I’m sure we’re all aware of the situation involving Tiger Woods by now. His car wreck, admission of “infidelity” and his mother-in-law’s trip to the hospital have been  front page news – and not just in the tabloids.

But the thing I’ve been wondering throughout all of this is the connection between athletes and those who enjoy watching their endeavors. Surely, we can all relate to the feeling of elation watching our own football team rise to the top of the Pac-10 this year. Similarly, I’ve noticed fans of Tiger have taken the golfer’s rough patch just as badly.

Others have highlighted the incessant media fever pitch (I realize that this blog post is lumped into that category) as going a touch too far – one of our own Commentator alumni posted his Facebook status as ” Well, Tiger Woods is single-handidly trying to ruin his reputation, and now some lunatic has killed four cops while they sat in a coffee shop. It is official: I will colonize the moon and am leaving in my homemade spaceship tomorrow morning. I will send updates of my journey and will send for you all once Moon Base 2009 is complete.”

A month later, that same alumni’s status reads, “Week One Moon Review: The recording studio, softball fields, halfpipe, and practice bunker are nearly complete. Though I’ve run dangerously low on cupcakes and chili dogs, my ample supply of gobstoppers and meatball sandwiches are holding me in good stead. I am enjoying the peace and quiet and am grateful to be away fr…om the non-stop bad news on the TV. Like Tiger, my hiatus will be indefinite.”

Although the strength of Tiger’s personal problems are up to his personal discretion, I have often wondered in situations like these how much the media and perceived public opinion has helped to push stressed public figures in one direction or the other. After his car crash was announced (and before his admission on his website) ESPN and other media outlets were already speculating “if she was trying to beat him with the club or save him.”

Along that same line of thinking, I wonder if the major media outlets already condemned Tiger to taking a leave of absence weeks before he announced it? Indeed, I watched nationally televised conversations not a week after the crash that were about, “Whether or not golf or Tiger will ever return [from the crash].”

To be honest, when Tiger crashed his car I wasn’t really sure I cared. Was she trying to hit him? Was he under the influence? None of these things mattered to me, at least as a fan of golf – by that I mean watching him on the links (it should be said that anything criminal he did is in a separate sphere as far as this thinking goes).

Even after the reports of multiple women having proclaimed to have affairs with Tiger, I still wasn’t sure how that was supposed to affect me as a fan. Let me explain how I view “fandom” as it were: I want my sports stars to be good people when they are currently interacting with me as a fan or as a member of my community.

Ray Lewis allegedly killed a guy, yet there are so many stories of the man’s kindness to his fans, the ones in the seats at his stadium. Would I want Ray Lewis on my favorite football team? Yes. Brian Grant once came out to my hometown for a pre-scheduled autograph session even after he had knee surgery (he had to be carted around on a golf cart because he couldn’t walk). Would I want Brian Grant on my favorite basketball team? Yes.

Rick Mahorn once yelled at me when I was 10 years old because I didn’t ask him for an autograph fast enough (I’d never asked for one before, and I was fucking 10). Would I want Rick Mahorn on my favorite team? No.

So there are people who I wouldn’t want on my pro sports teams. Losers who effect the community in ways that are detrimental to the city as a whole. Dogfighting (Qyntel Woods) comes to mind or battery (Reuben Patterson). Those people are hurting members of the fanbase with their actions – their community.

So let’s say Tiger’s wife did chase him out of the house with a golf club. I suppose that would count as hurting the realm of fandom – of public life. Yet adultery (as it is not a crime… sort of) is something that is private and between the individuals involved, and therefore does not hurt the realm of fandom. Or does it?

Obviously the situation has many complicated twists and turns. I am curious as to the unassuming public’s response, on a the level of fandom alone – and not of moral judgment. If Tiger returns, will you still watch him play golf? Or will your moral objections to his actions be too much to bear?

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 23:45 by D and is filed under Blowing Stuff Up, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.