Tiger, Kobe Tie For Most Popular Athlete
For the first time in years, Woods no longer holds the title of America’s most popular sports star. Not by himself, anyway. NBA star Kobe Bryant is now tied.
Rising from fourth place last year, Kobe rose into a statistical dead heat with Tiger in a Harris Interactive poll, which Woods has won every year since 2006.
Woods’ affair with Rachel Uchitel and countless others became huge news last year, and he has yet to regain the form that made him the world’s #1 golfer.
He hasn’t shown much respect for the game, either.
A sex scandal can’t slow down this star … or this other star!
The survey among 2,227 adults was conducted online from June 14-21. Even before the debacle that was “The Decision,” LeBron James had from third to sixth.
Michael Jordan fell from second to seventh, Yankees star Derek Jeter leaped from fourth to third, with the annoying, possibly retired Brett Favre in fourth.
Peyton Manning rounded out the top five. Who’s your favorite overall - and which of the two stars at the top do you like better? Vote in the poll below …
Which sports standout do you like better?
Rachel Uchitel and Tiger Woods: Ambien Fiends!
As we reported yesterday, Rachel Uchitel joined the cast of Celebrity Rehab. Amazingly, her addiction is not having affairs with married celebrities, but drugs.
Of the prescription variety: Ambien to be precise.
That ring any bells? It should, considering that she did the drug with Tiger Woods, whose Ambien-fueled sex romps with his chief mistress are no secret.
He also dreamed of an Uchitel-Derek Jeter-David Boreanaz threesome during an Ambien-fueled dream at one point, but that’s a story for another time.
In new email messages between Uchitel and Woods obtained by Radar Online, the golfer asked her for Ambien - and she worried about their addiction.
“Would it be possible for you to get us some more Ambien,” Woods emailed her in November of last year, right before his cheating ways were exposed.
FORMER LOVERS: Of each other, and of Ambien.
Uchitel responded, “Ok, but we need to talk about this. I don’t know how to deal with us possibly being addicted to prescription meds. What can I say to make you stop taking Ambien excessively? What can I do to prove that I’m worried?”
“I feel like taking pills is my only alternative!” Woods answered.
There is no indication that Tiger is or was addicted to Ambien, a sedative and hypnotic known to increase sexual pleasure immediately after it is taken.
Rachel Uchitel is another story.
Their affair came to a crashing halt when Tiger’s Escalade crashed into a tree following his attempt to flee an enraged Elin Woods, but it doesn’t look like the professional adulterer has slowed down in her Ambien consumption since.
She joined Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew this week. Celebrity Apprentice had been courting her as well, but the Donald is no longer interested.
Tiger Woods Shows F-ing Respect For Golf
That whole schpiel about having more respect for golf in Tiger Woods’ public mea culpa? As insincere and manufactured as his pre-sex scandal image.
Not that he’s Mel Gibson, but when he unleashes a string of vulgarities like he did at the British Open this weekend, it can’t help his public perception.
The guy had no problems finding the hole for years - if you know what we mean! - but he’s struggling now! We mean his putting is way below average.
Woods, who finished tied for 23rd and has not won a tournament in 2010, is heard berating himself in the clip below: “Why the f–k did you do that?”
Pretty much what Elin Woods has been asking all year.
Devon James Wants Tiger Woods’ DNA So Bad
Devon James, Tiger Woods’ porn star mistress who claims he’s the father of her son, even though he’s clearly not, continues to fight the good, money-grubbing fight.
She’s filed new court documents practically begging a judge to force the golf great to submit to a DNA test to establish paternity of nine-year-old Austin T. James.
T for Tiger, natch.
As for the previous DNA test that showed Tiger is not the father (the real daddy is a convict named Pele Watkins), Devon claims there was a “misunderstanding.”
Right. Those often happen in science.
FORK IT OVER: Devon James wants Tiger’s DNA … again.
In the docs, Devon states again that she believes she gave birth to Woods’ love child, and she’s willing to provide information on the time, place and hotel location where conception allegedly occurred to help prove Tiger knocked her up.
She’s also willing to name “his golf buddies who were there at the time in Pebble Beach.” Wow, knock us over with a feather. You’re officially toast now, Tiges!
Through his attorneys, Tiger has denied the whole thing, and has recently filed papers of his own asking a judge to throw out the entire paternity case.
Undeterred, Devon presses on, even wearing a shirt proclaiming herself Tiger Woods’ Baby Mama. ‘Cause if she says it enough, maybe we’ll believe it?
Man, this girl is crazy. If she wanted Tiger Woods’ DNA so bad, she should have pulled a Monica Lewinsky / Molly Hagerty after the act. Just saying.
Sorry. Gross.
Actual Devon James Baby Daddy Denies DNA Test, Porn Star Still Trying to Bilk Tiger Woods
Devon James says Tiger Woods fathered her love child.
A DNA test proved otherwise … or so we were informed.
Tiger Woods wants Devon James’ paternity claim thrown out because another guy was already determined to be the father, according to a 2002 test … but that other guy is now saying he never even took a DNA test. Pretty bizarre.
As we previously reported, documents filed back in 2002 show there is a 99.9 percent chance that Pele Watkins fathered Devon James’ son Austin T. James.
Not the case, says Pele.
Devon James demands Tiger Woods take a paternity test. The golfer has obviously not done so, as all evidence has pointed to him not being the father of her son.
In an August 1, 2009, letter Watkins, writing from prison, tells James he never took a DNA test. At one point he wrote, “They will never get DNA from me.”
He closes the letter, “I never took a DNA test but tell your mom I will fight her for messing wit [sic] me in jail.” Well, that really clears everything up there.
Sources say Devon plans to file the letter with the court in response to Tiger’s motion to dismiss the case, indicating that she’s likely to press on with it.
It’s almost like she’s still dragging this out for money or something.
What do you think: Tiger’s kid?
Tiger Woods Fires Back at Devon James
He may have had an affair with her (and many, many others), but no love child resulted from that fornication. Thus, Tiger Woods wants Devon James’ paternity claim axed.
Through his lawyers, Tiger has fired back against one of his porn star mistresses and her paternity claims, asking the court to throw the case out for one simple reason:
Devon James filed papers back in June alleging that the golfer was the father of her nine-year-old son … despite DNA tests proving that the daddy was someone else.
Attorneys for Woods have now filed legal documents declaring as fact Tiger did not father James’ son and, therefore, the paternity case should be history.
Better luck next time, Dev.
DISMISSED: Much as a Tiger Woods love child wouldn’t surprise us at this point, a low-rent porn star mistress making up such a claim to cash in surprises us less.
Off to Sweden? Elin Woods Given “Wide Latitude” Over Custody Decisions in Tiger Split
One of the burning questions surrounding the Tiger Woods divorce settlement is where Elin Nordegren and the couple’s children will live once the split is final.
That’s still unclear, but it appears as if she will call the shots.
Sources familiar with the divorce say Elin Woods will have control over where they reside, opening the door for her to potentially settle in her native Sweden.
The agreement was supposed to be finalized by the end of last week, but there is still one document being negotiated - presumably pertaining to the kids.
No wonder Tiger’s been so frustrated and distracted lately.
CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION: Tiger’s almost single at last! Woo!
As for the property settlement, we reported last week that Elin will get right around $100 million, somewhere between 1/5 and 1/6 of Tiger’s net worth.
In other words, he’s worth between $500-600 million.
All those earlier reports of her getting $750 million? Probably a little over the top, considering he doesn’t even have that much. Still, $100 million. Wow.
As for whether Elin actually moves to Sweden permanently with the kids, it’s uncertain. But the divorce deal gives her “wide latitude” in figuring it out.
What do you think she should do? Leave for good?
Tiger Woods: Frustrated, Distracted
Finishing 14 shots back and in a tie for 46th place at the AT&T National tournament this past weekend, Tiger Woods is clearly not playing his best golf.
There’s a reason for that, and the legend took a rare moment to disclose his feelings to the press. What did we get from the famously private star?
That he’s “frustrated.”
Understandably so. His golf comeback has netted some decent rounds, but no titles, and a big part of that can be traced to his imminent divorce.
Various Tiger Woods divorce reports have fueled speculation, as the disgraced golfer’s breakup is all but official, and he was having a rough week.
He offered this cryptic comment at a news conference after a bad round: “Outside the ropes there are certainly still distractions. It is what it is.”
NO LOVE: Tiger Woods’ putter hasn’t been active lately.
Sources say Elin Woods will be bound by a confidentiality agreement as part of the divorce, while Woods can’t bring any girlfriends around their kids.
The two will share legal custody of their two children, although Elin will have primary physical custody as she works out visitation schedules with Tiger.
She is set to receive a $100 million settlement as well.
Woods didn’t offer any comment on the proceedings after the AT&T National, though he did acknowledge his desire to put his mistakes behind him.
“You’re not always going to go through life perfect. No one does,” he said. “When you make a mistake, step up to the plate and take ownership of it.”
“I think everyone has had distractions in their lives [but] I think that my life out here on tour is becoming more normalized,” he told the media.
Elin Woods to Get $100 Million in Tiger Divorce
Her divorce all but a formality, Elin Nordegren Woods will very soon walk away from her six-year marriage with Tiger Woods with approximately $100 million.
The completion of Tiger Woods’ divorce papers came to light this week after months of speculation over what eventually became a question of when, not if.
A source with direct knowledge says the payout is $100,000,000.
Originally, we had heard that Elin would score $750 million from the golfer, a figure reported by the New York Daily News, MSNBC, the UK’s Sun and others.
That number is way, way off … not that a hundred mill is shabby.
JUST DO IT: Elin Woods will be rid of Tiger, but those Nike royalties remain!
No idea where they got that amount, but it would be hard to pay out that much, given that Tiger Woods, for all his sports godliness, is not even worth that.
His net worth is somewhere between $500-600 million, Forbes says, and they also had a prenup. However, $100 million is more than it would have allotted.
Way more. Guess she had leverage … a lot of it. Her biggest chip, aside from his 847 mistresses, was confidentiality - the cost of her silence proved steep.
Sources say Elin Woods will also receive child support, but the specific amount is unclear at this time. The $100 million is not speculation, though - it’s done.
Not only is she set for life, but Elin can take solace in the fact that Rachel Uchitel scored a paltry $10 million from Tiger to keep her mouth shut. Sucker!
Elin Nordegren Woods: The Cost of Silence
They say silence is golden. In this case, think Fort Knox golden.
We reported yesterday evening that the Tiger Woods divorce is final, or nearly final, and that his estranged wife Elin could receive a $750 million settlement.
Today, additional sources say that while nothing has been officially filed, lawyers for both sides are close to reaching an agreement for “about $700 million.”
That mammoth sum, which entails Elin Woods keep all details of Tiger’s life and cheating scandal confidential, has grown as negotiations have progressed.
Elin has balked at the confidentiality clause, and thus driven up the price, not because she has a strong desire to tell all, but because it’s a bargaining chip.
Smart woman.
HARD BARGAIN: Elin Woods sure is driving one.
While Tiges really does not want his wife to give any interviews or write a book about their life together, child custody has also been a contentious issue.
“Elin does not want Tiger to have female friends around when he has the children,” a source tells People magazine. “She will not give in to anything less.”
As far as who gets the kids when, Tiger has asked for one weekend a month, but with frequent golf travel, some flexibility may be required from both.
Instead of taking one weekend a month, he could have Sam and Charlie for a long stretch, then not again for a few months, dependent on his schedule.
For her part, Elin is tired of the media scrutiny and wants to relocate to Sweden, where she hails from and eventually wants the children to be educated.
She has an estate in the Stockholm archipelago complete with a beach, dock, sauna and four separate houses, near family and longtime school friends.
If Tiger agrees to that, she will also likely keep a second home in Jupiter, Fla., convenient to Woods’s nearly completed $80 million Jupiter Island estate.
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