Tiger loses bite
Takes record tumble in popularity:
Tiger Woods has taken the largest rating plunge in Gallup Poll
history as a result of the sex scandal that forced the world's first
billion-dollar athlete to halt his epic golf career.
Even as sports memorabilia firm Upper Deck vowed Tuesday to stick by
Woods, results of USA Today/Gallup and Washington Post/ABC News weekend
polls show the US public has a harsh view on the 14-time major
champion's infidelity.
More than a dozen women have claimed affairs with embattled Woods,
who has admitted being unfaithful to wife Elin and said he will take a
break from professional golf to work on being a better husband, father
and person.
Woods had only a 33 percent ``favorable" rating in a poll taken last
weekend compared to an 85 percent mark in 2005 when the question was
last posed, the 52-point plunge the largest since drops were first
measured in 1992.
Gallup Poll managing editor Jeffrey Jones called the drop
``definitely unprecedented" and said he has fallen below many of the
usual lowest of the low - politicians.
In 2000, when Woods was winning the ``Tiger Slam" of four majors in a
row, his favorable rating peaked at 88 percent - the highest figure in
poll history. The fall from that mark matches ex-President George W.
Bush's all-time record.
"Unfavorable" marks for Woods in the same poll jumped from eight
percent in 2005 to 57 percent, with 61 percent of women but just 53
percent of men grading Woods unfavorably.
USA Today/Gallup found 19 percent of those who responded would have a
less favorable opinion of any product endorsed by Woods.
Nevertheless, Upper Deck Company joined Nike and video game maker
Electronic Arts in supporting Woods, saying it will continue exclusive
deals with Woods that began in 2001.
"Upper Deck will maintain its exclusive agreement with Tiger in both
our sports cards and memorabilia categories and we look forward to his
eventual return to the PGA Tour," Upper Deck chief executive Richard
McWilliam said. "Tiger and his family have our full support."
Global consulting firm Accenture dropped Woods on Sunday, the first
sponsor to dump him. AT&T and Tag Heuer are reevaluating their Woods
deals. Gillette, a Procter and Gamble brand, says it will pull Woods
from ads during his hiatus.
The Post/ABC poll had 43 percent saying they view Woods unfavorably,
with more than one in four saying their opinion of him was strongly
negative.
Among women in the poll, 39 percent saw Woods as favorable to 45
percent unfavorable, while men were 46 percent favorable to 41 percent
unfavorable.
Golf fans in the Post/ABC poll gave Woods a 62-percent favorable
rating with 37 percent negative, indicating that within the golf realm,
Woods might find a measure of support for both himself and possibly
products he endorses.
Woods has hired Hollywood attorneys Lavely and Singer, with Marty
Singer well know for taking on tabloids for celebrity clients, according
to the National Law Journal.
The move could be aimed at reducing the tabloid and internet buzz
over Woods since his cheating was first reported three weeks ago.
LOS ANGELES, Wednesday, AFP
|