Guest blogger, Ricky Potts: Tumultuous Tiger
Guest blogger, Ricky Potts, is a writer, graphic designer and self-titled, ‘opinionated realist.’ You can find Ricky’s blog at rickyleepotts.com and on Twitter @rickyleepotts.
I get it, Tiger Woods cheated on his wife. Ever since he wrecked his Cadillac Escalade in his own driveway back in November (what a way to spend Thanksgiving) the media has tried to tear him apart one headline at a time. With dozens of women coming out of the woodwork to say that they slept with Tiger, some even claiming that he was their father of their children, Tiger has been through a lot in the last few months. He has lost some big name sponsors including AT&T and Gillette, he went through several months of therapy, and is in the process of losing his wife whom he has two children with. So yeah, I think it’s okay that he has not won a tournament in a while.
For the record, I do not support what he did to his wife. Better yet, what he did to his wife, his children, his friends, and his fans. But I do understand it. I understand a man that has more money than he could ever spend throwing elaborate parties in Las Vegas hotel rooms. I understand a man who can buy a private jet to get from one tournament to another. I mean, the man basically rented an entire hotel on the night of his honeymoon so that he could have some privacy. For God’s sake, the man’s boat is even named Privacy. Tiger Woods likes his privacy.
My issue with this entire scandal is how people, the media and bloggers alike, have tried to rip him apart. Even on Twitter people who know nothing about the scandal are putting in his or her two cents. I do my best trying to alleviate that by standing up for Tiger, but there is only so much you can do in 140 characters. I love Tiger on the golf course, and I respect his personal privacy.
Does that mean Tiger Woods is perfect? No, of course not. We knew that before all of this came about. He has been swearing all over the golf course since he was little. But for those of you who play golf, you understand the need to drop an f-bomb here or there. I consider myself to be one of Tiger’s biggest fans, and I will stand by his side all day long if I have to. But I am sick of people degrading him for something he did behind closed doors, and for something that should be left between him and his wife.
Last week, going into the British Open, Tiger was in the papers again. But this time it was for an equipment change. Tiger, after thirteen years with the same Scotty Cameron putter, decided to start using a Nike putter. The metal in this new club will allow the ball to come off the putter face a hotter, allowing him more control on slower greens. Now, Tiger didn’t play as well as we all thought he would at St. Andrews, but he made the cut, finished in the top half of the field, and is showing signs of a win soon. I have never seen him hit the ball as well as he did in the US Open at Pebble Beach. He just couldn’t make a putt. But even through all of this, keep in mind he is still the #1 player in golf.
My point is, leave the man alone. Let him have his privacy and settle things with his wife behind closed doors. The biggest argument I hear is that he is a celebrity, a figure in the public eye. As true as that might be, he still deserves some personal space, especially when it comes to his family. I have news for you people, he is not the first processional athlete to cheat on his wife. He won’t be the last. And when Tiger Woods makes his last putt on the PGA Tour many years from now, you can be damned sure he will be judged for what he did on the golf course, not what he did in the bedroom. I hope to see more news about his golf game and less news about his sex life.
Here are a few post-British Open Tiger stories:
Will Tiger make the Ryder Cup team?
