Why Tiger Woods will Come Out on Top

Fig Jam

So Tiger Woods is in the news.  Perhaps you’ve heard.  Apparently being the world’s largest sports icon, filthy rich, and absolutely ripped comes with a little attention from the opposite sex.  Attention that Woods accepted from time to time.   The sad thing, in my opinion, is that when all this is said and done I truly believe that the big winner in all this will in fact be Tiger Woods.  I’ve come to this rather strange conclusion after thinking back about all the other complaints about Tiger that I’ve heard in the media over the years and realizing that a huge personal crisis is exactly what the mainstream sports fans of the world have been waiting for. 

Up to this point, the single most repeated criticism of Tiger Woods has been lack of personality.  “He’s a Robot,” or “He’s a boring interview,” or “He never says anything  meaningful about himself or his personal life – he’s all business.”  While his accomplishments on the golf course have never ceased to amaze, his intense protection of his private life has always left sports fans with a desire to see more.  Aside from revealing himself as deeply emotional about his relationship with his father, Tiger has never accommodated the public in that regard.  There are not pictures of him partying in Las Vegas, he hasn’t dated every actress in New York, and until now, he has never been caught in a publicly embarassing situation.  He has simply showed up to the golf course every week – dominated his opponents – and returned to his private life of personal jets, gated communities, and closely held friends.

But now there are no gates that are strong enough to protect him, no wall that is high enough.  He is out in the feeding frenzy that is the tabloid media and he is the hunted, not the hunter.  Over the next few weeks there will literally be hundreds of stories (like this one!) and probably thousands of pictures of Woods, his wife, his children, his friends, and his neighbors, that emerge as a result of his transgressions.   It will get a ton of attention and that is too bad because ultimately – it’s not that surprising, and it’s not that newsworthy. 

Who is legitimately surprised that Tiger Woods was not faithful?  Who?  So what his wife is a gorgeous Swedish model?  In their relationship – he’s the icon.  He’s the one with the fame, the power, and the money.  Every time Tiger Woods steps into a clubhouse, a restaraunt, or any social scene at all – he is the most sought after person in the room.  The guys want to hang out with him, joke with him, and show everyone that they are big shots – kicking it with Tiger Woods.  The women want to flirt with him, stand next to him, and show everyone that they are the ones who have caught his attention.  When that is the world in which you operate, it is no surprise that you let your ego get the better of you from time to time and do not stay faithful to your gorgeous, yet otherwise nondescript, wife. 

Beyond that, there are precious few sports and movie stars who have proven themselves above these moral indiscretions, despite the fact that it seems a near certainty that they will be caught (seriously – if everywhere you go someone takes your picture, what makes you think you can pull something like that off?  Oh, right, ego).   So really – this Tiger Woods story is not “news” to me other than in the sense that this is the week that he got caught.

Unfortunately for Elin and Tiger’s children however, I think that this fiasco will become the emotional scar that humanizes Tiger to the rest of the world.  That glimpse into the flaws of an otherwise dominant competitor that enables the casual fan to identify with Tiger, sympathize with Tiger, and perhaps become even more envious of Tiger.  What will follow in the coming weeks will be apologies, vows to become a better man, and possibly a tour on the Late Night circuit to recast Tiger Woods as a mere mortal – a regular guy like the rest of us (but you know, a little different).   The public will eat it up.  They will take satisfaction knowing that Woods isn’t perfect, identify with his real world marital problems (unlike other problems Woods faces – like how the price of gas increases the expense of flying his private  jet around the world), and enjoy watching him take it on the chin a little bit for once. 

And so in a few weeks the PGA Tour will go on in 2010.  Tiger will still be the best player and will still win the most tournaments.  His mental focus, if it’s possible, will likely be improved as he will be determined to show the world how great he is once more (and for an athlete the best way to display your greatness is through competition – the only outlet they have ever known for that sort of thing).  His profile will get larger, the coverage on him will increase, and the masses will embrace him not only as Tiger Woods, but as a man who came back from personal problems.  Like John Daly – only 100 times less so.   In the end, his fanbase will grow, his wealth with increase, and likely his social behavior will not be altered.  The tabloids will turn their attention elsewhere, the casual fans will forgive and forget, and he will be on his way once more.  A little worse for wear, but still the one holding the trophy on the 18th green.