Nike’s new Tiger Woods commercial to air Wednesday night

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The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that a new television commercial for Nike featuring Tiger Woods will air on ESPN and the Golf Channel on Wednesday night and Thursday, the day of Woods’ return to competitive golf at the Masters.

In the black-and-white ad, Woods stares into the camera while the voice of his late father, Earl Woods, plays in the background. Earl Woods, who died in 2006, talks about taking responsibility for one’s actions, words that definitely could apply to his son’s life in recent years.

‘I want to find out what your thinking was; I want to find out what your feelings are. Did you learn anything,’ Earl Woods says in the recording.

The commercial ends with the image of Nike’s swoosh on the screen.

Seriously????

Nike was one of the sponsors to stand by Woods, who has admitted to multiple affairs. I figured they would give it some time and let him rebuild his image. Then, when the time was right, bring him back. It seems to have worked for Kobe Bryant.

Instead Nike and Woods appear to be trying to profit from a scandal that has hurt many people, especially his wife and children. And to use a recording of a dead man out of context ... I haven’t seen the commercial, but I find the whole thing to be really offensive.

What do you think?

-- Chuck Schilken