Redefining Victory

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/17/how-i-ve-redefined-victory.html

Tiger Woods has fallen about as far as any person could ever imagine. He was at the top of the world and appeared to have about as perfect a life that anyone could hope for. He was the best golfer in the world, was adored by thousands maybe millions of fans, married to a beautiful woman, had two healthy children, and has made an estimated billion dollars playing a game that millions in the world love to play. Then last Thanksgiving it all came crashing down around him, after a minor car accident and short trip to the hospital with minor injuries revealed an infidelity scandal that became the top story of the world for the past year.

Not only the sporting world but everyone was enamored by this humiliation. It can probably be said that the only thing America loves more than a hero, is watching that hero fall. As we all know the media has drastically changed over the past couple of decades. Gone are the days where athletes can enjoy a private life off the field. The sporting world depends on the media coverage for its publicity and revenue, without the media, sport could not exist in the way we have come to know it today. The two business’ feed off of each other, and they are stronger because of their connection. “Sports and the media are interconnected parts of our lives. Sports provide valuable media content, and many sports depend on the media for publicity and revenues (Coakley 394).” The media helped make Tiger his millions of dollars and he had an unimaginable admiration from a vast majority of fans, but suddenly the media had rightfully turned on him, and now any person who had known Tiger was getting their fifteen minutes of fame at his expense. Now begins the climb back to respectability and approval that Tiger had taken for granted the last couple of years.

In a recent first person Newsweek article Tiger is continuing to rehabilitate his tattered image. He discusses the drastic change in his life that came as a result of the scandal last Thanksgiving. This article was a great step in regaining the public; he talks about his change in philosophy and his outlook on life. He shows a much more personable side of himself, and for the first time in his career he is relating to his fans. He talks about how he is no longer as driven by practicing for hours on end, but now the little things in life like being with his children. This shows a whole new side of Tiger and is a refreshing look at the person behind all the greatness he has achieved on the golf course.

I am most definitely a part of the Tiger generation in golf. I still remember watching Tiger Woods growing up and wanting to go out to the driving range and pretend to be him. Still today almost all of my golfing attire is Nike because of how much I enjoyed him. When the news of his scandal came out, I did not know how to react. Here was one of my favorite sports icons who had done something somewhat unforgivable. This was the second time that one of my sporting hero’s had done this. I was a huge Kobe Bryant fan growing up, like Tiger and golf Kobe was the reason I became interested in basketball. When his scandal came out I was younger and I did not understand a much as I do today and I never wavered in my support of him. As time goes on I still will cheer for Tiger because I was drawn to him by his golfing abilities not his personal life. However as long as he continues to change as a person, and these words and changes he has promised continue in his actions I can cheer for Tiger the human, as well as the golfer. Sometimes people need a wakeup call to change for the better, and everyone can have a second chance, it is what they do with there second chance that separates people. I feel that Kobe has changed as a person and become more family oriented and I hope Tiger can continue on the same path.