(CNN) -- When Eldrick "Tiger" Woods joined the ranks of professional golf a dozen years ago, it was via the heralded "Hello, World" Nike commercial. When he steps to the podium Friday to speak to an assembled group of friends, colleagues and journalists, the world will truly be watching to see and hear the greatest golfer of this generation talk about the sordid events over the last three months that have kept him off the golf course and shredded his well-cultivated image and reputation.





The broadcast networks will air live reports with their main anchors there to report and comment on every word; the cable nets will undoubtedly have multiple individuals ready for instant analysis; and millions will tune in to hear Tiger likely apologize and possibly say if and when he will return to competitive golf.





He isn't expected to take any questions, and that has made for an angry bunch of columnists and commentators, denouncing Woods for calling a news conference to make a statement, and not undergo the grilling many want to give him.





Woods hasn't even said a word, and already he's been called a spoiled, petulant child who has lived in a sheltered world of handlers since he was 2 years old. Some have even gone as far as saying nothing has changed about him and he's showing that he is just as selfish and self-absorbed as ever.





Tiger, let me be as clear as I can as to whether you owe me or the American people an explanation of the events surrounding your car accident Thanksgiving weekend: Hell no.





I repeat: Tiger, you don't owe me or anyone else anything!





I'm sick of these sanctimonious folks who are blabbering about Woods needing to be grilled about his private behavior. Look, Tiger Woods didn't cheat on me. He's not my daddy, brother, cousin, church member, neighbor or friend. He didn't let me down or crush my view of him. He is not and never was my role model.





The only people he owes a grand apology are his wife, momma, family, maybe his friends, and his children, when they come of age. He doesn't have to work hard for me to trust him again. The most important audience he has to satisfy is a very small group of people.





That's it. Nothing more. Nothing less.





Ever since I was 14, my desire was to be journalist. And in the last 27 years, I've covered it all. In all of those years, I've never believed I was entitled to ask anyone a question. If it was at a county government board meeting in Austin, Texas, or a city council meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, public officials made a choice to talk to me and other journalists. It's our duty to ask; it's not their obligation to answer.





Yes, they were public figures, but no matter how many times I asked the same question, they didn't have to talk to the media. Should they? Yeah. Must they? No.





Every sports league has a rule requiring their locker rooms to be open to the media shortly after a game ends. Athletes are required to make themselves available or face a fine, but there is nothing that says they must answer our questions. If they choose to expound on what happened in a game, that's their decision. But their personal life? That choice is all up to them.





We have had to bear witness to all kinds of allegations about Tiger, the married sports star and successful product pitchman, being involved in a variety of affairs with cocktail waitresses, party girls, and porn stars. The details have gone from freaky to bizarre. His reputation has taken a substantial hit; companies he endorsed have removed his face from billboards and canceled contracts; and by multiple (and unsubstantiated) accounts, his marriage is hanging by a thread.





Yet still, he doesn't owe the American public or me a damn thing.





Meryl Streep has always earned my respect. When you see magazine cover stories
( CNN ) -- When Eldrick " Tiger " Woods joined the ranks of professional golf a dozen years ago , it was via the heralded " Hello , World " Nike commercial . When he steps to the podium Friday to speak to an assembled group of friends , colleagues and journalists , the world will truly be watching to see and hear the greatest golfer of this generation talk about the sordid events over the last three months that have kept him off the golf course and shredded his well - cultivated image and reputation . The broadcast networks will air live reports with their main anchors there to report and comment on every word ; the cable nets will undoubtedly have multiple individuals ready for instant analysis ; and millions will tune in to hear Tiger likely apologize and possibly say if and when he will return to competitive golf . He is n't expected to take any questions , and that has made for an angry bunch of columnists and commentators , denouncing Woods for calling a news conference to make a statement , and not undergo the grilling many want to give him . Woods has n't even said a word , and already he 's been called a spoiled , petulant child who has lived in a sheltered world of handlers since he was 2 years old . Some have even gone as far as saying nothing has changed about him and he 's showing that he is just as selfish and self - absorbed as ever . Tiger , let me be as clear as I can as to whether you owe me or the American people an explanation of the events surrounding your car accident Thanksgiving weekend : Hell no . I repeat : Tiger , you do n't owe me or anyone else anything ! I 'm sick of these sanctimonious folks who are blabbering about Woods needing to be grilled about his private behavior . Look , Tiger Woods did n't cheat on me . He 's not my daddy , brother , cousin , church member , neighbor or friend . He did n't let me down or crush my view of him . He is not and never was my role model . The only people he owes a grand apology are his wife , momma , family , maybe his friends , and his children , when they come of age . He does n't have to work hard for me to trust him again . The most important audience he has to satisfy is a very small group of people . That 's it . Nothing more . Nothing less . Ever since I was 14 , my desire was to be journalist . And in the last 27 years , I 've covered it all . In all of those years , I 've never believed I was entitled to ask anyone a question . If it was at a county government board meeting in Austin , Texas , or a city council meeting in Fort Worth , Texas , public officials made a choice to talk to me and other journalists . It 's our duty to ask ; it 's not their obligation to answer . Yes , they were public figures , but no matter how many times I asked the same question , they did n't have to talk to the media . Should they ? Yeah . Must they ? No . Every sports league has a rule requiring their locker rooms to be open to the media shortly after a game ends . Athletes are required to make themselves available or face a fine , but there is nothing that says they must answer our questions . If they choose to expound on what happened in a game , that 's their decision . But their personal life ? That choice is all up to them . We have had to bear witness to all kinds of allegations about Tiger , the married sports star and successful product pitchman , being involved in a variety of affairs with cocktail waitresses , party girls , and porn stars . The details have gone from freaky to bizarre . His reputation has taken a substantial hit ; companies he endorsed have removed his face from billboards and canceled contracts ; and by multiple ( and unsubstantiated ) accounts , his marriage is hanging by a thread . Yet still , he does n't owe the American public or me a damn thing . Meryl Streep has always earned my respect . When you see magazine cover stories
will he apologize
will he apologize
likely
likely