Tiger Woods' SHIRTLESS Vanity Fair Picture (PHOTO)

A shirtless Tiger Woods graces the cover of the February issue of Vanity Fair. The magazine features a reflection from Friday Night Lights author Buzz Bissinger and, according to a press release, a "full portfolio" of "never-before-seen photos of a raw, unguarded Woods" taken by Annie Leibovitz.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO OF TIGER WOODS SHIRTLESS)

Here is the full release:

Tiger Woods appears on the cover of the February issue of Vanity Fair, photographed pre-scandal by Annie Leibovitz. There is a full portfolio inside--never-before-seen photos of a raw, unguarded Woods.

To read the full article, please go to our website.

Pulitzer Prize winner Buzz Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights and, most recently, co-author of Shooting Stars, with LeBron James, reflects on Woods's downfall and what his future may hold. Woods "had always been the bionic man in terms of personality, controlling to a fault," Bissinger writes. He calls the pre-scandal Woods "the perfect man and pitchman for our imperfect times, a charming non-person," noting that "with Woods, everything was crafted to produce a man of nothing, with no interior--non-threatening and non-controversial." But "in the end it was the age-old clash of image versus reality.... He deluded himself into thinking he could be something that he wasn't: untouchable. The greatest feat of his career is that he managed to get away with it for so long in public, the bionic man instead of the human one who hit a fire hydrant."

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Comments

[Manchesterian]

11:46 PM on 01/09/2010

Dear HP
Your increased coverage of Tiger Woods and the ever increasing salacious nature of said coverage scream DESPERATE!
In the absence of the sexy heat generated by the Obama election coverage you appear to have pretty much gone blah. Yes, I said it: blah!
Of course you could have just decided to change the direction of the blog, i.e. more Enquirer and less substantive discourse.
I am not suggesting a complete return to the early Huff; change is good. I am however strongly encouraging a return to mostly high quality articles, pertinent issues and cutting edge reporting.
No more Play-boy typed photographs, because the accompanying articles are not worth the effort and we could really do without the “soft core” renditions of Tiger’s Women’s Walk of Shame. In other words, stop competing with the Maxim’s and Playboy’s of the world.
Go back to giving us hard political news, solid global current events information, advocacy and good old fashioned critical thinking.
This banal, lazy route you have taken in the recent weeks, especially within the agonizing context of the Tiger coverage? Not so much!

Desperately want to remain a Huff fan for life

[CaliTLC]

02:38 AM on 01/10/2010

Fanned.

[sheeshbrother]

01:10 PM on 01/07/2010

Annie Leibovitz has proved time and again that there is nothing too low for her to do.
Artist? I don't think so.

[Mort Twain]

11:59 AM on 01/07/2010

Tiger shirtless. Very stupid. American has become very stupid. Isn't the real issue that this guy who people said, "WAS Golf" spent all his free time in Las Vegas finding prostitutes. If I remember correctly, Las Vegas specializes in gambling. Did it ever occur to anyone that Tiger was the big man among gangsters and that odds making and the outcome of golf tournaments makes people a lot of money. What does this say about the integrity of the entire game of golf?

Tiger may be shirtless but Americans have all lost our shirts, too.

[GravitonX]

10:44 AM on 01/07/2010

Tiger is actually playing this very well by giving the media the silent treatment. Letting the MSM make a fool of itself as it breaks story after story of yet more obvious blonde con-artist bimbos. Who woulda thought you could do that?!

After this, he'll come out stronger and wiser than before, since he'll no longer have to live up to the Golden boy model minority image and realizing how precarious it can be to be a successful Black man in America. Golf, and it's current popularity, literally, cannot survive without Tiger, and experts in the industry know and have said as much. He represents penetration into demographics that have no interest in golf other than to watch him play. You can betcha that right now those execs are trying to figure out a way to reinvent their cash cow out of this mess and bring on new sponsors. It's a business, and business does what it must to preserve profits. Coming in 2010!

[robXdion]

11:16 AM on 01/07/2010

I just can't believe these people are using the "but he's a role model!!!" excuse to explain their illogical emotionalized hatred of TW as if he serviced their daughter, GF, or wives. Meanwhile Charlie Sheen holds a knife to his wife's throat and most comments and articles on HP trashed her while supporting Sheen. Much of the reactions to these situations falls in line with the US societal pecking order. The ONLY time a white woman may be questioned or held in ill repute is when she crosses a beloved white male. Even "cau-asian" Jon Gosselin didn't get far with that one.

[GravitonX]

12:06 PM on 01/07/2010

You've put your finger right on it. Americans almost instinctively know and subconsciouslyy react to this intricate racial(sexist) caste system. Denial keeps it from ever being challenged in any serious way, especially by those who benefit most from it.

[jessicajuliette]

05:55 PM on 01/07/2010

charlie "accidentally shot" kelly preston, and is beloved by all..

i attempted to point this out at other times, never appeared.

just as when i mentioned maybe Rush OD'ed, never appeared..

mention Michael Jackson and drug use, and it was posted thousands of times..

the bias is staggering...

[Middle Blue]

06:49 AM on 01/07/2010

Uh oh.

I'm starting to think that Tiger may be heading down a version of Michael Jackson's road, or Elvis's......

It occurs to me that he might have gone insane.

[IMEHO]

07:30 AM on 01/07/2010

Thats the media, telling you that. He cheated on a trophy wife, it happens evey day

[lizzyLoo]

09:21 AM on 01/07/2010

Thank you!! Geez, 60-40 don't think he's hot? Look at those abs. Young, hung & into blonds. until cable no one gave a crap, it's part of being a jock. Get over it!!! Oh, and I'm a girl - I'd do him!!

[Manchesterian]

12:06 AM on 01/10/2010

Amen IMEHO! The thinking that Tiger should be the new Joseph, father of the christ child is astounding.

[Manchesterian]

12:00 AM on 01/10/2010

Or just naturally amorous?

[tonylinc]

04:10 AM on 01/07/2010

Tiger had sex with Sarah Palin, and SHE had to pay HIM

[tonylinc]

04:09 AM on 01/07/2010

He should get a Mr Yuk tattoo

[CaliTLC]

02:24 AM on 01/07/2010

Why on earth would Vanity Fair put this sinister looking picture of Tiger on the cover? Exactly what message are they sending? Tiger's not a criminal. Yet, they use a picture depicting him looking like a robber or a burglar. I don't like it. What's up?

[Wrenigade]

02:56 AM on 01/07/2010

It's very simple, really: the sharks smell fresh blood in the water, like Jesus, no matter how sacred...

[dianal]

03:52 AM on 01/07/2010

Indeed. Anne Leibovitz is in financial trouble and is cashing in.

[sthomas08]

10:54 PM on 01/09/2010

Yes, what's up with skull cap and the menacing stare? This country has a long way to go ...Tiger will quickly learn exactly how "black" he is in the eyes of America!

[XCITIZEN]

01:49 AM on 01/07/2010

I like the photo - mostly because, really, Tiger Woods has a somewhat 'average' muscular body. He looks like a normal person, for the most part, and not a pumped up Hollywood muscle-freak. Now, should this photo be on the cover of Vanity Fair? No real reason why not.

In light of the scandal (which I believe is a totally ridiculous drama and waste of everybody's brain cells) I guess it's kind of sad, primarily because this photo, which is really just of a younger-ish guy showing off a little, now seems exploitative.

[SuiiiYllah]

12:02 AM on 01/07/2010

EWWWW!!!!!!

[Siebenstein]

12:31 AM on 01/07/2010

That's what I wanted to say too:-)

[patrique77]

10:39 AM on 01/07/2010

I concur. YUCKY!!!!!!

[fanifesu]

10:43 PM on 01/06/2010

i hope annie lebowitz goes broke, broke, broke. if you're a famous black celerity and you're reading this. if she requests a photo shoot with you turn her down and use this photo and the lebron james photo as fader.

http://www.gawker.com/assets/images/gawker/2008/03/Picture%2050.png

[DessLoch]

11:18 PM on 01/06/2010

word has it this photo restocked her bank account and she can now keep the farm.

[fanifesu]

04:54 AM on 01/07/2010

yeah, i've also heard this, but the way she spends money she'll be back in front of the gun in no time.

[jessicajuliette]

05:58 PM on 01/07/2010

the lebron james cover was really out of line...

[hype-free]

09:59 PM on 01/06/2010

Shirtless and brainless!

[Shzron1946]

09:35 PM on 01/06/2010

In about three years, Tiger will be playing again, and winning again. This whole "scandal" will be a parenthetical reference. He will be heavily sponsored again--or not, as he chooses. Life will go on. He will still be Tiger, the wealthy, winning pro-golfer.

All in good time.

[hype-free]

10:03 PM on 01/06/2010

Yeah, tell that to Jimmy the Greek and a few others.

And I hear PeeWee Herman is finally back at Club Nokia after being blackballed for 19 years!

Hope Tiger has a good PR person to spin this like a pizza!

[Vicendithas]

10:06 PM on 01/06/2010

yeah tell that to all the politicians who got caught and got run out of washington.

oh wait. they still have their jobs.

[Manchesterian]

12:35 AM on 01/10/2010

Why is it necessary to spin the possession of a strong, healthy, sexual appetite and why on earth are people of colour usually the ones who are taken to task for not upholding the impossible standards Europeans have created for themselves and have been unable to practice or keep?

African culture is historically polygomous! And why should Tiger be the poster boy and exceptional example for sexual restraint among high performance athletes?

None of these women have claimed forced encounters with Tiger. They are each and everyone of them equally culpable - yet the American media supports them in the parlaying of their sexual exploits with a famous man into cash cows.

It is remarkable that they are spared the labels usually reserved for women who conduct themselves this way - wait one second, could it be because that they are not women of colour?

Again, the hypocrasy is astounding and shameless!

[garyoke]

05:57 AM on 01/07/2010

I really don't think so. Golfers I know suggest that Tiger will encounter a very hostile vibe from spectators who have turned against him that will effect his legendary Zen-like calm.

People make mistakes. But few fathers of two infants dally about with porn stars. Let alone a bakers' dozen of them.

Tiger is toast.

[IMEHO]

07:16 AM on 01/07/2010

His kids live in billion dollar mansions, are well fed, will go to the best schools and have everything going well for them due to their father's career.

Many men cheat, Brad P, Usher, and a whole lot of others

[Manchesterian]

12:40 AM on 01/10/2010

Well Africans everywhere will just have to turn out to support him and buy the products he sponsors - just like they did for Bill Clinton when he was impeached for having an extra-marital affair. Won't we/they?

The hopes that he is or become toast is based solely on jealousy.

[wcorowitz]

08:56 PM on 01/06/2010

The Vanity Fair may be the tip of the iceberg. This suspect stereotypical cover could turn this episode with tiger into a racial polarizing event. This opens a can of worms, which could lead to the Jesse Jackson's and Al Sharpton's coming out of the woodworks. You will now see every black intellectual on T.V. pontificating and using this incident to give them some air time. If I sound jealous, I am. I hope the media allows other voices to chime in and not just allow the usual suspects to take over the debate. My book Plain Talk Volume 1 is available at: http://www.plaintalk2010.com also on Amazon/BarnesandNoble/Booksamillion/Borders .com

[JBS]

09:02 PM on 01/06/2010

It's from a Annie Leibovitz photo-shoot in 2005. He shoulda' kept both his shirt AND his pants on.

[the964kid]

08:31 PM on 01/06/2010

VF is doing a great job of making Tiger into a stereotypical caricature of a black thug in this country. I must've missed the news about News Corp buying Vanity Fair.

[mollybeejay]

09:28 PM on 01/06/2010

My thoughts exactly. When I scrolled down to view the picture, I immediately thought Willie Horton or OJ Simpson all over again. Tiger Woods is a fair skinned Black man who would not get this dark unless he was out in the sun with no sunscreen for months.

[Vicendithas]

10:00 PM on 01/06/2010

While I agree that there is a racial component to this photo, and the way Tiger is being portrayed in the media. I don't think the two examples you give are very apt, and are actually a bit insensitive, if not offensive.

[garyoke]

06:02 AM on 01/07/2010

I'd have to agree with this post. The subtle racism of photoshopping Tiger into a thug is unmistakable. Doubt it? Well, I'd bet a thousand dollars that Tiger didn't have that black cap on his head before the photo shoot began......