For more than a decade, Tiger Woods has been the face of golf for most people, certainly to casual fans of the game. Just as the charismatic Arnold Palmer had done 40 years earlier, but on a much grander scale, Tiger elevated golf from country club to mainstream, from snobs sipping 25-year-old scotch to beer-drinking buddies who would have laughed at golf and pro golfers B.T. (before Tiger).
Corporate America also noticed the dollars to be made riding Tiger's coattails. Nike, Gatorade, General Motors, Accenture, Gillette, Tag Heuer, AT&T, Electronic Arts, etc. With each new endorsement deal, Tiger seemed less like a person and more like a product.
He also has made it possible for other golf pros to enjoy a comfortable living. A revenue stream flooded the PGA Tour, and his fellow pros accepted the fact that he was almost impossible to beat, because, hey, second place paid a whole lot better than it used to.
It also didn't hurt the pro tour and the corporations that this near-perfect pitchman was himself a multicultural product (African American father, Asian mother), married to a beautiful blonde Swede (Elin Nordegren) with two children (a boy and a girl, natch).
The image seemed certain, rock-solid: Perfect athlete, perfect family, perfect life.
To borrow a golf term, it was the perfect lie.
Last Thanksgiving weekend, the facade came crashing down. A bizarre, late-night car accident - at the end of his driveway? - was the first public sign that Tiger might be something other than he appeared.
Then came revelations that Tiger was carrying on affairs/liaisons/trysts/one-night stands with a number of women, all while dominating the world of golf and managing to appear to be happily married. We had all heard about Tiger's incredible ability to remain focused. Now we knew why.
Almost overnight, Tiger became a punch line. "He's no longer Tiger. Now, he's a cheetah."
It's not a huge surprise that he strayed from his marriage vows. Ridiculously rich athletes and entertainers have access and opportunity. What is surprising is how long Tiger was able to keep this cauldron of debauchery from boiling over.
Now that we know Tiger is as fallible as anyone else, how do we feel?
Angry? Maybe, but the only people entitled to that emotion are those who really know him, starting with his wife.
Sad? Certainly. Even if Tiger and his wife are able to repair their marriage, damage has been done to him personally and professionally.
In his rare public comments, Tiger has said he is sorry for the hurt he has caused his wife and family, and apologized to friends and the many people who see him as some sort of role model.
You can believe he's sincerely remorseful, or not. But don't think you know him any better now than you did before last November.
Fast-forward five months, and, on the eve of the Masters, where Tiger makes his return this week, what will happen at Augusta National is open to speculation.
Will Tiger get a warm welcome? Will he be able to compete?
Will he still be a punch line?
No comments:
Post a Comment