Quote:
Originally Posted by PennBF
How many saw him [Tiger] ignore the children reaching out to touch him and the time he lifted his arm to avoid a little child. Or how about him wearing that white bandaide on his finger in all of the tournaments. I thought assistant from any object on your hand that would help in your grip or swing was against the rules. How does he get away from it.
I also saw him at the US Open in Wing Foot and he had police surround him and would not let children near him. He does not sign autographs. Compare this to the other significant golfers including Spieth who welcomed the children and touched them as they went from tee to tee. Nicklaus, Floyd, Chi Chi, Palmer, et al always signed for the kids and waited around after a round to do just that. In the case of the "Dislocated" wrist. The one announcer said he had never heard of such a thing. Had heard of shoulders, etc. but never a wrist. He did say in the end "I guess it could happen?" As the saying goes, "how he sows so shall he reap"..  |
It's actually pretty rare for players to touch hands with gallery members these days. For one thing, there are so many germs out there that most of them will try to avoid contact with people that they don't know. Their sponsors and others around them advise them not to make physical contact. Another reason is that an athlete's hands and fingers are extremely important to them. They do not want to risk spraining or breaking a finger. I've met hundreds of professional athletes and they are very reluctant to shake hands. That's what the fist bump is all about.
Thirdly, they are trying to concentrate on what they are doing. This is extremely difficult for those on the top of the game. Tiger has more demands on his time than almost anyone in sports today. He is subject to more distractions than anyone. Some players can talk and joke with the gallery, some need to focus 100%, 100% of the time. It's more about how their brain works than personality.
Trevino use his chatter to distract himself from the nervousness of the situation. Nicklaus could never have done that. Hogan was in in "the zone" all of the time on the golf course. So much so that he didn't recognize his wife in one instance. Off the course he was very friendly and sociable with his friends. Phil Mickelson nods and smiles at the people all the time. He is very comfortable with that but he is one of the exceptions. You'll notice that he makes very little physical contact with gallery members for the reason that I stated above.
How would you like it if when you were working, thousands of people were yelling and trying to touch you. What must it be like for thousands of people to want to shake your hand while you are trying to do your job?
Again, some people can do it and others simply cannot. It has nothing to do with what kind of person they are. It's just about their way of focusing. Most do not have to deal with it on the level that Tiger has.
As far as the tape on his fingers, plain tape and band aids are allowed. Read the rule book. He's not getting away with any thing. The term "grasping at straws" come to mind here.
I just don't get all the Tiger hate here.
Take a look at some of his charitable organizations. Look at what he does for the needy and the sick. I think that that says a lot more about a man than how he has to conduct himself on the golf course.