Jim Nance rips into Tiger.......

[Dawgfan61]

Golf is a different sport than football, basketball, baseball, hell even tennis. Its a gentleman's game played by gentleman who are bound to call penalties on themselves. Its a different animal altogether.

Tiger's dad once said that Tiger would change humanity or some **** like that. How about he starts with not cussing in public on a course for four hours. That isn't a whole lot to ask.

 

[JimHalpert.nafoom]

Its a gentleman's game played by gentleman who are bound to call penalties on themselves.

is why nobody watches golf when Tiger isn't playing.

Also, cursing in no way implies that you're dishonest and wouldn't call a penalty on yourself.

And just because you wear slacks and a collared shirt when it's 95 degrees outside doesn't mean you're a gentleman.

 

[jackstefano]

And just because you wear slacks and a collared shirt when it's 95 degrees outside doesn't mean you're a gentleman.

Agree to disagree.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

though in reality its more the sponsors than the crowds that pay the purses. Regardless, it happens in other sports. It's called being a competitor.

 

[dogfan96]

that he's big buddies with like John Cook and some of his Nike guys. Other than that, I don't think he really cares. Phil, on the other hand, is kinda seen as a phony guy. He smiles for the gallery and works the PR game but is really an arrogant country club kid at heart (I'm just saying this is how he is perceived by guys on tour). Perhaps that changed some with his wife and mother being ill.

 

[thatsbaseball]

What the hell is Eldrick ?</p>

 

[bulliegolfer]

they laughed as they knew they were about to collect on a $2 bet.

 

[mstateglfr]

It sort of makes one wonder, if he says he's going to control his temper on the course, and can't do any better a job of it than that...then how's he doing with all these other behaviors he's supposedly trying to change?

I dont wonder this because:
--I dont care if he changes his personal behaviors.
--It isnt my business if he is able to change his personal behaviors.

 

[dogfan96]

I'm just telling you what the perception of him is... like I said it may have changed over the last few years with his wife and mother going ill but the guys on tour weren't echoing that geez, aw shucks smile, wanna-be everyman routine Phil tries to pull off (with great success it seems). Phil said it was because they were jealous of him. Who knows, that could be true. On the other hand, some guys know how to play the PR game.. Kobe Bryant for instance.. from all accounts he has been a huge ******* since coming into the league, culminating with the Colorado incident... yet in the public eye he was seen as a choirboy (before the incident).. and he has found a way to rehab his public image since.
As for Tiger, I think all he has ever really cared about is winning and so what if his peers (or the public) don't like him. That's the difference in him and Phil. Phil wants to be liked and perceived as a nice guy. Tiger really didn't care (and he probably knew people would like him regardless, just because of his greatness) until recently when he had to.

 

[Shmuley]

 

[RebelBruiser]

That's fine, but it's probably got more to do with the fact that he's not the type of guy you want to see break Jack's record.

Golf WAS a gentleman's sport. It's evolving as it becomes more mainstream. The old schoolers don't like to see it change, but it's changing. When there is as much money on the line as their is, some of the gentlemanly stuff is going to go out the window. There is a lot of pressure on the games, and if you're a competitor and you've put in as much work as these guys put in, you're going to get really upset when things don't go as you expect.

Most of the guys don't have a camera on them when they aren't playing well. They don't have the camera on them until they're in the lead or in contention, which means their playing well, which means they're likely not disgusted with themselves. Tiger has a camera and mic on him for every shot whether he's playing well or not.

ETA: If you get seats up close at any sporting event, you're going to hear cussing. You may think golf needs to be different, but it's not.

 

[Dawgfan61]

If you and I were playing a casual 9 hole round after work and you brought your kid would you want me cussing in front of him/her? If we were playing in a club championship and there were lots of little kids watching us on the 18th hole, would you want to cuss up a blue streak in front of them??

Like it or not kids are attending golf tournaments and they are dying to see Tiger more than any other golfer. He has a responsibility to them to act like a professional and treat the game with dignity so they will learn from him. Sponsors wouldn't be there if not for the fans showing up.

Jack Nicklaus used to smoke 3 packs of cigarettes/day, once he saw himself on camera smoking and realizing the example he was setting for his younger fans, he quit just like that.

Tiger is well aware of his responsibility as the world's best golfer. He says he is trying to change. He should change for the good of the game. It is still bigger than him. Everyone thought golf would die when Jack Nicklaus quit contending. It didn't. Tiger came along. There will be someone else after him. While he is in that role however, he has a responsibility and he of all people should realize that with a 3 year old and 1 year old of his own. I am quite sure that his mother and him wouldn't appreciate it if I yelled out "17ing gook buddha" in front of them and his kids.

 

[jakldawg]

So it only goes without saying they'd appreciate a gentlemen's club.
Yep. Just because you have to keep your own score, all golfers are practically Eagle Scouts by default.
Do you count Bob Knight as one of your noble defenders of truth and justice?
(NOT FOR VIEWING AT WORK. OR IN THE SAME COUNTY AS IMPRESSIONABLE CHILDREN!!!!)

as for the original point: should Tiger have a little more self-awareness out there? Absolutely. But when you've just been to rehab for nailing anything that moves, "swearing on camera" is probably way down on the list of image problems you need to work out.