Another Perspective
Tiger Truth
It takes two to scandal.
Tired of hearing about Tiger Woods, and the media’s “slicing” of him? (We’ll avoid “hooking,” the slices’ counterpart here.) Try this:
Woods is no worse, or better, than the other half of the gender world — women. They are no longer the supine “ladies” prepared at a moment’s suggestion to leap into bed, or backseats, and perform what the masculine press now calls “sexual acts.” Yet, what do we read or hear about women in this context? They can be “cocktail waitresses,” or any variety of greeters, hat-checkers, or strippers.
But one thing they cannot be is as Tiger Woods — condemned. In headlines.
Much has been said about sexual inequality — but nothing compares to the extent in the Woods’ case.
All of his “partners” are simply there for the taking. Theirs is the age-old presumption founded by men of women: they are supremely supine, innocent and willing participants in a man’s game and subject only to invitation. This takes them out of the game and nearly off the page. Defenders of this inequality may say, “Yeah, but these partners are not golfers, not tennis stars, hockey goalies, halfbacks, not even half-naked country-singers. They are just women.”
Ergo, they are not equals to Woods. They are merely women, subject to his desires. They are not capable of sin on their own! Oh? They do not compete is his moral class? His immorality is a far superior playing field than theirs? Let’s hope St. Peter sees it that way, ushers them past the pearlies while eyeing that fellow down the line in a T-shirt carrying a five-iron.
Women who demand equality and smash at glass ceilings should be outraged at the fact that one famous fellow can eclipse their fellow females in such a way. He alone is the transgressor. Those others thrashing about in motel bedrooms don’t count. Even though, come to think of it, they perform a vital role in the entire sordid story.
About the Author
Reid Collins is a former CBS and CNN news correspondent.
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Appleby| 12.16.09 @ 7:07AM
I agree with this summary; in fact, I am betting that somewhere out there is a pregnant cocktail waitress or Wal-Mart employee, who is even now engaging a PR firm and a phalanx of lawyers as she contemplates the jackpot Baby Bump that will lead her to a life of luxury and fame....
It still amazes me, however, that forty years after women were liberated, the world still teems with girls who believe a man who wants a quickie in the parking lot when he says that he Loves them. As long as it is that easy to fool little girls, the ground will be, er, fertile for men like Tiger Woods.
Play| 12.16.09 @ 2:38PM
I have news for you. There are plenty of women who just want a quickie also, in the parking lot or in a 5 star hotel room. This game isn't just about men fooling women with lies. There's no shortage of people intending to fool others -- on both sides of the gender fence.
Duke| 12.16.09 @ 8:49AM
It's about time someone spoke up about this. Are all of these women just automatons that blithely surrender their charms at a nod from celebrities? The sad truth is..... they do. And they should be pilloried for their lack of morals just as their famous partners are.
Adheeb| 12.16.09 @ 9:05AM
As I see it, these women are as guilty as Woods, however, they did not betray those who loved them. Woods responsibilty goes beyond that of these women and to equate the two deminishes the harm Woods has done to the innocent.
DarrenG| 12.16.09 @ 10:19AM
Adheeb, I wouldn't go as far as to say "they did not betray those who loved them." We have no IDEA who they've hurt in their own lives.
The sad fact is, a bet more than a couple of them have relationships that they would have potentially ruined were it not for the current state of instant celebrity and a bunch of cuckolded boyfriends more than willing to swallow their pride for a taste of the fame and green that is soon to be coming everyone's way for the rights to their sleazy stories.
But let's not forget that they have families too and I'm sure all of their daddies are proud!
Roy| 12.16.09 @ 10:25AM
I just think nobody cares about them because they aren't celebs.
Don serge| 12.16.09 @ 9:14AM
In the Old Testament one is inclined to place all the blame on David for his adultery, however Bathsheeba can not be held blameless. She had to have known that her rooftop bath could be seen by David from his higher rooftop.
Ed Blake| 12.16.09 @ 9:27AM
While I don't disagree with Mr. Collins assessment of the sexual hypocrisy involved, the fact that these women are all trollops of varying degrees would lead me to believe that this sort of behavior is expected of them. They make their livings as "escorts" or hangers-on to the likes of Tiger Woods and other monied male celebrities. Mr. Woods has cultivated an air of aloofness and correct behavior very assiduously on the golf course to such a degree that the public has assumed he is that way off the course. This, coupled with appearances with his family reinforced this image. Tiger was just out for a little fun, but to these women it was their livelihood and means of getting attention. I doubt they ever gave the morality issue a second thought.
JJ| 12.16.09 @ 10:14AM
Well said, Mr. Blake, well said.
Doorgunner| 12.16.09 @ 11:12AM
Please, stop making excuses for Mr. Woods. The larger point is that he, like any other person attempting to sell an image, is by necessity a fraud. There is Tiger Woods the golfer, and there is Tiger Woods the pitchman; both are less than the actual, flawed, human being Tiger Woods.
Human beings all have character flaws; and every flaw exists within the prism of another individual's flawed perception. Idols are therefore incomplete; their character lacunae filled by an idolator's own personal hopes of redemption. So much more is the anguish of the worshipper when the idol publicly fills in the gaps with despicable behavior.
The larger point? Man up and be your own hero; Tiger is just a long-pampered golfer with juvenile appetites. No one who thinks of themself as adult should have needed an Escalade crash to recognize that.
Dave| 12.16.09 @ 12:13PM
I have no idea what this means, but this is the worst thing to happen to Tiger and, at the same time, the best thing to happen to some or all of these women.
Radegunda| 12.16.09 @ 2:07PM
Dave, it didn't "happen to Tiger"--unless you mean getting caught. Tiger did it.
But I agree that he is only slightly more culpable (because of his vows) than the women who knowingly trashed another woman's marriage and hurt her children. It's appalling that they are being treated almost as whistle-blowers rather than perps. For them to be profiting from it is even worse.
Dai Alanye | 12.16.09 @ 12:46PM
The women are unimportant to the story, which is that Tiger Woods is a stupid slut, willing to risk one of the best jobs in the country for a few brief thrills. I'm sure he and Willie Clinton can have a great time reminiscing when they fully retire.
james wilson| 12.16.09 @ 1:24PM
Ask the wrong question and you'll get the wrong answer.
These VIP 'services' are designed to collect the type of women that Woods and others seek, without the complications great wealth draws. Mission accomplished, as far as I know.
There are many athletes who have upwards of ten illegitimate children, and all come out of states where women hit the support jackpot as in California. Those men tend to be of very low IQ, which does not include golfers, but many other pitfalls are avoided in this arrangement as well.
The inequality of blame is an issue that lies outside these peculiar arrangements.
Seek| 12.16.09 @ 1:39PM
News flash: Rock stars do not chase groupies. Groupies chase rock stars. The same dictum holds for athletes. Elin Woods can be seen as a groupie who hit the jackpot. She now can walk off with the king's ransom in divorce court.
I have no patience with either religious fundamentalists or gender feminists who project evil onto the Evil Tiger, while lamenting the fate of all those "helpless" women whom he "exploited." Men of excellence shouldn't be held to a higher standard of resisting sexual congress than everyone else. The old saw is true: It takes two to tango.
jacobin| 12.16.09 @ 3:07PM
Woods' wife "can be seen as a groupie who hit the jackpot", or not -- how do you know? But anyone who equates being an excellent man with being able to knock a little ball into a hole in fewer tries than other guys is a fool anyhow.
Jeff J| 12.16.09 @ 1:46PM
A story about Rachel Uchitel won't sell any newspapers.
brown| 2.24.10 @ 1:19PM
Tiger Woods has been the most richest, the best player in golf and one of the most successful persons in sports history. Many have taken him as a role model and still are. However the recent acquisitions made against him has really weakened the masculine factor in him. He has become way too sloppy. He has lost his charm, charisma and the willingness to come back to his top form. He has become a joke to many of his counterparts. I only hope he knows what he is doing! Colts Tickets
Rich Rostrom| 12.16.09 @ 2:08PM
The difference is not male/female, it's married/wealthy/celebrity versus sex-toy. The same rule has applied when a female celebrity takes up with a gigolo. The woman is condemned; the toyboy is not.
"All of his "partners" are simply there for the taking..."
Likewise with gigolos. There's a pool of such people always available to the wealthy and important. We condemn them as a class, but as individuals no one of them is responsible for the existence of the class. On the other hand, the celebrity (male or female) bears full responsibility for his own behavior.
Which is to say that if Trixie (or Rod) doesn't, Traci (or Buck) will; but Tiger's the only one with his hand on Tiger's zipper.
Bulwark| 12.16.09 @ 2:15PM
Adultery has a way of equalizing the participants...something about bedfellows. Tiger had money and fame. He gave the women who participated with him some of both. The difference is, he has the ability to go out and re-claim both in some measure. They never had nor lost either one. His was the farther fall and his will be the harder uphill climb should he decide to take it.
brown| 2.24.10 @ 1:40PM
I don't understand why the media is so much harassment to Tiger woods'. There are millions of people outside maybe even among the critics who have done similar sins (Perhaps more) like Woods. Yet it is the condition of Woods that is pitiful. It is utterly disgracing from the Medias side to constantly haunt him just because he has made an error one time. Why I think Tiger Woods should be left out is that he admitted his crime which makes him sincere! If he hadn't many of us wouldn't have known and we would have still considered that lady who made those accuses to be some stripper wanting to get fame and money!
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Al Adab| 12.16.09 @ 3:04PM
...and all this time I spent on the golf course I was worried about my handicap.
Elle| 12.16.09 @ 3:28PM
The women in this case are being called all manner of names. They are scorned and demeaned. They have it coming since they refused to concern themselves fallout to children let alone to the wife or even to their own emotional health.
However the vows were between Elin and Tiger Woods. That gives his betrayal a special dimension.
Shez| 12.16.09 @ 3:41PM
Ditto Dogrunner.
Anyone with the slightest knowledge of Tiger's pals Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley had to know this was coming.
Tiger is a fraud, Jordan and Barkley are even worse.
How I hope Nike gets taken down a few notches as well.
GregA| 12.16.09 @ 5:37PM
I buy my sneakers at Walmart for $19. They are made in China, just like Nikes.
brown| 2.24.10 @ 1:59PM
Tiger Woods has always been my favorite player in gold and I still like him. He may be not in a good shape right now. However the recent accusations against him had really taken a toll on him. Many of the fans including me supported him despite his illegal affairs however it was not the case until he came up with yet another immoral crime. He was heard releasing his own private nude photos and videos to the media. Many children are considering him to be their role model and if he dont realize that and does something like this how does he expect us to support him and cheer for him. That is absurd!
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drainthe swamp| 12.16.09 @ 3:55PM
At last ! A golf story that isn't totally boring !
Bob Veigel| 12.16.09 @ 7:54PM
And as the old saying goes, two wrongs make a right. Men do it, but so do women, so all is OK. We do live at a great time. Anything goes, everybody does it. What is the problem? After all, that is just human nature. Good model to follow? Some like it, some do not. Where do you stand? It does make a difference.
Paulus| 12.16.09 @ 9:12PM
All of these females are nothing more than prostitutes and all were paid in one way or another. Tiger was their wealthy John who was exposed as a serial adulterer. In Old Testament times, they would have all paid a rather heavy price for committing adultery. Now these nasty femmes sue for as large a piece of Tiger they can rip off and all are getting free publicity to spark a possible career in porn movies.
carl| 12.16.09 @ 11:16PM
What was once "the great equalizer" to bring equality among the sexes is now used as a weapon to conquer and dominate the male.
Sara| 12.17.09 @ 9:14AM
Oh yes, these poor damsels in distress used by the Tiger. Whoring around and family wrecking is an equal opportunity lifestyle now. These female sluts are proud of their conquest of a wealthy and famous male slut as demonstrated by them mugging for the cameras.
canuckistani| 12.17.09 @ 4:45PM
Why care? Do you watch golf for Tiger or the golf? Do you buy Tiger products because they are the best for the price or because he has his face embossed on them? Take care of yourselves, watch your children like a parent should and leave the "whoring" garbage like this for the empty-lifers that watch TMZ. His reputation among douchebag men will go up, as he is now not only the greatest sportsman of the decade, but can also score the ladies on multiple continents. He had no reputation among women to speak of, so there's nothing to worry about. Those who enjoy golf as a spectator will actually get some relief from the sycophantic coverage he received over the years. A young player would be having his best round of his life and the commentators would find a way to make it all about Tiger. His fault? Not entirely, we are all spectators at the train wreck.
Dan| 12.22.09 @ 7:55PM
Hey, cut the guy a little slack, anybody can slip 10 or 12 times !
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I was working on a project of the truth about Tiger Woods, I think he confessed and said sorry on media. So I think we must not pull this issue more into discussions. Thanks Dermajuv
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Good article, while I agree that he did not act alone and those women should be held accountable for their role in the situation; he is a public figure, and therefore more is expected of him. Kids around the world were not looking up to those women (they didn't even know she existed) they were looking up to him.
FHA Training | 7.2.11 @ 10:37AM
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