Sports Arena
The Lady and the Tiger
So a man and his wife have some kind of falling out…
So a man and his wife have some kind of falling out late in the evening after a long and claustrophobic Thanksgiving Day and he, in a pique of frustration, grabs the car keys and makes a beeline for some breathing room. Unhappy at not getting the last word, the missus grabs the nearest object -- in this case, a golf club -- and bounds out the door after him to continue making her point. Result? The hubby has an abrupt meeting with a nearby fire hydrant while the wife lovingly uses her former weapon of choice as a means of extricating her better half from the car.
Now, I'm sure this sort of thing happens all the time; so what, you may ask, is the big deal? Well if it so happens that the scene of the incident was an exclusive Florida golf community, the car was a custom Cadillac Escalade and the club was a Nike Victory Red TW Blade with a standard size Tour Velvet grip and True Temper Dynamic Gold X-100 shaft, chances are that the hubby on the spot was none other than Tiger Woods, golf champion and endorsement king.
As I said, these brief interruptions of domestic bliss occur with stunning regularity all over the world and certainly no less frequently among the rich and famous, and yet this story has been the subject of endless speculation and reportage for days. The way the media have been carrying on, you'd think that a former vice president and his UN cronies had been caught falsifying evidence in order to bilk the U.S. and other civilized nations out of billions of dollars.
But we really shouldn't be surprised that Woods has been on the receiving end of so much heat, especially from the leftists in the mainstream media. Up to this point, aside from unfortunate outbursts of anger on the links where he mouths his generation's preferred obscenities, his very public life has been virtually free from stain or scandal. In a culture, so hailed and even promoted by our media, that celebrates the vulgar and outrageous, the life of Tiger Woods -- possibly the greatest golfer of all time and certainly the richest -- must have seemed an impossible oddity. And so, when a chink in his mighty armor appears, they are all too thrilled to dwell on it.
We have seen this time and again, particularly when the imperfection of conservatives or religious figures is involved. For some reason, those who are irreligious are incredulous that the truly religious acknowledge that they are not perfect. That man is a flawed creature who is nevertheless capable of overcoming his innate defects with divine help, is the reason we base our legal system on moral imperatives like the Ten Commandments. This concept was universally accepted until only short years ago but has been perverted into the notion that no one can be truly good or deserving of emulation.
Years ago, Paul Simon summed up this loss when he asked, "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?" Yes, in recent years, even the Yankee Clipper is vilified because he dared ask Marilyn Monroe to quit her day job to be his wife. There will be no more role models in America unless they are deemed by the media to be absolutely perfect. Ayn Rand, writing in The Fountainhead, has the unctuous socialist Ellsworth Toohey explain the method: "Don't set out to raze all shrines -- you'll frighten men. Enshrine mediocrity, and the shrines are razed." One cannot help thinking of our current president when reading these presciently chilling words.
Of course the leftist media has other fish to fry with Tiger Woods. Although his politics are not known, he has gone out of his way not to make an issue of his skin color and declined to encourage others to play the victimhood game. Apart from citing incidents of discrimination in his youth, Woods has refused to be pigeon-holed into the familiar roles played by so many minority celebrities and instead comported himself just as you would expect the son of a career U.S. military officer to do.
The other night, I watched an NFL game where the object of the camera's affection ad nauseam was Baltimore's Ray Lewis, a man who was involved with the stabbing deaths of two men but was allowed to cop a plea of obstruction of justice in return for testifying against two other defendants. Mr. Lewis has endorsement deals with Vitamin Water, Renato Watches and Under Armor, Inc. and yet we are asked to believe that Tiger Woods' domestic dustup should somehow penalize his earning potential.
It seems that in sports, as well as politics, the double standard is par for the course.
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Northern Rebel| 12.3.09 @ 6:54AM
While I don't think adultery is a good thing, (neither does my wife) The anal exam celebrities get under Tiger Woods type circumstances, also leaves something to be desired.
I understand it comes with the territory, but I find The happiness others take in one's misery, (I know I can't spell the German word) disgusting, and shallow.
Nothing will stop media from trying to profit from it, so I guess I'll try not to take pleasure in the fact that newsprint media is dying before my eyes, much like my former occupation already has.
Time to get a real job, kids!
Appleby| 12.3.09 @ 7:02AM
Schadenfreude is the word you are looking for -- the unholy glee at the misfortune of someone you believe has been worshipped and glorified beyond his actual perfection.
Personally, I am never surprised when yet another man proves that he simply cannot keep his zipper under control. I am surprised that so far I have not heard an outcry that all his bimboes are young White Barbies.
Howard| 12.3.09 @ 9:37AM
"I am surprised that so far I have not heard an outcry that all his bimboes are young White Barbies.'
That would put the media in a pickle, as they then have to deal with stereotypes of black bucks overwhelming vulnerable white women. Sort of a George Lincoln Rockwell statement. It's much easier for the media to go after his tarnished virtues of self-reliance, etc. Especially in this Age of Obama, where we all 'need" to be dependent on the grace of the State.
Pingback| 12.3.09 @ 8:26AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : The Lady and the Tiger [spectator.or links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Fred McCarthy| 12.3.09 @ 8:59AM
The media frenzy is (almost) unbelievable. One PR "expert" on TV told us the fans have "lost confidence" in Woods! How does one lose confidence in a professional golfer? Are to assume that he may throw a tournament with a million dollar purse in order to win a thousand dollar bet? Or have these fans come to consider a professional athlete their "father confessor" as well? The problem is between the man, his wife and his God. Everybody else buzz off!!!!
Appleby| 12.3.09 @ 9:05AM
The man, his wife, his God, and the continuing eruption of bimboes with their lawyers ...
dcd| 12.3.09 @ 1:00PM
Just like Clinton?
Indiana Alex| 12.3.09 @ 9:07AM
I have to say I'm disappointed in Tiger if not entirely surprised.
I would expect that his 2010 season will be shortened or otherwise impacted by tendonitis of the hand, wrist, or elbow as he will quite rightly be on his own for some time now.
a wyatt man| 12.3.09 @ 11:49PM
LMAO
Shez| 12.3.09 @ 9:36AM
Surprised that Tiger had numerous mistresses?!?!Anyone with even a minimum knowledge of who Tigers two close, if not closest, friends are-Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley-should not be surprised in the least. In fact, the scandal is that none of this came to light years ago. Hushed up by the Golf Channel and other media. PGA players too frightened at being called racists to say anything.
Now you know why Mickelson held Woods in contempt.
Jordan and Barkley are two of the most disgusting humans on the planet. Serial adulterers-if not worse- and Tiger has long claimed them as his two close friends-even calling Jordan a big brother.
These two clowns, these staggeringly disgusting humans, considered marriage vows of no consequence whatsoever. Strippers/whores were and are their main thing. Marriage? Wife and Kids? Are you kidding me?? Barkely and Jordan never let marriage stand in the way of sex with stripper/whores.
And Tiger learned from and emulated them.
No the scandal is the kid glove treatment of Jordan and Barkley, and the hushing up of years of Tiger's adulterous behavior.
But hey, the half-wits among us got no prob wit dat, Homes. Clinton in 2012!
Eric Damon| 12.3.09 @ 10:14AM
See, your problem is that you are one of those people who confuse athletic greatness with personal goodness. Whatever Mike Jordan and Chuck Barkley did in their private lives, it does not diminish what they were as players...all time greats.
And to be honest, if I was in Tiger Woods spot...a Black athlete being pressured to inject myself into political questions that could cause me financial harm, I would have turned to Jordan as well, because no one has handled that better than Mike.
And why the hell are you so angry that the media didn't publicize Mike and Chuck's indiscretions? Because the fact of the matter is that they did; I knew about Jordan's romps with some chick iin Charlotte, his being on the brink of divorce a couple of times before Juanita finally had enough, and we all know about how poorly Charles Barkley acted throughout his career. So what kid gloves treatment did they get, and what preferential treatment is Tiger Woods getting?
I suggest that we all climb down off our moral high horses and stop acting like the world is going to stop spinning because Tiger Woods cheated on his wife. Whatever happens from this point on will be between Tiger, Elin, and any attorneys that are brought into the picture. People of all walks of life fall short of perfection and make mistakes in their personal lives, but that doesn't make them anathema to the rest of society. It just means that they struggle like the rest of us and they made mistakes where others didn't.
And since you are so into outrage about hushing up the foibles of others, I am sure you now hate DiMaggio, Mantle, Ruth, Elway, and a host of other athletes who also "never let marriage stand in the way of sex with stripper/whores"? Right? Or is your inclusion of what you obviously think passes for "black patois" at the end of your sermonizing rant an indication that your outrage dries up when it is some white guy caught with his wick in strange wax?
Shez| 12.3.09 @ 10:23AM
Tiger hangs out with Dimaggio, Mantle, and Ruth?
Matt Morehouse| 12.3.09 @ 10:45AM
...and OJ was a great running back.
http://www.conversationsaround.....ogspot.com
a wyatt man| 12.3.09 @ 11:53PM
don't forget about Earvin "Magic" Johnson...another "fine upstanding affleet"..he had (men?) and women in every city he went to......and got the hiv as a result.
Jared Barnes| 12.3.09 @ 9:46AM
Lisa Fabrizio really does it find it necessary to politicize every aspect of life. And, this time it's sports. Tiger is very rich, and very famous, and it's certainly his right to enjoy the perks of his status. But, it's also the right of the tabloid media to make a buck. Do you think the tabloid media respects the privacy of Hollywood liberals like George Clooney? The tabloid media is not conservative or liberal, it is capitalist. What liberal media is Ms. Fabrizio referring to ... The New York Times? I don't think the Times is leading this story. I would think Ms. Fabrizio would understand this obvious truth. Perhaps she's angling for a late-night call from Mr. Woods.
Shamus| 12.3.09 @ 9:50AM
Tiger normally has no trouble with his drive, but since he sank his putz, she came after him with his woods.
Thomas| 12.3.09 @ 11:33AM
The Tiger woods story has little to do with an "agenda" by the press, but rather about hype. This is a classic story of the hero with the feet of clay. The image of Tiger Woods was not only that of a great golfer, a sports hero, but that of the perfect husband, father and family man. He cashed in on a squeaky clean image. Unfortunately, he could not live up to that image. Scandals sell papers. And that is what a portion of the media is doing.
The mainstream media has been bending over backward not to report this story. First was simply a traffic accident. Then the media spent literally days claiming there was no "evidence" of any infidelity [as if the lack of evidence has ever stopped them from printing a story]. Now we have entered the "it's a private family matter" realm among the "real" journalists. Would a celebrity who publicly espoused conservative ideas or, worse yet, spoke out against liberal ideas get this kind of pass from the MSM? No. As previously stated, the water for this story is being carried by media that has made its living exposing high profile personal scandals.
When you have built your public life on the image that you portray, you can't suddenly say, "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain", when that cutain is pulled away.
Jared Barnes| 12.3.09 @ 11:35AM
Very well said Thomas.
Andrew B| 12.3.09 @ 11:44AM
The whole, sordid situation is depressing, but there is one part of it which will forever remain a mystery to me. If young, handsome, successful and titanically rich young celebrities want to whore around with everything in a skirt...why do they get married?
Nobody these days would blink an eye if a single Tiger Woods slept his way through the ranks of every cocktail waitress, stripper and nightclub hostess or earth. He's a grown-up. Why did he have to embroil his wife and children in this lifestyle that he chose--unbidden--for all of them?
Tim| 12.3.09 @ 12:00PM
The same mojo that makes his opinions on clubs, sunglasses and doofus hats worth billions guarantees that millions will want to know his every secret.
It's why he gets paid the big bucks.
Interested Conservative| 12.3.09 @ 12:20PM
The greatest Thai-American golfer in history, and not a peep about anti-asian racism!
Finbargh| 12.3.09 @ 1:24PM
Sadly for Tiger, he just was not, by today’s standards, black enough meaning he was not instinctively Leftist. To wit:
1. When Clinton invited him to the White House for a self-serving photo-op, Tiger declined asking why the invite did not come before he won the Masters that year. To the Left, exposing one of their stock-in-trade tactics, misdirection, had to be irritating.
2. Unlike most black celebrities and politicians throughout the Bush interregnum, Tiger did not reflexively criticize Bush-Cheney as evil incarnate. He did his talking on the golf course where he was well-spoken.
3. Lastly, he did not stump for Obama. Given the 95% VS. 5% voting returns among the African-American electorate, this point needs no elaboration.
Had he merely fulfilled his ex officio duties as a liberal black American, he would now be circled by several rings of liberal wagons and a Greek chorus, led by the likes of Chris Matthews or Keith Olberman, would be chanting in unison that this is a private matter between Tiger and his wife.
Joe| 12.3.09 @ 1:26PM
I agree with you Shez. Finally, someone had to say it. I think his indorsement should be taken away. He got them for not only being a great Golfer, but his squeeky clean image. Otherwise it is between his wife, God and himself.
And by the way, are we to excuse Tiger, Michael and others. No. The reason we have this is because of people like Damon who excuse this behavior because they are great at something. Wrong is no longer wrong, right Damon?
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Derek Leaberry| 12.3.09 @ 4:18PM
I don't like golf and I don't understand the obsession millions of Americans have for Tiger Woods. I would be less inclined not to buy a product he endorses as I detest the public relations culturefuzz Americans absorb themselves in. However, by the fact that she has a cleverly negotiated prenumptual agreement with her husband, Erin Nordegren has pretty much admitted that she is for rent and at a steep price at that. Behind the glittering facade we have two self-centered narcissists in a titanic struggle over millions of dollars and choice real estate properties.
JohnD| 12.3.09 @ 7:04PM
Nice shot at Ray Lewis. As a proud Baltimorean, and Ravens fan, Ray has been a model citizen since the unfortunate incident in 2000. Among his extensive charitable work, every August he hands out tens of thousands of dollars in school supplies to Baltimore's neediest children, and over the last decade he has been the best defensive player in the NFL, possibly in history.
And at the end of the trial in which he and his entourage were accused of murder, an Atlanta jury decided no murder was committed at all. That is always conveniently left out when the topic of Ray Lewis comes up, but I guess that is because he doesn't play for the New York Giants.
The rest of you can call Ray a murderer all you want; I have watched and listened to the man over the last 10 years and I can say I am happy to have him living among us here in Baltimore.
AD| 12.3.09 @ 10:41PM
Kinda like "Clinton and Monica" huh??? Nothing more needs to be said??
Kim Knepper| 12.3.09 @ 11:35PM
Looks like Tiger will give her $5 mill to hang in for two more years, and he'll also up the pre-nup. Who says love doesn't pay? Kim
Pete| 12.4.09 @ 12:52AM
Can we just drop the "made a mistake" spin when referring to morally egregious behavior, please? Making a mistake is putting on one black and one brown sock early in the morning, because the light is bad. Committing adultery? Well that is just being an unmitigated a***ole.
joey| 12.4.09 @ 1:09AM
Hey! Where the White Women be at.
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Nathan Bickel| 12.4.09 @ 2:35PM
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Kim| 12.4.09 @ 5:48PM
1st, i wish tiger would drop michael jordan and charles barkley his two good friends.
2. Why in the world would tiger chose these type women. Those with nothing going on
3. if he was not married he could be dating super models not these types.
4. I don't understand this women telling everyone and forwarding emails and texts to their friends. \
5. Why do they need a payout to keep quiet? i thought black mail was against the law.
6. Another man of color being put back in place.
7. i hope he is does not get suicidal.
8 . tmz.com and radaronline.com are reporting all types of crazy stuff, are they paying people for these stories.
9 maybe tiger should move to europe where they don't care.
Richard Baker| 12.4.09 @ 6:37PM
As an Army kid myself, I don't think that Tiger learned these lessons from LTC Wood, his father, may he Rest in Peace.
Radegunda| 12.5.09 @ 2:27AM
Why do people insist on calling Tiger "black" when he is only one-quarter black, half Asian, and one-quarter white (European)? He has never wanted to label himself racially (which would be pretty hard to do), and that has been one reason for his popularity.
Richard Baker| 12.5.09 @ 10:31AM
Radegunda:
Correct. Tiger, Obama, and many of the kids I grew up with in the '50s-'60s Army were just like them when my Career soldier Father was in service. Mixed races were a norm in the world in which I grew up. No big deal. Neither man is "black" except by Ku Klux Klan standards. Is that what the Kenyan means by "diverse?"
steve| 12.6.09 @ 4:38PM
Poor Tiger. I can't imagine how he can concentrate on the holes when sooo many celeb-o-mania babes want to autograph his great purple nine iron!
Brian| 12.7.09 @ 12:35AM
If a regular person had been driving like Tiger the police would not have begged invain for three days for an interview. They would have kicked down his door and dragged him by the hair to the police station.
gerald stephens| 12.7.09 @ 8:45AM
TIGER...HANG TOUGH!
The scum press will, as with all scum, dissipate.
Concentrate on your family and go back to being the greatest golfer in the world at present, and perhaps throughout all golfing history.
Gerald Stephens
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I suggest that we all climb down off our moral high horses and stop acting like the world is going to stop spinning because Tiger Woods cheated on his wife.