Tiger Woods: why are we addicted to the 'Cheetah'

The media and the public have had an addictive love affair with Tiger Woods, while he was having his multiple affairs with women.
Our addiction was first identified about two years ago when Golf.com pointed out that “Robert Palmer was addicted to love, America is addicted to oil and the golf world is addicted to Tiger. He’s headline news when he doesn’t win and even when doesn’t even come close, which speaks loudly to golf’s current desperation for buzz. “Addicted to Tiger Woods – GOLF.com – Tours & News – Golf.com
In two years time, addiction to Tiger Woods spread beyond the golf world and included the media, his mistresses, his fans, his detractors.
We could not get enough of the Tiger Woods tale. Perhaps one reason for the media addiction is the fact that reporters never seemed to get wind of Tiger’s secret life. It almost seems as if every word written today will compensate for all the words that could have been written if only we had known. Media were clueless of Tiger’s double life | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/23/2009
Why are we so addicted to Tiger Woods and celebrity gossip?
This week Psychology Today tells us: “…with respect to Tiger Woods or any other celebrity, the public desire to put them on a pedestal to attain almost God-like status and them participate in anguish, pity or loathing when they fall, seems to have less to do about the celebrities, and more to do with the mental states of those that allocate them celebrity status.” Tiger Woods and our obsession with celebrities
Who is no longer addicted?
Two main players in Tiger Woods life no longer seem addicted, Golf Digest and his wife:

Golf Digest dropped Tiger Woods column according to the Los Angeles Times, though “the magazine said it will resume running his instructional articles when he returns to the PGA Tour. One expert says the move is a sign of the marketing problems surrounding the superstar golfer.” Tiger Woods‘ column suspended by Golf Digest
The New York Daily News reported this week that she has hired a high-powered divorce attorney. Tiger Woods – Elin Nordegren divorce news update: Nordegren hires Sorrell

Here are other stories from the Examiner — while we may be addicted to Tiger Woods, he may have a serious sex addiction one that his friends kept quiet.
Here are some of my earlier pieces:

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