The Feburary 2010 issue of Golf Digest was the first I've thoroughly enjoyed in a very long time. Why? Because it wasn't swamped with stories and articles about Tiger. It was so refreshing to read about other players who have been ignored by your magazine in favor of Tiger, that I read through it twice. Tiger has never had the class and sportsmanship of Watson, Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, and countless other true gentlemen of this game that we all love, honor and cherish.
Dick Ribble, Deming, NM
Bill Fields opens his article saying he'd rather watch golfers/Tiger play rather than listen to them/him, but in the same paragraph, he states that Tiger should have spoken sooner about what happened "that November night." Mr. Fields says that "it might have helped his cause" had Tiger spoken sooner. What "cause" is Tiger fighting? Does Mr. Fields think Tiger owes it to the media and to all for that matter an apology? He owes me/us nothing and while I know he would be forever hounded until he went public, it remains sad that even after his public speech, there will be those who say he didn't go far enough, he didn't give the sordid details that are craved. With all that is wrong with the world, it is just tragic that this matter that is between Tiger and his family, become so publicly attended. Can you just imagine how much more beneficial this energy can be utilized in a productive manner? It concerns me not in the least what happened that November night, I don't watch Tiger play golf because he is a devoted and faithful husband. Rather, I watch him in delight of what he does and can do as his chosen profession.
Tony Lopez
Dan Jenkins clearly sees Tiger Woods for what he is, well written! Perhaps Tiger will now add a little class and humility to his portfolio.
John Fraioli
Most players have said little about Tiger. Tom Watson is the exception, from the time he criticized Tiger's on-course behavior at the British Open, to his more recent scolding on the scandal. One writer found this hypocritical.
Tom had a nice Open Championship and all but I recall he had his own marital issues. He sounds like a "pot" [vs. kettle] in your story. Too bad he didn't emulate his younger colleagues.
D.Sievers, Tarzana, CA
You may have found the Tiger story fascinating or distracting. You may be bored with it, or can't get enough. But listen closely to Tiger and to the commentators who've covered this disaster seriously and you can learn a lot. We've learned, above all, that Tiger is not the person we thought he was--or the person some of us would like him to be. We've learned that he is neither as aware nor as disciplined as we thought he was. We've learned, to paraphrase his statement, that he thought he was above the rules, that he believed he was bulletproof. We've learned that he had many enablers, the media among them, and that apparently his intimidation of them eliminated dissenters within and outside his entourage. (Does it strike anyone else as strange that not one of his advisers left in protest, fearing that their star was in danger of self (or "brand") destructing? Is this because no one who could tell Tiger "no," or that he refused to listen?) Furthermore, we've got a glimpse of a man who is fueled to a surprising extent by anger, who uses that anger as motivation, something he did somewhat awkwardly in the press conference--"Don't blame Elin," "Leave my family alone!"--and will no doubt call on when he returns to competition. Will Tiger keep track of who has treated him roughly and who has been sympathetic during this time? That press conference suggests the answer is yes. Finally, as a psychologist friend of mine reminds me, where there is anger there is pain. Tiger revealed a cauldron of each in his short address, and you might assume his hurt was born long before this most recent episode.
Whether a fan or not, one tends to empathize, and these letters reinforce that. Because Tiger's having to face up to it all now.
--Bob Carney
Rating
Comments
Post A Comment