Dissecting Sports

Tiger Woods is a golfer - and a golf prodigy. He’s also a respected celebrity, a publicist’s dream, a headline stealer, and a role model. But more importantly he is a son, a husband, a father, and a person. 

The media forgot this when they briefly questioned him for not taking an Al Sharpton-like stand when responding to Kelly Tilghman’s comment about him and Golfweek’s controversial cover. For some reason, it is no longer ok to turn the other cheek, walk away, and be the better person.

Former Golfweek editor Dave Seanor’s comments explain how Tilghman’s harsh comment became worldwide news and spiraled out of control. Seanor said Golfweek featured a noose on their front cover to bring attention to a controversial topic, which is one of the many important points of the media. However, the front cover was not done intelligently or with class. The cover looked more like tabloid journalism than a conversation starter. They mine as well place golfer John Daly on the front cover standing in a trashed room with a 40 in his hand and a prostitute on his arm.

Still, Golfweek got what it wanted. Everyone is now talking about controversy and race in golf - for better or worse. Sadly, some journalists and activists believe Woods - with his celebrity - should be forced into the discussion. But what they should realize is not everyone has to be like Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, or Sharpton.

Woods may have a voice and integrity that speaks to everyone, but it does not mean he has to become a vociferous spokesperson. Woods is a calm and thoughtful person. He has never been an outlandish celebrity like Chad Johnson or Britney Spears. He never calls attention to himself. He is golf’s equivalent to Tim Duncan. The only difference is the NBA has numerous superstars who take the spotlight off of Duncan. No one can do that for Woods because his playing level is on a tier by itself - he literally and figuratively plays by himself.

Sometimes his demeanor off the golf course leads people to think he is in it only for his sponsor’s money. I highly disagree. Some people just want to live their life out of the spotlight. When he is cast into the limelight because of his career, he always speaks up and answers the questions in full.

The extent of the raw emotion you see from Woods comes when he plays in a major tournament or another golfer attacks his golf ability - or family (however, we haven’t seen that yet, thankfully). Remember Rory Sabbatini’s numerous attacks on Woods. Even then, his comments are well thought out and do not resemble something that Gary Busey would say. Speaking of Busey, isn’t about time for him to do something so ridiculous like endorse Dennis Kucinich for President of the United States or better yet, endorse himself.

Woods felt no need to comment in full extent or even to call for Tilghman to be fired because they have been friends for 12 years now. Not to mention, she called him and apologized. Something tells me the whole situation didn’t end so quickly and so simply as Woods and his agent put it. But the only people who got the full brunt of Woods reaction were his family. And that’s how it has always been to the dislike of the media.

Woods response reminded me of some of the most courageous and moving words I have ever heard. Bostonian Kai Leigh Harriott, who was paralyzed at the age of three by a gun shot, confronted the man who shot the stray bullet that her spine in a Boston court at five-years-old. While not condoning what the man did, she said, “I still forgive him.” Sometimes the best response is to not take action and move on to the next chapter. It’s something MLB players and professional cyclists should learn. Just because someone cheats, doesn’t mean everyone else does. Those words fit for everything in life.

Tilghman’s comments, while wrong and idiotic, should not be the conversation starter for a larger problem surrounding the multi-billion dollar golf world. She received a much deserved suspension and apologized to her friend that she wronged. She “manned” up (that phrase just doesn’t quite fit here…I need to think of something better and coin it). The same should be said for the cover of Golfweek. It just reeked of tabloid journalism. And while the intentions of the editors and reporters at Golfweek may have been good, their actions spoke differently.