When I am not outside of the maze or inside the lines, I think about things. If you have read some of my other blogs, you know what “outside the maze” or “inside the lines” reference. If not, let’s just say I take time to think about things. Some of my friends might suggest I have too much time on my hands. It would not matter. I would still find time to think about things. I did when I worked 65 hours a week. I do now that I am a part of the nation’s job seeking class. The difference between working 65 hours a week and now is that I can actually write about some of my thoughts. Today is no exception.
If you have had access to any type of news over the course of the last 72 hours, you have probably heard that Tiger Woods, the world’s best golfer and one of many poster children for the Nike brand, was involved in a one-car automobile accident outside his home. Details were sketchy initially and they remain sketchy several days after the fact. Frankly, the information or lack of information is starting to cause concern amongst many folks in the news business, sports world, and communities of conversation where these things are discussed. I know when I first heard the news, or more appropriately, saw the news as a crawler across the bottom of my television screen, my first impression was that it was a really serious accident. I don’t know why I jumped to conclusions. That was my first mistake. I think it had something to do with the headline caption that said, “Tiger Woods involved in serious auto accident.” Immediately my visions jumped to broken bones, numerous lacerations, and a physical appearance worthy of describing him and it (the accident) in serious tones. Then, something happened. Truth started to sprinkle out like ketchup in the bottle before you stick the knife in it. The truth started to ooze out into the atmosphere nice and slow like molasses. The next set of reports mentioned a hospital release the next morning and injuries of cuts and bruises. What? Since when did a serious auto accident result in the release of someone the NEXT DAY? This is when I started to think. Something is not right here. But like many of you, I dismissed it. I have more important things to worry about during the course of a day than Tiger Wood’s condition. Then, I made another mistake.
I watched the sports news.
The line is blurring between what is considered sports news and what might be considered Hollywood gossip. Now, I am starting to hear some the details. The recording of a 911 call made by a neighbor, who by the way, never mentions Tiger by name, made it to the news front. This was preceded by reports that the Florida Highway Patrol had not been able to talk to Mr. Woods or his wife. Additionally, it was reported that Mrs. Woods had to break open the rear window of the SUV with a golf club, presumably in an act to get Mr. Woods out of the vehicle. Let me digest that one real slowly. Mr. Woods is in the front of the vehicle and she takes a golf club and smashes out the back window. Okay. I don’t quite understand this. This is clearly a symptom of my public school education -- I guess. Anyway, as the days have started to pass and details, albeit sketchy, are even more remarkable when they are exposed, the situation is beginning to reek of another domestic dispute gone badly. The fact is that we don’t really know. Tiger’s celebrity status has given the public – right or wrong – a reasonable expectation of explanation in this circumstance. I don’t want to compare Tiger to O.J. Simpson. You remember O.J? He became more famous for his alleged double murder than for his football or acting career. One must remember that O.J. Simpson, long after his football career was over, made millions of dollars endorsing products. His public image was far removed and different than his private persona. Then, one day it all came out. We can respect Tiger’s right for privacy. I just hope all of this, as Shakespeare suggests, is “much ado about nothing.” The truth has been coming out slowly, even when it is carefully contrived. What will happen when the spin dies down and the hoopla blows over? Time will tell.
As I often share with my relatives, I will not be running for office anytime soon, nor do I desire to be a high profile celebrity. There is a price. Ask O.J., ask Tiger, ask Kwame Kilpatrick.
Meanwhile, Can I have some privacy please?”
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“It is calming to know that when the final trumpet sounds,
My life will not have ended in vain.
I will run out of time before I run out of words. God has given me the gift of my thoughts.
He has given me the gift of the pen.
I need to use them both to show His will does win….” 1
(1) Excerpt from the poem “ The Things That Matter” –
Included in Voices Inside My Head – Poetry Inspired By God To Heal Pain
Copyright © 2009 Milton A. Brown
