I’ve read a handful of posts and news stories about what we can all learn from Tiger Woods’ recent situation. Here’s the deal: if you’re an athlete that’s at the top of their game in one of the most popular individual sports or you are the PR firm who represents this person, perhaps you have some takeaways that you can apply here. If you’re not a mega-rich phenom who commands attention though, what can you learn from this situation?
Jack Squat
That’s right. Here are possible takeaways a normal, average person can get from Tiger Woods’ situation:
- Cheating on your spouse is a bad idea all of the time.
- Leaving a digital trail of an affair? So dumb.
- Don’t drive when you’re distressed and distracted.
If you didn’t know this coming before Tiger Woods, what planet are you from? Of course you knew all of this. The fact that this happened to Tiger Woods didn’t educate anyone.
Let’s stop trying to make a lesson out of nothing. I’m not one of these people that thinks this is a non-story either. The rules change when you become a mega-star, start living off your image and exploiting your family through photo shoots and friendly interviews to fund a lavish lifestyle that most of us will never see. Of course this is a news story. Tiger’s bitter statement about privacy revolves around the lack of control by his camp (something he is unfamiliar with) and the negative nature of the stories. Privacy is a nice facade though.
But to pretend that this has any applicability into the lives of the ordinary? Let’s wake up here and smell the freshly cut grass. We will never experience what Tiger experienced. The good, bad or indifferent.
Is Tiger still a great golfer? Of course. Jordan was a great player too but he was an asshole. That will always be a part of Jordan and this will always be a part of Tiger.
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Amen!
Really, really good post. I’m so over the Tiger non-story!
It is funny out of all the cheaters that you only mentioned two black athletes that are at the top of their game. I am sure white men never cheat right. Wrong, John McCain running for President cheated on his wife and ended up with his present wife. Many men cheat so stop acting so self righteous. Maybe the media should follow you around some. There is a lot of jealousy from white males of successful black males and this is a fact. They love to see them fall and cannot wait to write about it. It is funny and a fact that their are many politicians who fall, athletes of all races and Tiger is not the first nor will he be the last.
Well said!
Hey, did I hear that the president of the United States made sort of an important speech earlier this week? Something about a war? In Afghanistan?
Hard to know with all the news outlets deployed to cover the Tiger non-story.
No, this Tiger Woods situation has taught me how to be a better person. It’s taught me how to love. It’s taught me that I can’t face the important things in life alone.
Well done Lance. I didn’t get a slant this post at all except “enough already” which believe me, living in Orlando, I share wholeheartedly.
As more of this story is leaked/released/reported/overplayed, the only thing I can think of as a “lesson” is that we have to stop putting our athletes, politicians and movie stars on pedestals believing they are perfect. They are human. And apparently are perfectly capable of screwing up their lives royally, just like the rest of us.
And to Ms. Thompson – whoa nelly. Trying to think of another athlete who was at some point considered the “best athlete in the world” and then #failedspectacularly in their personal life? Jordan would have been one of the first to come to mind because he’s JORDAN. No need to read any further into that. You are right, infidelity doesn’t know race or gender, for that matter. The point of that last line was “top of the game” not “cheater” though.
That’s what you got out of the post? Really?
If you truly believe that privacy exists in the Internet age, you’re, well, ignorant. Sorry, there’s just no other way to say it. And while I’m at it, the phrase “Internet privacy” is an oxymoron.
That’s the cold, hard lesson Tiger’s learning at the moment.
I’ve spent a total of 5 minutes on the Tiger drama. When I first heard about it, I spent 5 minutes trying to understand if he was OK and how serious it was. Once that mission was complete I moved on with my life.
There is nothing to gain from this story that I, or anyone else shouldn’t already know. Good post, Lance!
Didn’t Tiger learn anything from the Wire? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PojAnXG9wwU (Language NSFW)
Lance, as usual, you’ve gotten it totally right. Tiger lives in another world. Period. That he’s been revealed as untrustworthy, while disappointing, isn’t terribly surprising and doesn’t impact the rest of us at all. Let’s move on to more important things like the economy, creation of jobs, the war — and oh yeah, and whether HR is dead. (she wrote, with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek….)
Personally, I am disappointed and saddened by this unfortunate news that affects Tiger’s career and family. I wish he could have had better judgment and will do better in the future. Remember, as his success rose, he became “owned” by sponsors, with an image soon larger than most lives lived by humans. The image however, is not attainable but becomes impossible without a basis of spiritual discipline and maturity. My view: he is a good person (like most of us) who erred (like most of us). I hope Elin will give their marriage another try, in spite of Tiger’s bad judgment and “transgressions.” We’ve all asked for or needed forgiveness for something we’ve done it life.
Agreed! The only thing I’ve learned: Tiger Woods is human ;P
Personally, I am disappointed and saddened by this unfortunate news that affects Tiger’s career and family. I wish he could have had better judgment and will do better in the future. Remember, as his success rose, he became “owned” by sponsors, with an image soon larger than most lives lived by humans. The image however, is not attainable but becomes impossible without a basis of spiritual discipline and maturity. My view: he is a good person (like most of us) who erred (like most of us). I hope Elin will give their marriage another try, in spite of Tiger’s bad judgment and “transgressions.” We’ve all asked for or needed forgiveness for something we’ve done it life.