A thought on Tiger Woods

Submitted by Dan Man on

This is one of my all-time favorite commercials. I'm not sure what's special about it, but there is something about it that hits me. IIRC, they played it on the Father's Day after Earl Woods died.

It's kind of sad to watch it now, for a few reasons I guess. Not that Tiger's "transgressions" diminish his relationship with his father - I don't believe that at all. But to me it's sad that a commercial like this will probably never be made about Tiger again. Tiger was a role model for a lot of people. I don't think he's an evil person, but he is certainly not a man of integrity. It's too bad, really...

Seth9

December 9th, 2009 at 1:41 AM ^

Although I am well aware of what the nature of Tiger's "transgressions" almost certainly are, I think it's fair to point out that we are making huge judgments about his character as we don't know any of the specifics. And as to insinuating that people will never forgive Tiger enough for him to continue to get huge commercial contracts, I will point out that Kobe Bryant, in a far worse situation, seems to still have a very marketable brand.

shtheva

December 9th, 2009 at 3:25 AM ^

I'd appreciate it if you could inform me what "far worse situation" Kobe Bryant was in? It was a far worse situation personally for him because it was CLAIMED that he had raped a woman. Last I checked, the woman's criminal case was dropped, and Kobe was not found guilty.

So yes, you could say he also cheated on his wife, but with only ONE woman who came out, not eleven (not that we know all of these new women are actually telling the truth). It took Kobe a bit of time to fall back into graces with companies and the general public after clearing his name of his rape allegations, however, I'm not sure Tiger will be able to, due to the multitude of women that came out alleging he had had an affair with them.

If you were referring to something else, I'd just like to know. Otherwise, I hope I cleared the situation up for you.

EZMIKEP

December 9th, 2009 at 5:37 AM ^

Getting accused of rape is a serious as it gets and he never cleared his name of anything. Even with a trial where you are actually found not guilty it leaves a stain for many. A lot of people think Kobe got off and actually raped that girl just based on headlines alone. A woman falsely accusing another man of rape is a million times worse than finding out a rich Tiger Woods had sex with umpteen thousand women.

MJ was running around with tons of women and he didn't take the hit that Tiger will take because of the day and age of instant media. Thats evident, but I guarantee he will never have the stigma 20 years from now that Kobe will from one woman crying rape. So seriously unless you have been through it please spare me with your bullshit opinions.

And as someone who has been falsely accused of rape, I can testify that there is no bigger hell to go through. If I was a professional athlete like KB is I would assume my 6'8' frame that is very similar to Kobe's would look just like his did when he was making those trips back and forth to Colorado. I don't think I will see Tiger losing 25lbs of muscle off his body like KB did from the stress of facing prison time or losing his family completely.

I'll take Tigers situation anytime over KB's everytime.

Mr. Maize

December 9th, 2009 at 10:01 AM ^

"I'd appreciate it if you could inform me what "far worse situation" Kobe Bryant was in? It was a far worse situation personally for him because it was CLAIMED that he had raped a woman."

I love when people answer their own questions.

Route66

December 9th, 2009 at 10:35 AM ^

Cheating on your wife is a DIRECT reflection on your integrity. That is not judging. His transgression statement proves enough for me. I am sure the transgressions he was referring to were not about the smashed up Escalade. I still like him as a golfer and as a person, he just made some mistakes.

Blue_Bull_Run

December 9th, 2009 at 1:44 AM ^

I'm gonna take a contrarian approach for a second - as hilarious as I find the story, what if its 99.99% inaccurate?

For example, no affiars at all, and just an intoxicated night of driving?

Seth9

December 9th, 2009 at 1:52 AM ^

If Tiger were so drunk as to hit a tree almost immediately while attempting to operate a car, I'd be rather upset as he would have been putting others at risk with his decision. Also, not sure if this was posted earlier because I haven't read every single one of the 50 or so Tiger threads, but:

Tacopants

December 9th, 2009 at 1:55 AM ^

Nothing against you personally, but I don't think I can stress enough that:

I. Don't. Fucking. Care. About. Tiger. Woods. And./Or. His. Alleged. Transgressions.

I wish I could hammer this into ESPN's mind.

Simi Maquoketa

December 9th, 2009 at 5:43 AM ^

And the line that Tiger "Is certainly not a man of integrity"--which is always going to come from Message Board Guy--is delivered on time, every time with all the moral hypocrisy that only a weak willed society clamoring for heroes can generate.

I simply LOVE it whn Message Board Guy waxes poetic about other peoples' morality. If an entitlement to self righteous hypocrisy isn't in the U.S. Constitution by now, it's time for a new amendment.

Blue2000

December 9th, 2009 at 10:22 AM ^

As a "Message Board Guy" myself, I'm more than comfortable saying that Tiger Woods - who cheated on his wife, and who has two children under the age of three - is not a man of integrity. Perhaps that is "self-righteous hypocrisy" for some, but I have a wife and a small child, and I've successfully been faithful thus far.

Sven_Da_M

December 9th, 2009 at 8:40 AM ^

This comparison of Tiger vs. Kobe is really pointless. Tiger is the #1 sports figure worldwide, Kobe isn't even #1 in his sport nationwide.

Tiger isn't going to starve. But his endorsements will definitely take a huge hit. And the road to eclipse Jack is now paved with bimbos and drunken spectators shouting "You Da Man" with a totally different meaning.

Look at how Accenture tied their global brand to Tiger:

http://tinyurl.com/be-a-tiger2009

"Go On. Be a Tiger" I'm amazed that they haven't taken this page down.

Muttley

December 9th, 2009 at 9:41 AM ^

I think that the market for the Wild Side Best Golfer Ever will be smaller than that for the $100 million per year clean-cut Best Golfer Ever.

I could see Tiger becoming the Axe spokesman. "No, it wasn't my billion dollar fortune or my fame as the best golfer ever, it was this overpriced $4.99 stick of deodorant." And as the best golfer ever, I think his sports-product endorsements will hold up*.

But Tiger will cease to be an unequivocal good association for marketers where the only consideration is the astronomical price of Tiger's endorsement.

Firms will make this decision on their own, not sports-columnists (or pontificators like me).

With the reported leaving of his wife, Tiger has apparently lost one of the most fundamental joys in life, a contented family, you can't buy that. (And, my God, Elin is smoking hot!) And anytime you're #1 in endorsements or anything, there is a lot more downside than upside. But let's say Tiger loses 75% of his endorsements. He'll still be hauling in $25 million a year.

*I'm surprised that Gatorade dropped him before Pepsi. "The decision was made months ago." Yeah, right.

Raback Omaba

December 9th, 2009 at 9:06 AM ^

Has a twin sister...I just heard it on the radio this morning.

That fact just made me think Tiger Woods is 100X dumber.

Hot wife with a hot twin sister...and you can't keep the snake in the pants.

Wow.

DoctorSherwin

December 9th, 2009 at 9:19 AM ^

Did any of us think the guy was perfect? I sure didn't. The guy is human. I have not met a perfect human being yet. Not that I condone what he did but life happens. Unfortunately, his life happens under a microscope.

Who knows if any of this is true. And if it is true, who knows what prompted all of this to begin with. Could it have been depression over losing his father? The depression that often comes with feeling like an isolated superstar? I don't know. Or the guy could just be a pig.

Who besides Tiger truly knows.... and last I checked, he aint tellin (sp). But what I do know is that, in my mind, the guy is entitled to F-up and have the train go off the rails atleast once in his life before being written off. Afterall, it is the human condition. We all make mistakes.

ijohnb

December 9th, 2009 at 9:25 AM ^

of integrity. His recent acts were not the acts of a man, but of a child, a child that was gifted to the extent that he has never had to explain his actions, and one that in my opinion, has been playing a game for his enitre life out of a feeling of obligation and as a stunt "tiger" in a circus.

The physical and mental gifts bestowed upon him have made him above reproach, leading to the acceptance of bizzare and at times, flat out inappropriate behavior on the golf course. As Tiger has moved along and made his own rules on the course, I believe that somewhere along the way, and from what I have observed on the course, at about the same time as his Dad died, Tiger has become detached from any sense of himself as a person. When you are never told no, how do you define what your personal limitations are. Please understand this is not a sympathetic assessment of his actions, but only an attempt to understand this fall from grace.

It looks as though Tiger has not matured since the boy with the furious fist pump at the US Am. It also looks like he no longer, or perhaps has never, enjoyed playing golf. He plays the game with machine like precision, but with little sign of genuine affection for it. The recent events call into question whether he can express genuine affection at all.

One thing is clear, when and if he returns to the course, and I believe that "if" at least has to be mentioned as a very, very remote possibility, there will be no in betweens. Tiger may return to the course with a focus and dominance never before seen, or this could be one of the final chapters in the public life of a very ambiguous person. Who and What is Tiger Woods. I don't think there is an answer as the question has only now been asked.

Tim Waymen

December 9th, 2009 at 2:20 PM ^

Nah, Tiger acted like a man. Penis? Check. Heterosexual? Check.
= Man

Joking aside, I agree that the death of his father might have caused Tiger's sense of detachment, but I disagree about the part about never being told "no," unless you are talking about his success with women. Tiger Woods is one of the great competitors of our time, like Michael Phelps, Tom Brady, the Williams sisters, and Lebron James, to name a few. These are guys who have that competitive fire that keeps them motivated and motivates those around them. For example, at the 08 Olympics, Phelps was supposed to be a master at pumping up his team, such as after a member of the French swimming team made some inflammatory comments in an interview about beating the Americans.

Such a competitive spirit does not arise from never hearing the word "no." Similarly, a person doesn't become a brand name himself when everything is given to him on a platter. Tiger probably had a better childhood than Lebron, but I would be surprised to learn that everything was given to him on a platter.

Challenging my own argument, however, one can say that golf is a different kind of sport and all Tiger did was take advantage of his own natural talent given to him by the golf gods, and the rest, with the endorsements, deals, prize money, and so on, is history. I am very interested in hearing your response, which I expect will be as articulate as (if not more than) your fine post to which I am responding.

Tater

December 9th, 2009 at 9:27 AM ^

During one hour yesterday, CNN Headline News mentioned Woods at least twelve times. Apparently, Tiger Woods' mother-in-law (or whoever it turns out to be) going to the ER is such an important national story that it merits twelve mentions in one hour on a national newscast.

I find this to be just a little excessive.

Logan88

December 9th, 2009 at 10:14 AM ^

If I were Tiger, I would just buy an island in the South Pacific, give "the finger" to the world and vanish. The dude has more money right now than any one human being could possibly need. Why put up with this fishbowl existence?