Whether or not you agree with Dan Jenkins’ recent take on Tiger Woods, it’s one of those situations where you just have to get down on your knees and give the “We’re not worthy” bow to the words themselves. Jenkins, IMO, is every much a technician at the word processor as Woods is on the golf course; I often imagine him living his retirement off on a ranch somewhere, grooming nouns and adjectives like champion racehorses, pausing for an hour each day to supervise the polishing of his vocabulary. It was inevitable that the former writer for Sports Illustrated and author of Semi-Tough and Dead Solid Perfect would shift his focus to Affair le Tigre, and the result — his Feb. 18 column in Golf Digest — is revealing, pointed and, ultimately, devastating.
What set Jenkins off, evidently, is when Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, referred to his client as a “kid.” As in, the media should “give the kid a break.” Key excerpt:
Kid?
Kids flew B-17s in daylight bombing raids over Germany in World War II. Kids fought in Korea and Vietnam. Kids are serving today in Iraq and Afghanistan so Tiger Woods can live in a world where he can win 14 majors and match that number, the last time I counted, with 14 casting couches, most of them reserved for blondes.
Hoo boy. Here we go.
Kid?
Tiger Woods was a month away from 34 years of age when his debutantes began turning up in the news. He was a grown man with a wife and two children. Well, we supposed he had a wife, but that was before we learned she was only an ornament.
… Now excuse me a moment while I try to envision Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus playing video games and eating Fruit Loops while they try to deal with a career problem.
Of course, Hogan, Palmer and Nicklaus never set themselves up to become future statues in Central Park.
They never pretended to be the All-American Daddy-Pop Father of the Year Who Also Wins Golf Tournaments.
They never sold themselves as the greatest Family Values brand ever, and conquered the marketplace with it, shamelessly scooping up hundreds of millions of dollars while saying, “My family will always come first.”
They were never what Tiger allowed himself to become from the start: spoiled, pampered, hidden, guarded, orchestrated and entitled.
I’ll tell you what Hogan, Palmer and Nicklaus were at their peak.
They were every bit as popular as Tiger, they endured similar demands on their time, but they handled it courteously, often with ease and enjoyment.
They were accessible, likable, knowable, conversant, as gracious in loss as they were in victory, and, above all, amazingly helpful to those of us in the print lodge who covered them.
That was their brand. All the things Tiger never was.
And now, the capper:
Never in my knowledge of history has any famous personality — in sports, show biz, or politics — ever fallen so far so fast. Tiger Woods is graveyard dead, as the Southern expression goes.
Life as Tiger has known it is over. His reputation is ruined, possibly forever. His name that once meant mastery over competitive golf now invokes cringes, giggles and all the Internet jokes you want to pass along.
That’s what it’s like being deconstructed by a master; something that makes one take pause and think that, yeah, Tiger’s image is going to need major reconstructive surgery after all. It’s not a problem that a month at Gentle Path and a take-no-questions press gathering is going to fix. Tiger’s burden now is not only to fix himself, but to “win the crowd.” That’s not going to be easy with a majority of the public who now knows him only for his celebrity, and not his talent. Winning back golf fans will be easy. But most people aren’t golf fans, believe it or not. This “kid” has an enormous mountain to climb.
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Nice (Not) Knowing You [Golf Digest]
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- STAN stoke - Feb 25, 2010 at 12:49 AM
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Absolutely “Dead Solid Perfect” assessment of the situation!! Tiger is a has been as far as the great names of golf, without question!!
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- greg merritt - Feb 25, 2010 at 5:14 AM
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Ole Dan Jenkins sucked you in like a “good ole Hoover vaccuum cleaner”. 574 emails so far…..can you hit a 1,000?
Race card, infidelity, golf “whities”, Buddist BS, JFK, FDR,
Elin, and the kitchen sink along with Thailand bashing.
Most of you need medical attention. While you were writing
your “TIGER” exposes by email, a US soldier died in Afghanistan,
17.6 acres of jungle habitat was cut down in the Amazon,
284 people died of cancer in the US, you didn’t answer the phone
when your credit card company called wondering why you’re 45 days
past due on a payment, you show no outrage that Mark McGuire and
Barry Bonds, two “pillars” of the baseball community that are in
the record books ahead of Roger Maris in homeruns (thank you-
Jose Conseco) since your such “sports fans”, and that you nor I
have any business involving Tiger Woods or his lifestyle.
Get a hobby-go to church-make a donation to a worthy cause after
you pay your credit card payment-or take up yoga. Have a “great
life and don’t throw stones when you live in a “Glass House”!
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- CKent - Feb 25, 2010 at 6:18 AM
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I would hate to be the one to break up with Jenkins. He should have figured out that Tiger wasn’t gay. That said though, what Tiger did wasn’t right at all. But Jenkins and other stone-casting (ex-)fans are probably just as guilty of having been unfaithful to their partners although the public isn’t as interested in their story and the “other women” don’t want to remember. Public figures unfortunately get the responsibility of role model thrust upon them whether they like it or not. But children are watching them and aspiring to be like them in every way, so they have to accept their role. It’s a small price to pay for all the accolades and the other huge perks.
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- Larry Vincent - Feb 25, 2010 at 7:42 AM
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Abigguy2, your knowledge of our fighting forces (real heroes by the way) is sadly lacking. I served a couple of tours in Vietnam. Your statement, that most our soldiers over there were “poor black boys” is a clear indication, that you never served, or know anything about those that did. I was a combat infantry soldier and there was not one, (“not one”) black soldier in my company. I saw plenty of “poor white boys” die over there, however. You should not comment on those things, which clearly, you know nothing about.
All this ranting and raving about Tiger Woods, is nothing more than a bunch of judgemental backsides that can’t half write a dece nt sentence, much less offer an intelligent comment about much of anything that might be even remotely interesting to read. Get a life, obviously, the one you are living is sadly lacking.
Is Tiger’s race really at issue here? I don’t think so. Why should anyone care what his racial background is? Fact, he is a great golfer, not a hero. What is heroic about smacking a little white ball around, then chasing it in into a hole a few hundred yards away. What he is, is a man that has developed the skills, that allow him to excell at the game of golf, period. So, he failed in our elevated expectations and fell off the pedastil, that the public placed him on because of his talent. We placed him on that pedastil, because that’s where we wanted him to be. Like most other “fantasy heroes” of our imaginary world, he turns out to be just like the rest of us, just an ordinary person, who happens to have extra ordinary skills at golf.
So you feel that he has let you down? “Tough!” Ninty percent of those whom rant and rave about Tiger in this forum, are probably a bunch of nobodies, that are just plain jealous of his elavated status in life, and in reality, would, if we had the chance, love to be in his shoes. “Get real!” “Get A Life!”
We all should get off our high horses and let Tiger alone, to work out his own problems with his personal life, nothing said on this forum, will change anything anyway.
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- L in Lakeville - Feb 25, 2010 at 3:34 PM
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WTH? What century are you from? There are more black millionaires then ever in history. This isn’t a race issue…this is a matter of public perception/deception. This is about a “public figure” presenting themselves one way, and living another way…fooling not only us, but his own family, as well as himself. I also think, his issues are his, and shouldn’t be “ours”!! I’m sick to death of hearing about it. I agree with the earlier comment that his “women” aren’t the victim’s here..and shame on the media for immortalizing these adulter’ers! Enough already!
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- As usual - Feb 25, 2010 at 4:32 PM
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You know what really bugs me? People that participate in these things that can’t spell or punctuate. Why don’t you investigate getting the English language right instead of dumping on Tiger? And just for the record (and this is getting so boring), it really is none of our business what Tiger did in his free time as long as he wasn’t breaking the law. As someone here aptly pointed out: he wasn’t an elected or government official held to a high standard. Sadly though, this situation does adversely impact young impressionable children. This is getting too hard since I really have to check my spelling….
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- CommonMan - Feb 25, 2010 at 6:00 PM
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The media put him where he is and the media are taking him down. Are they really interested in Tiger? No, but the story will sell copy so who cares about the people involved.
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- Ed Nienabor - Feb 25, 2010 at 8:54 PM
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Hawk, please don’t bring race into this. That’s tired and makes you seem unintelligent.
Tiger is just like a lot of powerful men. He wanted a loving wife, children and all of the “concubines” that he could get.
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- Allen Laurence - Feb 25, 2010 at 9:38 PM
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I don’t want to be judged and my faith requires that I refrain from judging others. However, I also live by the simplicity of the Golden Rule, the most important rule of all. “Do unto others etc.” When watching Mr. Woods deliver his orchestrated forgiveness speech I was particularly attentive when he said he had lost his faith. After all, he is only human, and we all make mistakes. His problem is not that he has become a ‘sex addict’, (a term I view almost as useless as political correctness and zero tolerance)his problem is he has fallen prey to his own astronomically inflated fame. His act of infidelity is forgivable. Not only was his family dependent on him as a husband and father but the public and the golfing world in particular were dependent on him as a responsible sports figure. What, Mr. Woods, do I tell my grandson? I’ll tell you. I can teach my grandson that respect is not something that you can just buy back, even with a billion dollars. Respect you must earn. I am reminded of the quote by Hemingway concerning fame, he called it “a whore, and death’s little sister.” It has also occurred to me that in spite of Mr. Wood’s wealth he may get to purchase several houses that he doesn’t get to live in.
Mr. Woods, I sincerely hope you someday find your way.
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- Betsy - Feb 26, 2010 at 3:30 PM
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The women do NOT deserve blame for Tiger’s affairs…they aren’t married. Simple as that.
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- jim - Feb 26, 2010 at 7:18 PM
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enough of this crap already. quit crying over lost sponsors tiger and get back on the course and kick some ass! if elin wants to leave let her! you won’t be the first guy who gets a divorce. you don’t need more therapy pal. you need to be back on the course and hitting the long ball.
you didn’t commit any crimes tiger. you are not the first guy to cheat. stop beating yourself up. if you aren’t happy with what you did then just decide not to do it again and move on with your life. time to get back to work!
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- Rhonda - Mar 2, 2010 at 1:26 PM
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Well, I just read all these posts during my lunch break. First, race or the color of his skin is irrelevant. I do blame the women, white women, who could not wait to get their paws on this “well-endowed” black man as one was quoted. They knew he was married and messed up in the head if he was cheating. I really don’t believe all the cheating stories. Why did it take him so long to get caught? We all know the paparazzi is always around. Tiger never professed to be perfect. His dad expected him to be perfect. People idolized him and endorsers paid him ridiculous amounts of money. Who wouldn’t let all that go to your head? He was probably taunted and teased by other “cheaters” to get out there and get what he deserves. I think his wife is gorgeous and seems to be an upstanding wonderful woman and mother, but no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. Also, I think when his dad died, so did Tiger’s perception of having to be perfect. Now he could say f**k off, I will do what a man with money and power should do, cheat with women who throw themselves at men with power and money. Like he said, temptation was never far away. I am not making excuses for the guy, but I am 49 years old, married, divorced, and remarried, and I know don’t ever say you would not stoop to do bad things you read about other people doing because situations change, you change, and sometimes we do things that we thought we would never do, and then years later, look back with disbelief that we were the persons who did those things. Our lives are like seasons, and Tiger just suffered through a horrible, dreary, and messy winter. Maybe in spring, he will bloom again.
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- Hung Wei Lo - Mar 3, 2010 at 9:49 AM
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If race isn’t an issue, then what’s wrong with Tiger preferring blondes?
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- JJ - Mar 4, 2010 at 8:43 PM
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he tore himself down Hawk
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- Danny - Mar 10, 2010 at 2:13 PM
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Perhaps we should treat him like we would if he did not have a billion dollars and was a celeb. Press charges and put him in jail like what would happen to me or you in a similiar situation.
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- john m - Mar 24, 2010 at 11:13 AM
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You are stupid … I also feel sorry for your kid who can not distinquish reality from fantasy …
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- john - Mar 24, 2010 at 11:20 AM
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Hey dummy.. I have not heard that you can go to jail for cheating on your wife yet . Maybe in some backwoods city but not in civilized USA ….. What exact laws did Tiger break or charges should he be charged with …
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- Phil - Mar 24, 2010 at 12:06 PM
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Dan Jenkins- revisionist of golf history. Hogan, accessible to the media and the public- that’s total BS. He wasn’t even courteous to his fellow playing professionals. Ask Venturi or Palmer how nice he was but since most of these old guys are dying off the truth gets buried with it. The reason why the older players were friendly with the media is because that was all there was back then and the media guys would never roll over and talk disparagingly about a player like the tabloid press will do now at the drop of a hat. Once a player has been burned they are not going to allow themselves to get burned again. Players can use social media or their own website to interact or release information and THAT is what this is all about, the fish hacks have lost their access to the players and technology has made journalists and newspapers obsolete.
As far as Palmer and Nicklaus being glowing family men that’s what the public was shown at that time- however the guys who know them know better.
I will say that Woods is no kid and being coddled for screwing up is not endearing him much support or sympathy. He f***ed up and he has to deal with the consequences- on and off the course.
The only different between Woods and the others is that media is a lot bigger, vindictive, immediate and they all are looking to elevate their own careers and they don’t care whose neck they have to step on to get there.
In the golden days if the media was like it is today, the King wouldn’t be looked up in the same reverence.
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- Tony - Mar 24, 2010 at 1:28 PM
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Since people want to slam Tiger so bad how about these other alleged or admitted Cheaters: Michael Jordan, John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John McCain, Donald Trump, Prince Charles, Rudy Giuliani, John Edwards, A Rod. That’s just a quick list of dudes that come to mind. Athletes, Politicians, Actors and even Royalty cheat.
Why is this special venom saved for Tiger Woods? What do most of the guys on that list have in common, they outlived the scandal. Their legacy is not about who they splept with or how many there were.
Tiger will be fine. He’s rich, good looking and the best in the world at his craft. He will get over it, so why don’t you?
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- jmlowrie - Mar 24, 2010 at 5:13 PM
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Reply to George Benda. I’m so tired of people telling us that this infidentlywouldn’t be an issue in the rest of the world- or even more stupidly… that it would be laughed at. WHEN have we in America every relied on “the rest of the world” to tell us what our morals and way of living should be? Who says they are better? I’m guessing the people who are cheaters- because cheaters have to find some way to live with themselves. Get a grip.
Mature, decent men and women keep their commitments. Plain and simple. Right and wrong.
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- jmlowrie - Mar 24, 2010 at 5:38 PM
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Really Brian? Men are just wired that way? Is that the excuse you are always going to use? No- we maybe wired this way but we have morals and should stand by our commitments? What a cop-out. I’m tired of that explaination. Grow the heck up and be responsible for your own actions!!!
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- JW - May 12, 2010 at 12:57 PM
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What ever made the public think that anything Woods does at home or any where else is their business. When the man has my attention while I watch him play, I care what he is doing. But the rest of his life is none of my business or anyones elses. Leave the man alone and take care of your own business.
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- spike - Jun 17, 2010 at 2:03 PM
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The only issue of race is, tiger obviously desires white women, Hmmmm!
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- mrarcadian - Dec 17, 2010 at 3:01 PM
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Woods is just buying his time, trying to get as many people to feel sorry for himself.
He’ll always be a loser. So no big lost, he made his own bed, let him sleep in it.
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