Tiger Woods: Athlete or Brand?

Tiger Woods: Athlete or Brand?

Nation Sports Editor Dave Zirin denounces Woods’ latest ad as just another distraction from the tournament.

Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Pocket
Email

MSNBC goes live to Augusta National for the Masters, where the National’s Chairman Billy Payne scolded Tiger Woods for disappointing "all of us and more importantly our kids and our grandkids." Sports Editor Dave Zirin gives Payne the "just shut up award" for criticizing Woods while he oversees a tournament that "defines segregation in golf and still defines the exclusion of women in golf."

But Zirin is unhappy with Woods too, in particular with his latest Nike ad, featuring Woods’ face and a voiceover of his late father. Zirin calls the ad "another shellac of distraction" from the tournament and questions if Woods is a human or just a brand. "All the sympathy we’ve ginned up for him over the last several months…it’s all been about a narrative to sell us more crap with swooshes on it."

Support independent journalism that exposes oligarchs and profiteers


Donald Trump’s cruel and chaotic second term is just getting started. In his first month back in office, Trump and his lackey Elon Musk (or is it the other way around?) have proven that nothing is safe from sacrifice at the altar of unchecked power and riches.

Only robust independent journalism can cut through the noise and offer clear-eyed reporting and analysis based on principle and conscience. That’s what The Nation has done for 160 years and that’s what we’re doing now.

Our independent journalism doesn’t allow injustice to go unnoticed or unchallenged—nor will we abandon hope for a better world. Our writers, editors, and fact-checkers are working relentlessly to keep you informed and empowered when so much of the media fails to do so out of credulity, fear, or fealty.

The Nation has seen unprecedented times before. We draw strength and guidance from our history of principled progressive journalism in times of crisis, and we are committed to continuing this legacy today.

We’re aiming to raise $25,000 during our Spring Fundraising Campaign to ensure that we have the resources to expose the oligarchs and profiteers attempting to loot our republic. Stand for bold independent journalism and donate to support The Nation today.

Onward,

Katrina vanden Heuvel

Editorial Director and Publisher, The Nation

Ad Policy
x