Regardless of the sporting event I’ve got on TV, that’s the question Will always asks me.
Sometimes he agrees with me – most often when we’re rooting against Kansas. Other times he doesn’t.
“Who are we rooting for, Daddy?”
“Daddy’s rooting for Ohio State, buddy, because their coach played against Uncle John.”
“I am rooting for Syracuse because it is in New York, and New York has the Statue of Liberty which really kinda represents all of America.”
Will Miles, ladies and gentlemen. Idealist. Dreamer. Good Thought Thinker.
Which is why golf is such a problem for me. With golf, Will doesn’t ask who we’re rooting for. He asks:
“Are we rooting for Tiger?”
Years ago, Tiger Woods was one of the first people Will recognized. Even though I’ve always been a Phil guy myself, I always got a kick out of the fact that Will liked to root for Tiger.
At the time, I didn’t mind that Tiger wasn’t as friendly as Phil or that he didn’t seem to be having any fun on the course. I did mind his language on the course, but my son – at that time – couldn’t make sense of his foul mouthings.
But that was then. A few things have changed for all of us since Tiger last won a tournament, haven’t they?
Now, Will is older. I am older. Tiger is definitely older. I’m not sure he’s any wiser.
When Will asks if we’re rooting for Tiger, I want to say:
“No, Will. He’s just a bad guy.”
“He destroyed his family.”
“He betrayed his children.”
“He’s everything I don’t want you to grow up to be.”
But I don’t say those things because I’m afraid of the inevitable next question:
“Why, Daddy?”
I’m afraid of that question. I don’t know how to answer that question.
I wish I could talk about how Easter’s coming and talk about redemption and rebirth.
And I think he’s still just a bad guy. And I hear so many people cheer for him still, and I don’t understand.
Oh, I know. We love a winner. We adore greatness. And we especially love a story of redemption.
But … what redemption? I watch the camera watch Tiger after he misses a putt, and he mutters and utters his f-bombs and curses.
I think it’s time we all take a long look at who we put on our pedestals and for what reasons.
We need to question – vehemently question – what we celebrate in this country – whether fame for fame’s sake or how well someone hits a golf ball at the expense of everything else.
We, too, need to spend more time asking “why.”
As for Tiger, how he sorts out his personal life is between him and his kids. I hope he can earn back their trust – for his sake but most especially theirs.
And in the meantime, if I can’t get him to root for Phil, I’m going to suggest we compromise and root for Ernie.
That’s a “why” question I’m not afraid to answer.
Sort of.
Tiger betrayed his family and he may never receive redemption for those multiple transgressions from anybody truly important. I have always found it difficult to cheer for the man because he constantly hid (hides) behind an armored facade, while Phil, at least since winning his first major, has seemed open and friendly to all. For years chatter in the tour underground has always indicated the exact opposite, that Tiger is the guy you (no matter how good you are) want to go have a beer with, play a ten dollar Nassau with, and that Phil will walk right by his fellow tour players with an air of superiority when not on camera. The choice is easy in the end, let’s cheer for Ernie no matter who is in the field. With his sympathetic personality and fragile putting stroke, he’s the consummate underdog.
That’s quite the predicament. We never want to break our kids hearts, but is it better to allow them to continue admire something we find detestable? No judgment from here, just asking a question as a friend.
I taught my oldest daughter early on that Kansas is the enemy. She won’t even say the name. Just refers to it as “that team that stinks like Kyra’s diaper.” Now when I want to guide her away from something, I compare it to Kansas. So far she thinks the Yankees, Kevin Harvick, and the Miami Heat all smell like diapers. If we ever get into golf, Tiger will be given the smelly treatment.