Tiger Woods’ Scandal: The Last Athletic Role Model Is No More

By Jeremy Suede on December 3rd, 2009

Nike has their commercial all wrong. It should say “I am not Tiger Woods.”

Just when we thought that there was a perfect athletic role model for kids to look up to we get disappointed . . .again. The guy with the picture perfect image has fallen from grace and along with him any hopes of a strong athletic role model. He had it all; he was/is the best golfer in the world, married to a beautiful Swedish model, two kids and more money than will ever get spent in his lifetime. But over the 2009 Thanksgiving weekend his squeaky clean image came crashing down to reveal a less commendable side to him.

I don’t feel I should have to go into what has happened here, just take a look at anything resembling a news site to find out. Yes, I know nothing has been proven and we should hold judgment until all the facts are out. But there are too many circumstances that lead me to believe Tiger was not faithful to his wife, Elin Nordegren. I am saddened for what Elin and kids will be put through in the coming months and years but he did this to himself so I don’t feel sorry for him in the least.

To me, the most saddening part is that I have realized the majority of athletes are not role model material. We love them because they can do something better than we can and that’s cool to see but we have to realize that doesn’t necessarily equate to a role model. Those feats are admirable but if you take away what they can do with a ball, what’s left? It’s time for us to start looking up towards people who are an example of what to do in all aspects of life. They should be ethical, smart and a good person who cares for others as well. Being a good person is not hurting people, especially those close to you.

I am a big sports fan but even I can not name more than a few athletes that I would want kids to try and emulate on and off the field. This is nothing new though, for decades we have idolized athletes who’s deeds off the playing field have been less than savory. Arguably the most popular baseball player of all time is Babe Ruth….an alcoholic, overweight, wife cheating guy who could hit a ball over fences better than anyone else. We need to start looking at people for what they are and not just what they can do the best. Mark McGwire, Marion Jones, Kobe Bryant and even O.J. Simpson were all once considered to be squeaky clean athletes anyone would want to be like. Even Serena Williams is showing a bad side.

Tiger Woods was THE role model everyone could look up to. He was photogenic, nice, charitable, a family man and seemingly very humble about it all. But it was all a facade. I”m not saying he isn’t some of those things but the pristine image he put out to the public was not genuine. He knew what he was doing. He was creating a brand and it absolutely worked. He was recently reported to have surpassed the $1 billion mark in earnings by Forbes magazine and it was all because he could be liked by every demographic.

But now that’s over I think. Part of being a good person is being honest about who you are, being good to the people you love and to be true to your word. Tiger has always put up a perfect public image and part of that was being a wholesome family man. Even if only half the allegations are true, there is still no way he has been good to his family. There are children involved who may be too young to understand now but eventually they will be aware and this will never be forgotten. That’s if Tiger and his Elin stay together. If they divorce then all new problems arise with the kids stuck in the middle. Tiger was not thinking about the effect his actions would have on his family and that is extremely selfish.

I am not saying that Tiger is all bad suddenly. His work ethic and drive to succeed is very admirable and those qualities should be looked at but he is no longer someone you could absolutely tell your kids to try and be like. He will never, and should never, live down these actions because fans should know that he is flawed and that they can strive to be better than him. We are all human and make mistakes but I don’t think a role model would do something that will cause the people closest to him pain.

Athletes shouldn’t be role models anymore. I’m sorry to lump all of them together like this but the actions of a few are affecting the many because these few were the at the top of their profession. There will again be a true role model in sports but for right now the safe bet would be to not hold them up that high. Their abilities can be admired and we can try to achieve them ourselves but role models should be good in all aspects of life, not just the ones that get shown on television.