NEWS BLOG (WSAU) If you were involved in a car crash at 2am, imagine what would happen if you refused to talk to the police. "Blow in this tube, sir" would be the likely response. If you say no to that, wanna bet you'll be booked into the county jail for the night?

Now consider the case of Tiger Woods. There's evidence of some type of domestic disturbance and a crash into a fire hydrant and tree. He made no statement to police when it happened, nor on Saturday or Sunday.

There is a huge double-standard for how celebrities are treated in cases like this.

If I was Tiger Wood's publicist or advisor, I'd counsel him to tell the truth... even if the truth includes the affair that's been reported in the National Inquirer. A lie, or being evasive, only drags the story out longer and causes more damage. Tiger, Inc. may take a hit. Affairs are bad for endorsements. (Certainly a celebrity who's having an affair can't pitch sporting goods where the tag line is "Just Do It".) But the public has a surprisingly large capacity to forgive those who come clean and apologize. The most celebrated are the rehabilitated.

Chris Conley
Operations Manager, Midwest Communications-Wausau
11.30.09