Just when I thought it was safe to go back to the newsstands, I hear Vanity Fair will be featuring a shirtless, Tiger Woods on it’s next magazine cover, along with (I’m guessing) a tawdry expose on his recently revealed transgressions. I don’t know about you, but I am so over the Tiger bashing. It’s 2010 and I’m ready to move on and focus on more important things than dissecting a celebrity who has fallen from grace. Don’t get me wrong – what Tiger did was pretty bad – maybe even unforgivable. But my point is, we’re not the ones he needs to be seeking forgiveness from. What he did is really between him and his wife. Somehow, we’ve got it twisted that Tiger’s behavior is a direct affront to each and every one of us. It’s not. Right now, Tiger is being used as a green screen to project the world’s moral and ethical shortcomings on. As long as we can keep pointing the finger at him, we won’t have to deal with the three fingers pointing right back at us. How about in 2010 we stop judging and denigrating Tiger (and anyone else for that matter) and start looking at our own foibles, and working on how each of us can become better or more moral individuals.
The way I see it, the biggest problem the Tiger Woods fiasco has exposed is our need to elevate mortal man to God-like status and then knock him off the altar and rip him to shreds. What is with that? It’s a sickness we need to address in our culture. Stop looking to celebrities and sports figures to be anything but what they all are: talented, but flawed human beings, just like the rest of us. With all the psycho-analyzing and evaluating of Tiger’s character that’s been going on in the media, I haven’t heard one person clearsighted enough to understand that Elin isn’t the only one suffering…Tiger is suffering, too. Sex addiction, like any other addiction, is an emotional illness that points to a broken spirit - a person who is trying to fill a very deep hole (no pun intended) with everything but what he really needs- to fill himself with self. So how about a little compassion for the man who single-handedly integrated and elevated a sport that used to put ninety percent of America to sleep! A man whose charity foundation has helped needy children across the country. A man who we were once all proud to claim a piece of. Remember him?
This sad and unfortunate undoing of Tiger should serve as a cautionary tale for would-be Adulterers. There’s a new breed of woman out there. Taking a page from the Monica Lewinsky handbook, they not only come to the party with a bag of sex tricks, but a specimen kit as well. So while you’re sleeping off your wild night, beware because she’s probably taking hair samples, cell photos, toenail clippings and anything else she can save up to substantiate her claims and make out like a bandit when she calls Gloria Allred and comes forward with her story.
My hope for Tiger (wherever he is holed up) is that he finds a path to nurture and heal his spirit and that he emerges from this dungeon of despair, stronger, wiser and shining more brightly than ever.
I agree! The Tiger mess is getting old. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone…
Yes! I so agree with you. It’s so old and who cares???
I think you just spoke for the entire world with this one, Ms. Kim!
I have been saying that’s enough since the 1st week the story dropped and I wake up and that’s the 1st story on the news…On EVERY channel I’m like okay I thought there were more important things goin on in the world am I bugging??? That is that mans private life and it def. Will never take away his tremendous talent as a top pro golfer. I hate to sound ignorant but I have come to the conclusion that its because he is black. When the story broke about lettermen’s affairs it wasn’t made a huge ordeal by ther media I’m just saying. Either way that is their private life nothing to do with the whole world while it may be entertaining for some remember that they are not just a story Tiger woods is human smh can we get over it already??
My favorite part of your post:
“As long as we can keep pointing the finger at him, we won’t have to deal with the three fingers pointing right back at us. How about in 2010 we stop judging and decimating Tiger (and anyone else for that matter) and start looking at our own foibles, and working on how each of us can become better or more moral individuals.”
A family member of mine who is not the most moral of people criticized Tiger for what he has done, and that part of your post perfectly describes how I feel about that.
Very nice story. I’m sick of hearing about Tiger and “he needs to come forward and apologize”. I’ve been saying it to…he only owes his family…and maybe PGA & sponsors…an apology. Again, great story.
Thank you. I will find a way to communicate your message to the middle schoolers I work with re: society’s need to elevate and denigrate our hero’s. I look forward to their take on that phenomena as well. You also put the cautionary tale about the women “out there” with precision. The next thing I hope to hear from Tiger is his story about his recovery in his words in his time.
I am remembering Charles Barkley saying “I am not a role model”, and everyone being taken aback, but it’s true. Making a sports hero a role model is a cheap and easy way to ditch responsibility. Expecting them, or anyone, to be more than human, is the easy way out.
Take away the pontificators, and the cameras, and the money, and what you have with Tiger is the same sad story we’ve all seen too many times; a family falling apart. I don’t know when we got to the point that that qualified as entertainment, but I think it’s sad, and as much a commentary on our society’s failures as it is on Tiger’s.
Before it was Tiger & Elin it was Jon & Kate, before them someone else – and after Tiger, it will be yet someone else!
Serial misbehavior. Boy does THAT sound familiar.
Great post.
I agree completely. I have said all along he has not broken any legal laws yet the Nancy Graces and Joy Behar’s are acting as if he were an Al Quidah terrorist. Matter fact I heard Joy laughing that his ex wife should have beaten him more!! Now I don’t think I have ever heard anyone on the view advocate increased violence on women. Granted I don’t watch it, but you get the point.My dear old grand dad used to say ” what you eat don’t make me $%$%! ” What Tiger did does not make me want to cheat on my fiancee! Quite the opposite but I live my life for me not thru others.
I’m so done with this! Yes, Tiger disrespected his wife and violated his vows but I think that he is paying for his transgressions. Something is DEEPLy wrong with Tiger and he needs a lot of help. I just hope that he doesn’t turn to abusing drugs /alcohol to drown away his hurt, sadness, pain and despair. Tiger needs prayer. What he did, his wife may forgive but I doubt it if she’ll ever forget.
The media and society in general put so much emphasis on idolizing sports figures/celebs when in actuality they are just normal human beings like the rest of us. The difference is that their lives are in the spotlight so “we” expect them to be without flaws….WRONG! Tiger does not owe “us” an apology. I’m tired of hearing about this. Leave Tiger alone and let him take the necessary steps to deal with his problems. Golf will go on.
Great points…good post.
Here…here…Kimmy. I agree with you one hun-ned (ebonic speak) percent. I find it disheartening(in a way) that none of the heifers he was hanging with had a bit of nap, coil, kink, or natural wave in their head. To me, he’s telling the world “I don’t even find Black women pretty enough or worthy enough to cheat on my wife with.”
Rumor has it he’s in Africa w/Bono. Tiger better watch out. He may come back to the states a “real” black man. Who knows the outcome if that should happen. ;0\
I for one don’t think it’s Tiger’s fault at all. White women have a special ability to sway even the most upright of us Black men. It’s a God given weakness we have for them that stretches all the way back to the slave house when big Tyrone would just dream of the day that even a Big black slave like him can enjoy the pure flesh of the lilly white Ms. Madam. They have a power us that’s so strong, we couldn’t even fight if we wanted to. I think the Ugly waffle house waitress just put Roots on him though. Cause the ugly ones don’t have that power. LOL
But just like MLK’s dream. Every time a Black man can enjoy the fruits of a lily white woman.. we too our fulfilling our ancestor’s dreams.
P.S
If any of yall know my mama, please don’t share this with her. I will only deny it. LOL
BRETT – Your comment is hilarious. Good thing you didn’t leave your last name or the sistas would come hunt you down!!! Thanks for being so frank and honest. P.S. – Mama won’t find out!
HPPYNPPY – A definite “no nap” policy seems to be in effect. I’m happy they can’t blame a sista for bringing him down, though:).
Definitely so tired of it! Who I pity the most are those kids. The trauma they’ll have to live through not just as children but for when they are grown.
You had me until the Monica mention. She will never live that down no matter how hard she tries. To err is human, we all make mistakes.
Tiger, on the other hand, with his multiple “transgressions” deserves to be caught. You play, you pay.
Yeah, it can be tiring hearing about him. Let’s talk about Tila Tequila. LMAO. Just kidding. =)
YOU GO!!! I love what you had to say here! So true! So awesome! Keep up the good work Kim!!!
I agree with you wholeheartedly, Kim. Where’s the love Tiger was receiving when he broke the color/cultural barriers? Everyone was claiming him then as THEIR OWN, and got angry when he embraced his multi-cultural status. Now that it was exposed that he shares an illness with countless men around the world, non-cultural or race specific, backs are turning on him left and right.
People DO need to realize that sexual addiction is a real illness, and if you think about it from an anatomical standpoint, a man can give more than 1 woman can receive. I mean, a cup can only be filled so far, you know? Please excuse my brazenness, but it’s true.
I am not posting this to offer any excuses for anyone’s behavior, but I agree that once a celebrity in any arena has finished performing, they should be given the respect that any other human deserves…to be left to live their private life PRIVATELY.
Wow. I could nto have said it better. It’s amazing how many haters there really are out there. You are right we put celebrities and sports figures on these pedestals and when they fall off we just keep beating them down. Whatever happen to “when my brother is down let me help him up”. Amazingly we can see the plank in other’s eyes more thant he two by four that we keep hitting everyone else with in our own eye. I pray that Tiger and Elin can come through this stronger and united as a family. ( I know that’s not the popluar thought these days but I can always hope can’t I?)
Thanks Kim for the great blog!
Hey Kim, Happy New Year!You took the words out of my mouth.The greatest golf player is now a terrible and considered a player. I wish they would leave Tiger alone. He is right for hidding out; there are so many vultures out to get him. He should do what he’s doing, keep to himself, stay grounded,and focus on his family. When he comes back he gotta kick super butt in those future tournaments because the media will not leave him alone for a hot minute.
Tiger needs his otherside now. (you know who we are) Get ready to embrace him.
Tiger is suffering, too. Sex addiction, like any other addiction, is an emotional illness that points to a broken spirit – a person who is trying to fill a very deep hole (no pun intended) with everything but what he really needs- to fill himself with self.
Interesting take to say the least. One thing, would you please help a brother out and help me become a sex addict?
Seriously now, you are right, enough about Tiger, he needs to work himself out of this rough patch of his life in privacy and with peace.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I was just saying the same thing to some of my co-workers. These celebrities are put on pedestals so high, that if they make a move to one side or the other, they come crashing down. They are only human beings and will do some things right and some things wrong–JUST LIKE THE REST OF US. We all need to stay out of his and his wife’s business. Let them work it out. All we need to know about is when is his next golf tournament.
sorry didn’t mean 2 send it twice read the 2nd one LOL!
The media don’t give a flying flip about morals. It’s all about money and they will continue to milk this Tiger scandal till it’s dry.
BRETT- Shame on you! I’ve never felt so disgusted.
“It’s a God given weakness we have for them” You’ve been subconsciously brainwashed
I too am so very tired of hearing & seeing them tear down Tiger at every opportunity possible. Let it go! it was a personal issue between he, his wife & his family. If his father were still alive he would have put an end to all this negative press in a heartbreak – all those endorsements would not have been lost, and unless he signed some morals clause (& he probably did) his endorsements still shouldn’t be lost. Kobe, Jordan, & the rest still have theirs.
I think some groups were just waiting for Tiger to fail in some way, they could not stand the fact that he infiltrated their secluded restricted world of golf, putting them to shame & beating them at their own game. Tiger needs to get back to playing the game of golf and stop letting his personal business be in the forefront of the media’s eye.
His use-to-be-a-nanny wife, is counting the millions she’s going to get and counting her blessings she wasn’t the one who got caught first.
Lets focus on getting our economy back on its feet and stop worrying about who’s doing who.
I applaud you for standing up and saying it Kim; enough already with these kinds of character assassinations!
The way the press went after Tiger as soon as they got the chance, would only have been fairly reasonable had the rumours been about the Pope or Dr Phil – idols who preach to others how to live.
The only message Tiger has ever preached is empowerment, inspiring millions of people, if not billions, to follow their career dreams.
The press went for any excuse for a character assassination, plain and simple. And every gossip monger joining in on repeating what the press wrote, aided and abetted. Not humanity’s finest hour…
I applaud you for standing up and saying it Kim; enough already with these kinds of character assassinations!
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Lub and Bookmarks,
Thai
I totally agree with you. Tiger Who? If he wasn’t famous would we care? I think not. He had sex with different women a lot of men do this thing everyday.
One more thing I’m a writer for a new magazine and would love… love to get an interview with you. Please take a look at our website and let me know. Thank You!!!
This is the first time I’m reading a point of view of how Tiger is hurting. People presume because he has tons of money that he’s just doing what all men with men and power do. Yes that may be true but there’s something terrible awry about a man who let his extramarital affairs play out the way they did. It’s almost like he wanted to be found out.
There’s a serious case of ego-over-identification going on in our culture that so pervasive that you can cut it like a hot knife in a cold stick of butter.
Hi Kim,
People tend to forget that “celebrities” are human beings that make mistakes. I agree with you that Tiger is just a symtom of a problem in our larger society. Our morals seem to be at an all time low. But individually we have to make a commitment to ourselves to be better people and do better to make the world better as a whole. Always insightful and humorous.
Keisha
I have laughed until I cried Ms Kim…. and I have to ask, “what does Tigers’ manhood have to do with a white woman?”
LMAO on this one and justifying infidelity ~
c’mon now… let’s move on here….
Can you say, “SICK OF HEARING ABOUT TIGER AND THE INSINCERE APOLOGIES”???
Stomp into your day, say “YES” to the wonderment of life.
And remember… “If you mind yo own business you won’t be having any time to mind anyone else’s”
Blessings to all and thanks Sweet Kim for your blogs, your talents and mostly for YOU
I can not believe that Brett said this wasn’t Tiger’s fault! How dare he suggest that males are this helpless and weak toward White women. If so, then Tiger is doomed to fall from grace again because according to Brett it’s not really his fault. There he goes, a typical male chauvinist statement. Men are just victims of us female vixens. Well, you need to develop some backbone and commitment when you make a wedding vow. I’m sure even Tiger realizes that at last.