If the national media had any backbone they would stiff Tiger Woods and his “press conference” today.

Let’s face it, this is not really a press conference. He isn’t going to allow reporters to ask questions.

So what is the purpose?

I would assume so he can tell us more lies about what happened that night.

He will try to look contrite and try to get us to take his side in this sorted tale of adultery and deception.

But will any of us really buy it?

After all, he has led us down this road before.

Today is all about Tiger.

Today is all about restoring his image.

Today is about returning to the PGA Tour in the near future.

It won’t be about making things right with his family.

It won’t be about the things it should be.

Allowing just three news organizations to attend this pretend press conference allows Tiger and his handlers to control every aspect of the event.

After all, if they allowed all the media who wanted to attend this event, they wouldn’t be able to stop them from shouting out questions.

I would hope the Associated Press would take a stand here, but I know they won’t.
They won’t because Tiger Woods is off limits when it comes to the media – always has been.

So since Tiger is only going to read a prepared statement and leave, why not just send that statement out to all the media outlets and be done with it?

It’s because he can’t look sympathetic if you can’t see him.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he conjures up some phony tears to make it look good.

Tiger Woods has been treated with kid gloves for way too long.

It’s time the national media take those gloves off and treat him like anyone else.
John Daly never got this kind of treatment.

Of course, John Daly wasn’t considered the savior of golf.

It’s truly a shame because while we all are human and we all make mistakes, we also deserve to deal with the consequences of those errors.

Sure he has lost a few sponsors. Big deal!

He probably has destroyed his marriage. Nothing new there either.

The real issue, and the one that will get lost today in the make believe press conference, is that he lied to all of us.

He tried to cover up the issue and when he was caught in that lie, didn’t man up and come clean.

We could have forgiven him for what happened if he had just told the truth in the first place.

That’s the kind of society we live in.

But it’s too late now for damage control.

Tiger had his chance to make things right. Today’s phony boloney press conference can’t change that.

I would hope that the national media will step up and take Tiger and his handlers on, demand he answer questions and make him face the music.

But as we all know, that just isn’t going to happen.

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com