Tiger by the Tail!

As the sordid details of his so-called "private life" over the last couple years unfolds, Tiger has this to say:

"But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don't share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions...".

This just goes to show how completely clueless he is (for that matter, any public figures here or anywhere is)--that once you go "public", your entire life, is just that! Some of us make a distinction between a politician and a sportsman, that somehow the latter's private life and foibles are less open to scrutiny than a politician's. While that distinction is not untrue, its not entirely true either. Once a sports personality such as Tiger, takes my money, be it in the form of a paid ticket to his event or a product endorsement from Nike, AT&T or American Express (all of which I use, so in effect, Tiger has bettered himself with my money), he has established an implied social contract with me which, once established, requires him to maintain his life, both public and private, above reproach. Any whiff of impropriety--and it looks like the flood-gates are opening here as far as Tiger's many escapades over the last 2 years!-- should be dealt with openly and honestly, and with candor. To his fans, Tiger's sex life is private only within the confines of socially accepted norms, i.e., marriage (of course, if he were single, his lease would be a lot looser). While deviations are not uncommon in the common man (think Barack Obama on drugs in his college days), no such leeway exists once you are a public personality (President Obama doing drugs today would not be as well accepted or tolerated as Obama doing drugs in college, to which he has freely admitted, and for which the population seems to have had no problem with).

If Tiger means what he says (as quoted above) and is serious about facing his demons and vanquishing them, he should be willing to keep but a small portion of his $800 million fortune for 13 years of work since turning pro, and donate the rest to charity. As far as his wife Elin is concerned, I can't see what she has in common with Tiger, and there is really nothing to keep her from walking away from this with half his earnings from the last 5 years (and the 2 kids). And last but not the least, this incident--and all that has led up to this-- might well mark the end of the phenom of Tiger Woods. Physical prowess and athleticism matter a whole lot less in this game, which tends to explain why golfers peak in their 40's, and it is not uncommon for the 50-something golfer to win tournaments whilst 20-somethings fail to make the cut. In the end, and in the rarefied atmosphere of professional golf, it is a game of intense focus and mental challenge. Where reading every inflexion on the green to the minutest detail makes the difference between a birdie or a bogey, even the slightest lack of concentration can dramatically alter the names on the leader board come Sunday afternoon. Golf is a demanding mistress that does not tolerate well being in second place to any other! Will Jack Nicklaus's record of winning 18 majors stand, or will it be shattered in our lifetime? Tiger is well within range to make this record, his. But first, he has a tough choice to make--and for all of us that enjoy this game, I hope he chooses wisely!

Let me know your comments/thoughts on this...