"I think the first tournament Tiger Woods plays again, wherever it is, will be the biggest media event other than the Obama inauguration in the past 10 or 15 years."

Richard Deitsch reports at SI.com that CBS Sports President Sean McManus is delighted with the prospect Tiger's possible return at the Masters, even though the opening rounds are on ESPN.

The reporter -- taken aback by that claim -- asked if he had heard correctly.

"It is hard to overestimate how much interest there will be," McManus continued. "Tiger Woods is the most famous, most recognized, most accomplished athlete in the world, and his celebrity and prominence is even larger than it was. When you look at the fact that he gave a very simple press statement with no questions and every broadcast and cable news network in America carried it with great interest, I think that is an indication that whatever he does has enormous interest. And whatever he does on the golf course for the first time since Thanksgiving will be of interest to almost every man and women in this country."

Considering that CBS has instructed their guys not to talk Tiger and are notorious for treading carefully during Masters coverage, this comment is a bit silly:

"I don't think there is a lot of reason to dwell on what has happened in the past because it is one of the most exploited and overexposed stories in recent memory. But I will be fascinated to hear what Nick Faldo, Ian Baker-Finch, David Feherty or Jim Nantz, or any of the broadcasters have to say on what Tiger is doing on the course, how he is reacting, how the fans react, how the media reacts, and how his fellow competitors have reacted. Those will all be fascinated stories."

Maybe he means he'll be fascinated to hear if they say anything other than glowing praise?