To Cheat or Not To Cheat? (C’mon Tiger !)

It’s getting worse before it is getting better.

Tight lips when explanations are expected tend to create the effect. If you appear as if you have something to hide, meaning that you don’t really talk about it or appear to want to talk, then, it clearly appears you have something to hide. It’s the sense you might get when you ask someone a question and you don’t get a direct answer. Politicians, cheaters, adulterers, auto salespeople, managers about to lay off employees, and now, Tiger Woods might be considered part of the “I don’t want to sound like I have something to hide, so I will not say anything” club. These folks will sometimes operate as if all they have to do is issue a written statement, recite the latest company line, or read the teleprompter for the carefully crafted speech and everything will be alright.

Wrong!

Human beings are an interesting species. I believe we have an internal mechanism that enables us to sense when people are being less than truthful. I can’t explain it, but anyone who is married knows what I am referencing. Sixth sense, “Mother Wit”, intuition, radar, or whatever you want to call it, if you are close to someone, you know when they are not being totally honest with you. We listen to politicians tell us they will not raise taxes and of course we don’t believe it. We listen to the managers talk about belt tightening and smaller profits and we know they periodically need to just fire some folks using layoffs as a cover up. We listen to the auto salesperson make claims of this price being the “best” deal he or she can offer while knowing if we wait long enough the price will come down some more. We listened to Tiger Woods. Oops, actually we did not. He has not come out in public and made a statement. Yet, I believe Tiger Woods’ wife had her radar instrumentation in full operational mode. Whatever he said to her, it could not have been completely forthright. Then again, maybe it was. This might explain some of the more recent details that have been exposed.

Tiger Woods was in trouble prior to the media firestorm. His wife clearly knew something, which explains her use of the golf club to “rescue” him from his SUV after the accident. This picture is not looking good at this point. I would refer to it as an episode of “Cheaters” gone out of control, but I don’t want to upset or insult the production team of “Cheaters”. This is probably better than “Cheaters” and just as sad, if not worse. I did not intend to discuss this too much today, but like the bad penny that keeps coming back, this story has gained traction and it will not die until Tiger makes a public appearance and provides an explanation, apology, or both.

Mr. Woods issued a written statement via his website that offered a hint that something was wrong and he was near contrition for being less than perfect. It did not sound like a full admission of guilt, but anytime someone goes to the “I am only human” card, you can bet a major transgression has preceded that acknowledgement of frailty. I am not judging Mr. Woods. God knows I am not a choir boy. But, each of us has to deal on a daily basis with choices of right and wrong. The question to do something or not do something is part of this life’s existence. Religious, moral, philosophical, ethical, and family value discourse aside – I can discuss those at another time, simple choices of right and wrong occur each day. It now appears Mr. Woods has had several alleged affairs during the course of his marriage to Elin. Should we be surprised? Probably not. Our country’s divorce rate is over 50%. Adultery has existed since man’s creation. Some of the greatest figures known in biblical history have been adulterers. It is not to be condoned, but it does happen. Anyone married or involved in a committed relationship may one day have to face the question to cheat or not to cheat. Hopefully, when the question is posed, your response is one that will maintain your privacy, the integrity of your commitment to your relationship, and a sense of right and wrong. Tiger does not have to face the public, but he does have to face his wife. What about you? To cheat or not to cheat?

Only you can decide…

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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

Kobe, Can you spare four million? (Tiger may need it!)

The land of Amway and Disney is not accustomed to scandal in their backyard. Orlando is a town that is built on image. You see that when you go to Disney World. It’s all about Mickey, Minnie and the wholesome family image. Amway is no different. The multi-billion dollar corporation built on a foundation of multi-level marketing and a whole host of products from A to Z is based on the “American Way”, hence its name. I am assuming the “American Way” represents hard work, commitment to family, commitment to God, and honor to America. If this were 1955, no one would question the “American Way”. This is 2009. The “American Way” looks a lot different. It looks like Nike to a great extent. A company built on image, marketing, global outreach, sweat shops, and high end sneakers. There was once a campaign built around Charles Barkley and the notion that he was not a role model. We figured that out. Nike is different, but it is still America. Its headquarters is on the other coast, affectionately called the left coast, which coincidentally aligns with its politics. But, on the east coast where a lot of the power of the country exists, if you consider Washington D.C. and New York, a major player in the Nike family makes residence. His name is Tiger Woods and he is arguably the most recognizable person Nike has representing its brand this side of Michael Jordan.

Is there some strange connection between Nike, high profile celebrity and adultery that I have missed?

I’m just asking the question.

The details, as I mentioned previously, have started to leak out. If I am Tiger Woods, this slow drip, which is my image leaking slowly into oblivion, has got to be disturbing on all fronts.

Apparently, reports have begun to surface linking Mr. Woods with a New York Club promoter who by all accounts I have heard, would make many men think twice about their marriage vows just looking at her body. I don’t know. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The last time I checked, Tiger’s wife was not exactly chopped liver. Nevertheless, it appears that the roving eye may have gotten the best of Mr. Woods. We don’t know yet. Tiger is not really offering any type of detailed explanation and the alleged other woman has denied any relationship. She did seek legal counsel in the form of noted feminist advocate, Gloria Allred, but no one has ever been convicted of seeking counsel. This situation is starting to look real funky, as they would say back in the day.

Where there is fire, there is usually smoke. This situation appears to be no exception.

When we flash back and recall the situation Kobe Bryant found himself, where he admitted to adultery but had to fight the allegations and charges of rape, we must also recognize that Kobe survived even if his image took a slight beating. Time does have a way of making people forget. Kobe bought the apology ring, built a strong legal team, stuck to playing basketball, and obviously catering to his wife. Now, we don’t hear much about Kobe except to talk about winning another championship without Shaq. He survived the fallout, even after admitting guilt. Can we expect the same to happen with Tiger Woods? Again, time will tell. We still don’t know what has really happened, but all of the scuttle can not be good for the Nike family and its golf icon. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I might be looking up Kobe’s jeweler if I were Mr. Woods. Time will tell.

Either Tiger can ask Kobe for a spare four million or I can. We both could use it these days.

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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

Can I have some privacy please? Not if you’re Tiger Woods!

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