Column: Tiger's redemption lies in winning
Published Feb. 26, 2010
It is kind of interesting that the two biggest names in sports this past week were Shaun White and Tiger Woods.
Both exceptionally talented men re-emerged into the national spotlight, though for two entirely different reasons. Both men have the ability to make the rest of their competition look absolutely foolish. Both men also are/were one of the few ridiculously admired athletes playing a sport not named football, basketball, baseball or hockey.
The difference between the two is Shaun White has cooler hair. The difference that won't get me fired for devoting a column to, though, is the one with a personality has taken his place as the American athletic darling while the other is dethroned and shamefully ushered out the back door.
The really sad part about this whole situation is Woods' name doesn't have to be synonymous with the act of cheating on your wife way more than once. His past is done and gone. There is not much anyone can do about that, but his public image can still be salvaged if he plays his cards right. It has been done before it's too late.
If an athlete continues to perform (and perform well, at that) after a certain debacle, the general public seems to forget it ever happened. Although if he falls from grace afterward and never suits up again, there is no hope no matter how incredible he was on the field beforehand or immaculate he is off the field following. Kobe Bryant is a good example. When we think of him now, his domination in the NBA comes to mind, not his alleged sexual assault in 2003. His on-court heroics helped him rebound, pun intended.
I immediately think of Michael Phelps' bong picture when I think of the world's most well-known swimmer now, though that surfaced after he brought down the house in Beijing. Many have all but forgotten his under-aged DUI in 2004 ever happened. And — I'm going to be honest — I like it that way. What's done is done; we should forgive them and celebrate as we let them get back to what they do best.
Now, this being said, the road back for Woods will be much harder. He is better known than Bryant or Phelps were, but if he sincerely confesses and gets right back to work on the course, I can almost guarantee this situation will not be what Woods will be remembered for, thus avoiding the ranks of Pete Rose and O.J. Simpson. Granted, he will have to pick up right where he left off, knocking down majors left and right on half a leg, but if anyone could do it, we've found our man.
If Woods cleans up his act and starts winning again, sports fans everywhere will forgive and forget. If he fails to do so, they will just move on to the next poster boy of American values, sadly reducing Woods to no more than an afterthought of "what was." No big deal for us. On to bigger and better things.
I hope he does make the greatest comeback in the history of sports. Woods remains one of my favorite athletes when he's competing, though not necessarily when he's not. I truly think he has it in him and will, in time, avoid being replaced entirely. Maybe when tomatoes fly.