8/3/22

There is so much to the “Tiger Woods” phenomenon.  This essay can’t cover it all. While his popularity and societal impact have lessened from their former perch, like other popular athletic icons, Tiger Woods is many things to many people. As a culture, we idolize successful athletes. Over history, names like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky , Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, etc., etc., etc. are household names that live long after playing days are over. They are synonymous with hero status and worship.  Tiger’s status, certainly at the height of his popularity, was in the most “rarified air.” Like some others previously mentioned, his celebrity status resonates beyond sports. Tiger Woods represents a brand that people connect with as the definition of pop culture in an era. The fact that Tiger Woods is a golfer is almost irrelevant.  He is a personality and hero who happens to play golf and is not merely defined by his sport, social status, or ethnicity.  For African-American people (golfers and non-golfers alike), he represents us, in all that he does or experiences. Like the Greek or Norse gods of ancient times, he transcends the mundanity of the mere human condition. Also, like some of those ancient gods (as opposed to The Lord God), he has human frailty and vulnerability. Although very few of us actually know Tiger personally, we follow his life with personal pride, joy, and disappointment.  His every word and action is scrutinized, dissected, and judged. Tiger shoulders an unfathomable burden.

There are so many fascinating aspects to the Tiger Woods phenomenon and hero worship in general.  Should we put so much stock in how and why athletes make their choices?  We admire Tiger Woods’ prowess as an athlete, but should we “take it personally” if his frailties become exposed?  Certainly, many in the African-American community see Tiger almost as a “family member” and a great source of pride.  Certainly, black golfers revere him as the epitome of being a black golfer.  How he plays, carries, and presents himself on the course is our aspiration. Interestingly, being of mixed racial and cultural heritage, Tiger Woods has stated that he does not specifically identify with just one ethnic group. That perspective alone has drawn criticism and rancor from some.  Why do we care how he identifies?  When he “fell from grace” in his personal life, many felt as if he deeply disappointed and hurt them. Is being put on a pedestal and falling off that pedestal the responsibility of the “hero?”  Is it fair to idolize our heroes and put them in a box to be scrutinized by many who dare to “live in a glass house and throw stones?” Like lots of heroes, Tiger Woods is a golf brand to be admired and emulated.  His attire, athletic grace, competitive spirit, and poise under golf pressure are traits most of us enviously desire. So, we elevate our heroes.  However, in that desire to elevate, do we allow them the grace of their own human frailty?  Hypocritically, we do not allow our heroes the same grace that we allow ourselves. Under the guise of “they are role models,” we make our heroes caricatures of themselves.  In golf terms, we soothe ourselves when we miss a par putt with, “Bogey is a good score on that hole.” However, we criticize Tiger when he only “pars a hole” or Heaven forbid, bogeys a hole! With Tiger Woods’ personal failings, which are similar to our own human failings (if not in deed then in principle), he is duplicitously held accountable in the “court of public opinion” while we can hide in anonymity.  Of course, we rationalize our judgment of him, and other athletic heroes, by saying that he/they are susceptible to public judgment because of their fame and wealth.  That’s not fair or realistic. Personally, I am not immune from such hypocrisy, but I hope that I try to keep in mind that “there for the Grace of God go I.”  Again, I can hide in anonymity for the most part. I don’t feel that sitting in judgment of another human being’s failings, no matter how rich and famous they are, is fair.  Furthermore, I don’t think it’s fair to put them on a pedestal in the first place.  I can be in awe of their talent without elevating them to superhuman status. As the old adage goes, “We all put our pants on the same way, one leg at a time.”

When discussing famous athletes, I can admire them greatly for their athletic abilities and accomplishments without elevating them to “hero-worship status.”  Putting great athletes on a pedestal isn’t healthy for them or us.  I’d prefer to say, “Wow, he/she can really play.”  The rest of an athlete’s humanity is not for me to judge…Tiger Woods included. He and I are both trying to play out of our own bag the best that we can, regardless of public opinion.