No apology is necessary

Posted Thursday, December 3, 2009, at 11:02 AM

I've been thinking about this whole Tiger Woods episode for a few days and have come to a conclusion that best describes how I feel regarding the situation.

Tiger Woods doesn't owe an apology to anyone outside of his immediate family.

Since coming into the public spotlight, Woods has maintained incredible control on his personal life.

That all came to a crashing halt this week.

Now, he's fodder for television shows, magazines and newspapers alike who feel he owes all of us an explanation.

I'm not interested.

I don't care.

I have a lot on my plate any given day of the week. I don't think there's time for me to wait on a professional athlete to give me an apology for his "transgressions."

He owes me nothing.

And he owes you nothing either.

Sure, I know the man is paid millions of dollars to endorse products. I see the commercials on television. But I couldn't tell you what kind of razor or car he's sponsoring.

I'm pretty sure whatever razor he uses will work the same for me. But that doesn't mean I use them. In fact, I'm pretty sure I don't, especially since I can't stand shaving.

And I don't care, for that matter, what kind of razor he's trying to sell.

I don't care about what kind of car Tiger Woods drives, either. It simply doesn't matter to me.

I have a vehicle that runs just fine, thank you. I'm not going to run out to the next car lot down the road and purchase a car just because a celebrity told me (on television, mind you) that it was either affordable or comfortable.

The opinions and actions of celebrities are of no interest to me period.

I can't help but think about a quote from Charles Barkley several years ago.

In a commercial during his heyday, Barkley explained how he should not be a role model for children.

I agree 100 percent, Charles.

Barkley didn't want to be a role model for children and neither should Tiger Woods.

Woods helped bring the game of golf to life, with his personality and his God-given ability.

But that doesn't mean he should be a role model. Sure, millions upon millions can be fans of the man, but look elsewhere for role models.

I was always a huge fan of the Cincinnati Reds. I loved the "Big Red Machine," and the players.

Pete Rose was a member of those teams. But to me, he was just a baseball player, not a role model.

Rather, I looked to my parents and other family members as role models. Adults that I should attempt to model my life after.

Everyone has flaws. Everyone is, after all, human.

Just because someone has been placed on a pedestal by so many doesn't mean everyone has a right to judge that person when they slip or fall.

Who are we to judge?

Are our lives that empty that we have become so engrossed with the pain of others that we enjoy watching them wallow in their own sorrow?

If his "transgressions" did involve an affair, that's really none of my business.

Just like if I were in his shoes, my "transgressions" would be none of his business.

Comments
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Well said!!!!!

-- Posted by Proud of My Country on Thu, Dec 3, 2009, at 1:10 PM

Well...maybe he owes one to his neighbor for trashing his tree...lol. Other than that I agree 100%. Just because he's a celebrity why do some think that his infidelities are so much more important than other real news in the world?

Sports figures are only role models as far as their physical abilities go. They are no better or worse than other people. Why not find a mentor who does good works and try to emulate them. Whether a parent, older sibling, or philanthropist like Greg Mortenson [Central Asia Institute] or Dan West[Heifer Project International]. Plenty of people out there to try to model your life after.

-- Posted by Jenny Moore on Thu, Dec 3, 2009, at 7:13 PM

LOL, we all have our strong points and our weaknesses. Hopefully, when others look at us, they will try to emulate our good points and learn from and avoid our failings.

Everyone past twenty was a teenager at one point in their lives and, undoubtedly, has done something stupid at some point. Some got caught and some of us got away with it, but the skeleton is still in the closet and always will be.

As to role models, just because a person is in the national spotlight, they are not role models except to those people in their inner circle, if that. As Jason said, I don't care what they are endorsing or if they are at all. If I need something, I'll look to see if it is going to do the job, not who is being paid to tout it.

I have to disagree with Jenny on her last two choices of people to emulate. The problem of following the lead of someone who is far removed from your personal circle is that you never know when the skeleton is going to jump out of their closet. Thinking back about what has been revealed about our past Presidents' private lives and other "national heros", I think a role model should be someone close.

I also think that a person must understand that, even if your role model can walk on water, he or she is still a human being and capable of making a mistake. The Good Lord knows that I try to set a good example, but I do make mistakes almost daily. The only person that never errs is the person that does nothing.

-- Posted by Leo L. Southworth on Fri, Dec 4, 2009, at 3:10 AM

Leo:

Yes we all have skeletons but do look up these two people. They show that a single person CAN make a difference in the world. They give encouragement to those of us who seem to be at that place where they think they are wasting their time and just hitting their head against a brick wall [I include my self in this category at times]. Reading about what they have done keeps me going sometimes and also shows that if you change one person's life, though compared to world's problems this seems a drop in the bucket, they in turn may change another's; causing a ripple effect.

Having a mentor who is in your everyday life shows you a good example of how to lead your everyday life, but sometimes it takes someone "special" to inspire one to push the envelope and go one step further. These two men have instilled self empowerment in many individuals to reach out to help one other person. Times that by the thousands they have inspired. As they say, "Priceless."

-- Posted by Jenny Moore on Fri, Dec 4, 2009, at 7:23 AM

No apology necessary?

Tell that to Nike and Gatorade that bought a product in Tiger that lost value.

Tell that to a family that he destroyed through infidelity.

Tell that to an entire sport that invested everything into his clean cut image that now has to take a second seat to his mention as an anecdote.

Seriously, you've wrote some really dumb comments, but this easily makes the top ten.

-- Posted by GOPsweep2010 on Tue, Dec 8, 2009, at 8:49 PM