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News Tip: Casual Fans May Skip Tiger-Less Masters

Woods' announcement 'throws into relief the all-or-nothing character of today's superstar system in professional sports,' says professor Orin Starn

Tiger Woods announced this week he will miss this year's Masters golf tournament because of back trouble.

Orin StarnProfessor and chair, Cultural Anthropology, Duke Universityostarn@duke.eduhttp://bit.ly/ihXK66Orin Starn is a Duke University anthropologist whose book, "The Passion of Tiger Woods," examines the cultural reaction to golf star Tiger Woods and his fall from grace. Starn often studies the intersection of sports and popular culture.Quote:"Woods' announcement takes much of the air of this major golf championship and throws into relief the all-or-nothing character of today's superstar system in professional sports." "Increasingly, many sports leagues -- including the NBA and college basketball -- revolve around a limited galaxy of brand-name players and teams. Their Nike contracts, video game visibility and celebrity status draw interest to an event. The NBA lives in horror of a finals with small-market teams and no Lebron James or at least Kevin Durant. The MLS continues to suffer from its lack of global superstar on the order of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Nor do many viewers want to watch a Final Four without a few iconic teams and coaches in the mix.""Teamwork may win championships, but viewers want to watch the charismatic, hyped-up stars and the famous teams, and casual fans will likely not be tuning into the Tiger-less Masters this year."