Great. Reilly - normally an embarrassment of a writer - proved he was also a nuisance on camera as well.

He said on Sportscenter that Tiger needs to "really shut it down," including skipping next year's Masters and US Open. Among other things, he said Tiger should "give some decent interviews" - maybe to ESPN, who is bidding for the post-controversy exclusive interview. (They won't get it after that.)

This whole thing has been a PR disaster for Tiger. From who knew about this to the covering it up to never taking control of this story, this was a Bill Buckner-level botch job.

But why should Tiger not play golf? Sounds like a great idea to skip Augusta - won there four times - and the Open at Pebble - won there by 15 shots a decade ago. I mean, after all, that would prove Tiger is a family man and committed to his marriage. It wouldn't, say, come across as an obvious stunt and impede Tiger from his chase of Nicklaus and history. Especially coming off of that near miss at Hazeltine in the PGA Championship, Tiger can definitely afford to take off half of the majors this year.

Tiger clearly has a lot of work to do on his marriage if he intends to stay with Elin (and, of course, if she intends to stay with him). But skipping golf tournaments and giving interviews has nothing to do with that or restoring his reputation. If anything, winning golf tournaments will restore his reputation in a way that it did for Kobe Bryant. Most people can't even tell you about that girl in Colorado now.

Rick, just shut it down, man. You lack both perspective and insight.

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Everyone is just scrambling for a fresh angle on this…even the mistress du jour news is getting old for most.

It’s ridonkulous but it is what it is. Barring more 2am runs to the hospital, Elin dumping his ass or something else completely new (and that’s far from impossible at this point no?) the story is going to start circling the drain until he resurfaces in public for the 1st time.

Plus it’s the holidays…people (even media) will start taking time off which means fewer reporters to cover things…more a desire to do ‘holiday features’ and so on.

More new chicks coming out with their Tiger humping stories won’t be top of the news…unless they come with fresh voicemails, text messsages or (gasp) pictures!

by NiceBallz on Dec 9, 2009 12:28 PM EST reply actions

NIceBallz

You nailed it! The media is only trying to make a living…Ryan too..

by pingforever on Dec 9, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

A paradox

Jesper got a lot of big “props” for speaking his mind. Rick Reilly does it and gets Ryan’s wrath. Seems like you only get “props” when you agree with the other person.

by pingforever on Dec 9, 2009 12:29 PM EST reply actions

There really isn’t a paradox involved here. There is absolutely nothing wrong with speaking your mind. But there is something wrong with speaking your mind and being a complete idiot. What Reilly said could not have been any dumber.

And you do realize I make next to nothing doing this site, right?

Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 9, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

Take a deep breath

Well, next to nothing is better than nothing…. Calling Reilly a complete idiot doesn’t enhance your credibility. It does however promote controversy and isn’t that what this is all about now? Reilly also said Tiger should clean up his act, stop swearing and throwing clubs… dumb idea?

by pingforever on Dec 9, 2009 1:01 PM EST reply actions

I do the occasional call out here when someone says something completely idiotic. Actually, we have a few posters here that do that. Like I said, it’s ok to have an opinion. I happen to think Reilly is right about Woods needing to clean up his act on course, but that’s because I find the swearing and throwing clubs offensive.

Like you said, it’s all in the eyes of beholder. I mean, if you had an issue with something someone at TGC said, then I wouldn’t be peeved if you posted something about it.

Get it off of your chest! But this isn’t about stirring controversy. I really don’t need to do that to get attention.

Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 9, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

You guys obviously disagree about this, but points could be made on either side. Ryan, Reilly’s opinion on this carries as much weight as anyone else’s, and if he had predicted rather than offering an opinion I don’t think anyone would have blinked at his suggestion. Nobody is sure when or if Tiger will play again, so I suggest the argument is moot. ping, as I recall when others were giving Jesper his “props” you suggested he was taking advantage of the opportunity to speak to the microphone before he was irrelevant in the golfing world. Seems to me opinion is all anybody’s got to offer right now, so one person’s is as good as the next. Sure, Reilly would like to get “the interview” as much as you would, Ryan. I think it’s likely Matt Lauer will see Tiger before either of you, but you can’t blame anyone for hoping.

by handicapismyswing on Dec 9, 2009 1:34 PM EST up reply actions

Reilly sucks

I agree with Ballengee. Reilly is an idiot! Let’s see, fire everyone, fire his caddie, skip the Masters and the U.S. Open, and go on Oprah. Yeah, brilliant ideas.

I bet Tiger is sure to take his advice word for word.

by matt22 on Dec 9, 2009 1:24 PM EST reply actions

Winning cures everything

by BMoreMatt on Dec 9, 2009 2:04 PM EST reply actions

Did Reilly stop taking a check when his first marriage failed? And he was not a choir boy during that first marriage. Hypocrite. Should start his Tiger rants talking about what they have in common.

by Lorna on Dec 9, 2009 4:03 PM EST reply actions

I Agree with Reilly on One Thing

Or, technically, I agree with the guy he quoted.

If Tiger spent an hour baring his soul on Oprah’s show after the dust settles, that would make a lot of people feel like they can look past it all. And it would be the highest rated show she’s ever done or ever would do. Hell, even I’d tune in for that one.

It’s a non-hostile environment where he could come completely clean. Of course that’s assuming that he actually wants to repair his image or let the truth be known.

by Double Eagle on Dec 9, 2009 5:53 PM EST reply actions

I expect Tiger will do an exclusive interview

Whether it’s Oprah or somebody else I would expect Tiger to give an interview of this type at some point before he returns to golf. Think about it, the content and questions can be negotiated and agreed to up front allowing his handlers to carefully craft and spin it as positively as possible. Much better to do this before he returns to the tour and has to face an unscripted news conference.

by tigerhead on Dec 9, 2009 7:06 PM EST reply actions

Oprah

I understand what you mean, but Oprah ? Talk about media ! She beats everyone hands down…bigger than even Tiger. I bet she would love that one. To me, shes just another example of the very media overkill we have been witnessing. Tiger is a golfer (albeit the best one currently) who plays the sport professionally. To go on the Oprah circus would just take all the madness a notch higher. What a turn off.

by Easingwold on Dec 10, 2009 9:46 AM EST up reply actions

This place was so busy from the Friday after TG for about a week, and then just about nothing about Tiger. I wondered why? Now after reading Ryan’s latest article on the Reilly appearance on ESPN yesterday, I know why. Ryan is a Tiger sycophant. How else could he interpret Reilly’s interview the way he did? I saw the same interview and I thought to myself, wow, that really makes sense, but only if Tiger wants to save his marriage, maybe he doesn’t or maybe he won’t have any choice as Elin may leave him anyway. If tiger was to take Reilly’s advice and take 6-12 months off and totally dedicate himself to Elin and his kids, he might just save his marriage.

by niblic on Dec 9, 2009 8:39 PM EST reply actions

Good point.

I guess Tiger’s wife and kids are less important than Phil’s. Nobody criticized when Phil skipped some time for his family, eh niblic?

by handicapismyswing on Dec 9, 2009 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

Blessing

Phil would have gone have played golf with Amy’s blessing, one obviously couldn’t say that about Tiger !

by Easingwold on Dec 10, 2009 9:53 AM EST up reply actions

Priorities

It seems like Rick Reilly assumes marriage and family are a higher priority to Tiger than his career. He’ll be 34 years old at the end of this month. Golf has been his number one passion and priority for about 32 of those years, he been married for a liitle over 5 years…. Infidelity and divorce are nothing new in our society or in the sports world. Although Mickelson’s ordeal was VERY different, once his wife’s condition was diagnosed and a treatment plan was decided upon and implemented it was time for Phil to move on with his career. I remember many comments from men who had the same experience with thier wife saying that. Tiger and Elin are dealing with a “cancer” of sorts. If you believe the reports saying they had been in counseling before, these latest revelations might not have been as great a surprise to Elin than they were to us. It’s amazing to consider where we’d be with all this without that car crash…. Tiger doesn’t need quarantine to deal with this “illness”. He (they) need to get help and then move on.

by pingforever on Dec 10, 2009 8:32 AM EST up reply actions

I read this first sentence…“It seems like Rick Reilly assumes marriage and family are a higher priority to Tiger than his career”

…and I knew immediately that there was only one person on this board dumb enough to write it. And I was correct.

by niblic on Dec 10, 2009 6:28 PM EST up reply actions

He definitely wouldn’t. What Reilly is suggesting is a PR stunt that makes no sense at all.

If Tiger wants to fix his marriage, then he could take a variety of paths.

Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 10, 2009 10:22 AM EST up reply actions

What Reilly is suggesting is a path to save Tiger’s marriage. No one suggested that it was the ONLY path. I’m guessing you’re not married or not faithful.

by niblic on Dec 10, 2009 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

oh sure – NOW you agree with me…I’ve been saying this for years.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 10, 2009 9:40 AM EST reply actions

I’ve always agreed with you that Reilly is an idiot. Now that he’s on ESPN, I just get video proof :)

Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 10, 2009 10:21 AM EST up reply actions

You know who Reilly reminds me of ?

Remember Pat Paulson from Laugh In and The Smothers Brothers Show ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 10, 2009 10:36 AM EST reply actions

LMAO you’re right.

by ryansdad on Dec 10, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

I haven't smiled about any of this in a while,

but that brought a big grin and fond memories! Thanks, court.

by handicapismyswing on Dec 10, 2009 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

If you’ve never seen Pat Paulson…He was a 60’s and 70’s comedian and writer who found a niche doing political sketches and really hit it off with his “Pat Paulson for President” speeches. They were hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4kWLUnorTU&feature=fvw

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 10, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

Oprah ?

Maybe so as she is concluding her TV show next year. But i would guess if he did do a “I’m soooo sorry” type of scripted interview it would be on 60 Minutes rather than Operah…jumpn

"pain is only weakness leaving the body"

by progolf on Dec 10, 2009 11:21 AM EST reply actions

Grrrrr I'm have a typing challenged day today

"pain is only weakness leaving the body"

by progolf on Dec 10, 2009 11:22 AM EST reply actions

I thought it was on purpose!

You know, a Madame Butterfly reference where TW falls on his sword?

by handicapismyswing on Dec 10, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

Rick, just shut it down, man. You lack both perspective and insight

Ryan’s got a lot of chutzpah. “Idle hands are the devil’s workplace.” Mine are idle and the workplace is the Internet….

Rick Reilly: 51 years old. National Sports Writer of the Year eleven times, second only to Jim Murray with 14. Author of 10 books, co-authored two, one with Charles Barkley, another with Wayne Gretsky.

Ryan Ballangee: Age 26 Editor for waggle.com and has a Pod cast…. I’ll let you be the judge about perspective and insight….

by pingforever on Dec 10, 2009 1:15 PM EST reply actions

Oh, the age card? So you’re an ageist?

You know what would be great? If you actually knew the name of the website.

Reilly doesn’t cover golf, BTW.

Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 10, 2009 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

I'm sensing a little animosity

You know, Albert Einstein was a 26 year old patent clerk when he published his paper on special relativity. My point isn’t to compare Ryan to Einstein (sorry Ryan, especially for any derivative insults that come from that analogy), but I’d point out that age and resume do not necessarily equate to perspective and insight.

Maybe we should all carry cards with a number representing how much weight our thoughts and perspective and insight should carry. That way, when someone doesn’t like our insight and/or perspective, he doesn’t have to attack the premise, he can simply discredit us by exposing our Relevance Factor® to everyone else.

by Double Eagle on Dec 10, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

I think I like it. I mean, Reilly is an authority when it comes to dental jokes. He’s not so much an authority on golf, PR, or marriage.

Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 10, 2009 1:51 PM EST up reply actions

I’m with RB 100% on this one. Reilly hasn’t written anything of note in a long time. He lives off of the name and not the effort these days. He has nothing new to say and what he does say usually revolves on getting himself into the picture.

Feinstein is the same way. It’s all about how HE fits into the story.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 10, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

More proof…
“Rick, just shut it down, man. You lack both perspective and insight”
…you don’t even need to sign your posts!

by niblic on Dec 10, 2009 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

Ageist?

No way man! I wasn’t aware you needed to “cover golf” to have a perspective which I see as synonymous with opinion. I can see it was unwise to question your insight or perspective. You’re right Double Eagle…and Mozart was writing opera before he was 10… I meant no animosity. I thought it was an interesting comparison of experiece as a writer. That line about PR or marriage….Don’t you think that’s a little snarky???

by pingforever on Dec 10, 2009 1:58 PM EST reply actions

I don’t think it’s snarky. The “transparency” that Reilly is talking about is “tell me every gory detail.” My definition in this case is that it would be “transparent” that if Tiger went on Oprah or skipped events or whatever that it would be perceived as a PR stunt.

Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 10, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions

Gimme a break Ryan!

You want every gory detail like every other bottom feeding “journalist”. Like you wouldn’t write about it? Last time I Iooked your Kenny Perry interview wasn’t drawing too much of crowd. And Nicole what’s-her name? What a scoop! No phone number for Amanda?

by pingforever on Dec 10, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

Riiiiggghhhttt, that’s why I’m not talking about this story nearly as much as most outlets.

Ping, if you’re going to argue with me, at least try to (a) stick to the facts and (b) not contradict yourself. You claim that we talk about Tiger too much here, right? But then you dismiss my interviews with Kenny Perry and Nicole Hage? That’s pretty contradictory, is it not?

Then again, you hate this site, but you come here daily to complain about it. I guess I shouldn’t expect consistency.

Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 10, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

Ryan, did I already

say I told you so???? lol lol lol Sorry, I guess when we came over here we brought some “baggage” too. Long live the King Ping!!!

by em66 on Dec 10, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

Why do you suck up to this asshole?

by niblic on Dec 10, 2009 6:35 PM EST up reply actions

You misunderstood

What I meant was without this Tiger Woods mess the comments would be few and far between and certainly that can’t be a good thing for a blog. Quite the contrary, I like it here, it’s very lively and so far no one has suggested I commit suicide. That’s a real plus! I’ve come to recognize this is a new age in journalism. Guys like you who work hard can get some traction. It’s not unlike the change in the music industry where a band or a performer had to be picked up by a major record label to succeed. Now there’s a vast audience that can be tapped directly on the Internet. I respect your efforts! LIke Don King is so famous for saying, “Only in America!”

by pingforever on Dec 10, 2009 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

WHO IS THIS??? And what

have you done with King Ping???? I thought we left all the impostors back at the ole GC. We’ll be looking for a ransom note…..LOL LOL

by em66 on Dec 10, 2009 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

King Ping.......And there

was an uprising of the people and the King was overthrown and beheaded, his body fed to the birds……and a new King rose up and claimed the throne……long live the King!!!!

by em66 on Dec 10, 2009 2:35 PM EST reply actions