In honor of Tiger’s attempt to rebuild his life, here’s a look at the top 10 apologies by American athletes.
10. It’s a Bird, It’s a Jet, It’s … Rex Ryan
During Rex Ryan‘s first year at the helm of the New York Jets, he developed a reputation for being the brashest, cockiest and loudest coach in the NFL. Although his team lost to the Colts in the AFC Championship Game, Ryan traveled to Florida for an MMA fight before the Super Bowl. After proclaiming that the Jets would beat the Dolphins twice in 2010 — and being spit at and showered with curse words — he flipped the bird to a group of taunting fans. A few days and $50,000 later, Ryan called his actions “stupid and inappropriate.”
9. Try This on for Size
2009 wasn’t exactly a banner year for Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore, who spent much of the season dealing with an elbow injury and a hernia that sapped his performance and required surgeries. But Sizemore reached a new low (or high, depending on your point of view) when naked pictures of him surfaced from an e-mail intended for ex-girlfriend Brittany Binger, a Playboy model.
“It’s tough,” Sizemore said. “This is a situation where it’s a private matter and personal photos were stolen illegally. I’ve always tried to represent myself and the Cleveland organization as best as possible, and to put everybody through this is a terrible feeling, and I apologize to everybody.”
Sizemore is expected to be back at full strength for the 2010 season, but will face a new challenge: dealing with hecklers in the bleachers 81 games per year.
8. A Different Kind of Dope-ing
In the 2008 Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps shattered countless records. But just months later, he shattered his reputation — at least in the eyes of some of his fans. Phelps was caught by a British tabloid smoking marijuana from a pipe, based on photos from a party in November 2008 that were released the following January. The revelation prompted a vibrant Internet debate about whether the 14-time gold medalist’s swimming talents could have been bolstered by dope, but he predictably called the incident “regrettable” and promised fans and the public, “It will not happen again.”
7. From A-Rod to A-Roid
When the Mitchell Report was released in 2007, Alex Rodriguez was interviewed by Katie Couric on 60 Minutes, and he bluntly told the host of the CBS Evening News that he had never touched performance-enhancing drugs. Two years later, Selena Roberts and David Epstein of Sports Illustrated discovered otherwise.
“I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time,” Rodriguez said in his apology. “I did take a banned substance, and for that, I am very sorry and deeply regretful.”
6. If You Can’t Beat It, Join It
Die-hard Cubs fan Steve Bartman longed for the Curse of the Billy Goat to be broken as he watched Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS from the Wrigley Field stands. But with the Cubs just five outs from advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1945, Bartman interfered with outfielder Moises Alou‘s attempt to catch a foul ball, and the Marlins eventually went on to win the game, the series and the world championship.
“I am so truly sorry from the bottom of this Cubs fan’s broken heart,” Bartman later said.
5. Michael Vick Grows Up
Considering his 52.6 completion percentage during the 2006-07 NFL season, when Michael Vick told fans and reporters, “I need to grow up,” one might’ve concluded that he wanted to improve as a quarterback. But on Aug. 27, 2007, the speedy signal-caller was actually apologizing for dogfighting, shortly after pleading guilty to the charges against him.
4. I’d Bet He Meant It, Too
Pete Rose is the all-time hits leader, the 1973 National League MVP, a three-time World Series champion and a 17-time All-Star. Yet he’s not enshrined in Cooperstown because of a lifetime ban from baseball, which was instituted by then-commissioner Bart Giamatti in 1989, amid allegations that Rose bet on games in which he played or managed. It took 15 years for Rose to come clean, but he did so in the book My Prison Without Bars, released in 2004. Two years later, a case of baseballs autographed by Rose was discovered, each of them inscribed, “I’m sorry I bet on baseball.”
3. Even Kobe Knows Actions Speak Louder than Words
During the summer of 2003, Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault by Katelyn Faber, a 19-year-old hotel employee in Eagle, Colo. While the rape case against him never got off the ground, Kobe admitted adultery, and publicly apologized to Faber, saying, “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did.”
That still left the matter of making amends with his wife, Vanessa. Kobe told the world that he was “disgusted” with his own actions, and said, “I love my wife with all of my heart.” But perhaps it was the $4 million, 8-carat diamond ring he bought afterward that really worked the magic.
2. A Living, Breathing Big Mac
We all know the ingredients in a McDonald’s “Big Mac” are largely artificial, but it took slugger Mark McGwire years to admit that his meaty swing wasn’t entirely natural, either. After years of denying that he used performance-enhancing drugs, McGwire was forced to make amends in January before taking over as the St. Louis Cardinals’ hitting coach. And he did — well, kind of. McGwire admitted to using steroids for the bulk of his career, including his then-record-setting 1998 season, but he called himself a victim of the era, and rejected the assumption that the juice helped him hit home runs.
1. Tiger Starts Earning Back His Stripes
For years, it was hard to determine what was more impressive: Tiger Woods‘ incredible golf game, or his ability to maintain personal privacy in the wake of international fame. But last Thanksgiving, the walls of Tiger’s lair collapsed, after a car crash led to extensive revelations of cheating on his wife, Elin Nordegren. Tiger apologized thoroughly for his actions on Friday, but that statement was only the beginning. Woods’ marriage and his return to the PGA Tour still hang in the balance.
