I just finished watching Tiger Woods' public statement.
Before the pundits and sports announcers give their opinions, before Jay Leno and David Letterman take their jabs, and before I discuss this with anyone else, let me tell you what I thought.
Bravo, Tiger!
As the father of a son who is an avid golfer and who has written probably a half a dozen book reports and prompts on Tiger, I was deeply disappointed by the fall of my son's idol. We had several talks about it. Nathan kind of wrote Tiger off.
I recorded Tiger's apology for Nathan to see. I thought it was well done. It was from the heart, full of remorse, detailed enough to take full responsibility yet did not reveal the unnecessary details. He correctly shielded the details of his family matters from the press. They (we) don't need to know them. But he did specifically and repeatedly talk about his own failures and asked for forgiveness. It was not about golf. It was about rebuilding his life as a man of integrity.
Tiger taught Nathan much about the love of golf. Today he taught him an even better lesson--how to be a man who takes responsibility for his faults, protects his family and corrects the wrongs in his life.
Well done, Tiger.
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Forgiving is essential to moving on with one's life. I believe, however, that apologizing on your own terms in a pre-packaged controlled environment missed the mark completely. As a public figure who has left a indelible mark on society and in particular Golf, he opens the floodgates to further discussions about his erractic behavior by not apologizing unscripted and with an air of secrecy which seems to be his trademark.
ReplyDeleteHis apology should only involve his family, sponors who made him statosphere rich, and then his charitable organizations. To the rest of us, his apology after almost 90 days of silence shows what money and fame can really by - time!
Tiger's abilities on the golf course are amazing! but he is just like anyone else when it come to his faults. The temptation that Tiger had was enormous. I truly believe one can't talk about his situation without seeing that part first.
ReplyDeleteWe the media and people make the athletes into role models. Folks that is wrong; Barkley said it best years ago, that that should be reserved for parents. "He was right". My heart truly is for Tiger and his family, I am not a golf fan or person, but the pain is obvious. Tiger fell, just like the disciples did and we do "Everyday". I say give him space and let him find himself again. As a believer in Christ, and one who has taken the unknown path to pain& nowehere! I know Tiger must stop what he was doing and make peace.
That is a peace with himself and later family and friends. Don't foget the day we put our expectations on others, that is a sin. That is wrong number two, when we think we won't fall we are immortal. We are definetly not at that point. "Prayers for Tiger & please if someone has a sick joke about Tiger, walk away"
Peace
Your brother in Christ!
I agree with 'anonymous': it is rather premature to say that he is a man who "protects his family" and "corrects the wrongs in his life." Come on: isn't it reported that he had some sort of 'encounter' with someone while in rehab? Doesn't sound too contrite to me. The "news" conference was as staged as Tiger's life has been for several years. He has never been allowed to lead a normal life, probably doesn't know how, and now expects us to look the other way or to accept his puny explanation? Disappointed!
ReplyDeleteWe all can be disappointed when we have wrong expectations of people. People will always fail; Tiger is only different as he has the whole country and world watching him. Last time, I saw the conference Tiger never said for anyone to look the other way. He is addressing a serious issue about himself and his family, his sponsors and the media as well. Having a hard heart helps no one, if Tiger failed your expectations: To bad that is called the rise & fall of humanity. The man is doing the best he can, compassion can go both ways!
ReplyDeleteYou might need it one day as well?
I was simply responding to what I believe to be a premature comment about Tiger's integrity. He has yet to "teach us how to be a man," etc. He has to earn back the trust that he abused, but not from any of us. Only his family should be the ones to whom he must appeal.
ReplyDeletePeople who, because of their abilities, good looks, or money are thrust into the public eye are often unfairly judged by the rest of us. It is an unfair but nevertheless real part of our culture that stars of any sort are constantly scrutinized and held up to public scorn. But they are also given special privileges to the point where, as Tiger himself admitted, they begin to believe that they are "entitled." It is not acceptable to say, "if I were Tiger Woods, I'd probably do the same thing." The fact that many famous athletes do similar things is not an accepted excuse. He is not a child, not a spoiled adolescent; he is 35, a father, and a husband. Instead of saying, "well done" we should be saying, "grow up!"
Let us be reasonable, I am in no way showing or trying to be an apologetic for Tiger Wood's. I don't even watch "Golf" or pay him any attention. That being said Charlotte economist were talking about how important Tiger Wood's is to our Charlotte economy. I think it was 4 or 5 million, when he is playing in the tours in Charlotte.
ReplyDeleteLet us not try to make this like a Joe & Jane relationship it is not; the temptation is a hundred fold. Tiger Wood's failed at this as have other's. It is even said other Golfers have similair life-styles but have not been caught. Tiger has issues, he couldn't say no to women who would jump off a cliff for him. "He is Human", he is not and was never a man from the suburbs with 3.5 kids and a dog and a white picket fence.
He made his speech to deal with a scandel, people don't give cheers after someone stands before other's and is in pain and embarrased. Our society wants so much instant gratification, that we forget the pain that is going on. If you are a women Tiger only hurt his wife and family. No reason to get bent out of shape. "Yes' he had a priviledged life and he took them. Tiger is different then the average, as in 100 times more the income, and the family have fortune that most will never attain. That is where Tiger Wood's is coming from.
He was never your neighbor or best friend! we as people need to stop making athletes into role-models, why do we do that?
My role-model is Jesus and my parents, I will let the athletes do what they always do and always have done. Make tons of money, take advantage of all the perks of fame. "People that have always done that" They are different from me and you! I don't have drones of women chasing me for my status!
Let us be reasonable and not emotional.
Ramon.