I’ve been reluctant to blog about Tiger Woods. So much has already been said. In fact, when he fell from the pedestal, he could have drowned in the bad ink that he received. But I would like to pick up on a point that has not yet been adequately discussed.
In the “true competition” framework, competition is all about finding enjoyment in the strenuous pursuit of worthy goals. At times, Tiger seemed to exemplify this. He was willing, for example, to risk losing in order to go through a learning curve as he changed the mechanics of his stroke. He knew that ultimately it would make him a better golfer.
But did Tiger find a deep and abiding sense of enjoyment in his play? Of in his life? I have no doubt but that he loves golf. On the other hand, his reckless behavior suggest that he was not finding the kind of enduring satisfaction that one might have thought. Neither his fame nor his famed fortune helped.
Tiger cultivated a “nice guy” image that steered clear of any controversial issues. His public image, while positive, was bland by design. This helped him reap the fortune that sponsors were willing to send his way. It also meant that he was not able to use his celebrity to further social causes, such as racial justice.
People find lasting enjoyment when they are able to devote themselves to worth pursuits that express their deepest convictions and best character. Sports, even at their best, cannot provide a complete pathway to this kind of success. Perhaps Tiger’s carefully constructed public image was too confining to allow him to channel his considerable personal talents and energies in personally meaningful directions. His effort to find momentary pleasure in night rendezvous may have temporarily substituted for the kind of resonant satisfaction that comes with the dedicated pursuit of worthy goals but, in reality, such efforts provide no real satisfaction, even when combined with wealth and fame.