Posted on 12/13/2009 8:37:44 AM PST by nickcarraway
One of the world's most scrutinized professional athletes, with a pristine image, has been keeping infidelity under wraps. Many wonder how he pulled it off.
As the carefully constructed public image of Tiger Woods continued its excruciating free fall last week, one question perplexed those who think there should have been hints of trouble: How was it possible for Woods, among the world's most scrutinized professional athletes, to keep his infidelity secret for so long?
Just about everyone is at a loss: the golf writers who banter with Woods (when he allows it), golf fanatics who can tell you which way his golf ball's Nike logo was facing when Woods chipped it into the 16th hole in the final round of the 2005 Masters, paparazzi whose paid informants can sniff out a straying spouse a mile away.
How was Woods, 33, able to maintain a pristine image as a loving husband, father and son that was apparently at raging odds with his private life?
Some say Woods' famously controlling nature allowed him to philander unsuspected. (On Friday he admitted publicly that he had cheated on his wife.) Some wonder whether intimidated golf reporters never pressed Woods because they did not want to risk losing the little access they had to the sport's premier practitioner. Some believe that fellow players, had they suspected, would have kept mum because of Woods' beneficial effect on TV ratings, their earnings and public interest in golf.
Others think the singular nature of professional golf itself made it possible for Woods to create a nearly impenetrable zone of privacy -- or secrecy.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
You ARE RIGHT, Balding Eagle.
OTOH, when the NY Times did a story on Limbaugh, the writer talked about offering to leave the tip at a restaurant where they ate. I forget the details, but apparently Limbaugh is a huge tipper and the measly tip left by the Times reporter embarrassed him. I forget if Limbaugh went back and tipped more or just told the staff he'd make it up next time, but he didn't call the reporter out on it. The reporter found out later.
However, suppose Hitler visited Dachau and somehow
he mas captured by the inmates and was literally torn
asunder. Human forgiveness can't reach the level of
Divine forgiveness.
Yes, the men of God, certainly and well deserved are
and should be held to a higher moral standard.
Personally, I think politicians should be held to the
highest standards with the toughest punishment for
transgressions while in office. {Clinton, it's just sex}
As for Tiger, it was ability to use his unparalled
skills to amass a billion dollars. This wealth
allowed him to degrade himself. Compare his behavior
to Warner the quarterback for Arizona. Read Warner's
biography.
Woods's has a massive character flaw. His wife should
take herself and the kids back to, is it Sweden?,
her country. Those children shouldn't have to grow
up with a father who has behaved so horribly scurrilously.
No, there is no schadenfreude involved with Tiger,
just utter contemp. But money trumps all. Golf
"needs" him.
... I’m not so sure we know the specifics of the negotiations. I’ve heard a half a dozen versions.
RE: “The hater finds much satisfaction in seeing some form of misfortune come to another person.”
*****************
Another poster, ‘grand wazoo’ said it well — try reading his/her #33 on this thread —
Do I dislike Woods? — you’re darned right! But my reasons for disliking him since he burst onto the golf scene have had nothing to do with his so-called personal life. It was all about how he conducted himself at tournaments. Arrogant, obnoxious and rude summed it up.
And now all of this — I have no sympathy for the ‘fallen idol.’
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
His article is well worth reading. Particularly amusing is the commentary from Charles Barkley:
The danger is that we have come to admire celebrities more than real heroes. Charles Barkley famously made this point in 1993 when he declared, "a million guys can dunk a basketball in jail; should they be role models?" Later that year, Barkley filmed a self-written Nike commercial in which he argued that athletes should not be considered role models: "I am not a role model," Barkley said. "I am not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball, doesn't mean I should raise your kids."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/14/the-absurdity-of-athlete-worship/ [commentary by Armstrong Williams]
His article is well worth reading. Particularly amusing is the commentary from Charles Barkley:
The danger is that we have come to admire celebrities more than real heroes. Charles Barkley famously made this point in 1993 when he declared, “a million guys can dunk a basketball in jail; should they be role models?” Later that year, Barkley filmed a self-written Nike commercial in which he argued that athletes should not be considered role models: “I am not a role model,” Barkley said. “I am not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball, doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”
Maybe a bigger question to come out of this is:
How obligated are the media to report "wrong doing?"
How about the public. Most of us have been taught:
"don't be a tattle tail." In the criminal world
being a "snitch" is a death sentence.
Congress has passed laws protecting "whistle blowers."
IRS pays a reward for reporting tax cheats. We're on
difficult ground here.
I guess it is "Animal Farm" all over. Some are more
equal than others. Maybe it's like the judge on the
SCOUS famously said, "I can't define porn but I know
it when I see it."
Aren't some enterprises "too big to fail.". Tiger
certainly belonged to that group. I guess there is a
"tipping point" to every dilemma. Define that point
and you have solved the mysteries of the universe.
BTW - There was an article in the British Press from last week interviewing other wives of PGA players and it said the wives warned Elin about Tiger and his 'proclivities' when they were dating...they said Elin shrugged it off and said she knew about it.
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