[O.B.Left]

I agree with the above to a certain extent . . . however . . . Eldrick & Co. Inc. sold that he was BIGGER than any athlete because he transcended race and via sport would eventual trascend politics etc. I never believed that garbage. I thought he was human . . . but THIS AIN'T HUMAN. I mean going to a strip joint . . . human . . . getting drunk . . . human . . . helping a confused goat over a fence . . . human . . . maybe even cheating one time on your ole lady . . . human . . . looking at pawno . . . human . . . this junk IF TRUE . . . is BEYOND . . . he transcended alright. Can you imagine some of the suit types that were probably at these parties rolling out after a big "how can we market Tiger's image" . . . "Dude, can you BELIEVE what a sales job we've pulled on the ENTIRE WORLD?? . . . and now we're hanging with MODELS that want to do us!!!"

Tiger has probably screwed the pooch for a bunch of athlete poltician types . . . I bet that's why these skanks are hiring lawyers . . . this probably runs deeeeeeeeeeeeeep into the set he rolled with. Could be more celeb types pulled into this crap storm.

For the record my comments were coming from a "I can't believe how naive I am sometimes" perspective. I honour Bobby Jones achievements and early retirement for instance. I also see this whole Tiger thing as being a benchmark in the evolution of the sports journalism, maybe journalism in general. Let me explain.

Fifty years ago, heck two years ago for that matter, the press wouldnt have run with a story like this. There probably isnt a sports journalist alive or dead that didnt have a ton, an evenings full, of stories about the transgressions of sports heros. The rule of thumb being if it wasnt illegal or perhaps I should say, if the cops werent actually called you didnt go with the story. In return the scribes were allowed into the players inner sanctums, be they bars or locker rooms. Like a traveling circus they co existed under these rules. Now the advent of the TMZ's and similar websites changes everything. The Boston Heralds or New York Times are running with stories referenced from TMZ or the blog that Bucket linked us to. Everything is backwards. The beat sports reporters are on the horns of a dilemma right now I bet. Their papers would go with a story but they arent that type of journalist. TMZ doesnt cover the sport they just pay off limo drivers for shag stories. I havent been watching TGC so I dont know what they're doing but if they're covering it , I bet they are not leading the pack but rather following other sources leads and without Rick Lerner or anyone else who hangs with tour doing the coverage. I may be wrong but ........... the apple cart is upside down.

Tigers behaviour sadly, disgustingly, is nothing new for a superstar. We just didnt hear about the other stuff. He is on the back nine of his list of girlfriends maybe but way, way behind some others who preceded him on tour. Guys we still admire, I'd venture. Does this excuse Tiger? No but he lives in different times.

Its interesting to me why we care, why I feel so offended by his actions. Is it really just the hypocrisy of his media image? I honestly dont know if thats what bugging me. I'm trying to figure it out. I'm interested in what you guys think. I'm also trying to remember. He told me the Nike balls were great, that Gillette was a good shave, maybe I missed something. Jimmy Swaggert or those of that ilk, I remember their hypocrisy quite well. No problem there. Tiger's hypocrisy Im not so sure about. Did he speak directly to us about his moral fiber. Fiber cereal maybe. Maybe Im forgetting something. It was his Dad and Mom that came out with the BS about transcendence wasnt it? That was crazy talk. I can only imagine what that would do to a kids head.

Being the best at a sport does not mean anything other than you are the best at that sport. There shouldnt be any automatic "good guy", stature. Tiger is the first to be outed for sins that werent before the courts. Why do we feel so offended? The guys a jerk so what?

Do we morn the loss of our old naive fantasy image of Tiger Woods? Is that what it is?