I think of all the public criticisms I can recall in sports, Jasper Parnevik's of Tiger Woods is the most stinging. He introduced Woods to his wife, and just ripped Tiger for having his affairs.
Parnevik was obviously a friend, and feels betrayed, but I can't help but wonder what Tiger's other competitors on tour are thinking. Most of the comments players are making about him are, predictably, generic. But I wouldn't be surprised if there is more than a little smirking about this behind the scenes. Can't tell me many of them didn't know what was going on. And that Woods' sterling persona, which has been blown to smithereens, is something they didn't resent. That, and the idea golf was all about Tiger - and seldom about them.
What I don't know is whether this will help or hurt the PGA Tour in the long run. There will be more attention on the events Woods enters than ever. When he comes back and wins, it will be how he, "overcame it all." On the other hand, the rest of the PGA Tour just got smaller and even less significant. Strange dynamic.

My column in Friday's Oakland Press about why I expect the Tigers to contend in 2010 http://tinyurl.com/yk6mml6