March 12, 2010
I am so happy Woods will be back on the course at Bay Hill. I have followed him extensively throughout his career starting back before his first Amateur.
He has provided me with countless thrills through the ages as my Pops and I watched and marveled at his ridiculous domination of the sport of Golf.
His U.S. Open win at Torrey Pines in 2008 was, for me, the greatest achievement in sporting history.
Now that he is scheduled to return, his final act will be his finest. In time, he will regain the support and adoration from fans and sponsors alike. I believe he will also finally grow up into the adult he was never before allowed to become, as he lived the first 33 plus years of his life in a bubble no one could fathom.
My heart broke in 1999 when I watched from the 16th green of Pinehurst No. 2, right before Stewart drained a miracle put, as Tiger missed a three-footer for a sand-save par on the short 17th three-par that cost him the U.S. Open.
I am a Phil M. man too but a Woods guy through and through. He is the one that always gives me the chills...in fact he is simply the one.
So I will say it now....Tiger wins all the majors this year as his grand slam run will be the biggest Media Blitz in televised sports' history.
And for all the haters: don't hate the player hate the game.....I know that is cliche but it is true. Tiger deserves a second chance. As for his misgivings in his personal life, I feel that they really are not public business and he did not owe anyone any apologizes except his family.
Did not Bill Clinton and JFK get second and third chances?? Oh and yeah they were Presidents of The United States of America. I also believe Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin participated in some heavy extra circular activities while being wed....and one has a monument in DC, the other is quoted more often than Lady Gaga and also has numerous statues made in his image....I believe, by the way, that all these aforementioned political luminaries (minus WJC) also have their faces on U.S. currency...
Micheal Jordan had infidelities in his marriage as well. So did Ali (in every single marriage he had besides his last/current one)...and look at them now....
So from one small town sports reporter I say to you Tiger Woods: Go out there and give them hell -- Play like you have never played before and prove why you are really "THE ONE". Shine so phenomenally bright that people remember exactly why they were so let down when all this unfortunate business came to light in the first place, and why they cared so much about what some "pro golfer" did in his private life....(I wonder how they would feel if the shoe was on the other foot but without the reversal of fame, fortune, humanitarianism and accolades)
Then once you transcend the sporting world like no other athlete before you has done or ever will do again, (including the way the "old you" did... the one who was a "playboy cheater")...well then, simply tell all those haters and hypocrites that still try to dog your stroll that they can go jump in some lake in Minnesota for all you care.
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HeelsHoopFan 3 years, 2 months ago
Tiger is Tiger. There has never been one like him before and very unlikely any one to follow. I compare him to Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, Babe Ruth and Jim Brown. Simply, the greatest.
I judge Tiger not on his indiscretions rather on the way he will pick himself up and move forward. I am thrilled his marriage is on the mend and his priorities are in order.
I don't know exactly when he is coming back, but I am looking forward to it. Tiger has not been charged with anything other than a traffic ticket by over zealous police officers.
My father who was a strong conservative told me, a liberal, in college back in the sixties that we had become a "permissive society." The media has become ambulance chasers and although I am not a big fan of Patrick Kennedy he was right yesterday on the House floor when he chastised the media for covering the the sensational Page Six stories and not covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the same vigor.
The media frenzy will continue and Tiger will get past it. Before, he had nothing to prove to the world.......now he has his mother, wife and kids to justify a new found fervor that he is worthy of their love and support. I say look out golf world.........Tiger is on a Quest larger than just breaking Jack's records.....he wants a legacy that his family can be proud of. I can't wait.
I still believe he will retire early and enter politics.........and one day may be on our local ballots. Moral of the story......Tiger has bigger fish to fry and a few hecklers and over-hyped sportscenter dweebs are like those big seals that hang out at Pebble Beach .......just part of the scenery.
Go Tig and Tarheels we love you but enough is enough....no NIT....PLEASE!!
'
ladylane 3 years, 2 months ago
All cats shed their stripes one time or another. Live and let live
Tom_Embrey 3 years, 2 months ago
Tiger announces he will return at The Masters. Not too shocking here.
dogboy 3 years, 2 months ago
I can't wait to hear someone yell, when Tiger is on the first tee at Augusta, "GET IN THE HOLE"
fwm2 3 years, 2 months ago
Yes guys I went on a report that he would play on Bay Hill when I posted this (some NYC source which was wrong...imagine that....)....
anyway the Masters makes even more sense to me....the rest of my blog I still stand firmly behind ;)
ASU88 3 years, 2 months ago
@dogboy I agree! FWM2 Greatest sport event ever? Wow...you have a lot to learn about sports history. How long have you been a sports writer? Tiger is without doubt a great golfer...a role model to our youth..NOT. I think Tiger needs a "Life Coach" and not a "GOLF Coach"!
fwm2 3 years, 2 months ago
ASU88
It is only my opinion...so it cannot be wrong...however I do believe I am not alone in my high ranking of his win in 2008...but I won't delve any deeper because I do not feel it is necessary to defend an "opinion"
I have been a sports writer for more just under 4 years...before that I mostly picked beats from sunup to sundown, never watching or playing any sports in my life..haha...
Seriously though, I would appreciate any lessons you personally can give me in sports history...maybe we can set up a date for me to start my tutelage...but first I have two questions: 1. How long you have been a reader of sports writers. 2. What qualifies you as an authority on sports history when it comes to opinion based statements....
I could have said Owens and his three world records in 36, or Spitz at the 72 Olympics, Thorpe at the 1912 Olympics, or Kobe's 81 or Wilt's 100, or Lance's 7 or DiMaggio's 56, Ali's 3 or Bobby's Grand Slam or Wood's Tiger Slam, (Four straight majors 2000-2001)...but for me Tiger winning the U.S. Open in 2008, the way he did while injured so severely, was tops
Mtnneer88 3 years, 2 months ago
@ FWM2 Check with my fellow UP alumni..RD28327 for lessons on sports history. It's called a debate...not a position of defending one's opinion. Would Tiger be your choice if you didn't live in such a golfing community? I'll study my notes on sports history and get back with you on my choice. Hmm..Hank Aaron...Mickey Mantle...UCLA Bruins...etc.. FWM2 you are doing a pretty good job of reporting our local sports but as a reporter you should leave your opinion at your door-step and just report the facts.
fwm2 3 years, 2 months ago
@Mtneer88
Its my blog....last I checked blogs are opinion oriented...I am not really defending my view, just wondering why people dismiss it w/o offering any of their own views.
As for Reuben, ask him how he got to UP's 3A Girls Regional Semifinal basketball game...once there he sat in press row right behind me and hounded the referees at high volume levels the entire time...I love Rube to death... but that day I was glad he was there with another media outlet instead of The Pilot...
I never knew reporters were not allowed to have opinions and voice them so long as they did not do so in a news story...and this was not a news story...
I have covered the North and South Women Am, The Junior Girls North and South Am and US Kids Golf for 2-3 years and covered the 2008 US Amatuer the entire way through, including writing the final story for the paper on Danny Lee's win...I was also a caddie at Pinehurst for 4 seasons and know Courses 2, 4, 7 and 8 better than 99% of the population...so I know a little about the game of golf...I won't bore you though by mentioning the list of people I carried bags for during my time at P-hurst
I also was a freelance journalist in Manhattan for a year when I lived there too and worked some with the DTH at UNC....so I have been around a bit
However, my opinion on this topic is not based on where I live. During HS I played FB, Hoops and three years of varsity Baseball for PHS and also played AAU basketball for 7 years from age 10 in both Charlotte and the Sandhills.
I thank you for what you said about how I am covering local sports...I also appreciate your comments and welcome more...
However, since this is my blog I will keep making posts, and when I see fit I will comment back to those who post comments here
Also, do please remember, I am a freelance reporter -- so my scope is not totally limited to Moore County, (although I have called two games as a color commentator with Mike Martin of Moore Sports Radio)...I also covered the NCHSAA 4A and 4AA 2008 state FB championships at Keenan Memorial Stadium from the press box voting on team and game MVPs, and covered Harnett Central's 2009 4A East Regional Championship football win at Campbell U for Carolinapreps magazine
HeelsHoopFan 3 years, 2 months ago
Hey with all the hype about Tiger since he announced he was coming back to play golf at the Masters, one can only imagine that the event is a taking on huge proportions. Just in the Pilot you have several reporters writing blogs and columns just about Tiger.
I'm hearing guys that I never knew gave a rip about golf or could name three of the top 10 money winners on the PGA at any given time rapping, blogging, complaining about Tiger. One thing for sure Tiger is the man on the golf course; no other person has stepped up in his absence, but it was nice to see Ernie win one the other day. Tiger will be the first one to admit that one day someone will come along bigger, stronger and with a softer feel and move him to the rear view mirror. I don't see anyone on the horizon, do you?
Meanwhile, this indeed may be the greatest "coverage" of any sporting event in history simply because the media has evolved light years form "The thrilla in Manila," Mickey, Babe, MJ, Hank, Jim Brown, the Bruins and et al.
What media outlet will not be covering this event? The guys I am going to be watching are the ones who will be paired with Tiger as they traverse the lush landscapes of Augusta, hold it..........I think I hear Jim Nance right now practicing "an event like no other....." Come on you guys everyone will be watching and everyone will opine......just no denying that.
Good year for UNC to out of the NCAAs, it's going to get swallowed up by this big fish as well as anything else that's going on between now and then. Keep up the good work fwm2.
NCgirl 3 years, 2 months ago
@fwm2 - Your Blog, Your Opinion....Yes, you are entitled....not that you needed my 2 cents. But, where's the Blog on Ernie Els winning this past weekend's tournament??? Did I miss it??? Would be nice to see a write-up on one of Golf's Good Guys!!! "One Girl's Opinion" ;-)
RD28327 3 years, 2 months ago
Well, fwm2, some habits are hard to break ..... LOL And hey, I wasn't even going 100% at those refs. LOL Wait 'til football season .....
fwm2 3 years, 2 months ago
I hear you RD28327.....it was a fun time, just wish AM would have not gotten into such early foul trouble....and I love hearing u go at it during FB games...
HeelsHoopFan 3 years, 2 months ago
Rube, it was great going to the Eastern Regionals with you. You are such a wealth of knowledge regarding high school sports and what you don't know you are willing to research. Great to have you around for basketball since the Pinecrest game.
I think you would make a great board member of the NCHSAA. How can we make that happen? Peace.
poncho 3 years, 1 month ago
Ya'll make me want to puke, he's a ho, and u people are making him out to be God. Give me a break, u people need to get a life. Following him around every hole? I went to the US Open, only because I had free tickets and was not impressed at all. Hell, we left early and went to the barn and drank home made booze and played the banjo and had more fun. I took lots of candid pics of him if anyone wants them, he just doesn't do it for me, I can't figure out the attraction.
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