The statement was quickly met with denials from Tiger’s agent, Mark Steinberg, as well as Ty Votaw, executive Vice President of the PGA Tour, and before you know it, every sports media outlet under the sun was on the story. When you think about it, however, calling Olsen’s assertion a “story” is probably not quite accurate. Better to label it “rumor,” or “gossip,” or, better yet, “bizarre conspiratorial ramblings of a marginally connected party who offered no actual information to back up his accusations.”

In the end, Olsen retracted his claims, telling ESPN’s Michael Collins that, “it was only my opinion.”

Except here’s the thing, Mr. Olsen … you’re allowed to have an “opinion” on Tiger’s swing coach, his putting stance, or whether he should have carried a 9-iron is his bag, but going on the radio, in this day and age, and claiming you had “a strong witness, a credible person who is telling me this,” well, that goes well beyond “opinion.”

To quote from the great Inigo Montoya, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Then again, perhaps we should cut the esteemed Mr. Olsen some slack. After all, irresponsibly trafficking in unsubstantiated rumors is pretty much how the media rolls these these days, anyway. Look no further than last week, when, for days on end, one of the biggest stories in sports surrounded the purported existence of a video that, as far as anyone knows, may or may not even exist. Yes, the so-called “Dez Bryant Tape” has taken over the conversation — right behind the color changing dress and the llamas, of course.

(Mike Francesa is right… February gets slower each and every year.)

So, what do we know about the tape that might shape the future of Bryant’s career? Well, we know it contains … something. Something bad. Something “worse than Ray Rice”. Something that happened in a Wal-Mart parking lot, maybe? Something that everybody has heard about, but nobody appears to have actually seen for themselves. Something that reportedly has the Cowboys concerned enough to avoid a long term contract with their All-Pro receiver, but not so concerned as to forego placing the franchise tag on him.

(Although how much is $13 Million to Jerry Jones, really? The Cowboys owner probably spends that much on Rockwell paintings. No, seriously.)

Is it all a little bit absurd? Undoubtedly. But make no mistake, #DezGate is no laughing matter. It’s entirely possible that all of this amounts to more than just a rumor, and that at some point in the near future, Bryant will be forced to explain … something.