Tiger's "mental" game....I think it's over

[monmouth]

Tiger Woods has had enablers for most of his life, dad being the biggest and best. Tiger has most often benefited from a comfort zone the rest of us have rarely known for any lengthy period of time. The "mental" part of golf is equally as important as the physical prowess of a golfer. One must have the ability to focus and focus only on the task at hand and surmounting said obstacles the best one can, whatever challenge lies before you. As a former fan I found the "difficult" shot almost always made, and the "impossible" ones to seal his reputation as the best in the game. This part of Tiger's game has skidded down the slippery slope and crashed worse than Humpty Dumpty could have ever imagined.

I honestly doubt if we will see Tiger on a golf course again, at least participating in PGA events. Here's why I think this. Tiger has been existing under a false facade; cooly disciplined, flawless in all matters according to his fans, and mysterious. When this facade is torn down and exposed..i.e. one becoming fodder for late night comedians, the subject of SNL skits, derision from fans and most likely his golfing peers, the ability to focus is pretty much shot. I'm not sure how contracts work, can he buy himself out of them? What will it take for him to just disappear? I'm sure this is what he wants. The first time an onlooker at an event yells out something nasty and vulgar is not something he would want to chance. I'm of course, just guessing here but the glory days are gone, his wife is gone along with his kids. His mother is most likely not speaking to him and in a few short words, his life has become really sucky.

For Tiger, this is totally unacceptable. He failed to heed the words of those great mentors he had in the beginning of his career. Namely Jack Nicklaus who went above and beyond to make Tiger feel comfortable and gave him good, solid words of advice for what was to be an awesome career. I had to laugh at someone suggesting he go on Oprah's show and confess to his sins and beg forgiveness. If you know anything, or even a little about Tiger, this will never happen. I don't doubt for a moment he's as sorry as one can be. He knows what he's lost. I'm sure his sponsors are giving this anywhere from 30 to 90 days to see how it all plays out and then they too will be gone. I'm saddened by these events, he taught me a great deal about the game, I watched for hours in complete bliss as this athlete captured my heart and love of the game. My sons kidding me about "don't call Mom on Sunday if Tiger's playing." I'm saddened, and I'm heartbroken. He was that once in a lifetime athlete I won't see again for the rest of my days. Again, I may be wrong, but I think I'm right.....

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. He'll find a new mentor

One that he can pay well.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. I would suggest this guy:

[Cronus Protagonist]

40. lol Well, he could hardly do better!

If he wants coaching on how to handle a media crisis over sexual peccadilloes, but I was thinking more about his golf game than his *ahem* sex game.

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. Maybe, but not likely

You are right about Tiger being shielded from the normal speed bumps in life by his talent and his father etc., but the fact is that it is impossible for anyone to know with certainty what is in Tiger's mind in regard to this unfolding PR disaster. It could also be that Tiger will now, for the very first time in his life, have to stand by himself as an adult and face the pain that comes with being an adult. I would also add that he still is that once in a lifetime athlete regardless of his personal failings. He may not be what you want him to be as a man, but nobody can take away his talent and his accomplishments on the golf course. In the end, I would offer that golf may be a sanctuary for Tiger. It may be a place that provides him great solace. I think the odds that he will not play again are very, very low.

[Cleita]

3. An American tragedy.

I doubt if Tiger was brought up as a well-balanced regular kid. He was instead brought up as a golf automaton. I know sometimes if you are going to get a great athlete or artist out of a talented person, you have to start them out as kids, but there has to be a regular life there too. Watching Tiger in videos on the golf course at the ages of four and five makes me think he wasn't leading a fairly normal life, that most of his waking days were spent in activities in and around developing his golf skills.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

7. That is such a great point

Many people--not just athletes--crash and burn when what they've been very successful at doesn't work any longer AND they have no coping mechanisms because they aren't well grounded individuals.

[Blackhatjack]

4. Tiger will return ... it will take time .... but the Public will Forgive him, they always do....

Great athletes are adored in our society, and the public is notorious for 'forgiving' those who have failed in their family and personal relationships.

Exhibit A - Kobe Bryant.
Exhibit B - Babe Ruth.
Exhibit C - etc.

Sure Tiger has lost the respect of his peers on the Tour. However, 'winning' AND the passage of time will refocus the attention of the public on his achievements on the golf courses, and the present domestic crisis will fade into the background.

It would be a mistake to view Tiger or Kobe as role models.

We always want our 'heroes' to be pure in their motives and actions. But the truth is they never were, and never will be. They are flawed humans just like the rest of us.

[lapfog_1]

5. If he hadn't married...

and had "played the field" as a single man "letting off steam" by "sowing wild oats"...

Would any of this be an issue for anyone? Would it even make the tabloids?

Start thinking George Clooney or Bill Maher or any number of other known "players" who are celebrities.

I think he has a sex addiction issue and that this is the part of his life which is "out of control" while he trys so hard to give the appearance of being in complete control.

[undeterred]

6. No pity from me for this selfish, narcissistic prick

who obviously sees all women as whores.

[onenote]

8. he's a jerk. but its not as if the women who chose to sleep with him were saints

[goldcanyonaz]

11. TIger was the one with the wedding band on his finger.

Temptation is all around us but the majority of us don't fall into bed with anyone who bats their eyes at us.

[onenote]

12. I'm not sure if you're agreeing with me or disagreeing with me

But insofar as Tiger was the one with the ring, its not as if the women who chose to sleep with him didn't know what they were doing and share some culpability.

[goldcanyonaz]

14. I agree with you in part but it was up to him to say NO.

For example:

I'm a married woman and see guys out and about all the time but I chose my life partner and it's up to me to stay true to my husband, just like he stays true to me.

The movie Fatal Attraction scared the shit outta me.

[onenote]

21. strikes me as a two way street

Tiger only gets what someone gives him. He shouldn't be asking, but they shouldn't be saying yes.

[noiretextatique]

19. no, but they were probably making minimum wages + tips

i zero sympathy for a man who didn't have the common sense to choose to cheat with someone who had a much to lose as he did. tiger is a loser, but i hope he gets his game back. i hope he can triumph over the poor choices and decisions he made.

[onenote]

28. wait...so if a woman doesn't make much its okay for her to sleep with a married guy?

I need to get a complete rulebook.

[noiretextatique]

29. nope...but a poweful, wealthy man who hits on waitresses

and nightclub hostesses...well, let's just say he might have some "issues."
not that it's "ok" at all, but tiger knew who to choose to get his penis and ego needs met. he picked women who definitely could benefit from his power and wealth in exchange for sexual favors. unless you believe he routinely falls in love with waitresses :eyes: maybe it's a fetish.

[undeterred]

34. Its worse than getting an expensive hooker.

At least hiring a call girl/escort impies 1) safe sex 2) it's just about sex and 3) discretion. There is no pretense that this is a 'relationship' and he can ask for whatever he wants.

It sounds like he "dated" these women. Some of them were interested in him. The amount of lying he did to his wife and all these women just boggles the mind. And they have no incentive to protect his privacy now that there is a chance to sell a story for lots of money.

[noiretextatique]

36. sounds like he's a cheater, a liar, and a fool

he would have been better off hiring a pro.

[onenote]

37. so your judgment would be the same if he was single and sleeping around?

and what lies did he tell the other women?

[Kalyke]

38. I don't see any difference.

Cheating on your spouse is cheating on your spouse whether it's with a date or a hooker.

[goldcanyonaz]

30. So, If I need to make more money I should hook up with a married man?

Why not just become a hooker?

Also, you'd be surprised just how much a cocktail waitress can make.

[noiretextatique]

33. so...i need to cheat, i will look for rocket scientist

instead of a cocktail waitress :eyes: surely you are aware the women do exchange sexual favors for money, and not all of them are prostitutes. surely you are aware the powerful, wealthy men pay for sex, and not just with prostitutes.

[arthritisR_US]

13. harsh words but I can't say that I disagree. n/t

[BoneDaddy]

15. Or just the ones

he chose, who seemed to fit the bill, now they are all coming out of the woodwork for a nice fee.

[undeterred]

18. He sounds like he suffers from the Madonna/whore syndrome.

He screwed one of his mistresses all over the family home, except in the bedroom he shared with his wife. Like thats showing respect for the wife/mother of his children.

[goldcanyonaz]

20. WHAT? I hadn't read about this at all. He brought one of his "ladies" into the home he shares

with his wife?

[undeterred]

24. Mistress #5 says so...

One of her most shocking revelations was that they had sex many times at his family home in Isleworth, Florida. She said that, in all, they had sex in five different parts of the house, including the TV room, shower, living room and garage.

One place that was "off-limits?"

His and wife Elin Nordegren's bedroom.

"I saw his bedroom. It had all white linen on the bed, but he did not take me in there," she said. "He wanted sex all over the house, but not where he slept with Elin."

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/fifth-alleged-tiger-mistress-he-used-me-for-sex-2009612

[goldcanyonaz]

27. How incredibly disappointing. I've been such a fan of Tiger over the years.

I'm beyond disgusted.

[BoneDaddy]

23. Hey he has standards

at some point. I honestly could care less about all of this. Most people have a public and a private face. Many of our Democratic pols have done something similar.

I am not saying that it justifies it, I am just not surprised and his sex life is just not that interesting to me.

[arcadian]

9. His wall is crashing down.

People now know he's human. Probably will diminish his demi-god stature.

[onenote]

10. Bookmarked for when Tiger next wins a tournament

[wtmusic]

22. 'zactly. nt

[timeforpeace]

32. Ditto. His mental toughness is what sets him apart. That won't change. Enablers? His did it on his

own. That's the way golf is, you see.

[alcibiades_mystery]

35. ROFL

Indeed. I will be bookmarking as well. I'm hoping that it's in Augusta just to really piss off the obnoxious mouth-breathers who care about the Tiger Affairs story.

[Kalyke]

39. I'll state now, for the record, that I don't give a shit when he wins a tournament.

He's pure filth. And I won't let my money support it.

And, I'll never buy anything he endorses, either (unless I already own something - I mean from this point on).

Edited: I just looked and, other than some hand-me-down Nike clothes my kids own, we DON'T own anything he endorses currently. I also buy store-brand cereal, so the General Mills thing isn't relevant, either. But, given that marketers still believe women are the purchasers of most foodstuffs in the house, I'm guessing that contract will dry up. Women won't want to purchase cereal or other foods that a cheating asshole endorsed.

[onenote]

41. what about the women that cheated with Tiger or would have wanted to?

That seems like a pretty sizable market for Tiger endorsed products.

[JVS]

17. I'm not a fan of his, but if he's able to plow ahead and become the Ernie McCracken of golf, that...

would be awesome.

[graywarrior]

25. I dunno, he's practiced at self hypnosis for so long, he may just compartmentalize on his game and

do well.

[whistler162]

26. Yes it does sound like your mental game is over!

[alcibiades_mystery]

31. Tiger will win three Majors in 2010, beginning with the Masters

You're way, way off.