A gradual return to normalcy is what Tiger Woods seems to be hoping for. Not that his life was ever normal by average standards... and that's probably part of why things got... shall we say... totally out of hand... for a while there.
A childhood spent on a singular path toward greatness, certainly must have isolated the aspiring young golf champion. I don't think it's unrealistic to imagine that he was often lonely... and resentful of the undivided oversight of his strict father. Prior to his marriage to Elin, Tiger seems to have have had few relationships with women.
By the time he reached adulthood, Tiger Woods was being treated with such deference that there was little need for him to ever answer to anyone... for anything. He was venerated, almost universally, both for his consistently stellar golf and because he was thought to represent a happy, highly principled, highly disciplined ideal, which ultimately proved to be a myth. In the end Tiger himself began to believe... and perpetuate... his own misguided mythology. The two interviews he gave a few hours ago were short and stealthily planned. They revealed little, but allowed the fallen star to put his "first interviews" behind him ...an important step back to that semblance of so-called normal. In a couple of weeks it'll be the "first tournament"... and yes there are many journalists who are speaking disdainfully of Tiger Woods and still hoping for the tearful tell-all. That's beginning to look much less likely.
What do you think the chances are that Elin will show up at the Masters. I think it's highly unlikely, especially after this.
ReplyDeleteI think it's obvious that something of a "domistic violence" nature definitely did occur and that's what most of the journalists on the case are trying to find out. :\
ReplyDeleteI felt he sounded much better today than that staged event. I watched Mike Francesa's show tonight on NBC here in NY. Mike felt we really learned nothing new and that the journalists went easy on him. I usually agree with Mike lately, but I thought he should have given TW a bit more credit.
ReplyDeleteI felt he might have overdone his spiritual side. He could have alluded to it, but not stressed it. I guess we have to wait and see just what happens the next few weeks. I just hope it doesn't over shadow the LPGA major and The Masters itself too much.
I don't think these interviews changed anyone's opinion but as you say there had to be a first one... a "testing of the waters" in controlled circumstances. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he did another couple of quick, controlled interviews or appearances prior to Augusta. He may not be answering any questions but he is diffusing some of the gossip and speculation.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably not a coincidence that he did these interviews shortly after the porn star texts were posted. That seems like it might have been a "last straw" moment.
ReplyDeleteThe Buddhism things seemed very insincere to me. Other than what I saw was a man who was very unhappy and who has probably never been happy. I'm not sure he'll ever be able to be either.
ReplyDeleteAs you note, it begs the question of whether it's ever actually good for any parent to be so single-minded in the pursuit of their child's winning that they bypass many of the normal stages of growing up.
I think LisaS nailed it. Remember the ultra-sheltered kid's reaction to the freedom of college? They were among the best hedonists I knew!
ReplyDeleteWoods was doing at 30 what the rest of us "experimented" with at 15. The self-proclaimed nerd saw what a big world it was out there and he Loved it.
I surprisingly liked the interviews. Coming from someone who's never been the biggest Tiger fans. I think if he did something like this 2 or 3 months ago, it could have saved a lot grief.
ReplyDeleteThere will be parts of the "story" that we'll never know, and I don't think we're entitled to know. But you are right, it's a step. I think Tilghman did a great job too, not really pulling any punches.
At this point, I'm amused/annoyed that the press thinks there's something more to get from this story.
ReplyDeleteWe know he kicked it with (at least) 14 chicks behind his wife's back. We know that some of them are "adult entertainers". We know he paid some of them. If we're to believe the sexts, we know what he said to them.
We know he crashed his car. We know he lost a couple of sponsors. We know he's planning to return to golf at The Masters. We know he kicked out $40k for so-called "sex rehab". We know he read an apology from a piece of paper. \o/
I didn't see his new interviews, but if you look up any of the programs that combat addiction, they all heavily reference religion, so it makes sense that Tiger would be laying that on thick right about now.
That makes sense for two reasons. Your religion is supposed to be able to override your free will to do whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it, and it's a good excuse to tell your significant other as far as why you won't be doing what you used to do anymore. You've seen the light, as well as the error of your ways and you're now a new person who's going to utlilze this religion overlay to stop you from hooking up with chicks.
Yeah. Right. :D
YOU got that one right Bill. 100% :)
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