Our Heroes - the Letdown

Sports stars are our heroes. We love and idolize them. We marvel at their abilities, and want to be them. When we learn they are human it is devastating. For the last few weeks we have had to endure the fall to the human world of Tiger Woods. I am a huge Woods fan. I will watch any golf match he plays, because no one has the mind on the course he has, and I love to watch him work. He is a golf hero of mine.

What to think after all the revelations that Tiger has had many women. Here is what I know - he cheated on his wife. Here is what I don't know - really? ALL THOSE WOMEN??

More importantly I don't care. I really don't care that Woods had those affairs, because it is none of my business. Do I think less of him out on the course? No. Is he still a hero? Yes. His fooling around had nothing to do with his abilities on the course. He does not answer to me in his personal life. He answers to himself and Elin. Sadly he also answers to sponsors, who I suspect are about to drop him big time - Gillette, Accenture, Gatorade already have.

I read one story where a man was crying because his son loves Woods, and what will happen now? Sir, tell your son that here is another life lesson, people make mistakes. How Woods corrects this mistake will say far more about his character than what has happened. Use Woods' work ethic as a role model, not the man.

I feel sorry and not sorry for Woods. True, he brought this on himself, but the media has been brutal to a man who, as far as I can tell, has never harmed anyone in his life - except other golfers on the course. Hang in there Tiger.

We love a good comeback story, and I bet in the end Woods' comeback will be amazing.

Charlie