Tiger and Manny, what Do They Have in Common?

What do international sports celebrities Manny Pacquiao and Tiger Woods have in common? Well, aside from being big-time endorsers for Nike, the two are embroiled in a brouhaha over “the other woman.” By now, everybody knows the buzz about the Pacman’s supposed off-the-ring bouts with Krista. Last week, it was the supergolfer’s turn in the hot seat.

It all began when Tiger crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree just outside his house in Florida in the middle of the night. It was not a life-threatening situation although the sports hero did end up with a bloodied lip.

The rumor mill began to spring into action after Woods refused to be questioned by the police. Details of the incident were sketchy, but it soon surfaced that Woods’ wife, Elin, was at the scene. At first it was reported that Elin had tried to rescue Tiger smashing the SUV’s rear window with a golf club. But is that what really happened?

Not so, claimed tabloid reports. Elin, according to the tabloid’s account, was actually going after the golfer with the club after a particularly heated argument over his extramarital excursions. It was then that the name Rachel Uchitel cropped up. Uchitel is said to be a restaurant waitress Tiger has been dating.

At first Tiger was stonewalling, refusing to be interviewed. Just like our very own Pacman, the world’s top club swinger asked that he be left alone. But late last week, the billionaire-athlete finally released a statement owning up to a wrongdoing he didn’t specify.

“I have let my family down, and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect,” he said.

So that’s it? I’m sorry and let’s move on?

I’m disturbed by the trend. Not long ago another media bigwig, David Letterman, also confessed on late-night TV that he had had an affair with one of his show’s staff. After apologizing, Letterman resumed his show as if nothing happened. And boxer/lover Pacquiao chastised the media for dwelling on his private life rather than his accomplishments. Does being a celebrity give one the right to gloss over a transgression?

Just a thought.

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Speaking of Krista, she was supposed to arrive in Manila last week after going AWOL since Pacman’s fight in Las Vegas last month. Sooner or later she will have to face reporters and explain her version of the story. I understand she has commitments that require her presence, including the launching of her latest endorsement, the Shimmian Manila Surgicenter.

Nobody seems to be buying the story that the Pacman-Krista thriller is a publicity gimmick for their movie together, “Wapakman.” Not after the champ’s wife Jinkee admitted they were trying to patch up things.

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Former actress Aurora Sevilla was arrested in Mandaluyong City last week for allegedly selling illegal drugs.

Police said Sevilla was caught in the act of selling five grams of shabu to a certain Rodney Chudian. She has denied the accusation.

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She may not have won “Britain’s Got Talent,” but Susan Boyle has become a global singing sensation, thanks to YouTube.

Last week, the 48-year-old Scot proved that she’s no flash in the pan when her debut album “I Dreamed a Dream’’ topped the US album charts.

The 701,000 copies sold was a record for this year. It was also the best US opening of a female artist’s debut album.

Not bad for someone who did not make an impression on Simon Cowell when she first walked on the stage of the British talent show early this year.