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 On one hand, I could care less about his infidelities. On the other, I’m glad he apologized. I’m not quite sure how to characterize that apology. I didn’t think he showed a whole lot of emotion. He read most of it, so he didn’t really come across as if he were speaking from the heart – at least not in my mind. But he said all the right things. He looked straight into the camera when he apologized for his “irresponsible, destructive, selfish behavior.” And he acknowledged that he has a lot of work ahead off him to repair his marriage, his personal relationships and his reputation. One side of my brain says, “Who cares about that? When are you going to get back to golfing?” (It turns out it won’t be for a while.) The other side of my brain says, “Darn right you better apologize. You’re a creep and a philanderer, and you don’t deserve superstar status anymore. And, by the way, I would have liked to see a few tears – from you, not from your family and friends.” But hey, here’s a guy who achieved white-hot fame at an early age. So, really, it’s not surprising to me that he believed “the normal rules didn’t apply” to him. He’s not alone in that regard. We hear all the time about the sexual escapades of people with fame and power. I’ve always been one of those people who said, “So what?” Woods is still the best golfer we’ve ever seen. His moral character isn’t what made him famous. The affairs? Sure it’s disappointing – it’s always sad to see a superhero fall from grace. But, really, infidelity is a private matter, and he only has to answer to his wife and family – and, OK, his sponsors – on that. He owes no one else an apology. Well, that’s if he were only the world’s best golfer. And here’s where I’m torn. Here in Orange County, we see the impact Woods has had on children’s lives – more than 20,000 kids, actually. Since its opening in 2006, his Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim has exposed tens of thousands of Southern California schoolchildren to everything from engineering and rocket science to music recording and radio production. The program he’s created encourages kids to dream about their future, and it puts them on a path toward making those dreams a reality. It also puts him front and center in the eyes of all those children, and their parents, and the people who support the center’s programs. Better add a few more mea culpas. So if he hadn’t tried to be such do-gooder, I wouldn’t have cared whether Woods apologized publicly. But given his involvement with kids, I’m glad he did. He took responsibility for his actions. He apologized to his wife (one news anchor reported that he cited his wife, Elin, 14 times during his talk). He mentioned the disappointment he knows he caused his foundation supporters and the children it aims to help. So yes, I guess he did owe the public an apology. I’m glad he’s taking responsibility for his actions. The big question is whether the children he’s helped can, as he pleaded, “one day believe in me again.” Tina Borgatta is the Editor in Chief of OCMetro, Southland Golfs sister publication. ALSO SEE: Tiger Woods apologizes, return to golf uncertain |
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Wow Tina! Very well stated. I truly feel exactly as you do! If he does as he stated he would, let his actions do the talking then I feel that he can get back into the public's good graces and that the children can one day believe in him again. As a man (a human) he can help through service and again become a positive role model. As I have taught my children "when you know better, you do better".
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