By Tiger Woods
12/02/2009
I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.
Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.
But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don't share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.
Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it's difficult.
I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.
The Florida Highway Patrol and the neighbors said the following...
First, the FHP (Florida Highway Patrol) said that Tiger was to be cited for careless driving... LOL... (I bet...), but there are no criminal charges.
They said they is not any other testimony or evidence for supporting charges of any other kind other than the charge of careless driving. So, that pretty much excludes everything else that was mentioned about the clubs and whacking Tiger and spousal abuse.
And also, since the people who live in that particular ritzy neighborhood have attorneys like we have paperboys (us ordinary people)..., the next door neighbor had their attorney give this information from them. This was the neighbor who actually called 911.
According to what he saw, Tiger did not appear to be driving under the influence and Tiger showed no signs of being in a fight. In addition a spokesman for the FHP said that there were no claims of domestic violence (despite the rumor mill around here on Free Republic).
The neighbor said that Tiger's injuries were consistent with the accident that he was in. And he also said that nothing looked like he was beat up by his wife... LOL...
The neighbors went out after hearing the crash and Tiger's wife was there and asked them to call 911 for her. The neighbors said that Tiger's wife was consoling Tiger, at the time (I guess while waiting for the ambulance) and was upset from what happened (i.e., the accident).
The neighbors apparently got a blanket and wrapped Tiger in it and also made sure he didn't move (a typically good idea in these kinds of accidents). The neighbors were also emphatic about Tiger's wife being very concerned for him during that time.
It looks like, to me, that the neighbors got the attorney to do the speaking for them to the press so that they press wouldn't be hounding them... :-)
You can see the story in the article at the website...