Words like frenzy and hype surround this non-story, but the media seemed incapable to let it pass. Today they have been told: stay off my turf.

Yet it’s been framed as  problem for refusing to make a statement to the media. Most PR have said that remaining silent was not a good way to handle this crisis. (Interesting discussion here at ValleyPRBlog, where I also blog.) I beg to differ.

I understand that public figures have to learn to live with an always-on media. But I don’t see why this auto-accident is such a big thing. Man hits fire hydrant is not man bites dog, for heaven’s sake!

Tiger called this out in his statement. Couched in the language of an apology, it was an indictment of this nonsense: that just because he is a celebrity, he has to answer to the media.

As he put it:

“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.”

Perfectly put, even though the beginning and end of the statement is over the top with apology language that will be scrutinized to death for some weeks.