. >>> for more on this, let's turn to abc news consultant, christine brennan. thanks for joining us again. if anyone, you cover sports, if anyone deserves the benefit of the doubt in any situation, it's a guy who has built an empire on self-discipline and focus. so, is it naive to think there could be a reasonable explanation for this that doesn't involved the violent and mart tall spat? >> no, bill, i don't think it that's naive. i think that's certainly within the realm of responsibility. there's a logical explanation. everybody will believe it. tiger will move on and make more money. i don't think that this is a going to irreparably harm his image or his endorsement opportunities. you mentioned the self-discipline, such a polished image, a marketing and pr team, that's probably the best we have ever seen for a single athlete, bill. we haven't heard anything for 48 hours. that's the part that surprises me from the tiger woods' camp. >> but, at the same time, he's fiercely, fiercely private. one of the best stories to give credence to that, he named his yacht,

and i think we might not see him for a while. >> christine brennan. as always, we appreciate your insight. thanks. >> okay, bill. >>> checking the rest of the news this morning, ron claiborne. >> good morning, everyone. a blast of wintry weather is causing more problems in parts of the midwest and northeast, where cold temperatures and snow are making travel treacherous. and abc's david kerley has the latest. >> reporter: a break in the storm made getting around western new york much easier. even on two wheels. he's hearty folks see plenty of snow. but were surprised at what the slow-moving storm threw at them. >> it was terrible. it was a whiteout. >> worst i can remember. i think it is the worst. >> reporter: this is what they're talking about. blowing snow that blinded drivers. plows couldn't keep up. interstate 90 was shut down. >> there came a point in time where a large segment of roadway, it was impossible to get people through. >> reporter: but there were 200 people stranded in cars and trucks. forced to spend their entire night in their vehic

espn said "the new york post" went beyond comen decency. >> we love christine brennan. but she needs to clear up that point. >> she was adamant that she was misunderstood. we'll get back to that story, as it progresses throughout the coming days. and maybe hear from erin herself. we hope so. and suvs in america. i don't know if you've heard, but this whole fuel-efficiency thing... kind of a big deal. anyway, ford and lincoln mercury have you covered. in fact, they're your cash for clunkerspecialists. they'll recycle your ride and get you a rebate of up to $4,500. how's that for going green? why ford? why now? why not? visit your ford or lincoln mercury dealer. tell 'em mike sent you. if you think it would help. on tuesday i go in even earlier than usual. thank goodness for eggo, a nutri-grain waffle... with a quick smudge of cream cheese. at least that part's easy. there's only one way to eat an eggo... your way. l'eggo my eggo. >> live, and in hd, this is an abc 7 news update. >> good morning, everybody. i am alison starling. 7:22 is your time on a thursday. let's begi

and news consultant, christine brennan in washington. as a lawyer, i would tell tiger, say nothing, because you want to preserve your rights if there's litigation. howard, you were on last week. you said he needed to talk. now,ow do you feel? >> last week, he had a big p.r. problem, chris. i think it's changed this last week. now, my gut is he's got a life problem. there's some major issues that he has to confront. and we don't know the truth yet. but potentially, prescriptive drug addictions. it's gone beyond p.r. and an interview to clean this mess up. i think he needs a game-changer, chris. >> chris, let me bring you in this. we heard riley say he will be a better golfer. >> i respect rick and workith it would be interesting to see. i disagree. the aura of invince blts, chris, that tiger had, how does he get that back again? other golfers would quake in their shoes on the thought of playing tiger in the final round on sunday. now, he's the laughing stock. i have to believe that's going to impact his ability to be dominant on the golf

. >>> for more, we turn to christine brennan. you were there in salt lake. you've been covering olympics since 1984. have you ever seen anything like this? >> never, robin. this is extraordinary. just rock stars, showing up left and right. i think the obamas are doing the right thin the president didn't have much of a choice. being from chicago. had to do this. but the question will be simply, is the ioc members will want to get their pictures taken with him. they'll want to shake his hand. get his autograph. after they do that, will they vote for rio or madrid? they're favored, the ones that have been courting them for several years. in many ways, this is like school student council elections. who you're friends with, who you like, who you talked to last. the obamas know that. and they're walking into this with their eyes wide-open. >> there's no way of knowing, dealing with the ioc, if this will work. you bring up madrid, tokyo, and rio. these are the top finalists. handicap it for us. they're sending heads of state, too. >> yeah. i think chicago will pull

. >>> joining us now is abc news consultant christine brennan joining us from washington. christine, other than the written statement on his website, we have not heard from tiger woods. is this the right strategy? >> it's a great question, robin, obviously tiger woods and his people are very controlling, disciplined, maybe the most disciplined athlete on the planet in terms of his image so they think it's the right strategy. i don't think his sponsors will leave him. i don't think his fans will leave him but such an incongruous image from the man we're seeing from the man we know. >> it's sump a different world. you know that, christine, with the internet and anything can be said. so how do you confront the things that are being said in blogs and -- in the atmosphere? how do you confront that. >> tiger, of course, said it. it's a private matter and accepted blame and said his wife was khoury rajsz and doesn't like the fact the rumors are out there. they're hoping that's the end of it of the he may or may not show up on his own golf tournament in los angeles. if he does tha