Another take on Tiger Woods

Rhino and I have been good pals for 30+ years. He’s a successful businessman, and hell of a nice writer, as those of you who stick with this blog entry will see. He tried to respond to my “Tiger and The Pussycats” blog post in the “comments” section, but his response was too long to fit, so I’m putting his letter in its entirety on the Main Stage. Enjoy. He has quite a perspective on things …

Mr. Vagabond:

I was shocked and disappointed reading your “Tiger and the Pussycats” story. You excuse Mr. Woods from having any responsibility for his moral and ethical failure by attempting to portray him as a hapless victim when, in fact, he was quite the opposite. You imply that this infidelity was thrust (no pun intended) upon him by admiring “nubile hotties” who persisted knowing that “eventually your restraint is going to fail you.” Is respect for one’s wife, one’s children, one’s matrimonial vows, one’s self discipline, self control and one’s character all mere illusions to be discarded upon sufficient exposure to a “seductive smile?” Without these basic tenets of self control there is no such thing as marriage or a family or stability or a modern society. Are we nothing more than a tribe of cave dwellers or a migrating herd of buffalo?

It is a distressing development to find that the true story, one of a man who had “everything,” a beautiful family, unparalleled professional success and a future of unimaginable possibility would so quickly discard it for sex. How sad is it to think that no matter how steady or controlled or focused or purposeful Mr. Woods appeared while on the golf course in reality he possess the self-control of a wild dog. What of his failure to abide by the obligations and responsibilities as a man?

Obviously he has caused his family unimaginable heartache and pain. He has also let all male members of the species down. He has added another chapter in the book of “men are jerks” so no matter how hard some of us strive to be responsible, do the right thing and lead exemplary lives we are scarred by Tiger’s failure.

Tiger has also insulted and done a huge disservice to all men of color. What better ammunition could Tiger have provided to the small-minded bigots and the racist who resented his professional and financial successes? For every painful step taken towards equality by men like Barack Obama, Colin Powel, Bill Cosby, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Frederick Douglas, Tiger Woods just drove them back a few yards.

To give Tiger a pass when he has lied to his wife and hidden from his adoring fans is just giving him undeserved and superfluous relief from the very real rough of his life.

One can only hope that Mr. Woods realizes that this has been a mistake of inconceivable magnitude and he spends the remainder of his life making up for it to his family and to the people out there who care who it is they see looking back at them in the mirror every morning!

With Kind Personal Regards;

Rhino