Tiger's fall from grace reveals a larger problem in sports
Mike Browning, Sports Editor
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Opinion
I don't know if you've heard yet, but Tiger Woods is a piece of scum. I mean genetically enhanced super scum-the kind that can only be made in a lab in an underground bunker in New Mexico. Guess what? We made him that way.
Before it surfaced that Tiger Woods had an army of mistresses, he was a cultural icon. Since his days of sinking putts on the Johnny Carson show as a toddler, he could do no wrong. He had become hands-down the best golfer on the planet and the face of the PGA only decades after being barred from certain courses because he was African American. He was also, as far as the public knew, a pretty good guy.
In 1997, Tiger became the first golfer in history to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles, won the NCAA individual men's championship, tied the British Open record for an amateur, turned pro, signed endorsement deals worth $40 million from Nike and $20 million from Titleist, won the Las Vegas International and the Disney/Oldsmobile Classic (winning over $800,000 in just eight events) and was voted Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
What were you doing when you were 20?
Since then, golf has made Tiger a billionaire. Until a few months ago, he has not known failure. His achievements cast a superhuman aura on him that elevated him to demigod status. However, other than having more money and more disciples following him on the links than a god, Tiger is all flesh and blood… and therein lays the problem.
Ask a stereotypical male the cliché hypothetical question: if you had three wishes, what would you wish for? It would probably illicit this response:
"I'll take a billion dollars, a Swedish super-model wife, and, oh yea, I want to be able to play golf whenever I want."
This is Tiger's reality, and society is Tiger's genie. From almost everyone, Tiger has heard nothing but "Your wish is my command, Mr. Woods." Since childhood he has been heralded as the second-coming, and treated as such. His reality and his perception of the world are entirely different from yours and mine. Not even close.
Before it surfaced that Tiger Woods had an army of mistresses, he was a cultural icon. Since his days of sinking putts on the Johnny Carson show as a toddler, he could do no wrong. He had become hands-down the best golfer on the planet and the face of the PGA only decades after being barred from certain courses because he was African American. He was also, as far as the public knew, a pretty good guy.
In 1997, Tiger became the first golfer in history to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles, won the NCAA individual men's championship, tied the British Open record for an amateur, turned pro, signed endorsement deals worth $40 million from Nike and $20 million from Titleist, won the Las Vegas International and the Disney/Oldsmobile Classic (winning over $800,000 in just eight events) and was voted Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
What were you doing when you were 20?
Since then, golf has made Tiger a billionaire. Until a few months ago, he has not known failure. His achievements cast a superhuman aura on him that elevated him to demigod status. However, other than having more money and more disciples following him on the links than a god, Tiger is all flesh and blood… and therein lays the problem.
Ask a stereotypical male the cliché hypothetical question: if you had three wishes, what would you wish for? It would probably illicit this response:
"I'll take a billion dollars, a Swedish super-model wife, and, oh yea, I want to be able to play golf whenever I want."
This is Tiger's reality, and society is Tiger's genie. From almost everyone, Tiger has heard nothing but "Your wish is my command, Mr. Woods." Since childhood he has been heralded as the second-coming, and treated as such. His reality and his perception of the world are entirely different from yours and mine. Not even close.
Be the first to comment on this story