Would Woods' Prospective Disney Deal Compromise Integrity?

Tiger Woods is reportedly negotiating an endorsement deal with Disney that "would make Woods a center-stage face of Disney, nearly equal to the visage of Mickey Mouse," according to Phil Mushnick of the N.Y. POST. Mushnick: "What better way to exploit corporate synergy than for Disney to sign Woods to a knockout Disney deal, thus minimally creating the tacit understanding that when Woods selects his tournament schedule he provide special consideration to ABC/ESPN events." Disney "can provide cash incentive" for Woods to play in ABC/ESPN events. Mushnick wonders if Woods would "be made more accessible" to Disney's media entities than to other media properties. As the "rich, sotto voce aroma of ulterior motives and conflicted interests disturbs the air," Mushnick also wonders whether we should "take this proposed endorsement deal at face value. Woods would only endorse products and places attached to the name Disney, no strings attached. But if we did that, we'd have to ignore the reasons that Disney would purchase ABC and ESPN in the first place" (N.Y. POST, 5/25).

FOUR! As the PGA Tour negotiates its new TV deal, the AP's Howard Fendrich wrote Fox "could join the three other major networks in getting a piece of the action." Fox Sports VP/Communications Lou D'Ermilio said the net "had discussions with the PGA Tour a few years ago and decided not to bid. We have had conversations with the PGA [Tour] since then and continue to do so. We're always opportunistic regarding event programming." Fendrich added, "There could be room on Fox's schedule in July and August — between its auto racing and football packages — when there are two tour events Woods tends to play" (AP, 5/24).