Jason Poling: Tiger, Tiger, shame burning bright
Apologies, real and imagined, Part III
The Rev. Jason Poling is Pastor of New Hope Community Church in Pikesville.
Now that’s what I call an apology.
No "I deeply regret that the citizens of Baltimore have had to go through this ordeal with me," no sideways allusions to a prayer of confession for “any words or deeds of mine that may have” stigmatized Israel. This was the real thing.
In brief: All of you have every right to be mad at me, because I screwed up. I hurt a lot of people in a lot of ways, and I’m sorry. Nobody else is to blame for this pickle that I’m in. It’s my fault, and I’m sorry. I’m embarrassed, as I ought to be. So I’m taking responsibility for my actions, I’m doing what I need to do to try to fix what I’ve broken, and I’m doing so even though I don’t know if I’ll succeed. I know I need help and I’m getting it, as in right now, so I’m leaving to get more help. I’ll see you when I see you.
Some found Woods’ apology a bit too thorough — "the best words ... money could buy," as David Zurawik put it. Clearly his statement was not scribbled on the back of an envelope on the limo ride over; it reflected what must have been a long and arduous editing process. Woods had a lot to say, and his transitions between topics were often anything but smooth. No doubt there were times when he said (as all of us who’ve done any writing have done), “Well, I gotta have this in there and this is as good a place as any to put it.”
Was Woods’ apology ghost-written? One can only hope that the people with whom he has been working had a hand in coaching Woods on his apology. It was not by surrounding himself with people who had permission to speak into his life that Woods entered into a pattern of betrayal. The “money and fame” that made it easy for him to go after those “temptations” to which he felt “entitled” also made it easy for him to insulate himself from criticism.
But his statement bears every mark of being a painfully and personally wrought stake in the ground that is and will continue to be significant as a declaration of his understanding of the causes and results of his behavior, and his intentions to amend it. Certainly it is the product of the work he has been doing in rehab, and a frank posturing of himself as someone who is still very much in recovery. (And it was admirably frank without being inappropriate for something being broadcast live at 11:00 am.)
Woods’ colleagues want to know when he’ll be out on the course again, and the media want to know when they’ll have a chance to ask him questions. As a pastor, I have to say that while these questions are interesting to those people, for him they are far less important than the ones he says he’s working on now. And it seems from his statement that they are. Having broken the boundaries that serve to maintain a healthy marriage, he is seeking to build them back up by working privately with wise and trusted people to restore his own integrity and, hopefully, his marriage.
The authenticity of Woods’ contrition will be demonstrated over time … or not. But at this point one can hardly ask for more than he offered today.
Categories: Christianity, Culture, Ethics, Guest Posts, Jason Poling, People
Comments
Put a Tiger in your tank is what the Esso(now Exxon) advertisements used to say.
Tiger's wife will reconcile with him in separation because he has money.
MTV and Reality shows have affected morals of our young to a point where having sex is the equivalent of brushing your teeth.
Imagine what would have happened if Tiger was bisexual ! He would have been condemned.
Golf needs his presence and If we can forgive Bill Clinton for playing around with Monica Leudinsky --I am sure the MTV and No-Moral TV loving population will forgive Tiger.
Money is a wonderful thing when it comes to patching up screw ups.
What Tiger woods needs is to become a Saudi Arabian citizen and embrace Saudi version of Wahhabi Islam. He can then proceed to marry at least four of his girlfriends and employ the others as ladies in waiting to take care of his natural sexual urges --that no clinic can treat . This should not be difficult since all his women will be in tent like Burqas and nobody will see them. This is exactly how Saudi Sheiks who are wealthy handle their sexuality.
By The Way:
Tiger declared during his press conference that he is not using any drugs to enhance his performance as has been reported in the papers.
This man has a big EGO.
Posted by: concerned citizen | February 19, 2010 4:13 PM
LOL:
Concerned Citizen:
It is good to know that our Golf Tiger does not need the help of enhancement medications as has been reported by his conquests and mistresses.
You may have found a solution to Tiger's problems. He can afford a mansion with many bedrooms. The Hijab/Burqa will keep the women out of the prying eyes of neighbors.
Tiger should convert and start living like an Arabian Sheikh. Go Tiger!
Posted by: Ashoka | February 19, 2010 5:32 PM
Tiger didn't just hurt his wife. He harmed his children, many others, and the game of golf. Golf doesn't need to tolerate the sort of junk behavior seen in most big-revenue sports -- including college sports. Tiger will most likely never erase the asterisk by his golf career that reads: "He's no Bobby Jones or Jack Nicklaus -- at best he's the Pete Rose of golf."
Posted by: aceputt | February 19, 2010 8:01 PM
If sports stars werent used as a replacement for God, we wouldnt be affected by what any star does, unless it is in support of God. Thanks.
Posted by: Clay | February 19, 2010 9:02 PM
Why, do you think, Tiger Woods has been put on the shelf by sponsors, assailed by media and altogether taken off the green---while, at the same time, after self-admitted disgraceful cheating Michael Phelps, David Letterman and others, these others have been buoyed and promotionally advanced by sponsors.
Posted by: Andy Knowles | February 23, 2010 6:31 PM
Maybe Tiger crashed and burned-but he is still a Billionaire...he is his own bailout.
Posted by: Jay Sargos | March 24, 2010 7:30 PM