Tiger Woods won the US Open last week. The world got to see Tiger on Primetime, play a playoff on another playoff. We witnessed one of the greatest "double-overtimes" we have ever seen in golf. The 18-hole playoff followed by the Sudden Death 19th hole, was one of the most interesting situations we have seen in sports. It gave the world the opportunity to root for the underdog. The only problem was, post game-play, the "underdog" role is now completely debatable. No one knows exactly who to say the underdog is/was. Tiger won the US Open last week with a host of major injuries, including complications from his knee surgery earlier in the Spring. He had a torn ACL and a broken (or chipped) shinbone. In almost any other sport, a player would be praised for completing such a remarkable accomplishment, however, quite a few reporters and other media figures chastised him, saying it wasn't smart for him to complete the Open.
I listened to the Sports Animal last week, and while they were talking about golf, and of course Tiger Woods, there was one caller that was particularly frustrated with the fact that he won, and continued to shoot off at the mouth about how stupid Tiger was. The host of the segment, jawed back at him, eventually kicking him off the line, and immediately accused him of just "not liking" Tiger Woods for "no reason". I thought it was interesting that people can question the "eye of the Tiger". Every one becomes a doctor when it comes to what they think the greatest golfer in the history of the sport should do. The truth is, when Lance Armstrong wins the Tour De France, while overcoming Cancer, he is looked at as one of the greatest heroes in sports history. When Tom Brady plays in the Super Bowl while having a shoulder injury, even after he loses, he appeals to the sports world as another hero. In a society that rewards success bred by toughness, we shouldn't scold Tiger for being "selfish", or "stupid." The fact is, Tiger Woods could probably win every tournament with one leg and one eye. This was probably nothing for him, which is why nobody knew until after the "Double-OT Golf Championship" was completed.
2 comments:
You believe there was an obvious reason for the listener's bias?
I do simply because of the major points that he brought up. They are all very invalid and pointless, which is why the announcer vocally escorted him off of the line. It fueled a 7-9 minute rant from the white announcer who seemed certain that there are people that hate Tiger because he is black and asian, is married to a Swedish supermodel, and..,. oh yeah..., is arguably one of the most dominant athletes of all-time.
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