PREACH IT! Do Tiger Woods' mistresses deserve an apology too? One of them thinks so [poll]
During his speech, Woods apologized to pretty much everyone in the greater northern hemisphere and beyond, including (but not limited to) his wife, his mom, his sponsors, his employees and The Kids. The golfer did not, as might be expected, apologize to his mistresses.
But attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing mistress Joslyn James, says her client deserves her own apology. Allred and James staged a news conference this morning after the golfer's speech.
James chided Woods for leaving James out of his mea culpas. Why? Because he told her he loved her. That's why.
In the conference, James, a.k.a. Veronica Siwik-Daniels, apologized for any pain she caused to Tiger's wife and kids.
She also said, "I would be open to a telephone apology from Tiger, but I really feel that I deserve to look at him in person face to face, in his eyes, because I didn't deserve this.
"I have had to deal with a lot, and too much from him, and because of him .... He knows I was very straight and honest with him, but for a long time he lied to me.
"Tiger pursued me, and over time, and I fell in love with him, and he told me he loved me too."
The Ministry's Office of Absolutely Accurate Online Statistics would love to know what you think.
Make sure you vote in our nonscientific online poll below.
-- Leslie Gornstein
[Addendum, Feb. 21: The Ministry can't publish profanity in comments, including cuss words you might consider very mild and regularly say in front of family members, and words altered with aster*sks or other sym&ols to make them more polite. Please, if you comment, comment clean, or it can't go live. Thanks for understanding! -- Christie D'Zurilla/Ministry of Gossip]
Photos: Veronica Siwik-Daniels, top left, a former porn star who claims she had a three-year romantic relationship with golfer Tiger Woods, and her attorney Gloria Allred held a news conference in Los Angeles on Feb. 19, 2010, in reaction to Woods' apology in in Florida. Left, Siwik-Daniels, whose screen name is Joslyn James, answers questions Friday. Credits: Jason Redmond / Associated Press, top; Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images, left.
Tired of Tiger? Good news! It's awards season. To check out our dispatches from the Golden Globe Awards, including red carpet video interviews and a live-tweet play-by-play of the event, click here. If you prefer the SAG Awards (Jeff Bridges and Betty White were there), click this delicious link. If you don't care a whit about awards but simply enjoy Leslie Gornstein's unbridled snark on a number subjects as non-awardsy as Kevin Smith and Gary Coleman, click here and see what you get. Finally, if you want to think deep thoughts about John Mayer -- actual thoughtful conversation, no lie, it's not what you're thinking -- try this one.
Still -- the Ministry isn't going to apologize for its related Tiger Woods dispatches:
Tiger Woods will speak out Friday -- at least we'll know for sure where he is
PREACH IT! Sex addiction, now an official trend! Thank you, Tiger Woods!
Tiger Woods: Delightfully tacky, yet unrefined?
Tiger Woods gets the Annie Leibovitz treatment for Vanity Fair
PREACH IT! C'mon, you already knew that Tiger cheated
Tiger Woods' 'mistress' list hits double digits (Trangressions R Us, Part 3)
More nasty Tiger Woods transgressions, Part 2
All the nasty Tiger Woods transgressions, Part 1
VIDEO: 'Is Tiger Feeling Lucky Today?' a.k.a. 'This is your gossip on Google'
'Tiger Woods Voicemail Slow Jam Remix': Now playing [VIDEO]
'Overwhelmed' Rachel Uchitel hires celebrity attorney Gloria Allred
Tiger Woods says 'all my fault,' praises wife, hires attorney
Tiger Woods, his wife, that odd little car accident -- and Rachel UchitelTiger Woods slightly injured in accident near his home
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Tigar doesn't have to apologize to anyone but his family. He especially doesn't have to apologize to the "other woman", "those kind" of women don't deserve apologies from anyone. They are only disposables like a bic lighter... The world still loves you Tigar.
Posted by: Gail Daniels | Feb 19, 2010 at 12:04 PM
No way does she deserve an applogy, she knew he was married. any one male or female that has a relationship with a married person should get what they deserve NOTHING!
HOW DO PEOPLE DO THESES THINGS WITH NO REGUARD TO OTHERS!
People need to stop jumping into bed with everything that comes along . It starts with looking at yourself in the mirror and having some self respect.What goes around comes around!
Posted by: sharon pucci | Feb 19, 2010 at 12:04 PM
Last one for me....It was pretty close to the O.J. circus when these CLOWNS at CNN, MSNBC and other cable three ring circuses hired these bozo lawyers to show the rest of us simpletons just how smart they are...Remember? Actually, all they've all shown me - ALL OF THEM, is what PROSTITUTES THEY ARE. Too many of them are nothing short of a money grubbing lawsuit filing scum - a cancer to this country. Lawyers in general know no shame - only a good payday.
Posted by: Paul H. | Feb 19, 2010 at 12:04 PM
It's interesting how a southern newspaper appears to expect more from a black man than a white. Does racism still exist?
Posted by: Paul | Feb 19, 2010 at 12:05 PM
THE WHOLE WORLD KNEW HE WAS MARRIED!!!. ARE THEY CRAZY??? AN APOLOGY, because they chose to sleep with a married man and were stupid enough to tell themselves they were the only one. !!!!
They should apolgize to his wife and children an go hide under a rock.
Posted by: Victor | Feb 19, 2010 at 12:16 PM
A pathetic display, the rankest opportunism, a contrived victim. Poor porno actress, poor Gloria Allred, neither opportunist can think of a way to milk this cash cow. Woods has lots of money and celebrity and she needs to think of some possible cockamamie angle to be a victim and get some sort of compensation for it. Waiting for a telephone apology on television is about all they could come up with. Is she going to sue Tiger for having sex with her? Taking her innocence? Maybe she didn't know who he was? Did his check for her services bounce? Is that Kevin Trudeau in drag? Stay tuned.
Posted by: Gloria PT Barnum Allred | Feb 19, 2010 at 12:18 PM
@Paul (though not Paul H -- he's a different guy). Christie D'Zurilla here from the Ministry of Gossip. I've published your comment, though I'm not sure I understand it.
Just for the record, this is a California-based blog, and the L.A. Times is a California newspaper. We're not in the South. And this post doesn't mention race at all, nor our expectations of Tiger, and certainly not any expectation of him relative to another individual.
PREACH IT!, for those who are flying into MoG right now via Google or another search engine, is a feature of the blog that pulls a lot of sarcastic, ironic attitude. To get a sense of how Leslie sees the world, check out this link for other PREACH IT! columns:
latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/preach-it/
Posted by: CDZ from the Ministry | Feb 19, 2010 at 12:18 PM
The only women who deserves a personal apology from Tiger Woods is Elin and Tiger's mother. Tiger should also apologize to his daughter too when she is older and can comprehend the situation. Joslyn and the other women should be the ones apologizing to Elin, not demanding one from Tiger. They are in no positition to get an apology from Tiger. As for Tiger himself, that press conference was such a joke.
Posted by: Erica | Feb 19, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Radical Personal Responsibility. Rather than focus on what Ms. James feels that Tiger owes her - she should apoligize to Elin for her part in engaging in a physical relationship w/ a married man. We are (sadly)largely a shameless culture. Ms. James is contributing to this. Here is her opportunity to do the right thing - to shift the focus off her pain and to take accountability for her hand in hurting another.
Posted by: Moira | Feb 19, 2010 at 01:24 PM
What were you thinking!!! he was a married man! you should be ashamed of yourself and not asking for an appology from him!
If I was you - I would never show my face on tv!
Posted by: Joanna | Feb 19, 2010 at 01:40 PM
How can we feel sorry for you, when you knew he was married. She’s of age to know that men say whatever to get in bed with you. Tiger owes the mistresses nothing, so they need to get out of his life – If you don’t have the moral character to respect a marriage, you deserve the treatment you get. Actually, the mistresses should all be apologizing to the wife. This incident is now between Tiger and his family. And Gloria, she'll do anything for publicity - this was unneccessary what's the gain really. We know the hurt Tiger did, so there's no new info.
Posted by: Sheryl | Feb 19, 2010 at 02:10 PM
Apologizing to the women would have been the classy thing to do. He mentioned his Buddhist belief about not hungering for things? Well my belief is that it's a sin to treat people as if they are things -- yes, even people who permit it, allow it or request it. Someone who is in the spiritual balance Tiger mentioned doesn't lose sight of the divinity inside everyone. (Namaste). If, as according to his own beliefs, he saw God staring back at him from each of these women, he wouldn't hesitate to apologize. So I'm sorry he didn't. It would have demonstrated real spiritual growth. And strictly from a PR position, it would have been a good tactical move to say he was wrong to string them along when he never for one moment intended to leave his wife.
That porn person is pathetic -- but then the only people who go into porn are seriously damaged anyway. You CAN help falling in love. You stay away from other people's spouses. Works like a charm.
Posted by: NotaFan | Feb 19, 2010 at 03:51 PM
The only apology she or any of the rest of the herd should remotely expect is "I am sorry that you thought you were the only hooker I was cheating on my wife with".
Posted by: Sue | Feb 19, 2010 at 04:09 PM
Really? This girl is a porn star and "loved" Tiger Woods this much?? Thats pretty hard to believe. And if she doesn't want so much attention, why is she airing her crap on NATIONAL TELEVISION? This girl has no life and needs to stop making more drama.
"She also said, 'I would be open to a telephone apology from Tiger, but I really feel that I deserve to look at him in person face to face, in his eyes, because I didn't deserve this.' "
I just don't get it! YOU SLEPT WITH SOMEONES HUSBAND! And your telling me you didn't deserve this? Ugh shut up. Please.
Posted by: Jessica | Feb 19, 2010 at 04:53 PM
Are you kidding me???? Does this girl need a baby bottle....cry me a freakin river!!! Tiger owes you NOTHING....you were just another dumb girl who gave it up! I can't believe these girls don't get it......you're sleeping with a married man....he's not going to leave his supermodel wife for you! By you coming out on the news (and looking pathetic), you make this whole thing about YOU.....it has NOTHING to do with you......you're just another girl!
Posted by: Rachel | Feb 19, 2010 at 06:07 PM
He should say to her 'sorry I am a sex addict and you were
my drug of choice- nothing personal'
Posted by: rainbow | Feb 19, 2010 at 07:47 PM
The only apology this girl deserves is because she is to selfish and stupid to understand she is not a victim of this cheating game she jumped feet first legs wide open into. She knew he was married, and frankly I understand some men will say anything to get into some womens pants, but somehow I doubt he had to work that hard.
Wipe your tears, fire the publicity seeking lawyer, and move on. You do not deserve any type of apology from Tiger for using you because you let him.
Posted by: Tammy | Feb 19, 2010 at 08:10 PM
I am surprised more golfers have not gone to sexual rehab in Mississippi.
The country clubs hosting tournaments have stories concerning the activities of the members and the pros.
It's very hard to see why this cannot be turned into something worthwhile.For decades hospitals and law firms served as sexual hotbeds.Why don't the tv writers shift their focus to the golf courses?After watching tv soap operas many folks thought the doctors and attorneys could not focus on their jobs.
With golf the opposite is true for the players simply need to keep their tempo.
It's hard to see why the public expects sexual morality when the divorce rate hovers around 50%.
Posted by: tarheelchief | Feb 19, 2010 at 09:06 PM
It's so clear that some, well, at least this one wants some monetary compensation for what she got herself into. He did not make a mistake, he knew clearly what he was doing and as a public figure the females involved knew exactly what they were getting into. Come on, these are grown women not grade school kids. Both he and all the women involved were just not practicing self control and were just being completely selfish. This woman should just grow up and remember that he wasn't a regular man away from the public eye, he was posted all over the television and ads. She should just take accountability for her poor choices as he should too.
Peace!
Posted by: liz | Feb 19, 2010 at 10:49 PM
If Allred came into this day with any credibility at all, it evaporated very quickly in this staged charade.. This was like watching a fatal auto accident.
The wig and fake eyelashes on the adult entertainment mistress, and the lawyer play the doting motherly type wearing her power red blazer. Please make then stop!
Posted by: Dan | Feb 20, 2010 at 03:05 AM
Sorry every one of these trashy sluts knew he was married with young children, and KNEW he was lying to his family already! They are all trying to get their 15 minutes of fame for bing nothing than trashy womne with no moral compass...and yes I think Tiger is far more guilty here, he is the one who made a mocker of his marriage and hurt his wife, children and family more than he can ever comprehend...but these women are not blameless, they knew the score and were just as selfish...don't tell me that each and every one of them did not have dollar signs when they got involved with him
Posted by: tracy | Feb 20, 2010 at 08:12 AM
The only thing Tiger needs to do is to be honest with himself. He loves the game, and I'm not talking about golf. With money come a few other perks, and for men who love the game alot, should not get married, period. Is he done with the game, I hope so for his family. Does he need therapy, probably not, but you have to please those in the media now a days, and in sport that is no different.
Posted by: Max | Feb 20, 2010 at 08:54 AM
OMG , is this woman real or just stupid , did she and her lawyer really thinks tiger should apologize to her and for what ? regardless of what she and tiger might have talk about in there moment of passion he's a married man with a wife and children .
I really can't belive this woman never knew that he was married where have you been living under a rock ? has this nation now become a set of greedy/selfish money grabbers ..... lady you need to get a life you're just making yourself look real bad right now and I don't belive her lawyer would put her up to something like this and she going to come on TV and cry what for ?
Posted by: chad | Feb 20, 2010 at 08:57 AM
I am glad that Tiger Woods broke his silence. Tiger has apologized to everyone and accepted that what he did was very wrong. Tiger confirmed he needs help and that he is receiving rehab to address his issues. Tiger said he wants to regain balance in his life to save the two things that are most important to him, his wife and his children. Tiger said that Elin deserves praise and I agree wholeheartedly. I wish them all the best. It is time that Tiger and his family move on with their life and for the media to get off their back!!!
Posted by: CLB | Feb 20, 2010 at 11:05 AM
I don't understand why these women expect him to apologize to them...for what???? They knew he was married, where did they think his morality went when he was sleeping with them?Same place theirs went......note to self...when you sleep with a married man, pain will result in this. I guess if they only cause pain to their wife and kids, in these mistresses mind it's ok. But if his actions cause them pain, it's not ok???
Posted by: Paula | Feb 20, 2010 at 11:35 AM