Is Tiger still likeable?

[Marc]

Michael Wilbon wrote an interesting comment in a recent column:

Sportswriters have their favorite sportswriters. Two of mine are Bill Plaschke, the wonderful sports columnist of the Los Angeles Times, and best-selling author John Feinstein, my first mentor at The Washington Post and good friend for 25 years. Both wrote about Tiger yesterday; Feinstein's piece appeared on The Post's op-ed page. I wanted to strangle them both within seconds of reading their pieces, both of which centered on what Tiger Woods isn't -- that he isn't Jack Nicklaus, that he's not warm enough, that he doesn't share himself enough with the public, that he's too corporate, curses too much, on and on.

Plaschke wrote that "Woods is not simply a golfer anymore, he is Microsoft, he is Coke, he is Steinbrenner and that isn't fun. He is not as beloved as much as he is feared. He draws fewer embraces than stares."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...pinion/columns

Before you answer, think about this for a moment. I, for one, have nothing against Tiger and admire his intensity and determination. But he certainly doesn't act real charismatic on the golf course and is frowning most of the time, with his caddy a finger's snap from kicking anyone's ass who disturbs him.

[doublee]

I have heard a lot of grumblings about Tiger and his personality recently. A lot of folks have been claiming that he is not a very nice guy and seems to blow off his fans a lot more than he used to do and that the guy you see in the commercials is a complete 180 from how he is when the cameras are not on him. But, those drinking the Tiger Kool-Aid maintain they don't care how big of a jerk-off he is they are tuning in to watch him play golf and not campaign for President of the United States. Most golf fans don't seem to care all that much as long as Tiger is kicking butt and taking names on the course.

[Marc]

This seemed to spark a column by Kevin, but no reply here?

https://www.sports-central.org/sport..._for_tiger.php

[KevinBeane]

I was tried to reply here, but it was a couple of nights ago when SCMB was acting wonky.

I hope you all read the article, but basically, Tiger CAN'T avail himself more to fans because too many people either thinks he's Jesus Christ or the anti-christ, and all the resultant lunacy that goes with that. It's probably scary at best, and dangerous at worst.

I think Wilbon is 100% right. It's very telling, and sad, to discover what you find when you put his name along with certain key words in google, and do the same thing with guys who have committed much worse transgressions in their athletic life. (Again, read the article if you want to know what I mean. :-) )