Tiger Woods 2011 has gotten outstanding reviews from critics, who say that the game presents a level of realism unlike other games in its genre. Normally, this would be good news for game manufacturers, who've had no trouble selling Tiger in the past. But of course, all that was before the sex scandal.

To date, Tiger Woods video game titles have sold more than $500 million since the initial release in '99. Woods and John Madden have become giants in the industry, as the games with their namesakes have driven record sales. Madden lost some of his sales mojo with a recent retirement at the age of 73, and Tiger has found that his ability to sell products has been impacted by recent events.


When Madden retired, EA Sports announced that it did not plan to change the name of Madden's NFL video game. When Tiger's scandal broke, the company said it would also stick with Tiger's name in the title, but this was at a time when several major sponsors were leaving Tiger's side. So, rather than changing the title of the game, EA chose to add another golfer (Rory McIlroy) to the cover to add some balance.

A celebrity's ability to sell a product is not just driven by the quality of his or her performance. It is also driven by the likability of the individual. Before the scandal, Tiger was the most likable athlete in the industry. After the scandal, he dropped to 25th on the list. Even worse, he became disliked. It's one thing when consumers don't like you, and another when they can't stand you.

The good news for Tiger and EA is that the game is outstanding. According to one review done by Fox Sports,
"'PGA TOUR 11' is, hands down, the most innovative and intricately detailed golf game ever made." There are, however, quite a few solid products that consumers aren't interested in buying. Many consumers buy Tiger Woods products because they like Tiger and want to be like him. In light of the sex scandals, added to the fact that Tiger's game is no longer as dominant as it was last year, it is hard to predict how sales will compare to titles of the past.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book 'Black American Money.' To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.