The Dual Existence of Tiger Woods (Revised)

Actually, I had not intended to even write about this at all. I figure that I would just let nature take its course and not really pay attention to it. Seriously. It doesn't affect me directly at all. I don't know him personally. I have no direct involvement in this story so why should I care? I took some grief when I said that I doubt he would be in this mess had his Dad been alive. I happen to believe that to be true. I am NOT excusing his actions at all. He made a series of VERY bad decisions. I honestly think there is a connection. He's somewhat clandestine in nature, as his Dad (a former Green Beret if you don't know). I think this way because that is the time when all this started. He ventured on unchartered waters and the waters overtook him. Until I hear women coming forward from pre-2003 (for example) come forward, this is my story and I'm sticking to it. Even his former girlfriend, Joanna Jagoda (who he dated until 2001), was floored by all of this.

You made it this far, so please work with me. I only look at the timeline- 2005 is when this all began. That seems to be the year all of this started. Around this time, his Dad's health had turned for the worst. He not only had prostate cancer but had been dealing with diabetes at the same time. Earl Woods was very involved in Tiger's life. He warned him about going the route he is now taken himself on. His folks lived in California while he lives in Florida. He would often go to California to see his Dad or take that trip to Vegas. Hence, the opportunity is born. The one man Tiger sought the approval of the most was gone by 2006. The one man who always kept him straight. The one man who kept Tiger in line dead. The rest is history. All of these affairs happened, or escalated after the elder Woods passed away. Tiger's gatekeeper, confidant, and most trusted friend was gone.

How does his father's death play into this? I think of my colleague who experienced the sudden death of his father. At times and for whatever reason, rational thought sometimes goes out the window. His wife, Elin, is a very beautiful woman. Most would think why would (or better yet, how could) he cheat on her? I don't think it's just power alone, though that is part of the picture. I'm not making excuses, but only stating what I have seen. Some people can deal with grief better than others. My colleague was a mess. Even though he took time off from work, he was not doing well. He would up being placed on 3 different medications to deal with his moods. He also (successfully) hacked into his company's Internet site, eventually getting him fired. This somewhat makes me think of Metallica (in particular, James Hetfield). In "Some Kind of Monster", he had just entered rehab. He also had to deal with grief that he admitted he failed to deal with properly. His mother died of cancer, father left him, and the tragic death of bassist Cliff Burton just got pushed down and never addressed (not to mention the relationships with his other band mates). James medicated his pain with alcohol, drugs and sex. If all that is being said about this is true, I see some parallels in this story. Someone had to see this train wreck happening and I still wonder if anyone tried to stop him (as a good friend should).

This is something I didn't think of when I first put this out. Woods has been under the public microscope since age 3. Now, I almost did a brownie advertisement at the same age. In fact, I can still remember the guy trying to do the shoot. My problem was I wanted to EAT the brownie while photoman wanted me to just keep it in my mouth. A picture-pillow exists and is currently at my Grandmother's house. He has been put in a position where he can't be normal. All his life, his image waws about being perfect, bordering on machine-like (as many have described him). Frankly, I think this might have pushed him over. This is no excuse but another possible factor where a person can make another bad decision. He tried some thigs (as he said) and he liked it. More important, he didn't get caught. Again I ask if anyone saw this and tried to stop it? As the details come out, it seems as if people enabled him to do so. Then the circle just got bigger. The limits only got pushed further out. I can't imagine living my life that publically for that long and not crack up at least one (look at the different child stars who did the same thing).

What gets me is that I as an outsider am putting this together. We're hearing stories about long nights of heavy drinking, affairs with multiple women (now reaching double digets and 2 of the alleged are porn stars), and medications (sleeping pills and pain killers). How is it that those close to him didn't or at least try to talk sense into him? I mentioned James Hetfield and his journey. He basically was told by his wife that stuff is going to change or I’m gone. Hetfield went for a lengthy in-patient treatment. Not to say that no one did it with Tiger. Then again, I guess the hangers-on could not take the risk of losing their meal ticket. I just wonder that "friends" actually knew of this and enabled him to carry on. From the no joke file, how will his wife deal with this? I feel worse for her. I hope he takes this seriously. He has done so much right (starting schools and a good foundation among other things) that to lose all of that in such a way would be a shame. In fact, it’s bordering on tragic. Then again, Nick Faldo’s career didn’t suffer for adultery either. I would hope that he should stay low for the next few months and not any sooner than the Masters (or at the minimum, Bay Hill), as I see it.

I think of King David and Bathsheba in all of this. David could have picked anything he wanted, and God even said that if what he had wasn't enough, I would have gladly given him more. He took Bathsheba, had his moment with her, sent her husband out to battle knowing he would be killed, and the result was a nightmare. The boy Bathsheba gave birth to died. King Soloman had all the power and women (over 700 wives) only for them to turn against him by woshipping other gods. I will end by saying this. I wonder if anyone sees their friend doing the things Tiger did, what would you do? Do you try to stop them, get out of the way or enable them to carry on in such a way. Stuff like this happens all too often so I hope in our own lives, we will be consistent in our reactions no matter who the person involved may be. I don't think that's unfair to ask.