You Tell Me…
Posted by VeRonda Wicks December 14th, 2009Aside: I’m not at all a fan of Tiger Woods. I acknowledge what he’s done for a game and how he’s broaden a community’s view, but personally, not a fan… That’s my opinion, right?
Point: Should the way people feel about a professional athlete or their actions off the field (court, ice, whatever) determine his or her on-the-field results or status?
Categories: Golf, What If Your
December 15th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Ahhhh, I think that depends. For example…Companies that pay him bazillions to represent their company SHOULD care about what their company is PERCEIVED at promoting. Or condoning. I believe it was accenture who’s commercials stated “BE a Tiger…..” blah blah blah. I doubt cheating on his wife with 10 women was the image they had in mind. lol.
On the other hand, I think parents have a duty to their children to explain that his behavior is unacceptable and wrong. And has consequences. And that parents be role models for their children rather than celebs.
To answer you question….sometimes.
And I also think that it’s really none of our business. BUT (lol) if a person puts themself in the public and portrays himself as refined, truthful, honest, with intgrity (all golfers must have integrity)…and it turns out he’s a lying cheat in his personal life. People are curious. Like a trainwreck. 
December 15th, 2009 at 9:04 am
V, as always an interesting topic. Ok I know you’re not a fan of Tiger and yes you are entitled to your opinion as we all are. I think he has done a great deal for the game…if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be addicted to golf myself…
Anyway to your point… I strongly believe that society places athletes on a pedestal for their athletic ability not the person they are. We all too often look at them as role models instead of who they are athletes. I could give a #$#@ what he, Jordan, Barkley, Suggs, A-Rod, Ronaldo, or Ovechkin (yes I do watch hockey at times) do off the field. But in todays “Reality TV” mentality people want stalk their favorite athlete on and off the “court”…. I say get a life.. If you were “gettin yours” why would you be worried about Tiger and his indiscretions…
Bottom line adversity gets peoples attention and sells papers, magazines, or whateva.. Not too long ago we were talking about Kobe, Shaq, Rothlessberger… trust me in a year or two when Tiger is back puttin the smack down on fellow golfers around the PGA it will be long forgotten that he was tryin to put a little color into a different demographic…
hmmmmmmm you think that might be the problem??? Or is that another post.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
I believe that it shouldn’t affect an athlete’s performance. In Tiger’s case the game of golf is so cerebral, and his PR staff has spent so much time painting a wholesome picture of him I believe for a while it will affect his performance.
My opinion of him hasn’t changed. He is a great golfer, I want to see him break records and set new heights for future golfers, but i think it will be a little more difficult, because of his dissenters.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Well Sheila, out of the comments so far I think I’m a little closer to yours… I didn’t even think of the sponsors’ take on things. I just saw the totality of the thing. So when you look at it from their case, they’re staking everything on this “character”. You know, if you’re like Charles Barkley or someone who appears to be the same all the time, flaws and all, you won’t necessarily call on that person for sponsorship. So, its just a reminder to me to be who you are all the time.
David, you have a lot of posts here that could take on a life of their own. LOL! You’re hilarious. You know, people will always be flawed, but don’t you think they have a responsibility to uphold some level of intrigity? I mean, 13 women, David? An indecretion would be 1 or 2, but 13? I digress, ’cause truly who am I to judge? I wish that people in his position would just be more responsible and not take their success for granted. So, ever if adversity sells, what are your personal standards? You have to have your own personal standards.
Hey JayDub… I agree a personal life shouldn’t take priority over the professional life. I’ve found that people will always be people and we should never put so much hope into a person… I’ve done it before and when you do, you’re terribly disappointed. Tiger is a great golfer and I do hope he can rebound, repair his character, and break all the records that he deserves to break.
Guys… I know Mickelson is just giggling in his golf cart. LOL!
December 16th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Hey V.
I must comment on your comments… Huh what??? Anyway, dont get it twisted, I do think what Tiger did was wrong, but who are we in the general public to point fingers at another’s indiscretion? Now I must agree with Shelia about sponsors.. but I dont think the general public or anyone on this and other blogs are puttin out Accenture type money based on someone supposed character…. so if you not laying down that type of chedda (that would be greenbacks aka cash) Grow up get a life and stay otta da mans personal life. Again, Im not defending him but why are we so enamored with the life of athelets and stars… aint none of them puttn nothin in my pockets…
Oh and Mickelson… im not going there but you killin me V… LMAO
December 21st, 2009 at 1:11 am
Off- the -field conduct versus on the field results. Hmmmm, an interesting question but look at the numbers. There are far greater athletes with off- the -field issues than what we know about. It’s just that the superstar athletes warrant the attention because of their accomplishments and who they are. With the supes they are in our faces due to their product endorsements and the promotion of them by their respective leagues or associations. However their off- the -field conduct should not impact their on- the- field results but that doesn’t mean that their status won’t take a hit. Due to their promotion and endorsements, society feels that they have a right to know about their personal lives since they are pumped into our living rooms through advertisements and the like.
Me, I don’t care! It has no affect on my life and my company has not hired him as a paid spokesman. His indiscretions will soon be forgotten but his status as a high performing athlete will remain intact. Dude is a baaaaaaad boy that wins and when he’s on the tube, I look. In fact, that’s the only time I watch golf (other than the movie “Caddy Shack”).
As a former and reformed playa now serving life without the possibility of parole (married), I am truly surprised that his discretions ended at 13 (if that’s accurate). Isn’t 13 an unlucky number? As the first billion dollar athlete, you would suspect that he would have had some handlers around him to police his indiscretions. He shouldn’t have gotten married so young with such limited experiences with woman. If I was one of his boys and knowing he wanted to get his groove on, I would have been his concierge and made sure his discretions were handled properly. If it would have come out about his indiscretions, I would have asked him for about $300.000 and paid a myriad of women about 5 grand cash a piece to say they slept with Tiger. The amount of women claiming they slept with him would have been so great that the story would evolve into the ridiculous thereby ripening into the dismissive. With a society with a 30 second attention span, this would meet their needs and they would all cheer at the Masters.
Kid Funkedelic
December 21st, 2009 at 12:01 pm
David… We agree, finally. I knew you’d come over to this side (Yay, Sheila!).
December 25th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Kid, I’ve been thinking about what I could possibly say… and I remain, I’m speechless (well sorta)… Just don’t know what to say in response. Hilarious.