How can you hate Tiger Woods? I had the unbelievable displeasure of reading an article in Esquire magazine in which a writer named Chris Jones writes about his hate of Tiger Woods. He had the audacity to say he hates what Tiger is doing to the game. I could not believe what he is say about one of the fiercest competitors in sports.
Jones writes: “I hate how he sniffs after he makes a putt. I hate how he calls himself Woody when he talks to himself. (Because really, who gives himself not one but two nicknames? …) I hate his red shirt on Sundays. I hate his caddie, the worst New Zealander in history, and I hate the Nike flunky who trails behind him like a donkey on a rope.
I hate how he could change the world in ways both great and good, and instead he’s settled for being a corporate shill, the smallest of concentric circles. I hate that he snorkels. I hate how golf announcers say things like, ‘Tiger’s on the prowl!’ when he’s fourteen shots back. I hate his fist pumps and howls, and I hate the ‘Get in the hole!’ dunderheads he brings out.
I hate what he’s done to golf, period, which was a sweet and beautiful game before he turned it into NASCAR on grass.”
How can any sports reporter, or fan worth his salt spew these words. Eldrick "Tiger" Woods is what is good about sports. Tiger is a gazilionaire, who still competes like a kid who has a dream of getting his first professional contract. His desire to be the best at every event he enters is uncommon for the athletes of today.
In an era of Andre Smiths’ we have an athlete who takes his craft seriously, and thus trains tirelessly. It is irresponsible of us as sports fans to allow someone to knock Tiger for his passion. So what if he intimidates others to the point that they wilt on a weekly basis with his competitiveness? So what if he wears his signature red shirts on Sundays when he is on the prowl? So what if he can ear more money as a pitch guy than a golfer? All I know is that I want a 152of Tiger Woods on my basketball team, and 52 of him on my football team. People need to realize that we are privileged to watch the most dominate athlete of all time with our own eyes.
If Tiger wants to give himself nick a name or two, who cares. What I care about is that he has turned a great game that few outside of the elite knew about, into a game that everyone watches. Ask the sponsors of tournaments that Tiger had to pull out of last summer how much they hate him. His ability to draw people to a game that previously was considered boring is nothing short of amazing. All I have to say to the haters is watch out for Tiger once he gets healthy. My new nickname for Tiger is the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time).
Johnson is editor and contributor to The Sports Information Hub and can be contacted at johnsonthesportsguy@gmail.com
Posts
what a moron! oh well, some are so jealous they have nothing better so write about.
ReplyDeleteI loved this blog. I like the article of someone standing up against golf. How can you be mad at someone for hating the change of game (for better or worse)? You can't argue that Tiger is the best in the game, possibly the best ever to play the game. With that, he changes the whole dynamic of the game - bringing in your NASCAR fan and the dbag that yells "in the hole!". if somebody would've done that to jack nicklaus or sam snead, they would've been beating with a wooden driver.
ReplyDeleteWith greatness comes hate. Michael Jordan was an amazing player...but he took some titles from the pistons, so i hate him. Not taking anything away from his skills, but i hate him. and then once you start hating a guy, you find things to hate on (tongue hanging out or wearing red on sundays).
my favorite golfer was always payne stewart. he was supposedly a great guy, and he used to wear shirts and colors of the city's opposing football team on sundays (so he would wear a broncos shirt if he was in kansas city) just to get a rise from people. when he was killed in the plane crash a few years ago, the PGA had a memorial ceremony before the first round on thursday. every golfer was there...but one. tiger felt it was more important to practice his swing than to attend the event. he was the only guy on the tees. come on man, have some respect.
also, did you ever read that bill simmons article about playing Tiger Woods golf on xbox against tiger? it was hilarious. apparently tiger is as competitive on video golf as in real life....
This was hilarious. Some funny stuff. Chris Jones could have been a comedian.
ReplyDeleteI love Tiger Woods and when he is not playing, I simply do not watch. Why? Because I am not a golf fan. I like the excitement, struggles and down-to-earth sportsmanship playing.