Forgive Tiger for choosing golf over politics

You knew it was coming, and yet the phrase "can't win for losing'' comes to mind.

Tiger Woods went to Washington because he was asked to do so by the 44th president of the United States, and after speaking in support of our troops and making no political statement beyond his presence - which was a declaration in and of itself - he was blasted for not taking up the cause.

We shouldn't be surprised.

It was precisely a year ago that Woods was ripped for not chastising his friend Kelly Tilghman after her infamous "lynch'' remark.

She apologized, Woods forgave her, and he said it was over.

For that, Woods was heavily criticized in the black community, though not by White Sox GM Ken Williams.

"It must be hard for some people to live life for themselves and yet still have the time to make sure others live up to their expectations,'' Williams said then with a chuckle.

"Tiger's shown to be quite socially conscious, doing great work with his foundation, spending a lot of his own money, and he's smart enough to make up his own (darn) mind.

"If he says there was no malicious intent, that's more than good enough for me, and I think people need to get off his (darn) back.''

That doesn't work for those who want more from Woods.

They want him to be Jim Brown and Jackie Robinson, and a role model, too.

So what is Tiger Woods?

He is, among other things, the greatest athlete on the planet, not to mention the best, hardest-working and most competitive golfer who ever lived.

He treats the game and his opponents with respect, he strives to be better, and, possessing a mental toughness and aggression not seen since Michael Jordan, he never gives up on a tournament, a round, a hole or a shot.

He fights through pain and sorrow, never makes excuses, and always gives the crowd its money's worth. He wants to be the very best at everything he does, at playing golf, at designing courses, at turning millions into billions.

Best of all, the most recognizable athlete in the world is a respected father and husband who provides for his family and doesn't embarrass himself or his sport.

His hero was - get this - his dad, a man who served two tours in Vietnam, one in the Special Forces Unit.

Role model?

Maybe the critics would prefer Charles Barkley.

Tiger Woods is a role model, despite the fact that he doesn't force upon anyone his political or religious beliefs.

No doubt, somewhere along the line, Jordan advised Tiger that he wouldn't become a billionaire by getting involved in politics, where 53 percent of Americans - not 100 percent - voted for Barack Obama.

By our calculations, it means nearly half the country voted for someone else.

Maybe it's that, or maybe like some of us Woods hates the poisonous partisan system, which serves mostly to divide.

Washington is a place where both parties volley hatred and name-calling across the aisle, even at the expense of the presidency itself, which is effectively weakened in the process.

Maybe he thinks it's insane to be so blind as to agree with everything that one party or the other says, to drink the Kool-Aid, to eschew independent thought.

Or maybe he's got other things on his mind, like properly shaping a 5-iron.

I'm not sure, but if you're looking to Tiger Woods for advice on how to vote, you've got problems.

If you're looking to him for advice on how to fix your snap hook, well, you've got really big problems, but at least you're talking to a guy who can fix it.

As for politics, Woods probably is doing exactly what his father and mother taught him to do, which is to think for himself.

How's that for being a role model?

Look, postelection Tiger admitted the Obama win was "incredible,'' a dream come true, and something he wished had happened in his father's lifetime. It's something I never imagined was possible in my lifetime, something that should make us all proud to be Americans.

Tiger is proud, too, but he's not Jim Brown, and not every athlete is made to be an activist or out front cheerleading for politicians.

Some are just athletes. Tiger's a golfer. That's all, just a golfer, and thank goodness he is.

We don't need to know where he stands on the stimulus package. What we need is for Tiger to start playing again and winning majors, because golf is barren and boring without him.

That's his job, and the joy he brings fans while at his place of work - at a time when people are searching for those precious moments of escape - is dearly missed.

If he chooses someday to discuss politics, or if he never does, as Kenny Williams said a year ago, Tiger Woods is a grown man.

And he can make up his own darn mind.

brozner@dailyherald.com