Tiger Woods is a golfer, that’s all

Tiger Woods has come clean, publicly confessing the worst kept secrets since John Edwards’ love child. Tiger earned his humiliation and there’s no reason to feel sorry for him. He made his bed--pardon the pun--and he can do whatever he does in it.

However, the Woods saga isn’t Pearl Harbor or the moon landing. So why has Tiger received such in-depth coverage? What purpose is there beyond the sense of fulfillment that some people receive from a celebrity’s disintegration?

I reviewed Tiger’s press conference and found it totally predictable. There was the compulsory attempt to separate his family from media scrutiny, which is impossible. Public infidelity affects a family, kids included, even if you’re the world’s best golfer. That’s reality. If Tiger cared about his family’s well-being he should’ve kept his ball out of the rough.

The typical platitudes were presented. “I have let down my fans.” “I am the only person to blame.” Tiger’s speech was the prototypical I-got-caught-with-my-pants-down celebrity apology.

Tiger has been reviewed, prodded and analyzed more than a man undergoing a complete proctologic examination (which he might enjoy, who knows?). Let’s not waste any more time or energy in that area. Instead let’s focus on what Tiger is, what he was made to be and what can be expected from him in the future.

Tiger Woods is a golf pro, nothing more. He’s rich because he can hit a ball into a cup better than anyone else on the planet and people will pay to watch him do it. Tiger didn’t force anyone’s admiration. He didn’t make the public grant him the hero status he once enjoyed. What’s more, his loose morals have no affect on you and me beyond what we’ll allow.

What about Tiger’s role model status? Off the golf course that status existed only in the public’s imagination. He is by no means the husband of the year. But being a personal role model isn’t a professional golfer’s purpose. Tiger’s larger than life status is mainly the fault of a culture consumed with celebrity.

The fact that the public made Woods a mythical pillar of virtue is more their fault that his. Sure, Tiger helped cultivate that false image, but he never made a single person watch him play. He never made us buy his sponsor’s products and he never forced a single person to like him. Mr. and Mrs. Public, you did all of that on your own.

If you’re angry at Tiger’s moral failings it’s likely because you allowed yourself to believe he was something he wasn’t. Now you feel foolish. We don’t like playing the fool, do we?

Despite his turpitude Tiger can be a role model if he’s kept in perspective. There are few athletes in any sport with Tiger’s drive and will to win. His competitiveness is unquenchable and his coolness rivals that of Michael Jordan, Joe Montana and--dare I say?--Jack Nicklaus.

Woods can be a role model for winning attitudes and excellence in a chosen profession. Don’t make him more than he is or can ever hope to be.

Aside from the initial reports of Wood’s affairs this whole story was much ado about nothing. Tiger Woods doesn’t owe apologies to you and me. He owes apologies to his wife and children, the PGA Tour, his sponsors and, most of all, to God. But Tiger Woods has no tangible affect on you and me unless we grant him that power.

In the future let’s be more careful how we elevate people to mythical levels of ethics and virtue simply because they’re rich and famous.