Tiger tale a knee-jerk reaction to success.(The Orlando Sentinel)

We used to say it kiddingly: Tiger Woods could trip on his way to the bathroom, and it would be front-page news.

Ha, ha. Yuk, yuk.

But then the newspaper arrived in my driveway Thursday with the blaring headline about Tiger: "WOUNDED KNEE."

I eagerly began scanning the story, thinking Tiger had been involved in some sort of serious, career-threatening accident. A car wreck perhaps, like Ben Hogan? Or maybe a freak accident while playing pickup basketball with his old pal, Michael Jordan?

None of the above. It was simply Tiger stumbling over an autograph seeker after a practice round at Pebble Beach and "hyperextending" his left knee. More precisely, Tiger tripped and got a boo-boo_and suddenly it became global news.

Columnists opined in Thursday morning's editions about how Tiger has become a "victim" of his own popularity. Alarmist radio hosts harangued about the need for increased security to protect Tiger from the masses. At least one TV commentator wondered whether this injury would jeopardize Tiger's run for a grand slam.

He tripped, for crying out loud. And, oh by the way, he didn't really even hurt himself. After much consideration and consternation, Tiger decided to play in Thursday's first round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Which, if you listen to some of the fawning Tiger lap dogs, means Jack Youngblood is only the second-toughest athlete in town. Youngblood only played football with a broken leg; Tiger played a pro-am with a tender knee.