|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Why is Tiger held to higher standard?
Posted: Monday April 10, 2000 06:23 PM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum touches on a Hot Button issue each Monday on CNNSI.com. After you read Jack's take, give us yours. Can you imagine the gasps of horror had a 20-year-old Tiger Woods suddenly dashed into the trees to relieve himself during the Masters, the way 20-year-old Sergio Garcia did at the 11th hole last week at Augusta? I haven't yet heard a touring pro or a fan say a bad word about Garcia, whose behavior is invariably explained as "youthful exuberance" or somesuch. I'm not suggesting Garcia did anything wrong; indeed, the PGA Tour -- which is so buttoned-down that Jesper Parnevik is branded certifiably insane because he turns up the brim of his golf cap -- would be more interesting if more players urinated outdoors. It's just that Woods is held to a different standard than any other young player, and there is an undercurrent of dislike for him, both among pros and fans.
Is it because he's black? In many cases, at least among the fans, the answer is yes. It was simply too jarring when Woods began dominating a sport that was, and for the most part still is, the final frontier for Caucasians. (There's tennis, of course, but the white adult male does not follow or play that sport with the same passion. Same goes for bowling, swimming, croquet and polo.) There are no doubt a few racists among Woods's peers on the Tour, but I don't think that's the reason many of them grind their molars over the Woods phenomenon is different. Woods is not only better than they are, he is better at behaving like them. He is ruthlessly competitive, agonizingly analytical. He can go on for hours about the spin of a certain ball or the contour of a certain green. He's businesslike on the course. He handles himself as if he's been around for 25 years, not five. Sure, the network sound guy catches a few cuss words out of his mouth now and then -- but nothing ol' Arnie Palmer wasn't saying 30 years ago. Woods says and does almost nothing controversial. Woods's best friend on the Tour is the ultimate white guy, Mark O'Meara. All that, and Woods looks terrific in collared shirts and two-tone shoes. It would be easier for everyone if Woods screwed up now and then, took that leak in the bushes. But he hasn't and he won't. He even knows his golf history and respects his golfing elders, even as he comes to kick their butts. In fact, the only golfer the young Woods can be compared to in all respects is the young Jack Nicklaus. People eventually forgave Fat Jack for beating everybody and dominating the headlines. If they don't eventually forgive Woods for doing the same thing, there must be a different reason. Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will contribute a Hot Button issue every Monday on CNNSI.com. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the
writer.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
