By: Ray Rife

raysbbr@gmail.com

Eldrick “Tiger” Woods.

(Wait.)

What was your initial reaction when you read that name? Disgust? Pity? Hatred? Respect? Awe?

I’m sure for many people what they thought of Tiger Woods prior to Thanksgiving weekend 2009 has changed since then. Tiger was dominant on the golf course and a good role model for family men. You can achieve success in your business arena, marry a model, and have 2 kids and 2 dogs. Generally, be the envy of most men.

Oops.

Now we know that Tiger really is an animal, at least when it comes to bedding women. I mean, how many men and women are stepping outside of their marriage? Granted, I don’t know how many are knocking down overnight waitresses at Denny’s or Waffle House, but we all can’t be Tiger Woods.

Tiger, proverbially, had it all. The stunning wife (that’s if you dig blonde hair, blue eyed, models), two great looking kids and a HUGE white picket fence; along with the admiration of millions of people, maybe even billions, worldwide. Every corporation wanted him as their spokesperson; reporters followed his rules in fear of being shut out by the number one sports figure. He controlled everything around him, well, except his sexual appetite.

After November, this all went away. His marriage failed (can’t really blame her…maybe one or two but…have we stopped counting?), many of his sponsors left, he shut out his superstar friends, his golf coach left. His world was turned upside down.

That is what Tiger needs to realize. He’s not the guy riding in on the white horse and white cowboy hat anymore. Now people watch to see him fail. They come to the course to watch him wilt under the public scrutiny. America has two favorite pastimes. Building up their hero’s and then breaking them down.

If I was in Tiger’s camp I would tell him to embrace who he is and forget the crafted image. Don’t worry about having a sexual addiction, what guy doesn’t (some women for that matter). Ok, maybe you need to curb some of your impulses (the waitress at IHOP or Denny’s or wherever it was, is not a good look) but accept who you really are, don’t fight it.

Embrace being the bad guy. It’s a good racket.

New York Yankees

Norte Dame Football

Duke Basketball

Los Angeles Lakers

New England Patriots

Dallas Cowboys

These are teams that are always in a love/hate relationship with sports fans. Based on their championship pedigree, it’s not a bad group to be associated with.

Look, Tiger, people are now upset with you. I mean, you were treading on water playing a sport that, historically, didn’t go out of their way to accommodate people that shared a skin tone with you. And you dominated. Now you have desecrated the “sanctity of marriage” while married to a woman that most people would give (insert appendage…except for one), to spend a night with.

Embrace your new station in life. Wear black everyday except Sunday. Walk around with a chip on your shoulder. Don’t sign autographs. Give interviews and act irritated. Generally act like Mike Tyson; just don’t threaten to eat people’s children. EMBRACE being the bad guy. I think this would give you your edge back. Whoop everyone’s ass and then don’t attend the awards celebration. Channel your inner Happy Gilmore.

It would give you that drive, that edge that you used to have. You have enough money. (I know, get my hand out your pocket). I thought it was about the majors. Then get that mindset back of f*ck-everyone. Stop worrying about what advertisers or even fans for that matter think of you. I know it’s not the “conventional wisdom,” but nothing about you is conventional. A black golfer who is the best of all time, as Ed Lover would say, “C’mon son!”

If that doesn’t work, catch up with Charlie Sheen and get a tiger blood transfusion.