Oh, the irony: Tony on Tiger

Tony Veitch questioned Tiger Wood's approach. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Broadcaster Tony Veitch is under fire after he accused disgraced golfer Tiger Woods of trying to stage-manage his way out of trouble.

During an interview with agent and former All Black Andy Haden on Radio Sport, Veitch criticised Woods for avoiding direct questions from the media.

Veitch's attack, in turn, drew criticism from media commentators who accused Veitch of doing much the same thing after his own fall from grace in 2008.

Speaking about Woods before the golfer's public apology, Veitch said: "The world wants answers. "He's going to be surrounded by good friends and family for this announcement tomorrow morning. This is simply going to be a pre-orchestrated, pre-read statement and he is not going to front up to the questions."

Veitch was forced to resign high-profile radio and television roles after reports surfaced that he had assaulted his former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell.

His first public response to these charges was a press conference at Auckland's Hyatt hotel where he delivered a prepared statement and apology but answered no questions.

Veitch later appeared in the Auckland District Court and pleaded guilty to a charge of injuring with reckless disregard. He has only recently returned to air.

Media trainer and former broadcaster Brian Edwards said of the segment: "The irony of Veitch conducting an interview like this at all, given his own history, may have been missed by him and his employers.

"It would be hard to think of a sports personality [who] ... handled his mea culpa worse than Tony."

Haden said he was made aware of the ironies only after he completed the interview, when "about 20" people called him on the phone.

Asked afterwards to comment on Veitch's first press conference, Haden said his recent interviewer had botched it: "I don't think he controlled it particularly well. He'd probably like to go back and do it again, because you only get one shot."

While both Veitch and Woods had stage-managed interviews, Victoria University senior lecturer and celebrity apology expert Sean Redmond said the golfer's was far more successful: "Tiger was different from Veitch. At least Tiger looked ashamed."

Veitch said during this week's radio show that Tiger would face a "media storm" until he fronted up to media: "As soon as Tiger goes to golf tournaments, the same paparazzi, the same tabloid reporters are going to turn up at those tournaments until Tiger answers the questions that I guess the salacious side of the world wants answers to."

Radio Sport director Chris Gregory did not respond to questions yesterday about whether Veitch's commentary and angle of questioning was appropriate.

When Veitch was approached for comment at his Auckland home a woman said through the closed front door: "No comment."

Veitch criticises apology

Radio Sport, Friday February 19

"It's going to be selected invitees only, surrounded by good friends and family for this announcement tomorrow morning. Which has everyone expecting this is going to simply to be a pre-orchestrated, pre-read statement and he is not going to front up to the questions."

"So has his management team got this wrong? Is this the right way to go? Because remember, as soon as Tiger goes to golf tournaments the same paparazzi, the same tabloid reporters, are going to turn up to those tournaments until Tiger answers the questions that I guess the salacious side of the world wants answers to."