Nike’s new Tiger Woods ad is making more than a few people cringe.
If you’re going to be (to use a phrase) “playing the field” when you’re one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, it is probably better to take the Michael Phelps route than the Tiger Woods way.
Phelps is single and doesn’t seem to want to be married anytime soon. He seems to have a new girlfriend every week. Sometimes he even recycles them. The NY Post reported this week that he is back to hanging out with ex-girlfriend Caroline Pal. Just last month, Metro dished on Phelps dating waitress Sarah Herndon (don’t laugh, apparently she can remember orders of up to four without writing it down … she’s that talented). But a month in Phelps’ dating world is a decade for everyone else.
Then there is Tiger. Woods made off-course news last week when it was officially revealed that he was dating famed skier Lindsey Vonn. Just a few days later, he regained his status as the No. 1 golfer in the world (that will ring hollow unless he’s around on Sunday at Augusta in a couple of weeks).
The problem here is that Woods seems ready to climb back into serious relationships. No, Tiger. That doesn’t work for you. You know it. We know it. The Perkins’ waitress knows it.
This whole issue of his, trying to keep Lil’ Tiger caged, could still pop up at any moment without notice. That’s why it was even more ridiculous to see Nike unveil this startling ad campaign (see above) this week: it’s a picture of Tiger on the golf course with a headline of “Winning Takes Care of Everything.”
Good to see Phil Knight is still a scumbag after all these years. We were getting worried there for a minute, Philip.
Follow Metro Boston sports editor and columnist Matt Burke on Twitter: @BurkeMetroBOS
