Woods won't be able to erase this stain
It’s official. Nothing surprises me in sport. If even half of the lurid kiss-and-tell tales are covered by Tiger’s admission of “infidelity”, then nothing is sacred.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to moralize. Not least of all because I can’t begin to understand the temptations routinely placed before a man who not only dominates his chosen sport, but IS his chosen sport. What dumbfounds me is that a guy who seemed to be the ultimate control freak in terms of his game and public image can have made such a huge error of judgment.
I’ve met Tiger several times, and, like any journalist who’s tried to extract a pithy quote from him, I realized I was only getting the tip of the iceberg. What I didn’t realize was that what lay beneath his guarded exterior was not depth and maturity, but a naive, duplicitous character who was so much less than the sum of his corporate parts.
That said, his most recent statement about needing to take a break from golf for what he called “personal healing” and the chance to become “a better husband, father, and person” at least suggests that Tiger has at last stopped fooling himself as well as the rest of us, and is prepared to seek the man we believed him to be.
Whether that’s too late to save his marriage is not for me to speculate. But, in my opinion, it’s certainly too late to salvage his image as a sporting icon. Rightly or wrongly, we expect our heroes to be role models. And even though there’s a list as long as a fairway of men and women who’ve failed to live up to that ideal, we persist in creating demi-gods out of people whose only real obligation is to be good athletes.
Hence, Tiger was on a pedestal, perhaps the highest one of them all. And, having embraced that role, I don’t believe this perfect storm of controversy will allow him to erase the indelible stain it's created. He's fallen from way too high.
And, of course, that’s a shock and a shame when speaking of a man who has sought and achieved perfection throughout his career. Great champion, flawed individual - certainly not the legacy Tiger Woods expected to leave.
I can't believe in a country with the highest divorce rate (due to many reasons), is frowning upon this as if Tiger is now human! Where do we end the list on celebs or politicians who are in the same boat? I wish him and his family all the best. I'm pretty sure Tiger wouldn't won't this to happen again!
At some point society may actually move beyond having sports be such a highly respected, adored occupation. It sadddens me that we pay so much homage to sports "heros" when real heros go unnoticed day in and day out. Tiger did what men with emormous wealth and power do, they do anything they want not thinking or believing they will be caught. May he become humble through this experience and do something to help the world.
How could Tiger Woods be so completely clueless. Did this man really get a degree from Stanford? Did he miss taking "Infidelity 101"!! Did he miss the message of Eliot Spitzer and a collection of sleazy cheating politicans? He's lost me as a fan. Kids need some great role models. Tiger is not one of them anymore.
I've never looked to Tiger Woods (or Magic Johnson or Kurt Warner or Alex Rodriguez or...) to teach me how to live a better life. I look to Woods to show me how how he drives a ball 425 yards down the fairway, how he sinks chips and puts from the next time zone and how to stage a Sunday afternoon comeback that leaves his competitors and viewers speechless. I don't care about his endorsement deals, I don't care about his family life, I don't care about his wealth or "fame" – it really doesn't have an impact on any aspect of my life. What he does off the golf course shouldn't affect what he does on the golf course.
Heck, I still have deep respect and admiration for John Daly – one of the most talented train wrecks on the PGA tour. His personal life may be a bit "unconventional" but when he's on his game he's hugely entertaining to watch.
But who crowned Tiger and put him up on that pedastal???? WE did.
And when he, as ALL humans do, failed what did WE do????
DE-THRONE him in royal fashion as we, as humans have done down through time.
We have not learned as of yet that we are humans. We have flaws...EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, and as soon as we realize that and stop putting our whole lives and faith in PEOPLE and put our trust and hope in God, we will continue this cycle of crowning and de-throning until the end time........
Dude, we're not talking about a spur of the moment hook-up here. This is a multi-year hump-fest with several women (that we know of). My only feeling on the issue is that if that's what you want to do then rock on, man. Do it! You should definitely go for it. Just do one thing first. Divorce the wife. Preserve your integrity, protect your image (the very thing you're marketing) and get out of the marriage before you go playboy. And who could blame him? Most popular sports figure in the world? Endless supply of new and interesting trim? Hell yes! Every guys dream. So why did he jack things up so badly? Didn't want to go through a messy divorce process and settlement? Didn't want to have to give up all that money? Uh, look at him now
Eldrick has done the right thing finally, and gotten away from the 'game' of golf, and that's all it is, a game.
The real game is the game of life, full of service to others, maybe he wil learn that, maybe he won't. Help others, and if you can't do that, then do them no harm.
The other game he was playing is a deadly one, full of STD's for anyone who enters it if not protected,and there is no guarantee that so called protection will stop it all.
The people who fulled his bank account, didn't think about how bankrupt it might make him and for all intent and purpose he is bankrupt in matters of family.
How many women he slept with , is inmaterial, he is forever stained. Lets not blame those women entirely, with calling them whores etc, it takes two to tango, and he was a willing participant.
The next victories will be hollow, the only victory that will mean anything to his wife and children is his handling of his sexual addiction. But I"m not a psychiarist , so will leave that to the 'experts'.
I wish his family well. This is going to take alot of time to straighten out. Maybe time is on his side. Golf will survive with or without Eldrick.
Thank Goodness for Tiger's news. He's knocked Sara Palin off the front page and down the rabbit hole!!!
what a selfish man.
who cares? He dominated and will always dominate, even if he doesn't play... he is just media food right now, this is nothing new... at all.
I think, he going to try to mend the mirror, but the cracks are going to be visible and the reflection is not the same!
It is amazing how many high profile celebrities or powerful politcians think they can get away with it which is increasingly difficult in this technology centric world. Whether it be Clinton, Tiger or others they forget basic principles – fully conscious in a rational state of mind what their activities and proclivities may do to their image and even career, but then they also have another irrational state when they simply leave digital or DNA signatures that boggles the mind.
If I Were Tiger’s Mother
If I were Tiger’s mother, I would move in with him and his family during this hiatus he is taking from the pro golf tour, for the entire time, and provide him with some things to mull over. He would have to listen to my mouth ev-er-y day that I would be there.
Day 1: “Tiger! I see that your father and I did not quite finish our job of raising you. What do you mean bringing scandal to our name? We went along with you when you quit college to play pro golf when you should have stayed there and finished sowing your wild oats!”
Day 2: “Do you realize how much of your father’s time was given to you, molding and shaping you to be the person he so hoped you would be? Let me count the hours he invested in you.”
Day 3: “I thought you relished your privacy. Did you not know that some things just will not stay secret? Did you not learn anything from the antics of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant, also giants in their fields? And stop texting!”
Day 4: “How will you explain all of this to your children when they are old enough to understand the snickers and nudges behind comments people will make about their dad, years from now?”
Day 5: “Tiger! Did it ever occur to you how much you have gained in 13 short years, things that people would kill to have: money, prestige, fame, glory, a beautiful family, the admiration of young people wanting to emulate you? And you have thrown it away, so you could have WHAT? the likes of cocktail waitresses who would betray your “indis…”, whatever, for a check from a tabloid?”
Day 6: “Had you thought just how many others would be affected when this came out: people both young and old who admire you, friends who invested their loyalty in you, your financial backers who are embarrassed, not to mention family members who have been humiliated by your antics?”
Day 7: “ If you don’t get this mess straightened out with Elin, profess your sorrow and beg her forgiveness every day on bended knee, I shall personally open the door and admit the most cut-throat attorney out there.”
“Tiger! Are you listening to me? I don’t care if you are worth a billion dollars!”
Days 8, 9, 10, 11 …..: you get the idea.
But of course, Mrs. Woods probably cannot do this because she loves Tiger as mothers do, even in the face of the worst adversities, and she will continue to love and support him. We hope that Elin’s golf club got his attention.
Nana in Tucson, AZ
After reading your articleon Mr. Woods, I still come out puzzled to say the less. Who gave him the title hero as you call him? Role model, for who. Once again we the people have placed someone who is just like us above u, and when they fall, by do we nail them to the cross. His private life is just that! His life. Something for him and his wife, not the world to work out. What happen to honesty? For is we all took a good look at ourselves, we all have things we don't want anyone to know. While what he did to his wife makes me ill, as a women what these young ladies havedone makes me ask the question, most of america is overlooking. What's wrong with the women of the world who think so little of them selves,to allow a realationship with a married man. Really women are honest enough with themeselves to say, I would not go for this if it was my husband, so why would I do it to other women. What kind of message are we sending to young girls. We are so focused on the wrongs of Mr. Woods, that we are blinded by the WRONG of the golddiggers. If Mr. Woods is such a bad persons for this sin, what are they? Certainly NOT GOOD PEOPLE!!!! Two wrongs don't make a right, and if these traps really cared about Mr. Woods, they have a funny way of showing it. What's clear is it's all about the MONEY!!!! I havent' heard any reports of Mr. Woods placing a gun to these womens head. Sin is sin!!! And if the people can forgive Kobe, Mr Woods, just needs to lay low and try and mend things with his wife. (She's the only one he needs to be asking for forgiveness, not the world) Besides once he's back at golf doing what he does, and making others rich, just like Kobe he'll be on your list of heroes again. I hope this time you all remember he's a MAN first!!!!!!!
Mr. Woods, GOD is still in the business of forgivng and we all need that! I wish you and your family the best!
I think is high you guys should leave him alone because is celebrates that doesn't make a role model or custodian of morality.
Many of his critics are not saint either and because Tiger is human and man is bound to make mistake so let him be.
Tiger, will surely be back on his feet again.
The stain won't go away because people calling themselves journalists, such as yourself, will not allow it to. Mr. and Mrs. Woods deserve privacy. The man may be a hero on the golf course, however it is unrealistic to even bigin to expect that he is a perfect specimen worthy of unadulterated priase in every aspect of life.
Perhaps it is the constant media pressure that is the root cause of his behavior. Who knows? I imagine Mr. Woods himself is asking that question. Why did I do it??? And he is taking time off from work to try and find the answer and to right the wrong. But really, it is not my business, nor is it anyone's other than the business of Mr. and Mrs. Woods, and perhaps their children.
It is not news. Go find something worthwhile to write about.
Tiger will always be a role model when it comes to perfection in sports, but it's still your duty as a parent to be a role model to your kid when it comes to human virtues - can YOU stand to this challenge?
I watched Tiger in the last couple of tournaments he was in,and win or lose i noticed that after a bad or dismal shot he seemed to have a look of DEPRESSION on his face and in his eyes,instead of disappointment or anger.Not making any excuses for him but wondering if this could be a reality? Doug.
Oh yeah, you all suspected Tiger had a darker hidden side. Of course he did, it's called his private life. Now it is time for all you tabloid trash to get off his back so he can get on with his problems and his private life. "... cast the first stone."
Tiger Woods SHOULD lose his public and corporate support, but anyone who thinks he will is fooling himself.
The celebrity infatuated public (especially of the U.S.) will justify and forgive. You don't need to look far or wide to see proof of this(i.e. Michael Vick, et al).
Grow up America. An athlete is just that. If you want heroes, you need to look for people who dedicate their lives to helping people (Dr. Yunus, etc.)
Tiger Woods built his goody, goody personality with his character for over a decade. It was Tiger and no one else that decided to handle himself that way. It worked very well for him, and he was paid millions as a result. If he had not portrayed that perfect image, he still would have made millions, but his endorsements may have been fewer than they are today. This is the first of several that will cut back. Why? Because Tiger's sales will go down. People hate to be decieved.Just be honest. Early on after his first affair had he just been honest, the others would have never come up. The greatest golfer in the world would not be on the sidelines.
Wonder his father would think of his prodigal son?
Wonder what his father would think of his prodigal son?
I thought it said you weren't here to moralize. I guess judging is OK. It's easy to trash someone very publicly when your byline isn't next to the story. It was a cheap shot and as a writer you can contribute to an atmosphere of seeing the best in Tiger and hoping that he can get past this stormy season in his life. He has had the dignity to step back from sport, which most athletes would never dream of doing. THAT is character and it's too bad that you missed the REAL moral of the story. You story was mean, and last time I checked it's still bad sportsmanship to kick a man while he's down. If you judge someone in such a public forum you are not beyond reproach yourself – practice what you preach...
The worst thing Tiger did was getting caught, leave him alone to roam around he is going to do this again so just accept it.
You can never cage a wild beast.
This whole this is soooo silly. He's just a guy who plays sports. How many of you, how many of us have screwed up. Didn't someone once say, "he who is without sin, throw the first stone?" Get over yourself Terry.
It would be nice if it meant he wanted to be a better husband; but first he would have to be a husband, a role in which he apparently has never seen himself. No, if he is taking a hiatus, it is only because he is so shaken from the loss of control over his image, that he would be totally off his game.
Stain or no stain, leave him alone. Just because he won't be playing golf next year doesn't mean it's the end of the world, life goes on. His decision to be with his family and repair for his mistakes instead of golf is a big step. And, I'm sure that when he does return and face the camera's again, we will definitely see another side of Tiger woods. When? only time will tell.
Not so fast there, cowboy. There is a process at work here, and we have yet to see it through to its conclusion.
Yes, Tiger will quit the game for a bit and be tested in this calamitous fire of his own making. If he-the-player survives, then perhaps he will make a Return to the Game in a year or two and, when he begins once again rack up win after win, we will witness the birth of not only a true champion, but an enduring Legend.
Tiger's role in life is to be a Hero; through the tests that he is now compelled to endure, he may thus transformed from the "naive, duplicitous" boy indulging his ego and emerge to help rescue America from the terrible Fate that it continues to court – that of an overfed, shameless and violent Banana Republic. Indeed, with a bit of luck, Tiger can find salvation and return home – truly home – to help lift us up and out of the morass and confirm himself as The Greatest Sports Legend of All Time...
...or Tiger the icon will die and the work of reinvigorating a nation and a people will be left to other heroes. Regardless, there now is no turning back, for the gates of the fairytale that was Windermere have slammed shut. For now, only the Fire of his own choosing awaits the man Tiger woods.
Although Mr. Woods currect issues are alarming, it's no ones business what he does. The media made a circus out of this situation and decided it would make a story out of this because that's what sells. The media are all a bunch of hoers. Give the man his privacy, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. How many of you in the media have cheated on your spouses? You just haven't been caught yet. Let it go, find another story. Enough already,
I think you are taking yourself way to seriously, Terry. Tiger is still a sporting icon. He just did a stupid thing.
He is human after all and no different from the rest of us. As I speak as someone who is not famous, I think we are constantly waiting with some sort of sick fascination for celebrities to destroy their own flawless images.
We revel in their mistakes as though we are perfect. We crucify them as though the mistakes they have made are irreparable.
Tiger has not created a indelible stain. That's for his family to decide. Not you. You imagine it to be a storm of controversy when in actual fact, it is not. The companies that sponsor him are supporting him, not firing him.
The legacy of Tiger Woods still stands with the exception that we know now that no one is perfect, but no matter what anyone says, we can still strive to be.
He is a mam,he has money ,and don't get him wrong, he's not here to moralize.There is a Chinese proverb says that The hero always love beauty.support him and forgive him.I believe time can erase the stain.
there is no stain on tiger, there will be a book and a movie, maybe from tiger, his wife and those women who are looking fame. only the yellow tabloid media that america has is trying to milk this story, give their stupid opinions and can't stay out of the tiger's private life. Tiger is still the man to me.
Terry Terry...give your fine -upstanding head a good shake. :):) "Woods won't be able to erase this stain".... You talk as if he spilled hot Belgian chocolate and a fine Merlot all over his white tennis slacks. He's a man
like most men...so stop your self righteous whining.
I do not necessarily agree with this article. It does depend on what occurs from here forward, and public memories can be short, or more forgiving than one might think right now when the heat is on. If Tiger is able to successfully put this youthful sexual and ethical meltdown behind him, heal his marriage, stay with his kids, people will potentially see him as a role model for admitting he was young and stupid, fixing what was wrong about himself and becoming a faithful husband and good father. If he comes back to golf in this context and delivers performance, the matter will be largely forgotten.
Should he fail or stumble again, or worse repeatedly, then the prediction of the article would be sound. One can only wish him the best of luck in getting back on track, and not predispose his future with negativism. Many young men get sexually wild, sow their wild oats, and then settle down. It could be that Tiger married before he was ready to stabilize his life, but now perhaps he can. There is too much talent to waste, and too much for the game itself to lose.
Much depends on the healing process within the marriage. Elin's heart must be shattered by this, and it may be a superhuman expectation that she can recover. One hopes the tragedy will stop compounding and they can both come back stronger.
Terry Baddoo is 100% correct...Tiger Woods has only begun to make a correct step since this whole car crash incident.
How easy it wo0uld have been if he simply acted in an open manner with nothing to hide....instead he let down himself, his family, sponsors and the public....
Now how to make ammends....forget Oprah or Barbara (Walters), just be himself and speak openly to any legitimate news organisation asking or such.
....and start to donate some serious $$$ to those in need....without expecting any tax breaks in return!!!
I don't mean to sound cruel, but it's better that Tiger's father is no longer around. Witnessing such failure and disappointment, it would've definitely been a blow to the old man, bigger than a heart attack.
And as far as our heroes being just as human as the rest of us, the meek people, yes, I agree. Even our role models have flaws. The problem lies in the fact that Tiger went on doing something wrong, knowing it was not moral at all, but also knowing that all this time he was portraying himself as an example. Or maybe he didn't, after all. Maybe he just minded his own life, secretly, discretely. And we, the naive and the hungry-for-something-perfect society, simply interpreted his shyness and secluded private life as symbols of his modesty and humble spirit. But modest he wasn't! There must be a huge ego in this guy, to think that something like all these alleged affairs wouldn't come out, that it wouldn't happen to him. Pretty cocky of him to assume that his money would buy somebody's silence.
He is the Icarus flying with wax wings too close to the sun.
Well written. Thanks.....
Tiger Wood had disappointed the world , What a pity that he had fallen I hope that he will do everthing in his power to repair his image and most of all to repair his marriage. if hiswife will forgive him , I can only say that God bless her .
More civilized Europeans are horrified by this character
assassination of Woods through American media and journalists.
Using all these grandiose words like "stain" "flawed individual"
"error of judgment" only because a man of 32 has had sex with
some women !!! ??? Your presidents, politicians, generals, etc
are killing thousands of people, directly or by proxy, throughout
Middle-East and they are considered to be models of virtue and
high moral values. Shame on you !!
You say you aren't here to moralize and then you go on moralizing at length: "...what lay beneath his guarded exterior was not depth and maturity, but a naive, duplicitous character who was so much less than the sum of his corporate parts." Seems like moralizing to me.
Many people have rebounded from much worse, including presidents. He has made a mistake, but he has shown more than enough class in the past where he will repair what he can and move on. The US and the world have more important things to worry about.
Despite Terry Baddoo's disclaimer moralizing is precisely what he is doing. Why does sleeping around with a bunch of sexy woman stain your character, irreparably according to Baddoo? Personally I would love to sleep around with a bunch of sexy women, in fact every man I know, except for a few oddballs would love to as well! So please may I be excused if the basis of all this criticism escapes me. Perhaps it resides with political correctness, hypocrisy and the idea that sex is wrong, how quaint! If anything Tiger Woods has risen to challenge the gods, not only is he one of the worlds best ever sportsman, now we learn he is a Casanova as well, would we, if we could be, oh yes we would!
Oh Terry, oh Terry . . . gee weren't you a lucky man to have met the "good" Tiger when you did. Leave the man alone. You sound like a cheap gossip columnist who has had a boring few weeks so this is the story to focus on. Why not let Tiger and the others in the spotlight be human for once and have some respect of privacy. You digust me when you say Tiger is less then the sum of his corporate parts. Nike is just a brand, no more no less! The world would certainly still turn without Nike ads everywhere. America has many, many problems and one that keeps getting worse is the branding of people. You obviously are part of that mentality. Can't someone step up the standard a bit????
I honestly don't see what Baddoo is trying to tell us. Woods simply said he wants to be a better father and husband. Now whats wrong with that? What has demi-gods got to do with it? My advise to Baddoo is to read some Dan Brown novels.
Some of the words used in this article are “moralize” “can’t begin to understand” “dumbfounds” “control freak.” All those phrases and many more are used when speaking of any individual who suffers from an obsessive compulsive disorder.
I put forward the following. We are all part of the human race and Tiger has to deal with life on life’s terms. Obsessive compulsive suffers cannot helped themselves unless and until the pain of their obsession becomes greater than the rewards received from repeating their obsession. I am convinced that Tiger is suffering from a disorder of love and intimacy. That makes Tiger a sick person not a bad person. Correct counseling will put Tiger on tracks to fulfill his “personal healing” and the chance to become “a better husband, father, and person”.
The last sentence of this article is: “Great champion, flawed individual – certainly not the legacy Tiger Woods expected to leave.” Please don’t write Tiger Woods off. I have no doubt that with the correct motivation and counseling Tiger Woods will emerge a stronger person and more accomplished that all his golfing accolades. Then he will get back to the business of completing this task of being the best golfer that ever lived. Please be patient with Tiger and let time take time.
OH my Gosh, you actually believe this don't you?
How old are you man, sounds like under 40?
Muhammad Ali was really under the noose, he has now fully shaken the stigma behind his draft objector action and is recognized as one of the greatest athletes of all time and an extremely positive influence.
Babe Ruth was a wild one after the 9th inning but is still regarded high enough to be selected as one of the greatest players of all time in numerous polls.
Tiger is worth way too much as a marketing tool as indicated by the lack of action from his endorsements, but Phelps gets creamed for a little weed, go figure.
We are a very forgiving society and Tiger will overcome it quickly, he is just way too admired.
Follow this piece up in a year man and we will see, won't we?
Speculate, speculate, speculate, hope you get 2 bucks a word, lol.
If we make our sports hero's demi-gods, that is our mistake, not theirs. They are only men and women, who can make mistakes and commit errors. If they fall from "grace", it is our "imaginary grace" not their reality. I do not approve of infidelity, but flogging Wood for making a mistake in his personal life and saying he's "fallen from a high pedestal", condemning him for ever, is really a fairy tale kind of morality, that is neither fair nor realistic.
So disappointing. I live in Australia... and, during Tiger's recent visit to our shores I marveled at the aura that surrounded everything Tiger Woods' did.. and everywhere he went. I agree with the author of this article; the stain is too great.
It just too bad that the media has put so much attention to this. He is being treated like the first pblic figure to cheat on his his wife! Let Tiger Woods deal with this in a private way and not with the entire world watching every move he makes.
Mary
Give the man a break or the golf equivalent to casting the first stone.
Tiger Woods image as a sporting Icon is as strong today as it waas yesterday. I mean, it's not like he did an OJ. What we should learn from all this is our desire to create demi-gods out of celebrities. Super stars are only very good at what they do. They are not super special. Before this, we thought Tiger was Mr. Goody Goody 1000%. Now we should understand that no one celebrity is perfect in the true sense of the word ... only perfect at what they do.
the mistake you and others keep making about people we consider our "heros" is that they are just like you and I. the only difference, they are exceptionally good at something. that is all. instead, you the media, and the fans extrapolate that to mean something else – ie because they are exceptionally good here – they are good everywhere.
Impossibly stupid analysis. I'm beginning to sense another dynamics at work here. All this doomsday prophecy and insults for a man who DID not commit any crime? Tiger has his failings, like you do, sucker. And like the rest of us. Does that make me want to stone you? I think not. I suspect that won't be worth it either. He would be back, better than ever.
What Bill Clinton pulled at the height of his power was worse than this; Tiger hasn't actually 'lied' yet. We still now manage to look back at Clinton as an excellent president, not an adulterer. Tiger will make it through this no problem, he has just proven to us that he IS human after all.
I disagree that Tiger's image as an icon cannot be mended after this tabloid mess. We need only to recall Martha Stewart and Bill Clinton, who fell from a god-like grace only to be strolling again in the realm of fame amidst a public with seemingly consenting amnesia. It is true that Tiger had the most painfully spotless public image among celebrities, but who was ever naive enough to buy that perfect commercial image? This article calls Tiger's character "duplicitous." Is there an icon out there–from Obama to Justin Timberlake–who does not have a duplicitous character to some extent for the sake of maintaining marketability and remaining in the state of public favor?
I think one forgets that TW has been under pressure from the age of two trying to perform to be accepted by his family. When the amount of success arrives as it did with TW, an unbelievable amount, that does not suddenly make intensity of his upbringing disappear. When a person is totally programmed for achievement at any cost, can he ever achieve a sense of contentment or acceptance? He will always be under constant pressure and what human being is made for that? Most of us would get ulcers or sleepless nights, which it seems he already has if you believe the Ambien suggestions. As to his infidelity, I believe it is just part of the repercussion of 30 years of grinding away at yourself to attain a super human achievement, and which he die manage. I just don't think the other side of his human development in the areas of feelings, emotions, etc., was able to keep up with the pressure. He was too focused on what was supposedly "wanted", but was it all "really" wanted by him, or was this a suit he was told to put on? Where did all the "personal" part of TW go? More than likely it remained at an under developed level because there was no room for it. Was that Tiger's fault or the result of the family and personal world he landed in? Wherever there is a super talent there is going to be, more than likely, a super weakness to balance it off. I think the personal side of TW has been lost and now because of his notoriety ALL of us know about it. It is sad.
I can't help but think you are wrong. How old are you, anyway? Have you not lived long enough to have seen scandals blow over? Sure, people will remember that it all happened, but he can still be as popular, maybe even more loved, if for having a human side at last.
This will become a footnote in the life of Tiger Woods, at least in his professional life, as long as he comes back strong, and somehow I think he will.
As for being a role model, my 13 year old son at first said he did not believe any of that "crap" about Tiger. He certainly did not want to believe any of it. But then, when it became obvious that enough of "it" was true to make Tiger not the perfect creature my golf loving son thought he was, it became a perfect touchstone for a good discussion on the merits of sports. It is ridiculous, how much we worship athletes in this country. It is ridiculous, the obscenely "perfect" image Tiger was cultivating. I had a great conversation with my son about how Tiger is an amazing golfer. How he has tremendous dedication to his game. How focused and determined he is about golf.
About golf. He's still that guy. And it does not translate over to anything else. An athlete owes us NOTHING more than dedication to his or her game. People need to look elsewhere, or at other aspects of a person's life, for higher order role models. Period.
We've been tricked in to thinking Tiger was a demi-god? How naive of you to have been taken this far down the road. I agree with most of your article, don't get me wrong. But at the same time, I've ALWAYS thought that Tiger, while a great golfer, was just too canned and buttoned down and the perfect journeyman along the high road to be true.
I always found Tiger to be a corporate brand in himself, and as we often know when it comes to brands build around one individual, athlete or CEO, there's a level of insincerity just below the surface. Tiger seemed too much of a brand automaton to making hundreds of millions in corporate endorsements, and I don't regret one bit that these brands that have foolishly thrown their money at this superficial good boy are now eating humble pie.
Corporations should be contributing to saving the world, not throwing their money at such superficiality. Nike, Gillette, and the rest of you... now you run for cover! Hah! This says a lot about you, too.
The Bible said and i Quote:- Let he who has not sin cast the first stone!!!
You are only talking about Tiger Wood just because, he has disappointed a White woman. If the case has being in the other way round. You this same people would have told him to forgive and forget.
Remember we are all human beings, born of flesh and nobody is perfect.
King David, King Solomon, and many others more do the same and still God Forgave them.
If you point an accused finger on someone else, the other four are saying, what about you???
Please let there be peace.
Why such an urge to associate Mr Woods character or home troubles with his greatness in sport? Can he be left in peace to heal his wounds? Respect the man.
You are not here to moralize.
So, when you write :
"a naive, duplicitous character who was so much less than the sum of his corporate parts"
"the indelible stain"
"a flawed individual"
You are not moralizing.
Question is : what exactly are you doing, then ?
Oh, I guess it's judging. Not moralizing, of course.
Just judging.
Tiger is only human. The only difference is that he is famous.
Leave him alone for 2 years he will be back on his feet again.
Impossible is nothing. Time heals everything.
Tiger wood is just another human being. Can you all see his honest face, naughty eyes and passionate move just like you and me. Unlucky he is so rich, famous and talent. Support him and his family for a quick healing please or would you like to be on his shoe.
Well after reading your post, there's a famous saying that comes to mind *He without Sin cast the first stone*, well a lot of stones has been thrown from a lot of people that are with sins. I for one can't begin to wonder why you and many like you should expect a human being to be perfect and when they are not, you lot start to wonder and get upset about reality. One, Tiger is human, he never told anybody at anytime he was perfect and if ignorant people start to consider a human has perfect, then i can only say the whole lot of you where deluding yourselves from the beginning. Get over it and let him do what he has to do in his personal life and try and be perfect for a day at a time in your lives.
Tiger Woods is a master at the sport that he plays, his personal flaws should not be compared to what he does on the course. To have his struggles revealed for everyone to scrutinize would be difficult for anyone. I am not trying to justify what he did, however the reason he is known is not because of his morality, but because of the skills he has as a golfer.
Recently It was Andre Agassi and now followed by Tiger woods.......how hugely disappointing it's to world of sports.....it's their invincible and perfect performances, media and ad world makes them larger than life, makes them immortals, puts them on marble pedestal......finally to tumble like ordinary mortals......more fault lies with close ring of advisers who are responsible for cultivating such pure images, rake millions, while knowing their weaknesses of faulty hero's, keeping them shrouded and finally it spills out, disappointing to millions of fans......neither Agassi nor Tiger woods be respected or come back to capture the imagination, which once they did...the stain would show forever............Andre wrote book to make money telling fans about his misdeeds......would Woods follow and tell his about his escapades.......it stinks.....
The media madness around this is pathetic. Tiger made a mistake – life goes on. He should not take a year off – he should take a bit of time and simply move forward. His image will be repaired with time, ongoing contrition, and success. There will always be a few hypocrites here that will never "forgive him" but they simply don't matter.
Play on, Tiger! Play on!
Tiger Woods has made mistakes big or small we all need forgivness & support.He has given so much to sport & the golfing world.Dont judge him by media hes just a man....but a little disapointing to himself & his wife. Stand tall Tiger life is too short to bury your head,just come out & move on
As long as Tiger believes deep inside that he is mere mortal that he is a media frenzy because he is an excellent golfer. All will be forgiven and life will go on, but if he and the public wants Tiger to be a role model, which is asking too much from another human being. He will start taking himself seriously and hurt himself and other people. The question should be to society alike why should Tiger or any other jock be a role model. What happens to the parents of America? We as a society should question ourselves. He is an excellent golfer, but a role model I think not. He has enough money to last him a life time so as long as he does not takes this craziness and hurt himself or his family, he should be ok. America should stick to your parents to find a role model to your children. Leave the jocks to what they are good at make money and date beautiful ladies. “Do not cry for Tiger America” . AK
What does Tiger's golf supremacy have to do with him being a lousy husband
Terry, which school of Jounalism did you attend? Pontificating on morals belongs to another 'school'. Just stick to reporting on Sports. Or have you switched to tabloid journalism because you were frustrated in your attempts to get a quote from him. Far be it for me to judge your motives!
Not sure Tiger ever wanted to be elevated to demi-god status in the first place. It happens with TV. What mortal can you think of who has managed success as well as Tiger( before you compare, was your person just not caught)? Sure Tiger has to take the responsibility but can the entire blame be his?
When history is written, I am sure this indiscretion will not be mentioned. Tiger has acheived greatness on earth and that is what mankind will remember him for. All we need to do now is wait and hope he is willing to redeem his image because the majority of us are willing to forget his mistakes.
"And even though there’s a list as long as a fairway of men and women who’ve failed to live up to that ideal, we persist in creating demi-gods out of people whose only real obligation is to be good athletes." You are fooling yourself T.Baddoo. You're the one creating a demi-God out of a person. I'm a Tiger fan but I leave it at that. So he made a huge indiscretion, he is HUMAN and let him deal with it himself without you adding fuel to the fire. I wish him the best in this stage and I hope he can keep his family together. This will be the hardest test for him as a person.
You people expect too much from these human athletes and it always hits you in the face. If you learn from them how to prepare for a game, keep yourself fit mentally and physically...that's great. If you learn how to live your life from them too...that's an added bonus,but don't be counting on it.
I agree with the article. The news of his affairs shocked everyone because of the image he was portraying.
You know the old saying – the bigger they are, the harder the fall – and it is so true in this case. Had he been a low level golfer with no name brand sponsors, it wouldn't have caused a ripple anywhere except in his own house but Tiger has made most of his money through big money product endorsements, not golf, so his image was everything.
At first I didn't feel sorry for him because he brought it on himself but can you imagine how he felt every time he looked in the mirror all these years? I bet he was seeing a big fat failure deep inside his soul. How he was able to continue winning and putting up a front for his family must have been very stressful. But – he brought it upon himself. Now it is time to pay.
regardless the problem,he is a man of substance, he admit to the wrong. he also apologized to everyone,now where is the forgiveness.A lot of other people in high places, have done much worse and still ,is highly respected. if those un forgiven people learned to examine themselves and allow others to try to pick up the peices, and get on with there lives, this world would be much better..It just takes a loving heart and a caring tendancy. to feel sorry for the man,give him a chance to learn from his mistakes, we are fallen creatures. vengeance belongs to God, give him a chance to correct is mistake. inshalla , gods willing.
Hey give this gentleman a break – JUDGE NOT THAT YE NOT BE JUDGED. Could any of us empathize with what this young man is going through right now??Really.......this guy is a mess right now and we all are enjoying destroying another human being. What we should really do is pray for him and his family that they survive through this mess. REMEMBER TOO that the enemy is really who we cannot see.
Although I see no reason to have Tiger's extra-maritl affairs front and center in the news, I do find it offensive that the once seemingly intelligent gentle sports star turned out to be naive, dimwitted and egotistical. Shocking.
In the U.S., we tend to place people who excel and accomplish a great deal in their domaine on a pedestal–and woe be it to them if they make a misstep or reveal that they are, after all, human like the rest of us lower achievers! Let's leave them to live their private lives in private–they will surely pay a high enough price for their errors with the people most concerned. And we would do better not to prove ourselves to be hypocrites or to encourage each other to feed on the media frenzy.
Tiger is a great sportsman but like any human fell to temptation like probably 99% would with the money sportstars make. I don't think he can repair neither his image nor marriage , sportstars in the 60's did not make as much but were better role models, ie Willie Mays , Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford. Today most in sports are really not role models but spoiled brats, that is why you can't go to a kids soccer game or baseball game without parents fighting because they think their kid is going to be the next tiger woods etc, most important thing in life is education and integrity , if Tiger devotes himself to those two things he can make a great comeback.
Family aside for the moment. If you are a public figure as he is and you take very serious money to endorse a product, you have a dead serious obligation to act as you appear to be, or else you are criminal.
I have NO sympathy for this man, this was blatant, repeated, conscious and very deliberate. Golf is a noble game, if you are the main star, when everyone looks up to you... What happens as well to all the companies whose employees worked very hard to gain market share, like the Tiger Woods computer games? If sales go down and ordinary people are laid off in this economy, is Tiger going to bail them out.
Anything he gets, he brought very willingly upon himself. Best punishment for him is to be hounded by the tabloids for the next few years or so. He dragged his family down, his friends, the trust of the public. Sorry pal you made your own bed, you lie in it.
Checking out CNN I came across this article and was somewhat surprised to see this displayed on the front page of CNN's website.
I do not support Tiger's actions, but he is human and as such he made a mistake. The important thing is that he is taking ownership of his mistake. These things happen, they happen all the time...the important thing is to recognize...to rise above...and to forgive and forget.
"Everything's ok till you get caught". I think that how tiger went about this and may be we too think the same sometimes......
Tiger is a superstar of golf and he will always be.......and i hope he comes out stronger .
There is no perfect man, but for me (golfer) Tiger is a perfect sportman
we all make mistakes, we are human, mistakes are made so we can corect our self. This will be a lesson for him to lern. Not for us to juge him. Tiger we are looking to see you soon (playing........golf)
Mr. Woods – The Golf world needs YOU ! We hope to see you back in action. Every man deserves a seconds chance....he is HUMAN !
So what? What is it to you and everybody else who have no committed interest in his life? A good story so you people can get paid and look smug about it? To those sanctimonious and hypocritical idiots who ride on their pathetic little high horses, get off them and let the man and his family live their lives. His family is hurting real bad right now without the media's help.
Leave Tiger Woods alone. His private difficulties are non of our business. He will come back in a big way. And the media will get it's money's worth.
In every error of judgment there are winners and losers. Woods will either repair or not repair but he clearly is a loser.The winners, though they would never claim the victory, are Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus with, perhaps, Nicklaus being the bigger winner of the two. As Pete Rose will never achieve what he wanted out of baseball, it is likely that Woods will never replace either Palmer or Nicklaus as the leaders of Golf.
"Corporations should be contributing to saving the world, not throwing their money at such superficiality. Nike, Gillette, and the rest of you... now you run for cover! Hah! This says a lot about you, too."
You should realize that the corporations are hardly worrying about this. All the money spent in the sponsorship deals paid to Woods have long ago been paid back in increased sales. This is just business as usual to the sponsors. Now that Woods is temporarily out of the picture, the sponsors go away. When Woods makes his inevitable return to the top of the world of golf, the sponsors will back in a blink of an eye.
Business as usual.
If you are married or in a committed relationship, it is wrong to be unfaithful and will hurt the other party very much. Tiger did this and has now apologied to his wife, family and for letting himself down. His greatness in golf is something separate to this and and like all our sporting hero's before him – the morale standing that accompanies this, the branding and financial rewards from sponsors etc is overbearing! He will get through this and we will find another hero to destroy. It's the game that the exceptionally talented have to play!
One more thing: I hope the author of this article remembers how wrong he was about Woods not being able to mend his image when the world has forgiven this incident if a few years of time and we all look at awe how Woods can recover from such a storm with such efficiency. Then we proceed to make him a demi-god once again.
If he is capable of playing as good as he used to after coming back of course. But it's hardly an impossible task. And you are naive to believe so.
I believe we have lost forever the image of Tiger we knew – perfect, flawless, phenomenal. However, what will emerge after his hiatus will be a much better, stronger image – that of a man who succumbed to human frailties and foibles, came to a full realization of his effects on the sports and the public, how his actions hurt people both close and distant to him, mended his ways, then emerged stronger, more knowing of his limitations, and more in control of himself.
Tiger will come out as the man who fell, learned, and conquered. Tiger Woods will be stronger.
Leave Tiger alone! He did something he shouldn't be happy with himself about, and the fact that he is ashamed means he is capable of growing out of it. Nevertheless, moral judgment is not necessary here from the media. Let's hope he learns something positive and constructive out of it. Will he ever be a "demi-god" again? Only naivety expects real people to be infallible, no matter how nice it is to pretend otherwise. Leave the man alone and let him work it out.
He IS human , you idiots . And leave the guy alone , already . NO one is perfect , even Tiger .
Wo are we to judge!!!
You don't go to a famous surgeon for mechanic services your car, but we expect athletes, movie and music stars, and politicians to be perfect in every aspect of their lives, not just their special area of talent. Time after time this expectation is proven false, yet we still blame the celebrity, not ourselves for OUR bad decision to make them a role model for everything.
If Tiger was playing and living in Europe, then I doubt his infidelity would be an issue. Tiger may be relieved that now he can be himself and move on with his life which may involve golf or not.
I agree with Dave, Bill Clinton pulled the biggest surprise of all times on the world, in spite of his impeachment, did that make him less of a contributor to the world at large? I am not happy with the new news about Tiger's personal life; he needs to just face the music and rise above it all and get on with his business of international golf.
I feel bad for the person but the product is dead.
Tiger is a product. Like it or not , he sold his image. His image was a lie. No one likes to be lied too.
Maybe his brand can be reborn as something new.
It boggles my mind to think that corporate sponsors need flawless people to sell their imperfect image and their imperfect products. It tells me right away that big corporations need to have also a serious introspection of themselves. All this is creating an illusion for yourselves and Tiger Woods. Both of you do not need this.
Corporations should accept flaws as human and concentrate on helping the needy across the world. This would certainly help their image if this is what they want.
Golf is a mental game, Eldricks game will suffer. I dont think he can handle the new situation. He cracked before when someone took a picture. Now the crowds are not going to like him and they gonna tell him.
He is weak mentally now and is going to miss cuts.
Jacks record will not be beaten.
Here we go again.....the double morality of the US nation!
So Tiger Woods is Human and also a man. No one is condoning his infidelity, but it happens. It happens to non-super star individuals men and women. Now lets add in his celebrity, lots of money, young, good looks, etc etc. Women are throwing themselves at him. how many men out of ten men in his position would do the same thing... This is not a quiz its something to think about.
It happened, now what. This whole thing about falling so far form where he was at. It just serves to prove that we (all the fans and the media) put him there. Tiger was just riding the wave and good for him. Now that we find out that he does make mistakes we crucify him.
Let he who has no sin cast the first stone.... So for all those that are slinging mud at him, take a look at yourselves... Does he really deserve this type of bashing. Let him correct himself and right the wrong he has done as a husband and father nothing else.
When he returns he will be better than we have ever seen him because, he no longer will have the pressure of people thinking he will beat everyone because we expect him to... he will be the best because he is the best in what he does...Just that.. the best at what he does...
Being human is to error and to error is human... let him be human now!
At a time when unemployment is sky high and the never ending pursuit of the media regarding this story between a Man and his Wife, You just handed many who are working for Tiger Inc. a pink slip. Another tab the taxpayers will have to pick up at the unemployment line.
The reason this is so big is because we tried so hard to believe that good things happen to those who try hard enough. It comes as a shock and disappointment because they don't.
I think some of you guys are missing the point. Terry's article doesn't say Tiger will never be a great golfer again, it says he will never achieve iconic status again. Bill Clinton is a perfect example. Depending on your politics, he was on his way to becoming an iconic President, then he fell from grace over the Lewinsky affair. He's since come back as a statesman, but ask anyone to tell you five things about Bill Clinton and the Lewinsky scandal will always be mentioned. The article hits the nail on the head, the stain IS indelible. It's how Tiger lives with it that's important to him, his family, and everyone else. People forgive, but do they really ever forget? And, while I'm at it, please don't take the easy way out blaming the media for all this. The media alone doesn't pack the galleries at every tournament he plays. The media doesn't pay him millions of dollars to pitch their products. And the media didn't turn him into a demi-god. You and I did. The media just fed the public's hunger. There's no-one to blame but Tiger, who played along with the whole thing knowing full well he was not being stand-up guy. He accepts that, and so should the rest of us.
Tiger Woods did not commit a crime against humanity; he is not a pedophile. What he does in his private life I really don’t care about. I would be outrage if he were a woman beater or a drug dealer but as far as his promiscuity goes I couldn’t care less. That is something for him and his wife to work through. Some of those who are perusing him with such ferocity may very well have darker secrets but for the sake of money they are willing to bring someone else down. I never bought any product promoted by Tiger Woods because of his family image, so I don’t need his private life to be spread before me. We need to get away from the idea of waiting for the next celebrity to fall so we can have something to chat about. There are other things we can do to make our lifeless boring. .
Gee, that's to bad. How many people in this world have affairs or cheat on their partner? Only GOD knows! Just because he's a golf pro, doesn't make him any less or more human, then the rest. Leave the man and his family alone! He gets enough attention as it is!
I think what a lot of writers are confusing is.... This wasn't a mistake, it was a CHOICE! I wonder what his father would say if he were still alive?
First of all, people who play golf are not athletes just as bowlers also are not athletes. Get that straight. Having said that, Tiger Woods is a buffoon. He always seemed to have a chip on his shoulder and never appeared to either put his successes into perspective or relate to the public on how fortunate he really was. Basically, he was neither humble nor unpretentious. In my lifetime there is only one athlete who I can say was a true role model, a decent human being, and a person who truly cared for everyone and that was Walter Payton.
I used to play golf since Marbella is a golfing area. So, watching Tiger everytime he plays is sheer pleasure. Now we know many things about the private Tiger and it breaks my heart to see him ruin his family as well as his fabulous career.
Let's leave it at that and let him now think, think think. Give him clearance and he'll find his way out. We may or may not see him on the golf courses but time is what he needs now.
Tiger is a sleezebag and always has been.How can he cheat his beautiful wife and children.Shame on him!!!!!!
I actually see this as a great opportunity for Tiger to:
(1) be truly humble
(2) repent, turn back to God, and decide to be led by the Holy Spirit
(3) simplify his life
(4) be more generous, especially to the poor
(5) demonstrate true love to his wife and young children (regardless of Elin's decisions from hereon)
The world is watching and if the world sees him doing sincerely doing these things, to borrow the words of Obama..."this could be a unique and wonderful teaching moment" for all husbands and husbands-to-be out there.
We ought to remember: No sin is greater than God himself.
I agree that we have to leave Tiger alone, he is just a normal human being in an hypocrite society.
Cheating is a regular thing everywhere because it is based on a false assumption that people should be faithful.
People in older civilization did not believe in it because it is unnatural, so when "western" civilizations conquered Siam or African countries or America, they imposed fidelity as a virtue to societies that lived perfectly well as human beings should live, with as many mates as they can handle. The only reason they seek fidelity is because of money and greed.
Tiger portrayed a public "persona", that led everyone to believe that he was the perfect athlete and the perfect person. When he had the accident, he should have come clean and faced those that had been supporting him during his quest to become a billionair. It was the least he could have done. But, he didn't. He hid and is still hiding from them .
He will be back again and we will forgive him, in fact some of us have.
After all, ain't we all human......
This is such baloney. The one and only reason Woods is a sporting icon is the way he handles the sport. He never claimed to be a perfect husband or anything else of that sort, and we never asked. We have no right whatsoever to attack him now for things completely unrelated to his sport. Had he not crashed his car, we would still not know anything. So why do we care now? What does it matter?
Given the current divorce and infidelity rates in the US, it is hard to understand why we still seem to expect things from our idols that we as a nation really don't seem to care about that much anyway.
Tiger Woods is Tiger woods, that's it! He is only a human being. Who says that there is a certain person who does not commit mistake? who is that human being? do not judge a person because he or she was performing well. We only live once in this world, we all commit mistakes and through that we learn to live and to be strong. Before Tiger Woods became the person whom we've known as a golf icon, he committed a lot of mistakes, he achieved in that profession because he learned from his mistakes.
Let's not judge him from his doings because he is a public eye, but let's focus on how strong he is because he admitted that he was weak and wants to grow. We are also human being and we all commit mistakes. We will never be someone in this world if we won't learn from our falls.
Let's respect him, that's what he deserves. If we can't say anything good to other people, then let's shut up our mouths. He is huirt because he has done to hurt his family and to himself, LET'S NNOT ADD TO THAT.
I personally think Tiger got married far too early. He shouldve waited until he hit his mid 30s then done it.(marriage) What he is doing now isnt at all surprising. Hes the most famous sportsman on the planet. He is on a different plateau than other golfers. Its natural that women will gravitate toward such a person. He is human after all and he most certainly isnt the first public figure to have extra marital affairs nor will he be the last.And its really nobodyś business but his. If companies want to remove association with him, fair enough.Kudos to them, but I think it will come back to haunt them. Tiger Woods isnt the worlds number one sportsman because he isnt a fighter.
In a year or so itĺl all be forgotten. Like all famous people who have had affairs. Itll become old news in no time But what will definitely keep being the news is his golf par excellence. Maybe he wont be able to wipe the stain. But in all reality, he wont need to.
I submit that creating gods out of great athletes by the media sends the WRONG message even if it does sell gatorade or whatever. What it says to young people is, "You are not enough". "You have to be PERFECT" Being a human being is not enough. Suppress your human emotions. It is a lie that is perpetuated to create a godlike brandname, not to create a role model. It does however create an image of perfection that no human (or child child) can ever match. Tiger did his followers A GREAT SERVICE, by showing us his real self. A human being with a normal libido that can easily give in to temptations, especially when they are surrounding him and his fame and money. Oh but we have to hide that. No wonder we have a schitzophrenic nation of emotionally stressed kids trying to meet impossible ideals. I hope the dollar DIES.
The problem is that you guys consider a "hero" or a "role model" a guy who can only know how to play golf, get a life.... This happens with every athlete. They are famous and a hero just becuase they are millionaires. Great world we live in.... the most important thing is to have money. Values, moral, family does not make anybody a hero or a role model. The media sales just a bunch of uneducated sportsmen, yes, including Mr. Woods. as heros because they produce money.
Hey, with all that power and temptation, anybody will fall. Come on guys, give Mr. Woods a break. If you made billions, temptations of the opposite sex will always be there. If you were in his shoes, you would fall too. He already said sorry.
Leave Tiger Wooda and his wife alone. Following this story is silly with so many important things going on in the world.
What I find most disturbibng about this entire incident is that the issue of domestic violence has not even been addressed by the media. It seems likely that many of the injuries that Woods sustained were caused not by the crash, but by his wife using a golf club before he attempted to escape her violence. But no one wants to address the issue, because it's domestic violence against a man, not a woman. If Tiger had beaten his wife because she was having an affair, where do you think the blame would land? The fact is that women commit acts of domestic violence as often as men, but it's not politically correct to say so or to criticize women for their behaviour in America. What hypocrisy. What a double standard based on gender. But where are the voices of the feminists now? Strangely silent.
Tiger Woods is still Tiger Woods. Nobody is perfect. nobody is clean, we all commit mistakes, we are just human being we are created to learn and to forgive. Whatever Tiger's decision let's respect it. He owe us his respect after all we enjoy watching his games not his life.
I salute Tiger's because he was strong enough to admit that he was weak and he wants to fix his problem and wants his family back.
We all have problems, we all have our own issues and we all have our ways to grow. we are all human being. We want respect.
Tiger Woods is definitively in the wrong in his personal life. He made poor choices.
As a sports man he should not be judged per those acts. What matters is what he can accomplish on the course.
He has to answer to his responsibilities as a father and a husband but that is personal.
But the man was transformed into a Myth. That could transfer his impressive characteristics to Products and Companies.
And now he is being judged severely because his behavior is not convenient to those companies interests.
The image of a real man, with his faults and vices, can now hurt the same companies and products that once benefited from the association.
So what matters here is not morals but the economic interests.
That's why this whole public lynching of one the greatest Sportsman ever is just Hypocrisy.
My husband had an affair. It was devastating to me and my family. The behavior was so unlike my husband that it almost destroyed him. The affair was a symptom of other issues that needed to be dealt with. 11 years late I am so glad we did work through it. Give them a chance to work this out. We can't focus on the past it is so unhealthy.
So because the world's greatest golfer isn't the world's greatest driver, he 'stained' his reputation. Please
Whats amazing to me is people don't understand that the folks who are most upset and disappointed with Tiger didn't like him in the first place. While they are writing and talking about what a let down he was, in private they are like (Who Cares), Think about it; I'm a Tiger Woods golf fan not a Tiger Woods best husband of the year fan. Do I agree with what he did. NO... I just like to see him play golf. I didn't know or really like Michael Jordan; but I loved to watch him play basketball. I don't know or really like Alex Rodgriguez; but Iike to see him hit a baseball. The people in the print and media don't want this to die down because of ratings. I want this to die because I want to see Tiger play golf.
AMAZIING...so many people want to separate the personal private life of the President of the United States from his Political Professonal life and call him Okay and don't want to criticize him and even claim him to be such a great president. But when Tiger Woods does the same thing in the Sports World everyone wants to link his personal with his public persona.
Continued: Tiger Woods is the greatest GOLFER in the World...that has NOTHING to do with his private life. How sad that you all want to inextricably join those two together, I am not saying that his immoral behaviour is okay. I am not condoning what he did to his wife and children and family. And it is sad that his private life is affecting his professonal life. But just because he has failed in one area does not mean that he is NOW a complete failure in his public professional life. Sadly, I commend him for keeping those two areas separate...kiind of like Julia Roberts keeping her public persona separate from her married life, Paul Newman, John Travolta, just to name a few others. I know nothing about Tiger's private life...just like Juia, and Paul and John...I like it like that. They are all great in their professional lives. That is all I want to know.
It is quite obvious the media has little else to focus on. Tiger is a human being with all the failings included. Infidelity in this world is as comman as sand on a beach. His failings are his business, to be delt with by him and family. The media is on their normal feeding frenzie only to make money at any cost. I say he has problems the same as the rest of the world, let him and family deal with those problems
I have been reading these stories and commentaries for weeks trying to figure out what it was exactly that caused all the hoo-ha. He crashed his car? He cheated on his wife? Is that really it??? I think CNN gave this 100x more coverage than the FAO summit on food security that sought to draw attention to the fact that over a billion people in the world have no food, with 17,000 children dying every day from starvation. But apparently we care more about Tiger's sex life. Truly bizarre.
Terry at the top said it all WHO CARES!
Leave Tiger alone! I have been praying for him and his family and iam sure he has realise his mistakes and he will come back stronger.
What many readers seem unable to grasp is that Tiger sought out the public's support and now asks the same public to leave him alone. Just maybe, he can't expect to have it both ways.
So whats the big deal? I am just amazed why people are so shocked or surprised. The society needs to be blammed not just an individual. The whole society is infidle and Tiger Wood and all other celebreties are part of this society.
Please stop putting the words "Professional Golfer"in front of his name, He is far from a professional. He obviously did not learn anything from the other legends in golf! Where does he go when things get tough? He runs and hides!! Keep hiding Tiger! It would be best to quit while your ahead!! Get out of the sport!! He wants to be remembered! He will be? More Mistresses than Major Tournament Victories!!!
America idolizes sports celebrities, and thet in turn feel as if they are above common lawful behaviour.
Americans should try to overcome their tendancy to be couch sports "fans".
Oh, come on people. Sure, media people are falling all over themselves to condemn a famous sport figure, but remember what the name of the game is: money, money and more money. And what is Woods selling? It sure ain't his image. He's selling his notoriety which, guess what, just went up a notch. You think most sponsors care why people tune into watch their advertisements? They can thank Jesus or they can condemn him to hell, but the money spends just as well either way.
I am a dad of two young boys 13 and 14, both want to become tennis stars and are pretty good on court. Tiger Woods is a sporting icon and aspiring youngsters look up to ppl like him as role models. Tiger Woods abused his position and set a bad example for those youngsters, i don't want my kids to look up to him as a role model.
I agree with Scott, media is giving it too much attention.
The thing that annoys me really about the Tiger Woods "drama" (besides feeling so sorry for his poor wife), is that he really milked the media, with his holier than thou, mr nice family guy image. Yuk
I think that we all should stop trying to JUDGE Tiger' and pray for him and his family. We are not God. So Tiger I hope the best for you and your family. you all have a very Blessed Christmas
We are, indeed, a pathetic group of self-rightous people. It is no one's business as to how Tiger Woods lives his personal life. The gossip mongers and the media both have the same morals. Both are just itching to take a bite out of Mr. Woods without even even caring how it hurts
so many other people. Get a life, people and leave the Woods family alone.
"I'm not here to moralize" – if that aint moralizing I'd hate to see you on your high horse...
You speak of Tiger fooling you or in your own words "us". Tiger did what he was suppose to do on the golf course. The "you" and "us" are just so focused on bringing him–the Man–down from the pedestal "you" and "us" put him onto. Not once was it mentioned that his wofe may had been introduced to him to "slow him down" by his so-called "friend" that presently can't even make it out of Q School.
If you get a chance listen to Chris Rock's stand-up "Never Scared" and see what he says about aquiring wealth. However raw he puts it, it just happens to be more truth than just a stand up act.
I don't care what athletes in general do in their personal lives. But I do care when a sleezeball like him purports to be a caring family man and has a charity that assists kids and who look up to him! I do care when he makes millions – now a billion – off corporate sponsors who would NOT have sponsored him had they been aware of his sexual escapades. That is outright inhumane. Sorry, but I could now not care less if he wins every tournament for the rest of his career. I'm sure his father- who devoted his life to him – is now rolling over in his grave. He created an arrogant, selfish monster.
Tiger will come back stronger than ever! You guys forget that Tiger Woods is a just an ordinary man and a golfer ... a phenomenal golfer. When he re-dominates the PGA, which he will, all this mess will be history and those sponsors will be in line again of course.
This man's personal life is just that...HIS personal life.
What he does or does not do is non of anyone's business but his.
I find it tasteless that putting someones personal life up in public is considered "news" and frankly had a higher expectation from CNN.
Displaying anyone's private life in public is not news...ever, it's a violation of privacy.
The good thing is that this is just your opinion. It does not make Tiger less of the great golfer he is, or you the journalist more of a saint than him! Every single human being falls to temptation; its not how hard you fall, its how well and strong you get back up! And Tiger will be back and stronger. So he messed; so what??? You are all just hating on him, and he will be fine!!! I feel sorry for Elin and the kids, but it is the media that is just making this worse than it is; and it is NOT about him as a golfer. You are so busy judging him, that you cannot look beyond him being a man – coz men do this all the time he isn't the first neither is he the last. So let's move on and stop writing such aimless articles. Go dto Copenhagen and report REAL issues and stop being jealous and hating on Tiger!!!
T-Woo is and always will be a legend! If not now, some wise sponsor will come to understand that his legacy will always be marketable because gifts and talents come without repentance. As a woman I find it very hard to believe that Elin was unaware of T-Woos infidelity. I pray that they can both put pride aside, stop taking the advice of clandestine frienemies and work it out for the sake of their children.
I sure hope a foreign country – Japan – offers him a contract to go play in Japan and he accepts the offer and moves over there with his family, then what???? All the hypocrites will cry because he has left.... I would love it.
Please... can everyone realise that he is only sorry that he got caught. He maybe a great sportsman, but as a person with values and morals (which we thought he had), they are in question. This secret lifestyle would have continued if it weren't for the newpaper releasing the scandal about he last mistress that followed him to Australia. Its amazing how his staff new about the infidelities but continued to cover it up. Not only is Tiger at fault but the whole collective group of his management, and staff. As for the women that slept with him. It's really disgusting that you all new he was married and had children and then continued to sleep with him. Really did you think he would leave Elin for them. These women are disgusting....
I hope that Elin will make the right choice for herself and her children. This situation I am afraid she will never ever recover from. If she decides to stay for the children's sake, the very thought of him sleeping with other women, the betrayal, deceit and humiliation will eat at the very core of her soul. I wish her all the best.
Fortunately for Tiger his career will be salvaged because he is a money making machine. The casualties here are Elin and the children.
I writing for Nigeria and i wish Tiger all the best as he tries to fix this problem. Americans should give the man a break
Tiger Woods is Nike's cash cow and the fact that they will still sponsor him in no way negates that he is a sleazy,im-moral creature
who has exposed his wife and children to ridicule and shame...
Tiger didn't fool the public, he fooled his wife! So what! Why are so many people interested by the number of flings the man had?
A professional golfer stands for more than how he performs on the golf courses. The professional golfer has and always be different than other sporting figures. He stands for integrity and values on and off the golf course. You need both to be a legend of golf. If you cheat off the golf course, you will cheat on the golf course. Once is oppps!! dozens of times is well, a habit!! And we all know how hard habits are to be broken!
Tiger has done great things to built up the game of golf, there is no question about that. But when you build up something, you must take responsibility to maintain it, not just be selfish and admire it!
As for the sponsors!! The company's dropping Tiger! Good for you! They understand the sport of golf! And the company's staying with Tiger, I will never support any product of a company that supports Tiger! My shoes are already in the garbage!! Sure there is a lot of naive people out there that will still support this type of action, but there is still the opposite as well.
If you want to feel sorry for someone, feel sorry for his dad!! I am sure he is ashamed of his creation! And a mother who goes on trips with one or more mistress's; that shows her values and her ability to teach!
Nike, I do not know the terms of your contract, but get out if you can! There is more than money at stake!
Give him a break! Who gave a Pete Rose a break???
If Tiger's personal life is his own affair and should have no bearing on the public's perception of him, then why did he feel the need, not once but twice, to explain himself in the media? The answer is because he himself realises that as a global superstar he can't pick and choose what interests people about him. Had he stayed just a great golfer, he would have had every right to be affronted by the public's attention to his private life , but he chose to transcend the sport in so many ways, including endorsing products that have nothing to do with golf. Therefore, he opened himself up to the same kind of scrutiny as any superstar who hawks their image to the highest bidder. He chose to become public property, and he seems resigned to paying the price. Unlike some of his blinkered supporters who seem intent on deflecting the blame from Tiger to the media, who, judging by all the posts, are only catering to the public's interest in this subject.
Who said Tiger is a SAINT|????????? He will come back even stronger as ever before. The problem is that , you guys in the media always want to find something to write about. And when it comes to big names like that of Tiger it becomes worse. You are the guys who make and break them. Give him a break let him recover as you look for news somewhere else.
GLORIA
Uganda
Let the story be, TIGER is still and will remain the best golfer of our times.Let people like Nancy not buy NIKE products for their kids. This wiil never carry any meaning or weight to the history and standard of Tiger's carrier.He is still the best thats why NIKE is still standing by his side. GOOOOOO Tiger hit your ball ever harder, we still support you. THUMBS UP FOR NIKE!!!!!!!!!
i could do the same things t did, anyone could. that said, if i was making a fortune from my life credo / moral stature as family man / talent / discipline etc and the front of huge corps with thousands of employees behind them who kinda like putting food on the table for their families i think i could keep my nose clean. people make mistakes but this round of play is, well, creepy. t might be a reasonable golfer but when he blew his moral satellite he pushed his personal interests even harder. yuck.
Tough times don't last but tough men do. Tiger, seek forgiveness from your wife and let her put the interest and future of the kids beyond other considerations. The entire brouhaha will soon fade. You are the greatest Golfer of all times.
The message for all of us is this whether it's Tiger or any other hero from the world of sports, Hollywood, music, politics, small town America or otherwise:
Look in the mirror to acknowledge the contribution made to the market and world in which we live. We are what we see.
Reminds me of the old TV show – "Truth or Consequences"
We will recover, individually and collectively when we are able to see how connected we really are – or we can continue business as usual and expect and accept the consequences.
The Champion I want to see is the man who looks into his wife's eyes after deep personal examination and says, "I know that I my actions have hurt you. I regret what I have done." Then he leaves the words right there and changes his behavior to send an entirely different message to her and to the world regardless of the response.
When I look into the mirror, I see a piece of myself in him. The question is; will I become the change I want to see?
I think the tag "The stain will remain" is a correct one. The question is will we discard the garment, hide the stain on it and wear it proudly or recognize its worth and keep it in our closet with the other stained garments of the past that once kept us warm?
Again, the choice is truly ours!
The guy is human... He has enough troubles at home now to deal with and no doubt its a very tough time for him and family. The media should let them have some privacy.
This time away from golf will probably be the best thing for him. He can rest his body more and hopefully restore some peace within and with his family.
If he was a lousy golfer no one would care, I can't wait to see him play again and I bet the PGA are praying this will be sooner rather than later/or never
Anyone without a fault of his/hers let him/her stone Tiger. We'r born of flesh and flesh is sin. We have all flawered in our lives and the greatest challenge we have is how do we pick up ourselves and go. Some do not even realise that they have wronged and continue to behave as normal. Thats wrong. Tiger has done the modest thing; and that is apologising. if the world does not take his apology, the problem rests with us, not him. We're missing on the course Tiger, when are you to end your sabatical leave.
I am utterly disgusted by Tiger Woods!
No matter who he is, or how high he was, or on which pedastal he sat, or whatever his achievements are in golf, or ... he is a total disgrace, as a husband, father! He had everything any man could want, a loving wife, 2 kids, and everything going for him! But no, that is not good enough! He wants more! And more he got, more troubles, less love! Good for him! Mrs. Woods, I hope you get rid of Tiger ASAP, even though he is going to try and make the marriage work again, one must remember, that a Tiger never changes his stripes!
Never again will I enjoy the stroke play of Tiger Woods! Now it is time to teach my kids to do another sport, besides GOLF!
Tiger is human and he made a mistake......Terry Baddoo you are not faultless in your life and therefore you have no right to use your media standing to be a moral judge and then try and claim that you are not doing that. Whatever we might think – these terms of icon, role model, were bestowed on Tiger by us the public – so the american media had a field day....But in thesame way Kobe made it back, so will Tiger...For all you who claim to be disgusted.....you are simply dreaming...the claims of never watching golf again is ridiculous....Though golf will always be there – without the greatest player that ever lived...it will be half the sport, no longer accessible to those who saw tiger as a way in for them.....As far as I am concerned MR WOODs, you have my constant support..because in life we all make mistakes...and no one has the right to judge!!!!!
If you're an excellent athlete,as so many are, but you portray yourself as a regular guy,as so many do; you get no endorsements. Now, if you do as Tiger did: excellent athlete, squeaky image, dedicated family man with portaits of wife, children and dogs, and an extremely guarded personal life. You are bound to get endorsements and become a billionair. You're fine if nobody finds out that you're a fraud. When they do , you are in deep...trouble.
Please Terry and your fellow journalists leave Tiger alone. Let him deal with his private affires, he is a humanbeing like you and I, despite the fact that he is a golf superstar but what does that have to do with his private affires. Why are you guys(the media) trying to destroy his family? that is "witch-hunting". Find something else to write about and respect his right to PRIVATE LIFE........simple as that. Look at what happen to Kobe Bryant years back, but now he is NO. 1 in the NBA. Stop been jealouse of the young athletes because of their money and fame. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST TIGER WOODS
All the "trash-talk" you the media and other fools out there are making will not destroy Tiger's family. Tiger was a great golfer, is a great golfer an will ever remain a great golfer. If any one of you critics considers yourself to be a good father or husband, then teach that to your kids and leave Tiger alone. If any one of you dont want to buy Nike products or whatever, then that is entirely your own business, you are the looser and not Tiger. He has made his money out of his endorsements.
Tiger is still tiger, he was Tiger before he was married and he will remain Tiger – the only thing that can make or unmake Tiger is if he looses his winning strek and right now some cowards are making a lot of noise not to discredit him with the public – they know its not about public image, but they are doing it to discredit him with himself. they want to unsettle him mentallly so that he can believe that he is finished them he will be finished! they are trying to crack into his mind and weaken his focus but they are so wrong – they wish they could get him, they are using the media not to break his image with the world but with himself – smart move but u cant win
i hear somebody saying Tiger is a fraud, he presented a squeacky clean image and recieved billions in endorsements. let the sponsors decide what they sponsored, if they sponsored a squeackey clean image, then let them sponsor you instead, let them sponsor your 'clean' image and get their return the best way they know how. they have a choice between a squeacky clean couch potatoe and Tiger making it happen on the golf course.
i endorse this line of thinking by PHIL – TRUE
December 13th, 2009 1710 GMT
I personally think Tiger got married far too early. He shouldve waited until he hit his mid 30s then done it.(marriage) What he is doing now isnt at all surprising. Hes the most famous sportsman on the planet. He is on a different plateau than other golfers. Its natural that women will gravitate toward such a person. He is human after all and he most certainly isnt the first public figure to have extra marital affairs nor will he be the last.And its really nobodyś business but his. If companies want to remove association with him, fair enough.Kudos to them, but I think it will come back to haunt them. Tiger Woods isnt the worlds number one sportsman because he isnt a fighter.
In a year or so itĺl all be forgotten. Like all famous people who have had affairs. Itll become old news in no time But what will definitely keep being the news is his golf par excellence. Maybe he wont be able to wipe the stain. But in all reality, he wont need to.
It's funny how all the Tiger supporters criticise the media for judging Tiger and then judge the media themselves. You don't know Tiger any more than you know those who provide media commentary, yet you choose to see good in Tiger and bad in the media. That's a double standard, and just confirms the fact that Tiger fooled a whole lot of people with his squeaky clean deception. Accept that you've been had, and stop trying to deflect the blame from Tiger onto the media. He will NEVER be perceived in the same way again, however many golf tournaments he wins. Deal with it sycophants.
This is to Elin, forgive him he will never do this again. He is now a better man. He has learnt his lesson.
Please forgive him.
To me he will alway be special.
And to you all, which one of you is completely innocent. Beware,you are pointing one finger and there are four pointing towards you.
Ah it's all bologna. Tiger wins another major and sets a course record, it'll all be irrelevant.
He's still the best golfer that ever lived. Period. End of Story. SeeYa.
Fantastic Blog! Keep up the great work!
Who are we to judge Mr Tiger Woods?
Lets give him a break
Time heals
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