Last Friday I received a text message saying that Tiger Woods had been involved in a serious car accident. Before much information got out, it seemed like Tiger Woods had been in another car accident like any other. Then more information started to get out about the accident and the story got stranger and stranger. The accident took place in Woods’ driveway, he had hit a fire hydrant, he had run into a neighbor’s tree, there was no alcohol involved and his wife broke the rear window with a golf club in order to pull him out. As the details remained unclear, speculation that the entire incident had its inception in a National Enquirer story about Woods having an affair began to surface. And now there are all sorts of other allegations coming out from other women about illicit affairs they’ve have had with Woods.
Through this entire situation, Woods hasn’t said very much. It wasn’t until 18 hours after the accident that Woods finally released a statement in which he said it was a private matter and it would remain a private matter. Even as one of the most famous people on the planet, Woods is entitled to his privacy and we don’t deserve an explanation. However, if he continues to keep quiet, all the allegations and rampant speculation will continue to grow. People would be willing to forgive Tiger and move on if they knew what they were forgiving him for.
I have been following Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite on Twitter and they are getting ready for their new venture: People of the Second Chance. From what I’ve gleaned so far, POTSC is focused on extending grace and forgiveness and giving people freedom to move on from their mistakes. Obviously Tiger Woods doesn’t need any grace and forgiveness from me and I’m not going to be the one giving him his second chance. The court of public opinion will be handing out that second chance, though, and it will more willingly give that second chance if there is honest confession and contrition. Right now, Woods’ silence is keeping him from any sort of honest confession or contrition and, without those, it’s difficult to start moving onto his second chance.
Tiger Woods is one of the world’s most popular athletes; he can do whatever he wants. I don’t think this situation is going to get any better for him, his family or his image until he addresses these allegations of infidelity. And if the allegations turn out to be true, confession and contrition will be the first steps toward the second chance that he, and everybody else, deserves. It’s never easy to admit when we’re wrong; I know it’s one of my least favorite things to do. When I have mustered enough strength to admit I was wrong, those I have wronged willingly accepted my apology and allowed me to begin living out my second chance. It’s difficult to live out that second chance, though, if we’re unwilling to admit we need it.
Why is it difficult to admit we need a second chance?
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I'm just hoping Elin didn't use his good 9-iron.
ReplyDeleteAdmitting we need a second chance would mean first accepting and owning up to messing up the first one.
ReplyDeleteAll it takes is a small amount of self-justification, ego, and defensiveness to even keep us from doing that.
I personally do think it is possible this issue will remain private, and in my perfect world it would never have caught the media's attention.
Strictly speaking from what Woods has said or done in the open; there is nothing to suggest cheating, even though the car crash scenario is extremely sketchy and there is seemingly more to it than we know.
You have an excellent point that for anything to possibly clear up...testimony on Woods's part on wether any of the allegations are true or not would be;
*potentially needed if they are true
*helpful if they are not true
My dad is convinced the crash was a cover for confrontation between the couple, such as his wife getting angry and breaking a window with his golf club, or that he crashed because she was chasing him, and that the explanations given later are fabricated.
Kyle,
ReplyDeleteIt would be better if domestic disputes stayed domestic and families were able to get the help they needed without scrutiny from the media. That obviously won't happen for Tiger Woods. If Tiger needs a second chance, if the allegations are true, people would be willing to give that second chance if he admitted he needed it.