Tale of the Tiger

Tiger Woods came to the microphone today with what could be the best coordinated public relations move since President Obama got away with saying he would put the healthcare debate on CSPAN. (Sorry, but this is a "no tread thread"—had to stick it in there somewhere).

I am what you would call the opposite of a football widow. My husband does not care for mainstream, organized sports. He is an artistic, intellectual type who doesn't watch the super bowl or go to a game unless I—who am more the "when in Rome" type, drag him to one. My kids have never been in traditional, organized sports either, except for an annual neighborhood swim team, which only spans a few short weeks at the start of summer. My sports history includes one stint as a cheerleader and mascot in high school. My motivation was driven by the desire to fit in so I would no longer be chased by the stoner girls who wanted to kill me in junior high. Really.

So, we have this Tiger Woods story. Before that, there was Kobe Woods. Mark Maguire took steriods and lied about it, yada, yada, yada. Quarterbacks date super models, marry some and then trade them in on a new model. USC football players have had encounters with the law. And now that I'm in Austin, the Horns have their own scandals.

I have never seen sports figures as the role models Americans force them to be. I see them the same way as I see rock stars—a bunch of lucky kids with a LOT of money, most of whom can't handle it well, do outrageous things and sometimes, just sometimes, get caught.

What makes the Tiger Woods story cut a bit deeper, is that he appeared to the world to really BE the image he so carefully created—the gorgeous, young, sparkling smile, clean cut, private, classy precision golfer. He was married to a beautiful model (no surprise there) wife and had two children. He was the pitch man for everything—even if you don't follow sports, you couldn't avoid him—(with almost as much commercial time as our current president—oops, I did it again).

Golf, like Tiger's image, attracted the refined and civilized crowd. It is the antithesis of the alpha dog, butt slapping, cold ice bucket dumping culture found in baseball, basketball and football. But this story doesn't have anything to do with sports.

It has to do with the curse of being too famous, too rich, and too entitled. If you check your integrity at the door and sacrifice your values no matter WHO you are, you are responsible for your behavior. Now I agree that if Tiger weren't "caught," there would have been no press conference. I think he is sorry he got caught.

But we are foolish to put people up on pedestals and then tear them down. It sickens me. There are so many "regular" Americans doing the same things Tiger Woods did but because we are not famous, no one knows. While this doesn't excuse it, my stomach turns at the guerilla press and mob mentality of people demanding to know the intimate details of ANYONE'S life. Tiger Woods is solely responsible for what he did. Does anyone other than me believe though, that he didn't have help? It sickens me more to know that there are those around him, on the payroll, who allowed him to cheat on his wife while looking the other way—you know, the same type who worked with John Edwards (talk about "two Americas"), and Kobe Bryant and others who are working right now to protect countless other public figures. Are we really shocked by this story?

As for the press conference, do I agree it isn't "breaking news?" Yes. Do I agree that wall to wall news coverage on multiple cable networks requires "fluff" to fill the day? Yes. Do I think what Tiger did is disgusting? Yes. Do I think this press conference was his idea? No. But regardless of motivation, newsworthiness or any other opinions, I watched the conference today with an open mind. I was reluctantly impressed. He actually took full responsibility for his actions—he said it over and over in the statement. He did not blame any other person for his actions. He asked for forgiveness. He said he would continue treatment and he expressed that he hoped to resolve things with his wife for their relationship and their children. And for that, I can commend the man for having the courage to take at least that step. The future will determine his sincerity.

It is none of our business to know the intimate details of what Tiger Woods did with these women. Obviously, the guy has a severe problem. He humiliated himself and his wife and children with his outrageously thoughtless, reckless and destructive behavior. Let's remember that none of these women told his wife either—to feel sorry for them is pathetic. Go home, Gloria Allred. But as "witnesses," safe in our living rooms to pass judgment, I am saddened that we are living in a time where people are so eager to elevate humans who hit a ball well to a place no one can occupy for long so we can knock them down later. The reason it is "breaking news" is because we feed the machine by craving the red meat of human failure. We cannot get enough of what The Bachelor or Kim Kardashian or Jon & Kate are doing. No wonder the middle east hates us. If we were able to look at our media from the outside, it would be easy to understand why they think we are a morally empty nation. Our habits stand in direct opposition to our stated values much of the time.

So, do I think Tiger is a fraud? Yes. Would I stay married to him? No. But what he did today took real courage. He did not apply blame to the press or anyone for "ratting" him out or "causing" his pain. He accepted FULL responsibility. He used words that most Americans would not consider applicable to themselves . He said he thought he was "entitled." I see on a daily basis in my encounters with people from 20-35 just how ingrained entitlement has become in our culture. It is a cancer that has spread across our country over the past 40 years. Tiger is just another famous person who had sex with anyone he wanted, anywhere he wanted and any time he wanted. Many "regular" people think they are entitled to free healthcare, citizenship, a high paying job, big screen tvs, convertibles, free college tuition and a new wife after the crows feet set in—count the Oil of Olay, Revlon, Lifestyle Lift ads. What's the difference really?

Tiger Woods had it all—and all wasn't enough. It's a good lesson for all of us to remember. I don't defend the man's actions. But these days, if ONE person is at least willing to say "I screwed up" and mean it, no matter HOW that statement came to pass, I'm willing to give that person a chance to redeem themselves. Let's see what Tiger does before tossing him to the wolves.