This is a significant week in the minds of avid golf fans, as the Masters Tournament gets underway in Augusta Georgia. Adding to the hoopla this year is the return of Tiger Woods after an extended layoff due to personal issues. It’s doubtful that many people in America aren’t familiar with his story, as it has been absolutely beat to death in the media for months now. Anyone hoping that this event would mark a shift from the scandal back to the game of golf itself had to be disillusioned when Billy Payne, the Chairman of the Augusta National club, decided to issue yet another statement expressing his (and presumably the club’s) “disappointment” in Mr. Woods’s moral failures. As I read those comments, I was once again reminded of the absurdity of the media reaction to this scandal.
Let me begin by saying that I unequivocally believe that what Tiger Woods did was wrong and not at all defensible. It is sad and disgraceful; and undoubtedly has been very hurtful to his family. To that degree, I can understand that this was a noteworthy story. But from my perspective, the shock and dismay offered by the sports industry and media, has been laughable. Are we really expected to believe that Tiger Wood’s behavior is significantly different than the vast majority of other pro athletes (including other golfers on the PGA tour)? And what of the power brokers who man the boardrooms of his corporate sponsors or who roam the clubhouse at Augusta National; are we to believe that they are somehow bastions of moral purity, who aren’t using their position and influence for similar intrigues. What of the sports media itself; haven’t enough ESPN staffers been caught with their proverbial pants down to indicate that such behavior is pervasive within the media as well? Not that their indiscretions in anyway excuse Tigers, but how can these people stand with a straight face and incredulously wag their fingers in his direction.
The truth of the matter is that the sports industry actively promotes the sexually charged atmosphere that permeates most professional athletics. Look at just about any sports network on the web and you will undoubtedly encounter numerous images of barely clad, hard bodies, greased and sprawled across their screens. Does a team that can fill 55,000 seats, at over $50.00 a ticket, really need a cheerleading squad to get the crowd excited about the team? Does anyone really believe that “Swimsuit Issues” have anything to do with the swimwear? From the time a little leaguer hits adolescence, sex is implicitly presented as one of the perks that comes with being a successful athlete. Those who might miss it in their high school experience are likely to encounter it when recruited to the collegiate level; and if their success continues, the sky becomes the limit. Does anyone really believe that corporate sponsors, agents or team officials are somehow above facilitating these type activities for their best and brightest? Tiger admitted that on some level he felt as though the rules (e.g. of decent moral behavior) didn’t really apply to him and I believe that this is an attitude that is cultivated in most successful athletes. For many within the sports world, “Just Do It!” is more than just a corporate slogan, it is a mantra. And yet in spite of all this, we are somehow supposed to believe that the whole of the professional sports world is aghast at Tiger’s behavior. For me, such a pill is too barbed with hypocrisy to be swallowed.
Something that I’ve heard repeatedly throughout this scandal is that Tiger has violated the trust of his fans; and for me, that begs the question, “What exactly were his fans trusting him for?” Should the fact that someone can play the game of golf (or baseball, basketball, football…) say anything about what kind of human being they are? Why would anyone “trust” someone they don’t even know? While I would hope that sports celebrities would take seriously their role as an ambassador of the game and maybe even embrace the idea of being a role model, I have to wonder why a fan would look to a ball player to understand the proper context for marriage and family. In Billy Payne’s comments, he said that, “Our hero did not live up to the expectations of the role model we saw for our children.” I find it to be an incredibly sad commentary on the state of morality and family at the Augusta National club, if these accomplished men were genuinely relying on this relatively young professional golfer to teach their children something virtuous about marriage and personal conduct. Further, I think that the use of the word “hero”, when applied to an athlete, is generally ridiculous and offense. A hero is someone who places the needs of others above their own and who willingly sacrifices for the good of others. Having tremendous athletic ability and being successful does not qualify someone as a hero. Our choice to covet what they have and to worship who we think they are simply qualifies them as an idol. Just as Tiger needed to admit that his actions were wrong, those who’ve invested such lofty expectations in a mere celebrity ought to admit to themselves that they were also misguided.
From my perspective, what the sports world really cares about is winning, which makes me wonder if their real disappointment is that this situation has tarnished Tiger’s image as a “winner”. It’s made him look weak, indecisive and even foolish to some degree; and that probably never would have happened on the golf course. Many are saying that he needs to prove himself as a husband, a father and as a man of integrity, before he will be accepted back into the good graces of the public. But history would say otherwise; just ask Kobe Bryant or A Rod. For Tiger’s sake and the sake of his family, I pray that he is able to genuinely become the person he aspires to be. At the end of his life his relationships with those people will be far more valuable than anything he could hope to accomplish on the golf course. But as far as the sports world is concerned, a win at the Master’s would probably do for him what an MVP & NBA title did for Kobe and what a World Series win did for A-Rod. After all in America we can’t help but love a winner.
Bjcorbin's Blog 
In the words of the worlds Greatest Hero, past, present or future,” let him that is without sin cast the first stone.” Even the pharasees had sense enought to back away. I will repeat it again. Jesus said, “let him who is without sin cast the first stone!”
the “Just do it” montra is from Nike which is Tigers corporate sponsor! Nike had him do a sorrowful commercial denouncing what he did, I suspect that means that they are keeping him as a representative. I am somewhat surprised and it shows how our society is accepting these transgressions. I am glad Pepsi dropped Michael Jackson, and Delta dropped O.J. Simpson but pretty soon I’m afraid these sins may be acceptable also!