Let’s stop rehashing Tiger Woods’ fall
As anniversaries go, this is hardly one to celebrate. Tiger Woods might be giving thanks on Thursday for all of the blessings in his life, but he could hardly have been looking forward to this week’s national holiday.
The remembrances are flowing, and they are not fond, for it was on the night of Thanksgiving a year ago that a fire hydrant outside of his Orlando home got in the way of a lot of dreams, both personal and professional.
Whether that one-car crash was symbolic of his life unraveling or simply the impetus to a seemingly never-ending procession of shocking revelations about his personal life, the damage was unquestionably monumental.
Woods lost his marriage, and the right to see his children whenever he pleases. He endured embarrassment and ridicule, shocking for a man who performed admirably on the public stage for more than a decade without a hint of scandal. He lost untold millions in endorsements.
And, not to be dismissed, the genius that was his golf game went missing in 2010, at least at the levels we had so easily taken for granted.
Now what? Do we continue to rehash the murky moments from the wee hours in a gated community? Do we revel in the tabloid discoveries, too numerous to count?
Perhaps we should move on.
After a year, it is time.
That is not to dismiss Woods’ actions, which he himself has not attempted to do. It is not to suggest that any of his behavior should be justified or rationalized or forgotten.
But to the best of our knowledge, no crimes were committed, and the women with whom he carried on affairs did so willingly and knowingly. While many would love to know the details behind the crash, police went no further than a fine and closed the case. Why would Woods want to go there?
And to suggest that he perpetuated a fraud on the public is a bit of a stretch, too. Yes, Woods cultivated an image, but it was one of a champion golfer who strived to be the best. He did not tout himself as a model husband or father, and his family was never used in any commercial endorsements.
Sure, he let people down, perhaps none more than the wide-eyed kids who followed him in awe or even those who participate in the various programs that the Tiger Woods Foundation offers. Imagine, if they can even understand it, their disappointment.
It is somewhat unsettling that Woods, all in the past week, chose to activate his Twitter account, write an op-ed piece for Newsweek magazine and grant a 27-minute interview to ESPN’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning” radio show. That will appear to be contrived, especially on the eve of the anniversary.
Then again, it is better than remaining silent, as Woods mostly did during the early days of the controversy.
And while some were quick to point out that Woods offered nothing new or failed to elaborate in his discussion with ESPN’s Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, a majority of the questions they posed have been asked this year from Augusta to Pebble Beach to St. Andrews to Wales.
The basic theme goes all the way back to February, when Woods made his first public comments in the aftermath of the scandal.
“I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn’t apply,” he said that day. “I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to … I felt I was entitled … I was wrong. I was foolish. I don’t get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me.”
What more can he say? Woods might not have answered all of the subsequent questions to everyone’s satisfaction, but he’s been facing them since his return to golf at the Masters, and it is difficult to expect him to suddenly become something he’s never been — expansive, in-depth, revealing.
Likewise, it remains a bit jarring to see Woods struggle with his golf results the way he did for most of this year. Many among us figured getting back inside the ropes would provide the solitude necessary for his game to flourish. And his poor play undoubtedly helped the lurid tales linger.
Instead, the mental strain of his new life, a divorce, dealing with children under different circumstances, all proved to be a significant roadblock to adding to his 71 PGA Tour titles, his 14 major championship victories, his greatness. Woods finally bottomed out in early August at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, where he had his worst 72-hole tournament as a pro — at a venue where he had won seven times.
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One thing that did not change was the adoration for him among golf fans, something to which Woods admitted his concern. Despite fears that he would be jeered, it rarely, if ever, happened. Fans cheered him at Augusta, Sawgrass, Pebble Beach, St. Andrews.
Even at Celtic Manor in Wales, where the atmosphere that comes with a Ryder Cup on foreign soil can push the boundaries of decency, Woods was accorded a very favorable reception. In fact, at the opening ceremonies, no reaction was more boisterous.
Some, of course, will never forgive him, their minds made up. Others choose to focus on the golf, never intending for Woods’ personal life to cross over into their personal enjoyment.
Whatever the case, a hellish year has passed for Woods, his family, friends and associates. So, too, for golf fans who just want to watch him play a game better than anyone in its history.
And that is the next step in the journey — getting back to the playing level not seen since before last Thanksgiving.
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