No matter what the result of Tiger Woods’ extended stay in rehab, the most significant reason he had to seek treatment—other than a last-ditch attempt to save his marriage—was to preserve his future as a product endorser.
Yes, it’s possible the fear people saw in his eyes last Friday was because of a divorce attorney, but the sight of his bank account dwindling due to the exodus in sponsors is most likely also on his mind.
Gatorade’s “dumping” of The Striped One hammered that point home. Sure the sports drink company tried to sneak it in, announcing on a Friday, the better to be buried in other weekend activities and the Olympics.
But was it a coincidence that it was just one week ago Woods spoke to everyone? Surely the powers that be in Tiger-land knew this Gatorade issue was coming at them.
So, it’s time to focus on what’s not being said or written in the golf press: The advertising community has now officially decided that Tiger Woods is poisonous for mass marketers.
Most sportswriters don’t spend time in ad meetings or crea...
Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - Sports & Society
Article is property of BleacherReport.com