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Famous friends have advice for Tiger, but lament; 'He's turned off his phone'

Dec 15, 2009, 7:17 PM EDT

66 Comments

When Tiger Woods drops out of public view he really drops out. Apparently he’s not even taking calls from the famous pals he has notoriously hung out with over the past few years, like Charles Barkley and Spike Lee. Without knowing the details, I’d be willing to bet that Barkley helped get him into this mess; but at any rate, he now wants to give some advice on getting him out of trouble.
One problem, Barkley told the Associated Press: Woods isn’t taking his calls. Barkley said that he hasn’t spoken to Woods since the Nov. 27 accident, which unleashed a series of events so monumental, that at this point they seem as if they were handed down a mountainside on stone tablets.


Barkley went on record about the Woods situation two weeks ago in an interview on WIP radio in Philadelphia, and in fact he hasn’t really stopped talking about it. This time, in remarks to the Associated Press today, he’s taken on a more serious tone.

“I think when you have these fires in your life, as I call them, you need to talk to somebody else who is famous who [has] been through things in their life,” Barkley said. “I don’t think you can talk about it to your family and friends, because your family and friends, they’re not famous.”

Director Spike Lee said he had hoped Barkley or retired NBA star Michael Jordan could counsel Woods on how to survive the crisis.

“He’s insulated,” Lee said. “If Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan can’t get to him, and those are his boys, then other people are making bad moves.”

Barkley and Lee talked further of the situation on a show that airs Sunday on news network HLN.
Among those who have also offered Woods advice from afar have been John Daly, Lawrence Taylor and, most entertainingly of all, the Redskins’ Clinton Portis.

“If he could keep that a secret and ain’t nobody came out and told [on him], hey, congratulate him. You know, most of the time there’s one or two, and you can’t keep that a secret,” Portis said in an interview on ESPN 980 The District.

“So if he can balance 14 and keep it a secret, congrats. You know, at least he knows what he wants. He don’t discriminate, he’s not against people, he don’t care what your job, what your background is….He knew what he was after.”

But it’s all just talk; Woods is listening to none of them so far. They shouldn’t feel bad, though: At last report, even Oprah couldn’t get through. And if Oprah can’t call you, no one can.
***
Charles Barkley says Tiger Woods changed number, not talking to some of famous friends [Chicago Tribune]
Barkley, Spike Lee worry about Woods [CNN]
Clinton Portis discusses Tiger Woods [DC Sports Bog]

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  1. Liz - Dec 16, 2009 at 3:31 PM

    Tiger is probably concerned that his “famous” friends will talk, as they are doing now. He may realize the only way to keep this private is to keep his thoughts to himself until he is ready to speak.

  2. EMB - Dec 16, 2009 at 3:36 PM

    Tiger is human. Why do we expect so much more from him. I believe Elin was as impressed with Tiger as many women would be if he was to spend time with them. I really don’t believe that he slept with all those women. Maybe if he stays out of the spot light for a while people like us may forget about this.I certainly believe he will be alright without the advice of others.

  3. Mike - Dec 16, 2009 at 3:49 PM

    Tiger is no more than a man that made the most terrible of mistakes: “Betrayal to his OWN FAMILY”.
    There is no amount of money or sponsor endorsements that will be able to heal broken hearts, most especially those of the children.
    Tiger and Elin will survive. I just pray that their children will as well. I pray that they will grow without lingering traumatic thoughts of this situation that has impacted their lives beyond measure.
    God bless the “little ones” and the “big ones” that often don’t think that their actions will become known just because of who they are.

  4. NoNonseGuy - Dec 16, 2009 at 4:49 PM

    What Tiger did with all those women is completely his private matter. First of all, I doubt if many of those women are telling the truth. When a scandal likes this breaks out, women like those come out of nowhere for a 15-minute fame and money. If you win a powerball tomorrow, I guarantee you, there would 10,000 people filing a case saying the winning ticket was theirs and they had lost it or you stole it or you cut the line and bought the ticket before them otherwise, that ticket could have been theirs.
    Media or anyone has no business butting into someone’s private matter. I am sick of this media. Our media can make someone a king overnight and a slumdog the very next day. Our media pretty much killed a marriage and possibly ruined the career of the greatest golfer of all time.

  5. KMAC - Dec 16, 2009 at 5:05 PM

    Let me see. Tiger is richest athlete in world, America loved him, he gets $100 million per year in endorsements for being popular and conveying squeaky clean image. A black President is elected in a country with only a 10% African American populace.
    Now against that backdrop,Tiger falls off the wagon: not with one woman, or two (he is human, afterall), but 14…and counting. Good publicity for heroes, bad for fallen heroes. And your comment:
    “I wonder if Elin were not blond and blue eyed if anyone one on this borad would really care. Somehow I truly doubt it. Bottom line, the audacity of cheating on this “helpless” blonde woman has America in such a frothing rage, not the cheating itself. Let Elin be say Lakeesha or soemthing else other than blonde and blue eyed and the publicity would ahve been minimal.”
    It’s a great country. Any moron has a voice.

  6. KMAC - Dec 16, 2009 at 5:08 PM

    Media didn’t kill marriage, Tiger did. Man up, Mr. Accountability.

  7. tw - Dec 16, 2009 at 5:25 PM

    wait … charles barkley is god!!

  8. TJL - Dec 16, 2009 at 5:44 PM

    I can handle Spike and Charles. I just hope that Tiger does not call on Jim Brown. Look how Maurice Clarett ended up

  9. Chris - Dec 16, 2009 at 5:46 PM

    Interestingly, Charles has been married to the same white woman for more than 20 years now.. but his buds MJ and Tiger failed in their marriages.

  10. solo774 - Dec 16, 2009 at 6:34 PM

    Tiger, you are one of the greatest humans to ever live. you are on top of the world. you’re only human. the mistake you made is NOTHING compared to what millions of us have done in our lives, while you were out there making people happy and making millions at the same time. I really don’t want to have to say this next message but; there are people of another color who relly don’t quite like the fact that you excelled in what was once dominated by another race. Also you became very wealth and had all of they’re pretty women wanting you, well, you just kind of made those guys of the other color feel really really bad. not the normal good ones, but the hating, jealous ones.

  11. solo774 - Dec 16, 2009 at 7:00 PM

    I have been blessed to have had the chance to watch you walk over and crush the competition. We are proud of you Tiger. We’re proud of you man. Many men, many, many men wish we had your talents. My daughters are only 3 and 5 now, but when they are older I will be sure to point to that poster of you holding your iron over your shoulder, as another golf ball leaves Earth atmosphere, careen off another one of those satellites, bounce off the space station falls back to Earth and land a hole in one! Yes! Man you are GREAT! And you always will be. You are phenomenal Tiger. You’re one in a million. When I tell my daughters about Martin Luther King,Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Mahalia Jackson, Rosa Parks and all those other great black folks who gave life their all, I’ll be speaking about you too Tiger. I’ll be talking about you too man. Go on my brother. Go on, and God bless you.

  12. Carlos - Dec 16, 2009 at 7:22 PM

    Who else would be better to counsel Woods than Barkley. He’s gotten into so many scraps in his career, yet he is as popular NOW (if not more so) as he was during his playing days! It takes some kind of ability to do that…

  13. Janet Haughton - Dec 16, 2009 at 8:10 PM

    Tiger, you just must remember what your father taught you & focus on you. What’s done is done. Don’t let ANYONE stop you from pursuing your dream & fulfilling you & your father’s goal – to be the BEST EVER at golf. While you were working to get on one pedestal, lesser mortals were busy putting you on another, despite your insistence on privacy. I need you to wipe the smiles off the faces on those who are now tearing down their own straw man. You know what you want. JUST DO IT!! The rest of us know that you are human too – we’ll be there watching every step of the way of your exciting journey….. and marvel!!

  14. louis murray - Dec 16, 2009 at 8:28 PM

    What the hell does his buddies being black, and all the women being blonde matter. First off it’s not our business. Get a life. All parties were consenting adults, they all knew what was going on. People have sex. And we allow it to ruin lives and relationships there will continue to be choas. Is it really news worthy. I think not. He likes sex. Most of us do. Leave the guy and his family alone. It’s personal not news worthy. He is just a man. Just a man

  15. RJ in AZ - Dec 16, 2009 at 8:59 PM

    You know you’re screwed when Ron Artest is coming to your defense.

  16. samt - Dec 16, 2009 at 9:01 PM

    Nike will affiliate with anybody – they’re back to sponsoring Vick; they’d sponsor pedophiles if they thought they could make a buck off of it; all of em’ would.

  17. richyrich3417 - Dec 16, 2009 at 9:10 PM

    HLN reports that he is still texting the first one we found out about. I bet she can get through now.

  18. RichyRich3417 - Dec 16, 2009 at 9:24 PM

    Are you freakin serious Jack? Clinton Portis is not being sarcastic, he is throwing props to Tiger for juggling at least 14 and being able to keep every one of them quiet then further suggesting that anyone who can do that should be hailed. WTF ever. Thats Clintons way of saying that high profile athletes are above the laws of morals and ethics. As for Barkley, I find it amusing that he relates to himself as famous. He’s not famous but rather NOTORIOUS for being and idiot. It’s a damn shame they hung that 50 Best B.S. on him. Went to his head obviously.

  19. pick - Dec 16, 2009 at 9:39 PM

    why exactly does he “have to take to someone?” Why exactly does he have to talk to someone fameous? Especially with someone with a mouth a big as charles barkley’s. Tiger already knows how stupid that would be. Barkley only wants info to spread all over the media. big mouth idiot. If I were tiger, I would not speak to him or spike lee again. how dare they, his quote unquote friend, keep this shit alive by going on TV and discussing him as if he were a brainless fool. I would not do this to an enemy. They, lee and barkley, are both bumbling idiots and don’t deserve to be included in tiger’s circle of friends.

  20. richyrich3417 - Dec 16, 2009 at 9:43 PM

    What I want to know is…what about the steroids? If he did or didn’t, it won’t change my opinion about him as a golfer. It’s just interesting that until about 4 years ago he went from being built like JJ from “Good Times” to looking like Ray Lewis for the Ravens. Even built like JJ, he had sick skills so it really doesn’t matter. Maybe…he didn’t take steroids to improve his play, maybe he wanted to get ripped so he could pick up babes at the beach thus this mess.

  21. loreli - Dec 16, 2009 at 9:46 PM

    The guy is a slut. Yuck. He should be doing AIDs/HIV endorsements not Nike. As for Elin…you go girl. You should have used a driver.

  22. Daddywarbucks - Dec 16, 2009 at 9:51 PM

    Why can’t we leave this alone, and let Tiger try to reconcile with his family, and resume his life. The continuation of this is making me sick of him. I have to admit, I marveled at his skill and put him on the pedestal like many others. I am sick to think his whole machine…those that marketed him to us, and made billions ….made fools of us all.

  23. Josh - Dec 16, 2009 at 10:09 PM

    That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever read. “one of the greatest humans to ever live”??? You put him in the ranks of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.?? Your priorities are out of wack, sir.
    And how you can excuse his cheating and betraying his own family, but then call people who find this kind of behavior disgusting “hateful and jealous” as opposed to “normal good people”. So “normal good people” don’t bat an eye at adultery? You’d really talk up this guy who probably would have zero respect for your daughters if they were of legal age to them like he’s some kind of hero?
    If you really believe that all it takes to constitute being a “great human being” is a high level of achievement at an utterly meaningless game…then I pity you.

  24. RichyRich3417 - Dec 16, 2009 at 10:21 PM

    I don’t think reconciliation is realistic. Think about it..a billion dollars, 14 extra-maritals (that we know of), and lie after lie. I look at it like this this – if there are 14 who come forward, who knows how many one night stands or hookers? Sort of like a cock roach analogy..if you see one, theres 500 more you don’t see. Elin has so much more to offer the world and going for her than a rich moral-less idiot who could not possibly be sorry except for the fact he was caught. Move on and live a life where she never has to worry about whre he is, who he’s with or who he’s texting. As for Tiger, admit you’re about as loyal as an alley cat (with sick golf skills) and don’t put your soon to be ex and kids through more grief. Pay you child support on time and be a moral moron like your buddy Barkley. The millions will still be there.

  25. richyrich3417 - Dec 16, 2009 at 10:23 PM

    The Media didn’t ruin Tiger’s mariiage and golf career, Tiger did.

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