When It Comes to Tiger, Frank Has It All Covered

His name is Frank. He’s the stuffed, toy tiger that covers the driver in Tiger Woods’ bag.

Frank has been in six commercials in which he makes smart-aleck comments about Charles Barkley’s swing or David Duval accidentally breaking a car window swinging a club in a garage.

You could say that Frank is a star.

And Frank really is a star -- or at least his voice is.

Frank’s voice is provided by actor Paul Giamatti, who stars in “Sideways,” an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture.

It is not known how Frank feels about merlot, which makes sense only if you’ve seen the movie.

The popularity of Giamatti and Frank notwithstanding, Woods’ endorsement partner Nike has done well with make-believe characters selling product.

Before Frank, there was Spike Lee as Mars Blackman in the Michael Jordan commercials. And there also was a young comic who few were aware of at the time, but in commercials he provided the voice of Little Penny, the sidekick of Penny Hardaway -- Chris Rock.

Rock will be host of the Academy Awards show.