December 8, 2009
Tiger Woods: How the Mighty Fall
Tiger Woods has probably had the most regrettable week in his life. For fans, it was the fall of what many thought was one of the true great ones…both inside and outside of the ropes.
Woods had a car accident in the early morning hours on the Friday after Thanksgiving outside his home in Florida. That accident has spun into a firestorm that has seen Woods’ entire off-course life thrown onto the covers of tabloids, newspapers and blogs as well as coverage on television news. Woods’ “indiscretions,” as he put it, not only cost him the privacy he held so dear but the respect of many fans.
In the age-old debate that athletes are not role models, and they are not to some, I agree with FOXSports.com writer Robert Lusetich said in that for many though, Woods is what they admired and strove to be. A confident, successful person (who happens to be an athlete) who is the best at what they do while at the same time is a great friend and person. That reputation is now, and forever, tarnished.
I did not have a problem with Woods’ actions after the crash. He had an accident and that was it. He did not owe the media or fans an explanation as to why he was driving his SUV at 2-something in the morning…sober. The media was wrong in attacking him for not commenting on camera earlier than he did. But, that is what tabloids do…they want a juicy story that makes you pick up the magazine at the supermarket checkout line. Jason Whitlock was right in calling out the sports reporters that acted like tabloid journalists for one reason or another. Woods’ actions fueled the media and now his “indiscretions” are coming back to haunt him one at a time for their 15-minutes of fame.
Does this spell trouble for the PGA TOUR? No way. Woods gets determined and focused when people doubt or question him. The course will provide him with an escape, making the world’s greatest golfer extremely dangerous. Would you be surprised if he ran the table in majors this year – tying Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18? I wouldn’t at all. He finished sixth and second in the last two Masters and the 2010 U. S. Open is at Pebble Beach with the British Open at St. Andrews. Sky’s the limit. The only question mark would be the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, where Woods finished tied for 24th place at the 2004. But, if you add the fuel of last year’s loss to Y. E. Yang to the fire, Woods could complete the Grand Slam of golf.
Woods’ season should open at the end of January at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines. Woods has won that event six times and Torrey Pines is the site for his most memorable major championships – the 2008 U. S. Open. That will be the start of something special for golf fans.
Tiger Woods article on TheFatherLife.com
Tiger Woods: How the Mighty Fall
Tiger Woods has probably had the most regrettable week in his life. For fans, it was the fall of what many thought was one of the true great ones…both inside and outside of the ropes.
Woods had a car accident in the early morning hours on the Friday after Thanksgiving outside his home in Florida. That accident has spun into a firestorm that has seen Woods’ entire off-course life thrown onto the covers of tabloids, newspapers and blogs as well as coverage on television news. Woods’ “indiscretions,” as he put it, not only cost him the privacy he held so dear but the respect of many fans.
In the age-old debate that athletes are not role models, and they are not to some, I agree with FOXSports.com writer Robert Lusetich said in that for many though, Woods is what they admired and strove to be. A confident, successful person (who happens to be an athlete) who is the best at what they do while at the same time is a great friend and person. That reputation is now, and forever, tarnished.
I did not have a problem with Woods’ actions after the crash. He had an accident and that was it. He did not owe the media or fans an explanation as to why he was driving his SUV at 2-something in the morning…sober. The media was wrong in attacking him for not commenting on camera earlier than he did. But, that is what tabloids do…they want a juicy story that makes you pick up the magazine at the supermarket checkout line. Jason Whitlock was right in calling out the sports reporters that acted like tabloid journalists for one reason or another. Woods’ actions fueled the media and now his “indiscretions” are coming back to haunt him one at a time for their 15-minutes of fame.
Does this spell trouble for the PGA TOUR? No way. Woods gets determined and focused when people doubt or question him. The course will provide him with an escape, making the world’s greatest golfer extremely dangerous. Would you be surprised if he ran the table in majors this year – tying Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18? I wouldn’t at all. He finished sixth and second in the last two Masters and the 2010 U. S. Open is at Pebble Beach with the British Open at St. Andrews. Sky’s the limit. The only question mark would be the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, where Woods finished tied for 24th place at the 2004. But, if you add the fuel of last year’s loss to Y. E. Yang to the fire, Woods could complete the Grand Slam of golf.
Woods’ season should open at the end of January at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines. Woods has won that event six times and Torrey Pines is the site for his most memorable major championships – the 2008 U. S. Open. That will be the start of something special for golf fans.