Holding Out for a Hero?
Don’t Look for an Athlete.
Dec 09, 2009
The ongoing situation with Tiger Woods has got me pissed as hell. Whatever happened to athletes as role models? Years ago, athletes were held to a higher standard because they were viewed as role models for children. Teams wouldn’t have put up with this kind of behavior from one of their players. These men and women are paid astronomical salaries not only because they’re great athletes but also because they have a responsibility to the community and to the world to answer to a higher authority. And they should be held accountable for that.
Tiger Woods is a brand. If you run a big brand, you have to be responsible for that brand at all times. If you fail, you should no longer be allowed to represent that brand. If a businessman or politician was in the same situation as Tiger, he would have already been removed or forced to step down. Look at former Idaho Senator Larry Craig – he was forced to resign over an airport bathroom sex scandal in 2007. Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer announced his resignation last year after being linked to a prostitution ring. And who can forget Bernie Madoff’s ponzi scheme – it landed him in jail for 150 years! Society has no problem getting rid of businessmen and politicians in these instances – we don’t even think twice. And these individuals aren’t even looked at in the same regard as athletes, especially by children!
Why should athletes be allowed to play the game again if they screw up? Should they not be banned for life for setting the wrong example and to deter other athletes from making the same mistake? Should they not lose their endorsements and be prohibited from taking future endorsements? Or have we as a society decided to say that this behavior is acceptable?
Tiger makes an estimated $100M a year on endorsement deals from brands including Nike, AT&T, American Express and Gatorade. So far he hasn’t lost a penny of that money. So far each and every one of these brands is taking a stand and saying that Tiger’s behavior is acceptable. And even worse, they are asking consumers to endorse his behavior by continuing to buy the products and services that he promotes.
Tiger Woods is a brand. He has failed miserably and should be forced to suffer the consequences. Athletes should not be put on a pedestal just because they can chip a ball into a cup or put a ball through a hoop. Their God-given gift doesn’t make them special or heroic. Society and our children especially deserve better in their role models than what athletes like Tiger are giving them.
We live in a self centered society where everything is about me.
Yes even our hero’s make mistakes and simply mirror our society.
The enemy is us! .. and in a few short weeks this will all blow over and it will be business as usual for Tiger Woods….
That is so long as Tiger can still sink a hole in one! We the fans and sponsors for that matter forgive you Tiger, just so long as you still make me happy!
Compassion wins hearts -not judgement. Being centerstage because you’re good at anything doesn’t mean you are less human. Maybe Tiger did claim to be a god. Wait no that was me. But asking any one person to represent a brand is like begging for something unexpected to please happen. ( Let’s remember that purple dragon.)
Everyone makes mistakes. Yea, he’s human so glad cuz I thought he was a robot.
But there are so many other wonderful people that could help brand products like Lindsay. Hi Lindsay, love ya, call me. But we stand proud next to our warriors fighting adversity with them not stabbing them in the back. Again, that’s me. Turnaround!!!
Let’s hope this new year brings everyone closure. We are all working hard but only when giants fall do we take notice at humanity.
I absolutely, unequivically , most assuredly agree 100% . I for one will never again hold Tiger in high regard , in fact, I view is behavior childish , selfish, self centered and borderline psychotic !! C’mon Tiger get some help.
I disagree. Athletes, politicians, actors/actresses, musicians, artists… since the beginning of time have ALL had private morality issues… but now media (blogging, web, gossip) can reach millions in an instant. We’ve had President’s with mistresses, musicians/actors with drug problems, abusive athletes… the list goes on. And still, we worship them. It’s like a good song, I dont care if the lead singer is a drug addict, the song takes me to another place and gives me peace, so I’ll buy it. How many drugs were the Beatles were on? Entertainment is entertainment is entertainment. We follow these people not because they’re good parents and upstanding citizens but because they provide us entertainment.
In my eyes, Tiger Woods is just another Rock Star. Actually, if I was him, I would say “Bleep all of you, I’ll never let you make money off me again.” So Tiger cheated on his wife. That’s HIS problem. Obviously it doesn’t effect his performance. If he was a rock star, his performances would be better than any artist in history. It’s proven, the PGA struggles mightily if Tiger doesn’t play. If Tiger isn’t on the course entertaining us, we do not watch and Corporate Sponsors drop. A lot of us look up to entertainers for our own selfish reasons. So, naturally I’m sure you feel entitled to destruct this pedestal we put these entertainers and leaders on, Right?
I don’t mind some of the corporate sponsors dropping Tiger but I don’t think it’s the best business decision. They should have re-worked a deal. When stock is low, YOU BUY.
Ahhh and how beautiful it will be when Tiger returns and gets his first win. The corporations will be salivating at the opportunity to leash another Tiger.
Again we as a society place importance on the wrong people and issues. Tiger was a control freak so much so you could see the wreck before it happened.
Every one is guilty of making mistakes and he has made some whoppers. But, I am not defending him here, but we placed him on the pedestal for hitting a dimpled white ball well so what is the real surprise when he fell from a skyscraper of glory.
Companies want to be associated with greatness for nothing more than product placement. The companies had a good run with Tiger.
One thing is for sure what society loves more than a champion is a reformed repentant champion because that makes him human and people can identify with him more because he is fallible.
Maybe we should feature some world class physicists for a change or great teachers .
Nice. I’ll use that at my web-page