I'm shocked that no one has pounced on the fact that Tiger Woods is the only child of his parents' marriage. He has two half-brothers, but to my knowledge (please correct me if I'm wrong) their being roughly 20 years older, they had little involvement with or influence on Tiger.

In the months of media frenzy over Tiger's transgressions, commentators, golf fanatics, and people with little interest in golf (and lots of interest in celebrity and politicians' affairs) have plunged into character assassination. Journalists have called him smug, entitled, spoiled-the labels so frequently attached to only children.

In his recent apology, Tiger himself said, "I felt entitled." He had the money and power that monumental success brings. Like many political, celebrity, and sports stars in similar positions, he probably felt that nothing could touch him-he was above reproach and insulated against criticism or being caught.

Even with the nonstop Tiger Woods' coverage, no one said, "He apologized, but he's an only child and that explains his behavior." No one said, "His father fostered too much attention on him because he is an only child"-a favored criticism of parents with only children.

It's refreshing that focus on Tiger's only child status as a root cause of Tiger's actions has been absent. In the world of only children that's a grand slam win and a small sign that some of the only child stigma may be fading.