*Listening to Doves – Kingdom of Rust*
There was a tremendous victory at the TPC Sawgrass, in Arizona recently. No, not Ian Poulter’s and British Golf’s crushing victory in the WGC World Match Play, don’t be so ignorant. Try the media picking up its trophy for finally cracking the games best player Tiger Woods.
Whilst his colleagues battled it out for the $1,4 million purse, a tired, broken shell of a man emerged to beg for forgiveness in-front of a rather uncomfortablly watching world. His voice quaking, Woods concluded that he was ‘deeply sorry’ for being so ‘foolish’ and ‘irresponsible’ for his affair(s). It came as evil delight to the modern-day World media, now all too eager to trounce through the private lives of public figures.
In Woods they’ve claimed their biggest triumph yet. Rachel Uchitel was first up to face the media hounds but was soon old news, her week long denials didn’t satisfy the needy, hungry ‘reporters’. On cue, a host of models, cocktail waitress and pornographic actresses came forward claiming illicit affairs with Woods, cunningly seeped out by the media to keep the story running, such was the desire to tear down one of the greatest ever golfers and idol to millions.
Golf? Remember That?
Tiger’s response – a no-questions-asked staged press conference to stop the circus of stories. He needs to find that 9-iron and give his PR man a beating. Woods’ cringeworthy stage-managed performance of a pre-prepared beg for respite failed to succeed in anything, (pause for effect) other than sporting and public humiliation.
There’s an answer to Tiger’s problems. Golf. Remember that? The game that promoted him to his fortuitous position as one of the worlds top sporting earners, offering the salvation and opportunity to rebuild his reputation and give two fingers to the media dogs in the process.
Woods should take guidance in JT’s handling of his ‘situation’; despite having his name repeatedly tarnished by the British media and being stripped of the England captaincy, Terry continued with football taking the abuse from the terraces along the way. He saw no need to air his regret in the public sphere for it has no concern to anyone other than the parties involved. Take note Tiger.
I come from a generation who grew up idolising this young precocious talent. A relative child in the field who stormed the ‘97 Masters with his sheer gung ho attitude towards the game. It was all or nothing for a player who didn’t care about what other players or clubs thought about him, after all, he was a black golfer rewriting the golfing rule and history books. A fact that didn’t sit well amongst some Golf clubs stuck with their archaic beliefs.
It’s his unbelievable natural ability to do extraordinary things with a Golf ball that makes him an idol for so many. Some may have seen him as a role model for his off the field professionalism as well but the man has his flaws, what man doesn’t.
Throughout his career he’s been forced to reinvigorate himself to remain the best in his field, also coming through the loss of his father and an eight-month layoff, but he’s come unstuck by something a world away from Typical Tiger – for being caught with his hand in the biscuit barrel.
What’s more disheartening? The media’s need to destroy a generations idol or the idols want to apologise to his fans for his actions. Leave the apology, just return to the Golf course (and shut Poulter up – Ed).
If anybody can do it, Tiger can.
By Steve
