Fired ESPN analyst Steve Phillips, who recently left the sex rehab clinic that has reportedly treated Tiger Woods, appeared on the "Today" show Monday morning to discuss his sex scandal and addiction.
"People look at sex addiction as an excuse; it's not an excuse," Phillips told Matt Lauer. "I'm fully responsible for everything that I did and accept responsibility for that."
Phillips said he knew he had a problem before his affair with 22-year-old production assistant Brooke Hundley went public.
"I started calling facilities in August, well before everything blew up, and before there really was a problem where I ended up losing my job," he said. "I knew I had a problem; I needed to get help."
Hundley — who crashed her car into Phillips' house after dropping off a letter detailing their affair to his wife, Marni — told NBC, "I'm sorry for him and his family. I'm sorry for my family. I was 22; I made some mistakes. If I could take them back, I would, OK?"
Phillips offered insight on sex rehab and sex addiction.
"People who go there are broken people," he said. "That's really the essence of the addiction, that you're broken inside. You've got a hole that you've tried to fill, whether it was with alcohol or drugs or sex or gambling, with whatever. You go there and try to get the basics of why did you do what you did. For most addicts, whether it's alcohol or sex or whatever, it is that you have that hole inside based upon shame and trauma that occurred from childhood."
Phillips said he is trying to repair his marriage.
"I've broken my wife's heart," he said. "I've damaged her and our relationship in a terrible way.... I'm working my tail off to try to save my marriage. I don't know what the ultimate result will be."
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