[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

... try to separate the performance from the character...

I do in most cases, but I also have certain limits about what I'll tolerate and still enjoy watching an athlete. Tiger crossed WAY over that line for me.

[KeepingItReal]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

Offence taken. ;^)

Some have said they root for the play, not the player. I often do thay myself. And I can overlook most human transgressions...I've had enough of my own...but not those of the magnitude of Tiger's. Combine that with his demeanor and actions...greatest or not (highly debatable)...I still can't stand the guy.

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

I do in most cases, but I also have certain limits about what I'll tolerate and still enjoy watching an athlete. Tiger crossed WAY over that line for me.

Totally agree, having honor, respect, and character are still very important...they define the real person.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

I do in most cases, but I also have certain limits about what I'll tolerate and still enjoy watching an athlete. Tiger crossed WAY over that line for me.

Are you referring to the marriage infidelity? If so would you not root for any player in any sport that had the same? If the answer is yes then fine but if the answer is no then you might have to re-examine. Because many, many, many athletes have had public exposure of their infidelity.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

I don't necessarily "root" for Tiger, but I enjoy watching him play and win. Babe Ruth was a womanizer and had a multitude of bad habits, yet I would have loved to see him play as I believe him to be the best baseball player ever. The same goes for Woods, I get to watch a player who will likely set records that will last for years, if not decades. Rumor has it that the revered Arnold Palmer was far from faithful to Winnie, yet he has millions of fans. If we judge our athletic heroes based on their faults and missteps, we may have few to look up to. In fact I should not use the term "heroes" , as that implies mythic qualities. Maybe idols would be a better term. This is not to imply that I excuse bad behavior or don't admire exemplary behavior, but try to separate the performance from the character. For example the Royals have an outfielder by the name of Jeff Francour who by all accounts and all appearances is a terrific human being, teammate, and fan favorite. Unfortunately he has played terribly for the past year and a half and I, along with most Royals fans would prefer to see him released.

This might be a guy girl thing but this girl lost every drop of respect for him after his sport...um...you know. Sport infidelity? WOW.

I can't separate the play from the person. In golf it so often IS the person. I think he is a huge hot head and I knew this scandal would side track his play for a good while. Well he is back on his game but doesn't have me as a fan. Golf is more than that. One of the reasons is because it has hugely been a "gentleman's" game, you can insert gentlewoman if you want to, but you get what I mean. Most good golf players don't throw clubs and behave pretty well compared to other sports, don't make the headlines for doing drugs or driving under the influence. Jack Nicklaus was and will always be my ultimate hero.

I NEVER think about Tiger's race and doubt few do. He is a mixture like a lot of Americans. But he isn't someone I admire. He is a prima donna.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Are you referring to the marriage infidelity? If so would you not root for any player in any sport that had the same? If the answer is yes then fine but if the answer is no then you might have to re-examine. Because many, many, many athletes have had public exposure of their infidelity.

Many athletes have been unfaithful. It's never good. But few can hold a candle to the nature and magnitude of Tiger's transgressions. If you equate all infidelities to be identical, that's your prerogative. But few if any have attained the sordidness of Tiger's.

And besides that...what Gracie said.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

Many athletes have been unfaithful. It's never good. But few can hold a candle to the nature and magnitude of Tiger's transgressions. If you equate all infidelities to be identical, that's your prerogative. But few if any have attained the sordidness of Tiger's.

And besides that...what Gracie said.

So one or two infidelities would have been fine? I have a feeling most women would not agree. All infidelities are equal in my opinion. Can't rob a bank and get away with it because you stopped after one. Don't condone Tiger's actions but that is his thing. I'm a golfer and I watch (root) for the game. I don't care about personal lives of anyone on television or in the stadium.

Do you really know the personal lives of anyone you root for? I doubt it.

[ROCKETMAN]

How does anyone know other golfers, baseball players, etc. have not done the things tiger has done. Lee travino has said many times the star players had a women at every tour stop and you would be surprised at the names. In those days no espn, enquirer, tmz.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

?...Do you really know the personal lives of anyone you root for?...

Nope. But if I find out they did what Tiger did, I won't root for them either.