Top Sports Story of the Year
Top Sports Story of the Year
Posted: 12/31/2009
By Larry Carney, WMAR-TV All week, we've been counting down the biggest sports story of 2009. By an overwhelming vote, Tiger Woods sex scandal topped the list.
Tiger is one of the few athletes who are bigger than the sport they play. A golf tournament with Tiger looks a lot different than a tournament without him. Tiger tourneys get bigger crowds, bigger paying sponsors and a bigger headline on Sportscenter.
So when Tiger crashed his car Thanksgiving Weekend, it was big news. But the crash was just the tip of the iceberg.
The crash was minor. Woods got a few cuts on his face.
What we learned after it led to Woods suspending his career and losing several sponsors.
More than a dozen women claimed to have had an affair with Woods. Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, has told friends she will divorce the golf superstar.
AT&T & Accenture dropped sponsorships. And other companies are scaling back, keeping Woods out of their advertisements.
This story will only grow in 2010. Woods will have to eventually answer the questions about his personal life. Even if Woods doesn't come out and talk, his wife could. How will crowds react to Tiger on tour now? And will he be able to get back to his dominating form with all of these rumors out there?
Tiger is one of the few athletes who are bigger than the sport they play. A golf tournament with Tiger looks a lot different than a tournament without him. Tiger tourneys get bigger crowds, bigger paying sponsors and a bigger headline on Sportscenter.
So when Tiger crashed his car Thanksgiving Weekend, it was big news. But the crash was just the tip of the iceberg.
The crash was minor. Woods got a few cuts on his face.
What we learned after it led to Woods suspending his career and losing several sponsors.
More than a dozen women claimed to have had an affair with Woods. Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, has told friends she will divorce the golf superstar.
AT&T & Accenture dropped sponsorships. And other companies are scaling back, keeping Woods out of their advertisements.
This story will only grow in 2010. Woods will have to eventually answer the questions about his personal life. Even if Woods doesn't come out and talk, his wife could. How will crowds react to Tiger on tour now? And will he be able to get back to his dominating form with all of these rumors out there?
Copyright 2009 The E.W. Scripps Co. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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