I am sure that EVERYONE will have something to say about this topic.. because I am sure that everyone has an opinion... especially the females about my first topic. I invite one and all to leave a comment.
I read an article last night in Esquire Magazine about how it's time for Tiger Woods to redeem himself and it's time, as fans of sports, to allow him to. The article talked about how Tiger was just another athlete who was banging lots of women. It compared him to Wilt Chamberlain and Charles Barkley and talked about how society loves to delve into the juicy stories of sports figures and their sins because it makes them more "human". It also used Michael Vick as an example of how even though he committed "noxious" crimes and did time in prison for it... he "redeemed" himself in the game last season against the Redskins when he performed amazingly and put up "inhuman" stats. (Not that I personally couldn't have done very well as a QB against the lowly Redskins.) The article also used the example of Rex Ryan and his alleged 'foot fetish' and how the tabloids and papers ate up the story and made into this big "thing". There were lots of references to athletes and the media and the stories of the past year and throughout history. I am not a college English Professor, but in my humble opinion it was one of the worst articles I have ever read. I couldn't figure out the point of it when I finished. I guess if Tiger wins a Tournament this year, we are supposed to be in awe of him again.
After I read the effort and realized that it was twenty minutes of my life that I will never get back, I started thinking about Tiger and his situation. Here's a guy who, from a very young age, was pushed by his Dad to excel at sport that he showed an interest and a talent in. Every waking moment of everyday was spent practicing, playing, and honing his skill set so that when he was old enough, he could go onto greatness. Which he did. What did he give up though? When he was 16 yrs old and at the driving range while the kids he was growing up with were off being "kids", what was he missing out on? A lot! Coming of age in America means a lot of things today for kids. The first kiss, the first time experimenting with sex, or smoking, or drinking, going to parties and hanging out with friends. Did Tiger get to do any of these things when he was growing up? I have no idea. I can see how, once he had money and free time... what he did can happen. I am not saying it's right, I am just saying I can see how a guy, who never had time to do those things when he was a kid, would wind up doing those things when he was rich and famous.
Now, my Dad never pushed me to excel at anything in particular. My Dad encouraged me to take an interest in what I was interested in and then encouraged me to practice and be good at it. I had lots of free time to go out and, what I call "experiment" with things. My Dad would call it "getting in trouble." Bottom line is, at my age now, I know what those things are like and most of those things I don't do now. I am not saying that I am a better man than Tiger. I don't judge, that's not my job. My job is to be a good husband and father. I practice every day to be better at it than I was the day before.
The point of this story is... Has Tiger committed sins? Yes, he has admitted to wrongdoing. He lost his family because of it. Has it affected his golf game? Obviously so. Will he ever intimidate on the golf course again? Maybe. Will he ever "redeem" himself by having an amazing week on a golf course and winning an Open? How can he? Is that possible? Where is the line between real life and entertainment. That's what sports REALLY is... it's ENTERTAINMENT. Maybe we should ask Tiger's ex-wife if redemption is possible by excelling at a sport. I think I know the answer she would give.
Now.... switching from the course to the court...
Night before last, Kobe Bryant was whistled for an offensive foul away from the ball. I saw the highlight on Sportscenter the following day and if I was the Ref.. I probably would have blown the whistle too. Now, I have NO IDEA what happened in the minutes preceding the call. I don't know if the Ref was having an "off" night as far as officiating goes. I don't know if Kobe was in a bad mood. What followed the call was a HORRENDOUS display of behavior by a professional athlete. Kobe complained all the way back up the court and earned a Technical Foul for his actions and/or what he said. Then Kobe went to the bench had another little tantrum, sat down, threw his towel on the floor like a four year old and shouted at the Ref and called him a "faggot". It was loud enough for the Ref to hear where he was standing and probably loud enough for the fans behind the bench to hear as well. The following day, the NBA fined him $100,000.00
Personally I think he should have been ejected from the game and suspended from a large number of games next season (the season ended for most teams yesterday). I also think he should take some "sensitivity training" and the LA Lakers should also issue some form of punishment. My 14 yr old stepson feels that Kobe should be kicked off the team. I know that if a professional in a field like Real Estate or Education called his co-worker or his supervisor the same name... he would probably lose his job.
Why is a slap on the wrist all that was handed down? What would his Mother say? who knows..
What happened to professionalism in sports? Why is this behavior basically tolerated? Questions that need to be answered.
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