ShareThisHello. I'm calling from NewsSpeak radio in Calgary. We'd like to do an interview with you about Tiger Woods coming back to play the Masters.
-- Question. Is your name pronounced Silversteen or Silverstine?
-- Answer. It's actually Rubensteen.
-- Q. Oh, sorry.
-- A. That's okay.
Q. Is Tiger making the right decision?
A. Tiger must figure his game will be in shape by the Masters. Maybe he'll play only the majors this year. He hinted at that Tuesday when he said the majors have always been a "special focus" in his life and that he still had a lot of work to do on his personal life.
-- Q. Many people are saying he owes everybody answers to why he behaved like such a cad. What's your view?
-- A. The only thing he owes us is to play as hard as he can.
-- Q. No pun intended, I'm sure.
-- A. Not at all. For that see Tiger's fellow player Kenny Perry. He said, "It's awesome to have your stud back, our star." Oh well, probably unintended irony from Kenny.
-- Q. Is it good for the game that he's coming back at the Masters?
-- A. How can it be bad? The guy's been a phenomenal golfer. He's won 14 majors and he's going after Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 majors. Look at the interest he generates when he plays (or lately, doesn't play) any tournament, let alone when he's coming back to the Masters, supposedly shamed and chastened.
-- Q. What's the coverage of Tiger's return to the game going to be like?
-- A. Never mind the buzz among the mainline sports press who'll be there in droves to cover the prodigal's return. There's likely to be mayhem outside the club's gates where TMZ.com, RadarOnline, National Enquirer, and other tabloid press of the world -- sure to be left uncredentialled by the august grandees of Augusta -- will be clamoring for stories and photos of any kind.
-- Q. I'd like to get back to whether he owes some answers. Will he even give a press conference at Augusta?
-- A. It would be surprising if he didn't. But if he does? I'll guess, and it's a guess because nobody really knows anything here and anybody who says he does is kidding himself. But I'm thinking Tiger might open with a couple of comments about the work he's been doing on his personal life, that it's ongoing, that he realizes he made mistakes, and then he'll shut it down.
-- Q. What do you mean?
-- A. He'll answer questions about golf, and nothing else, for the rest of the week.
-- Q. You're okay with that?
-- A. As I said, he doesn't owe us any answers. Anyway, it's not like he's given us a lot of reasons to believe anything he might say about his personal life. Heck, I'd be okay if he didn't do a press conference.
-- Q. You cannot be serious. Do you know how your online readers would respond to such a comment if it were in print?
-- A. I am serious. Besides, I don't read their comments because of the anonymity factor. If I don't know who's writing something, I can't really credit the notions expressed. Some people aren't looking for a commentator's considered (well or ill) response to an event; they're looking for an opportunity to slag somebody.
-- Q. Well, that's the nature of the online world, and you know that. Meanwhile, a lot of parents are disappointed because their kids were looking at Tiger as a role model.
-- A. An indulged zillionaire athlete? A role model? Puh-leeze. Why are we surprised when wealthy athletes who have their every whim catered to turn out to be wild and crazy guys who know no boundaries? Maybe parents should try to be their own role models.
-- Q. Check. But say Tiger wins. Will Elin be there to give him a hug and kiss?
-- A. Her presence would suggest they're on the road back together. Or she could stay away. Her usual approach tended to be low key anyway. Of course, she was behind the last green when Tiger won the 2006 Open Championship a few months after his father died. He pretty much collapsed in her arms. But if he wins now and she's there to give him a loving embrace, everybody will say it's all choreography -- a dumb show to win back sponsors and fans. Kind of a no-win scenario for Elin.
-- Q. One more question: Do you think Tiger will be able to focus? His ability to block things out is legendary.
-- A. He's going into a new world, notwithstanding Augusta National's almost hermetically sealed environment. How will he feel inside? How will he cope with any uncomfortable feelings that might come up? Will he be able to regain that legendary laser focus?
-- Q. Good questions, Mr. Silversteen. But how come you're asking now, not answering?
-- A. I don't have any answers. It's a whole new ball game out there.
(Contact Lorne Rubenstein at rube(at)sympatico.ca.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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