I’ve pretty much stopped debunking the bogus Tiger Woods stories that the gossips and shameless main media have been trying to pass off on us to keep the flame alive.
(non sequitur Tiger pic #1)
But with an exasperated reporter for the ASSOCIATED PRESS descending on Hattiesburg this week to vet yet another bogus tale of Woods attending a sex addiction clinic in the area, it’s time for me to share why the story is manufactured fantasy.
The afternoon of January 14, I was scrolling through Tiger Woods news alerts when I came upon this post from an obscure boxing site called 8CountBoxing.com:
8countnews.com is currently pursuing a report that golf icon Tiger Woods has entered the Pine Grove Mental Health Facility in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 8CN is in the process of confirming the authenticity of these reports from Hattiesburg.
No idea what the site meant by “reports” - as that was the first mention of the story anywhere. (I do have an email into them.)
There’s been no follow to the boxing site’s post, but later that night WLBT-TV in Jackson reported:
Have Tiger Woods’ troubles led him to the Magnolia State? Sources tell WLBT Sports that Woods is currently checked into the Pine Grove mental health facility center in Hattiesburg.
WLBT’s short on-air report was posted on the website the next day, January 15. Once the NBC affiliate’s report was posted online and started showing up on Google News searches, various other main media outlets picked up the story.
Finally, the story went live worldwide when RadarOnline.com reported January 15 (post now timestamped incorrectly as Jan. 16):
Tiger Woods is getting treatment at a top sex addiction program in Hattiesburg, Miss., sources have told RadarOnline.com exclusively.
The troubled golf great checked into Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services, sources say.
Absolutely no difference between the original post on the obscure boxing site and RadarOnline’s report. Every single thing you have read about this story since derived from that tiny website post and five days later there hasn’t been one shred of evidence presented by anyone to suggest the story is true.
(non sequitur Tiger pic #2)
E! News though did present an interesting follow to the story. The cable channel claimed to quote a 19-year-old woman named Adrian Smith who said she had spotted Woods at the Hattiesburg airport.
After weeks of managing to avoid attention, the philandering linkster was working on his frequent flyer miles in the state this week. University of Southern Mississippi student Adrian Smith tells E! News she spotted Woods arriving at Hattiesburg-Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport Monday night.
The beleaguered star was sporting a black baseball hat, black jacket and jeans as he stood near the airport’s entrance at about 10 p.m., says Smith. He then proceeded to hop into a white SUV parked curbside.
“He didn’t look happy or sad, just straight,” Smith says. “He looked around and got in the driver’s seat. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry. He just walked around the car and got in. He sat there for a few seconds, then just drove off. His luggage was already in the car.”
Smith says she has no doubt it was a Tiger sighting. “I know it was him 100 percent,” the 19-year-old insists. Indeed, her dispatch jibes with a Radar Online report that says Woods is in Hattiesburg to take advantage of some local expertise.
A little hard to swallow considering Woods flies private and the extraordinary secrecy under which he has lived for two months. So just for fun I thought I’d attempt to confirm Smith as a USM student.
I went to the official Univ. of Southern Mississippi website and typed her name into the student locator search engine. No dice. An “Adrianna” though did come up, so I sent a message to the accompanying email address.
A day later, I received this reply: “I am not who you are looking for so please do not send anymore e-mails!!! thanks”
Sounds like I’m not the only one who had that idea.
I also searched the USM Facebook Network for an Adrian Smith and received no matches. Nothing even close. Finally, I called the USM registrar’s office and was told there was no Adrian Smith enrolled at the school.
Other follows from RadarOnline have included the police showing up at the private Pine Grove facility and new construction to obscure views into the compound.
I talked to a main media reporter today who was recently outside the Pine Grove grounds about those particular Radar reports. She said that because of media and paparazzi descending on the area, police were called to keep everything under control outside the clinic.
She also said that she was told by local police that the construction was to ensure privacy of all of the patients at the facility because of the media crush. It had nothing to do with Tiger Woods.
Finally, a blog post on the personal site of a NEW YORK TIMES Magazine contributor is being touted today as confirmation of the story. Here’s what was posted in regards to Woods being at the clinic:
A source confirmed to me what other news sources have been reporting the last two days: Tiger Woods is at the Pine Grove/Gentle Path sex addiction treatment center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Sound familiar?
(No.)
This is the third sex addiction clinic that Woods has allegedly visited. The first was in Phoenix, which I thoroughly debunked for you. The second was South Africa (yeahright) and finally we’re presented with this D.O.A. claim.
Dude, you think you want your life back?
10:47 pm on January 18th, 2010
I live here in Hattiesburg and it is true that celebrities pass through Pine Grove from time to time but… Tiger is not here. The only thing related to Tiger Woods that is in the Hub City right now are the morons looking for him.
I spoke with a friend who is a drug and alcohol counselor at Pine Grove and she confirmed that the facility was forced to increase security and privacy measures because of the disturbances caused by the media.
It’s just another rumor…
11:22 pm on January 18th, 2010
Good on you Brooks for calling it like it is … absolute rubbish ! The Thai-American is laying low and will continue to do so, until such time that he feels it safe and prudent for him to return to the tour … perhaps for the Masters, if we’re lucky ? Tiger doesn’t need any counselling or therapy … what he needs is for the heat to die down … which is exactly what’s happening. Obviously the Swedish trophy wife and kids were only a sham for personal image boosting, which didn’t work out … and so onward and forward for him. It is going to make for some incredible TV viewing though, when he does finally return !
11:26 pm on January 18th, 2010
Thanks brooks for calling out that bullshit report on radar online. I find it funny that radar says they broke the story on friday i guess their source is 8CountBoxing.com.
12:13 am on January 19th, 2010
I have heard that a big part of his treatment is Tiger
has to tie a pair of pantys around his arm (in side out). They act like a patch to get you over the “hump”.
1:16 am on January 19th, 2010
Why cant the media stop hounding the Tiger? They know publishing bogus news cant derail him. Leave him alone.
4:15 am on January 19th, 2010
It’s all about the money honey as in magazines out = $$ in. There will always be a market for destructive speculation as long as we keep buying.
4:22 am on January 19th, 2010
I just hope Tiger is not as crass an individual as some
of you think. Anybody’s personnel life is important.
What I hope is that Tiger is dissatisfied with how he’s
running his life. I personnally think he’s out of control
and he hasn’t been helped at all by his “handlers”.
I’d rather see him get his personnal life together and
forget golf. When you start selling your soul for achievement your in trouble.
After the image crafting by the greedy jerks at IMG tiger
deserves every bit of hounding the public can muster.
Which obviously has been none since TMZ or anybody else has not even come close to finding him.
4:49 am on January 19th, 2010
Tiger is indeed in South Africa. I have not seen him, but you will remembre this posting when Tiger returns in March. I am sure he is not here for any therapy of any kind, but he’s here.
5:24 am on January 19th, 2010
There are no commercial flights into the HB Muncipal Airport. IF Tiger was there, he came in on a private jet.
7:23 am on January 19th, 2010
Saddly, I saw tiger in China. Well, understandable…none care about him there!
7:38 am on January 19th, 2010
Tiger is in The Fortress of Solitude
8:50 am on January 19th, 2010
Remember, you heard it here first. Tiger Woods is in Galway, Ireland. We’ve seen him eating in Cactus Jacks,a popular eatery, several times. He’s also been staying at the Padraig Harrington’s compound here, complete with Golf course and other Let me repeat… this is no joke, this is real.
Rumor has it that the place was recommended by Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods management company, International Management Group (IMG), and their agents, Adrian Mitchell and Mark Steinberg. IMG has a history of matching up stars when a crisis like this arises. It’s been confirmed by multiple sources.
10:08 am on January 19th, 2010
Who Cares!
10:15 am on January 19th, 2010
I have suspected all along that the whole rehab thing is a big hoax.Tiger continues out there partying and feeling sorry for himself. Tiger Woods is a Big Coward. He is demonstrating much immaturity and great inability to accept and take responsibility for his own actions. We should not be surprise about this because after all he has been a fraud all along.
10:59 am on January 19th, 2010
Tiger is with the Dalai Lama
11:21 am on January 19th, 2010
I suspect this is the source for the story:
Pine Grove Mental Health Facility
Memo # 1
From: Executive Offices
To: Head of marketing
Time: 9:15 a.m.
At our executive breakfast meeting this morning, we noted that we still have quite a number of open beds available, which we found disturbing. We have one of the best mental health facilities in the Southeast, but if we can’t fill our beds there will be some layoffs - perhaps first at the top of your department.
As you know, among our rehabilitation services we offer counseling for sex addiction. The Tiger Woods scandal has been in the news for over a month now, but I haven’t seen anything on TV or Radio locally about how this addiction causes the destruction of families, about how it affects everyday people as well as celebrities, and how our facility can offer treatment for such problems.
Please get back to me before lunchtime on how you plan to market our services to those suffering from sexual addiction while the story is still hot on the Tiger Woods scandal.
Signed,
The Guy Who’s Already Thinking about your Replacement.
Memo # 2
From: Head of Marketing
To: Ted the Intern
Time: 9:45 a.m.
I’m dissapointed that you have been working in this department for almost four days now, and you haven’t yet contributed a viral marketing plan like the media says all you young college people know how to do these days.
Please put together a viral marketing plan to market our sex addiction in-patient services, and link it to the Tiger Woods Scandal.
Oh, and have it look like it was already started before today. And make sure it can’t be tracked back to us. And don’t talk to anyone about this, the guys in the executive offices have to be handled very carefully because they don’t know anything about this stuff, and saying the word “viral” makes them think it’s an epidemic. Let’s just keep this between you and me. I will handle the executives.
Oh, and I need this in place by 11:30 a.m. Report to me personally at that time.
Signed;
The guy who signs the sheet which gets you college credit for working here but won’t authorize you to actually get paid.
11:33 am on January 19th, 2010
quality quality reporting brooks
12:16 pm on January 19th, 2010
Tiger is in Rachel Uchitel
1:11 pm on January 19th, 2010
How can larger news affiliates run an unsubstantiated story. To me, that takes away their credibility to their local viewers all together. So sad to see story hungry paparazzi style journalists stoop so low. Tiger, stay where you are and concentrate on healing your family and yourself. None of these low lifes deserve any of your time.
1:14 pm on January 19th, 2010
I think the Pine Grove Mental Health facility has room for journalists who need to get a life and get out of their fantasy world of imagining what celebrities do with their time.
1:28 pm on January 19th, 2010
After this ordeal Tiger might become 100% / not bi as has been reported by one mistress. He is likely to say to hell with females.
5:25 pm on January 19th, 2010
I have it from a good source that Tiger Woods is holded up in my neighbors basement, The reason I believe him is that no one would believe that he would be in Boise Idaho. Plus the trafic has been more than usual.
5:32 pm on January 19th, 2010
Here let me start one…
Tiger takes Shuttle to Space Station to get away From Prying Eyes?
Let’s see how far that gets… don’t be surprised to hear it on Fox News…
5:34 pm on January 19th, 2010
Video of Tiger having Sex with Fire Hydrant Shopped Around?
6:59 pm on January 19th, 2010
When Wood’s yacht Privacy finally sailed out of Florida waters after New Years, that was sex rehab, with Rachel what’s her name on board. I was further convinced when shortly thereafter an invitation was announced that she was having a birthday party in Palm Beach in January 29. Aren’t those things usually announced the week of?
Those two are shagging their way across the high seas, and the sex rehab stories are great pr.
6:59 pm on January 19th, 2010
You are all showing up as complete fools! Leave the man alone! His problems are private! Keep prodding and he will go deeper! We all miss him but I think he knows how many he let down and its probable eating at him. Let’s hope there is a positive solution.
7:25 pm on January 19th, 2010
I know where he is. According to my sources, Tiger has flown to Loch Ness, where he’ll meet up with Elvis in Bigfoots UFO to relax until this blows over.
8:09 pm on January 19th, 2010
Tiger is Kalamazoo, I just seen him!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10:46 pm on January 19th, 2010
just leave the man alone .
10:53 pm on January 19th, 2010
As of 10:45 PM on the 19th, ESPN.com is running with it to get some clicks:
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4839414
Updated: January 19, 2010, 10:45 PM ET
From ESPN.com news services
Author: Woods at sex rehab clinic
11:42 am on January 20th, 2010
Tiger has issues just the sames as us,we should just take care of our home and stop trying to find out whats going on in his, we should spend more time praying and less time gossiping.
1:03 pm on January 20th, 2010
Why is everyone persecuting Tiger Woods? If you found out your next-door neighbor was a sex addict would you go picketing in front of his house? Would you make t-shirts to hand out at the neighborhood association meetings?
These are judgmental, bored and lame.
3:09 pm on January 20th, 2010
According to Radaronline and referenced also by CBS Sportsline.com, someone who looks at least like Tiger (in blurry pictures at some distance) is at the Hattiesburg sex addiction clinic.
www.radaronline.com/photos/image/41
079
3:14 pm on January 20th, 2010
Link again
http://www.radaronline.com/photos/image/41079
10:30 pm on January 21st, 2010
I feel compelled to comment on Tiger Wood’s arrival
in Hattiesburg, Ms. First, My crendentials include a 40-year broadcaster career in radio/tv also as founder of
WOTB-FM, Middletown/ Rhode Island. I reside at Timberton Golf Club, owned by my son, Master PGA Golf Professional / Vice Chairman of the PGA golf
Rules Committee and owner of Timberton who has
personally walked with Tiger at many PGA events..!
That being said, I personally have covered many major
news events from The Amrica’s Cup/PGA events/
major new stories…and remember (circa 1978) when we received
word in our new room at WOTB-Fm that Senator John’Glenn was scheduled to arrive in Newport right from the senate floor to speak and we quickly mustered
all available sources to learn how we could contact him. We learned that Sen. Glenn flew his own plane and rushed to Newpot airport. moments before Glenn
arrived….Admiral James Stockdale, President of the Newport War College and a hero of the Vietnam war…was parked in his black military vehicle…and as he entered the building we approached him and told him of our intentions to talk with Sen. Glenn. Stockdale was angry ..however, acquiesced to an interview and when Glenn and his wife parked their plane outside the front door of the airport…we got out our exclusive interview with Glenn.
It’s never easy as a reporter in that situation…as I’m cerntain it is for the media in Hattiesburg…today…
trying to confirm their stories…and inform the public about the facts…just the facts.
Sincerely, Ron Hickman
48 Timberton Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
7:52 am on January 24th, 2010
What makes most sense is that Tiger is probably doing something to try to improve matters and Not totally just kiss off his marriage.
That makes sense…probably bought the book “Sex/marriage Counseling for Dummies” and is flying his private jet in endless loops around the world until he memorizes it. But really, logically he has to be doing something mature, because his whole empire continues to unravel daily. Not good stuff for maintaining ICON status, and soothing huge egos. A reality TV show might be in the works.- for mega bucks. Honestly I hope he is getting counseling…or he could easily go off the deep end - that sure beats drawing straws and mulling over which of his babes he wants to leave Elin for.
10:37 am on January 28th, 2010
There is something that none of you appeared to have thought about. Tiger’s behavior was a result of years of repression that he suffered. Think about it. From the time he was four years old, his father drove him to eat, drink, sleep and play golf. The guy had anything but a normal childhood. As long as his father was alive there was still a measure of control. Once that control was gone, well………you see the result. Once you have the cash and lose the control, hell breaks loose. Folks, he is simply making up for lost time because he could afford it.
1:31 pm on February 1st, 2010
Fox News is reporting that Tiger was seen auditioning for Dancing with the Stars.
8:20 am on February 4th, 2010
Will you people give it a rest. They all knew what they were doing, especially the woman. You men would be in his shoes gladly if those woman would give you the time of day. Get over it. There’s more important things in life than worried about Tiger. He’s great a golf, what he does in his private life is his business. He should not be married if he wants to lead that kind of life, so let your wife get on with her’s where she’ll have respect and trust . (That’s pretty hard to do with the men the way they are now days) He has to want to change his life for his children. Make them proud of their dad not ashamed. It’s time to live again, get out there and live again.
7:20 pm on February 12th, 2010
Tiger was a great golfer. That was the past and cannot be changed now. However the present situation was created by Tiger himself and was his own choice. Whatever happens now, he deserves. I believe he will never be as good again, his time has gone. He destroyed it through selfishenss and he has to learn to live with it because it cannot be changed.
8:59 am on February 16th, 2010
Just to inform you federal law states that the registrar of a college can not even state if a student attends the school without their permission. It is possible to block information fromt he student directary as well. I think you should be concerned by the fact that you used facebook as a research tool more then if Tiger is or is not in rehab. You’re article made sense up until the portion involving the student.
10:47 am on February 16th, 2010
Kloe has NO MORALS!!!!
12:29 pm on February 16th, 2010
I am 69 years old. I would like to know where i could obtain some of Tigers Sexual Addiction. I would like to take his problem from him, I could put it to good use.
2:09 pm on February 16th, 2010
Tiger is partying at Obama’s new crib.
3:37 pm on February 16th, 2010
Tiger is in Utah…he’s converting to Mormonism so he can marry all of the women in his life!
5:57 pm on February 16th, 2010
Anyone want Tigers phone number? I have it from the police reports. Trying to find someone to run the GPS chip in it and sell the finding, anyone wanna split it?
4:09 pm on February 18th, 2010
Tiger spotted on Tower end of Lake Vermilion ice fishing for walleye
12:56 pm on February 19th, 2010
Tiger is actually here in lil’ bitty ol’ Aztec, NM
9:44 am on February 20th, 2010
All of you have got it all wrong. I’m here n Hattiesburg with Tiger and Brett Favre plowing under the “back 40″ that Favre is converting to a three hole golf course — well, maybe. . . a four hole — I dunno - -nine holes? Championship 18 holer? We’ll figure it out — maybe by August. Tiger is REAL GOOD at manning the Deere - -or is it a Caterpillar. Just can’t seem to make up my mind.
Godzilla