The Tiger Phenomenon

I have been amused over the past several months regarding the life issues of Tiger Woods and the public scene it has caused. I find it most amusing how consumed everybody is over it, and how in shock people were to learn that he was drinking and driving, and that he was unfaithful to his wife. Why does this come as a shock to anybody? For as long as I have been following sports, there have always been top of the line, high-profile athletes who are at the top of their games doing stupid things that cause them embarrassment. And it's not just limited to athletes. It covers any high-profile person, whether they are in athletics, entertainment, government, etc. They are brought down by sex, drugs and unethical and/or illegal behavior. Some people are ruined completely and we don't hear from them ever again. Some repent, get on the right track and get their life straightened out, usually to soon fall back into the same pattern. They continue to fall and to fail because they cannot overcome their vices. I think Charles Barkley said it best when he proclaimed that he was not a role model for children. He caught a lot of flack for this statement, but if I were a betting man, I would bet that what Barkley meant was, he shouldn't be a role model for children. He was getting paid to play basketball, not mentor or parent children. Barkley, being Barkley, was just honest enough to say it out loud.

But herein lies the problem. It's not a new problem, it's been around as long as we have had high-profile people to put in the spotlight. People want a tangible hero. They want someone they can see, they can identify with. Someone who has done great things. But then we are shocked, amazed, destroyed when this person turns out not to be the person we thought they were. Their hero status get tarnished. Why does this happen? Because man sins. He cannot help it. It is his nature. We have failed in finding our true "hero." He lived 2000 years ago. He is the only man to have ever lived a sinless life. He died on a cross and 3 days later, He arose from that grave. These actions reserved a place for me in Heaven, and there can be nothing greater than that. This is who are true hero should be. His name is Jesus. There are two things that you can be assured of: 1. If you put your faith in man, you will be disappointed at some point in your life; 2. If you put your faith in Jesus, you will never be disappointed. Ever. I choose to put my faith in the true, living Savior, Jesus Christ. I choose not to care about what trials are afflicting mankind. I have my own sin, disobedience and trials to deal with. I have enough problems dealing with those, I sure don't need to worry or care about somebody else's, unless God has burdened me to be the encouragement or witness for that person. How many women Tiger Woods has slept with outside of his marriage is between him, them, his wife and God. I don't want to know. And the fact that the media and whoever else decides that we need to hear the whole story from him, obviously isn't going to try to explain to their own children what in the world he is talking about and why it is being discussed in an open forum. Keep it in your own house and off of my television set!! Mind your own business!!

To that end, it is now baseball season, and I will watch my game and enjoy them for what they are, entertainment. I will listen to music, watch movies, TV, etc. because I enjoy them as entertainment, not because the star has some looming scandal being discussed on the talk show circuit. And above all else, I will continue to honor and glorify Christ!!! Hallelujah, Amen!