Cyber world goes gaga over Woods’s sordid saga
God of Golf’s blessing
It’s a business worth millions of dollars that some internet enterpreneurs are eyeing by sale of websites dedicated to the Tiger Woods scandal, even as the golfer himself has lost millions in earnings to his ‘infidelity’.
Dozens of websites have been registered in the past few days and put on sale for prices as high as US$21 million (about Rs 100 crore) to cash in on the scandal involving the former ‘God of Golf’ and his mistresses. These include TigersHarem.com, one of the most expensive so far, TigerGotWood.com, TigersLitter.com, TigerTexts.com, TigerLies.com, TigerWoodsLies.com and 2TimingTiger.com, which are currently on sale at leading online marketplace eBay. Around 20 such website addresses are currently on sale for a price totalling to over US$100 million —— an amount nearing the golfer’s annual income from his endorsements and tournaments.
There is not much about his ‘transgressions’ beyond the golf course on his official website, TigerWoods.com, except for a few confessional statements where he has sought apology for letting his family and fans down. But, dozens of other websites, currently on sale, talks about Woods and his illicit relationships in the domain name itself and are wooing those as buyers who want to cash further upon by developing the entire websites about the scandal.
In one of the statements on his official website, Woods said: “I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect.”
In another statement announcing his “indefinite break from professional golf,” Woods has said he was “deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children.” “I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try... I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person,” he said.
However, those selling the websites for millions of dollars, as also their potential buyers, do not seem to be complaining as the whole scandal has thrown up a big business opportunity. A seller of one such website address on eBay says: “Take advantage of the hysteria surrounding the word TIGER! Every 24 hours we are hearing of more female members to his Harem.” However, there are also some who think that Woods would still be remembered as a great golfer after the scandal heat passes off and are offering non-scandal related websites like ‘TigerWoodsWebsite.com.’ The seller of this website says on eBay: “Long after the scandal has passed, he will be remembered as one of the greatest golfers that ever lived!,” adding that this would be a valuable website for “centuries to come.”
