For those of you living under a rock, there’s been a bunch of, um, let’s say “rumors” about Tiger’s apparent transgressions. I, for one, didn’t want to believe them and was really hoping that the most famous athlete in the world would come out of this with his squeaky clean image intact. Alas, I was in for disappointment. Today Tiger released this statement:
I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.
Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.
But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don’t share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one’s own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions.
Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it’s difficult.
I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.
So, there it is; Tiger’s personal life is profoundly disappointing. The admiration many have for him as a person has been completely compromised. He will have to deal with the anger of his family, friends, and fans.
However, the fact remains that he is first and foremost a golfer. Never has Tiger been lauded as the male version of Mother Theresa. What he did in his personal life I find despicable but I am also tired of salacious gossip becoming news. Since when have TMZ and the National Enquirer become a news feeder for CNN??
Admittedly, given the facts, I would have to say “Team Elin” if pressed for a choice but do I still want to see Tiger play golf? Absolutely. Does that make me a supporter of bad behavior? No. It makes me want to separate the personal from the professional. I don’t want to know the sordid details of someone’s life, especially someone I don’t know at all. Why are we all surprised that this happened? We don’t know Tiger Woods, his true personality, or what makes him tick. Let’s stop turning famous people into iconic figures who can do no wrong. At the end of the day the only people to whom he needs to apologize are the ones he hurt the most: his family. The rest of us need to realize the basis of which we know him : as a golfer with an amazing talent.
Post by Michele Minten
