Over the next 24 hours or so, every pundit imaginable will offer analysis of Tiger Woods' public appearance at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Beach, Fla., this morning. Count me among those who will not be tuning into to CNN or Fox News tonight to hear "experts" drone on and on about what all this meant.
I'm just going to take Woods' statements at face value.
For me, the most telling reaction of Woods' speech today might have been come from the Golf Channel's Charlie Rymer. To see a pro golfer and analyst moved to tears was indicative of how Woods came across in his non-press conference public appearance today.
Woods' statements and confessions seemed genuine, and I did hear some things I was hoping I would hear. Sure, he didn't clear up when he's coming back to play, or give any details of his sordid affairs (I really didn't want to hear the latter anyway), but what he did -- despite it being a carefully prepared statement -- was show humility. I liked the fact that Tiger said that "he doesn't get to play by different rules." He blamed only himself this time.
"The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me," Woods said. "I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife's family, my friends, my foundation, and kids all around the world who admired me."
Yes, he realizes he has failed as a role model. I've been saying all along that athletes, celebrities and politicians -- good or bad -- are role models whether they choose to be or not.
"Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids," Woods said. "I owe all those families a special apology. I want to say to them that I am truly sorry."
As a parent who has tried really hard to set a good example for my now-grown kids, I really appreciated that.
It was also encouraging to hear him address his boorish behavior on the golf course, seemingly with a commitment to change that when he returns. And he talked about how important it was to continue his and his late father Earl's work to help kids get an education. He also said that his words mean little compared to how he lives his life forward.
I realize this is all part of his rehabilitation process. It seems to follow the 12-step process substance abuse addicts often go though, which I've witnessed among my own family members and friends.
At the end -- despite the timing and controlled circumstances of this morning's event -- I found myself liking Tiger Woods more than I have in a long time. Perhaps because he really didn't seem like he was above it anymore, and he seemed sincere this time that there are more important goals than winning golf titles.
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