Traverse City Record-Eagle

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December 14, 2009

Mike Eckert: Why judge Tiger Woods?

By MIKE ECKERT

I don't think a day has gone by over the last couple weeks without some kind of Tiger Woods news.

The car crash. Hospital visits. Infidelity. Scandal.

This story line feels like it should be nominated for a Daytime Emmy.

With every passing day and every revelation, Tiger Woods and his image as arguably the most recognizable athlete in the world takes a beating. And it's a shame.

My opinion of Tiger Woods today is the same as it was a month ago and the same as it will be whenever he returns to his sport. He is hands down the most dominant athlete of our generation and should rightly be considered one of the all-time greats to ever grace a golf course.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Let me be clear that I don't condone lying, cheating or any of the actions being associated with Woods right now in his private life. But it's not my place to judge what he does away from golf one way or the other. It's called a personal life for a reason.

Because athletes are famous, rich and live the lives that we've all dreamed of at one point or another, we turn them into celebrities and role models.

It's unfortunate.

Charles Barkley created a stir years ago when he said in a Nike commercial that he wasn't a role model. How right he was.

Since athletes constantly show us perfection in their sport, we expect them to live perfect lives as well. But the fact remains that they're just people.

Cheating happens all the time. It's never a good thing, but it's out there. The only difference is when "Joe Lunchbox" does it, CNN isn't breaking in with all day, all-access coverage.

People say Woods has forever damaged his reputation. Accenture dropped him as a sponsor this weekend, saying that he is "no longer the right representative" for the company.

Why?

Accenture didn't attach itself to the Tiger Woods cash cow because of his personality. They did so because of what he can do on the golf course. And that hasn't changed.

It's become clear over the last couple of weeks that athletes are now in the same celebrity class as actors or musicians. I give you racks of magazines in the check-out line plastered with Woods' picture as Exhibit A.

The strange thing, though, is that athletes are treated differently. When a movie star cheats, it's considered part of the lifestyle. Even a president can do it without too much damage to the reputation.

But an athlete -- that's another story.

I don't have kids. But if I did, I would tell them to appreciate what Woods -- or any other athlete -- does in their sport. Respect it. Emulate it.

But find people to model your life after that deserve that recognition.

Tiger Woods doesn't owe you, me, or Joe Lunchbox anything. But when he returns to the game of golf, we should appreciate him for what he can do with a 7-iron.

Nothing more, nothing less.

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