Congratulations to Phil Mickelson on winning his 3rd Masters Golf Tournament. He is a favorite among fans because of his unflappable character. Win or lose he always smiles with graciousness. In comparison people cheer Tiger Woods because of his seemingly super human feats on the golf course. What male among us does not at sometime passionately dream of winning the big one? As we grow older, however, we understand that after the lights fade and crowds disappear trophies matter little in the scheme of things. What counts most is love-love for and from others. Trophies rot. Money deceives with false security. But, love lasts forever. And, Phil Mickelson clearly possesses this eternal virtue. If Tiger truly feels remorseful he will sacrifice the trophies for an indefinite period until he fully embraces love. That may require a little time and emotional pain. Long ago a great prophet asked the world, "What good is it if a man gain the whole world and lose his own God-life?" Thanks Phil, for showing us the truth today in the way you loved your wife following the tournament.
A FEW THOUGHTS CONCERNING TIGER WOODS
I play golf. I love golfers. I love professional golfers because they often embody all the characteristics we admire in gentlemanly athletes. Many professional golfers are men's men. Unlike strong men from contact sports, golfers exhibit gracious, kindly dispositions. Women like that in a man. So, indeed packaged in the golfer comes the complete man's man.
Then there is Tiger Woods, a golfer out of sync. One must admit he possesses an athletic adroitness second to none in the game. Yet, his surly disposition undoubtedly thwarts our attempts to fully embrace him as a member of the gentleman's club. We simply don't like the guy. That's why we always enthusiastically cheered for Phil Mickelson every time he and Tiger went head to head. Mickleson incarnates a personality we expect to witness in a prototypical golf champion. He always smiles even when the chips are down. We think he loves life.
Tiger Woods certainly is not the first golfer we merely tolerated. Long ago another champion named Ben Hogan captured our respect while shunning our affections. Hogan, however, developed his public aloofness through natural tragedy. His father committed suicide right before his eyes. Such a cataclysmic event would completely emotionally emasculate a lesser man. And, Hogan overcame his public introversion through another tragedy. A near fatal car wreck offered Hogan the chance to smell the roses.
Today's endorsements and hero worship catapults us to a new level. We admire those who live in million dollar homes, wear $20,000 Rolex watches, and drive custom made Escalades. We live our lives vicariously through their public display of opulence. Affability and graciousness matter little in our postmodern media saturated society. Even men's men from the most gentlemanly sport on earth sometimes fail to grasp the transcendent qualities needed for clean leaving. The women, however many there may be, in Tiger's sordid life, cleverly entered a relationship with him knowing full well the consequences and financial rewards. Gold diggers no doubt, who live in a shadow world. Fame and fortune possesses a tremendous penchant for impairing a sane man, jerking his chain, and taking him to a moral abyss where he formerly dare not go. Sometimes a person like Tiger must hit the proverbial bottom before he can look up and see a blue sky. Hopefully, like Ben Hogan, God may use Wood's tragedy to save his soul.
Nevertheless, we who create these modern idols must shoulder some responsibility for outcomes. Last year I published a piece in the same vein commenting on Barry Bond's disappointing us with his use of steroids. One need only substitute Bonds with Woods to see the big picture:
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