Tiger, Tiger burning bright…..

Tiger Woods has single-handedly provided so much fodder to the media in the last weeks. It is strange how a country where divorce rates are over 50% and infidelity seems to be pretty prevalent, the only people expected to be squeaky clean are the celebrities – The Presidents and now the sport icons. Okay, I am not defending Tiger’s infidelity at all. No wife in her right mind can ever defend a person for sleeping outside the marriage. So, what he did was wrong. But, he definitely deserves time to sort this out with his family and not have every word uttered between them quoted on the newspapers’ headlines as obtained from “reliable sources.” I wonder if any marriage can put up with the additional scrutiny of the type that media inflicts upon these celebrities. How would common people like us feel if each of our tiffs were widely publicized and debated by everyone around and more importantly how would we cope? So, why can’t the media stay away? They say that because people relish each word of such scandals and would hypocritically denounce the coverage in public but at home would sit with a packet of popcorn enjoying every single juicy tidbit.

I guess there is truth in this. Isn’t there a voyeur in all of us? Isn’t that why reality television is such a big hit? With the kind of celebrity status, fame and money these people achieve, there are always those who look for any small flaw in them which could bring them on par with normal human beings. Hence the harsher the criticism and the greater the satisfaction derived to see them fall from grace. Also open to blame are those fans who literally throw themselves at these celebs and offer just about anything to get a piece of the celebrity. Now, they would all crawl out – real and imaginary; to get their 2 minutes in the limelight. The same media that the celebrities carefully nurtured to provide them the much-needed stay in people’s minds now turns a bane for them with their overzealous coverage of their “transgressions.”

Which man can honestly say that presented with this kind of opportunity, he would be able to turn himself away? With the erratic schedules which takes them away from their family and friends for months on end, it is emotionally difficult and lonely for them as well. All pretty uncomfortable questions, certainly.

Yes, Tiger has failed his wife and marriage and it is for them to patch up their differences or move on. Really, it is his family’s business. But as a sportsman, he is still top class. He has single -handedly raised the bar and the prize money for golf and made it an exciting sport to watch. His removal from many of his endorsements show that a person’s image is not only linked to his area of work or his capabilities alone.

To end, who am I to judge him on his personal follies when I am a mere mortal myself?