NEW YORK, NY – Since the Tiger Woods story hit the public has been inundated with details, speculation, rumors and opinion as to where this leaves Tiger. When the story first broke my reaction was two fold: a. I hope Tiger is ready for the start of the PGA season and b. who would be surprised by the revelation that Tiger was unfaithful to his wife? Clearly I underestimated the naiveté of the public as the sharks started circling to tear apart the world’s best golfer. The cries of outrage, shock and disappointment were loud and anguished. So, the FREE man had to take a step back and check out all of these reactions and process the information.
continued after the jump…
In the end, I walk away with the realization that people are uncomfortable with anything that threatens the standard concepts of monogamy and current structure or marriage. What could have been an interesting moment to examine the realistic nature of these institutions has been lost amongst salacious details about text messages, voice mails and six irons. On some level that’s all we can expect because of the disingenuous nature of Tiger’s critics. All the high minded columnist, talking heads, and celebrity “reporters” who make their existence by leeching off the talents of others.
So let’s dispel some myths. If you put any athlete, celebrity, artist, politician, etc. on some moral high ground based strictly on how you perceive their lives to be, you’re an idiot. Tiger Woods is a golfer. All I need him to do is put his foot in the ass of all the other golfers on the PGA tour and win tournaments. On the flipside, Eliot Spitzer’s only responsibility to me was to be an effective Governor for New York State; the fact that he was “client #9” is irrelevant. It only becomes relevant if his private taste for hookers involved government money…if not…then who cares? And don’t talk to me about it being illegal. So is being naked in your own home in some states. Point is, we have to separate people’s private lives from their public persona.
I have news for all you outraged people out there…if you knew what folks at your 9 to 5 were doing – your manager, mentor, CEO – you might be shocked and appalled as well. The real fascinating story would be if Tiger wasn’t sleeping with other women. Please let me know how the hell you managed to be the world’s most successful, recognized, wealthiest athlete and stay faithful to one woman – baring a magic genie or glass slipper. That’s the story I want to read because it is quite an imaginative tale.
Tiger is living a personal life that’s no different, when you pull away the hypocrisy and bullshit, from most people. Divorce rates are sky high and it’s not because someone left the cap off the toothpaste. Of course women are shocked/disappointed/shaken to the core at these revelations. Please stop. Really…stop. Men “cheat”. Women “cheat”. We’re human beings and for the most part, it’s part of the human condition. You can act shocked, but I’m quite sure you don’t want anyone going through your text records. And I’m willing to guess you don’t have a world famous golfer among your contacts…just some random mofo selling you dreams. I also don’t want to hear about how beautiful his wife is and how embarrassed she must feel. Marrying Tiger Woods was like hitting the mega millions lottery so I am not worried about her in the least. Trust me she’ll get over it, assuming any of this is a surprise to her in the first place, which I doubt. She might be blond but she’s not dumb.
Tiger is an athlete…an accomplished one without doubt…but still an athlete . We should expect nothing more from him than to win. We would all be better served if we checked the self righteousness at the door and spent more time looking inward. The FREE Man’s perspective of him has not changed one iota…he’s still the world’s greatest golfer and the only reason I watch the sport at all. He shouldn’t listen to all the assholes telling him to go on 60 minutes, Oprah or any other sob fest. He should simply do the one thing he didn’t do via text and voice mail. Stay silent and handle his business internally. He doesn’t owe any of us anything. I’ll see you all at the Masters. I know you’ll be watching knowing all he has to do to make this all go away…is win.
The FREE Man
December 11th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
I COMPLETELY agree with your opinion. My only question: What about pastors, spiritual-leaders, yogis, etc, I hold them to a high moral standard and if I found out they’re doing some mess like Tiger (God bless you and your family Tiger…smh)I’d be devasted. For instance, Deepak Chopra cheating on his wife withe multiple women, I’d be DEVASTED because they represent how things “should be” (according to my world, call me crazy)and they sit there and tell me don’t cheat, don’t do this that, LOVE, etc…it just wouldn’t be right. So maybe we should care…Tiger represented as the “squeaky clean” athlete and he really wasn’t. Just my random thought, not judging.
December 11th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Some good points but insensitive ones as well! welcome back controversial sometimes asshole FREE Man
December 11th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
It is not human nature to cheat. Monogamy can occur with people who understand the value in it. Just because you’re successful doesn’t place you above vows you that stated as sacred before God. Divorce has increased, in proportion to broken spirits and broken hearts. It is unfortunate how the morals of our society have declined so much that unacceptable behavior has become the norm. I’m afraid to see what comes next, since standards have become a thing past. We are now in an era of “anything goes.” God help us!
December 11th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I do agree with your opinion. Humans are one of the few mammals to remain monogamous throughout the course of a lifetime. Hence, nature suggests that it might be healthy and beneficial to be with more than one person. On the other hand, I don’t think that our inability to be monogamous should be translated into cheating and I disagree that cheating is the only cause of divorce. People change throughout their lifetime, even throughout the year, therefore, their partners should be reflective of that change. The idea of a binding marriage is based on historical pretext where women had to produce babies to ensure the human race and to ensure that you would be taken care of since many women were not paid for many of their labors. In today’s societal context, marriage becomes irrelevant. I think people should stay faithful to their partners, if not out of love, then out of respect. But when you need a change and a different flavor in your morning coffee, don’t cheat to get it, pack your bags and find a better coffee.
December 12th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I totally agree with some of your points. I’m so disappointed that he’s now taking an indefinite leave from golf. One thing shouldn’t have anything to do the other…business should always be business.
As far as is wife, she married a multi million dollar-making athlete…charge it to game.
December 13th, 2009 at 2:42 am
This article was pathetic for so many reasons. I’m quite dissapointed in the FREE man for putting this out there
December 13th, 2009 at 9:41 am
As my friend so poetically said when he announced his “indefinite” leave. “Tiger is probably saying to the media…’FINE you won’t give me my privacy, cool, then I will punish you the best way I can…I won’t let yall MOFO’s see me play.’” How you like them apples media outlets? He’s human. But his unhuman way of perfecting his golf game got a lot of viewers like me who don’t even care for golf…and this is going to lose a lot of people a lot of money…who’s being punished now?
December 13th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
To all those who are disappointed in the FREE MAN’S article, he is simply stating the truth… He didn’t say it was acceptable… He just said that one shouldn’t be so naive when it happens. We like Tiger for what he has done on the Golf course. If he wasn’t a great golfer he would be just another cheater and no one would even be talking about, an unknown if u will. So why act like because he can drive a golf ball 300+ yards into a hole in one, then he won’t try and drive on extra hole? And I am almost guaranteed that the hole is probably trying to drive him more than he the hole (he is a billionaire in a world full of misguided golddiggers). Truthfully speaking, the American way is to obsess oneself over the lives/problems of others (preferable the popular) so that we don’t have to confront the issues that so deeply plague our own lives. Idiotic way to live, causing most of us to have worse issues and less money to help get treatment for those issues. And imagine as many of these stupid people that have something to say about the Tiger issue (mainly the women) most of them would trade places with Tiger’s wife in a heartbeat knowing the same outcome would remain ahead. For SHAME America.