Immunity and Tiger Woods

A few days ago, I railed against Adam Lambert and his irresponsibility as a celebrity where he believes he has no responsibility but to "art."  I vented,

You are a role model. You are an example to everyone you meet every day. If God gives you the opportunity to have an extraordinary stage upon which to play, then your responsibility to your fellow man increases manifold. You have responsibilities to your coworkers and your bosses. You have responsibility to the staff that supports you. If you are a celebrity (athletic, "arts," politics), you have a responsibility to those who appreciate your work. And what about the responsibility to the God who created you?

You can read the rest of it here if you are so inclined.

On the heels of "Mr." Lambert's public irresponsibility, Tiger Woods wraps not a nine iron but himself around a tree.  At 2 a.m. (I harken back to a Golden Earing song).  In the middle of the night after Thanksgiving.  Going 30 mph.  With no alcohol involved.

Had Mr. Woods been drinking, that would have come to light, he would have been charged, he would have released some form of apology be it the typical leftist non-apology or a man-up, I-blew-it apology, and life would press on.

But there was no booze.  Perhaps yesterday's press release would offer insight (here).  Nope.  "The situation is my fault."  That's a good start.  So what happened, El Tigre?  "This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way."  He hooked that response badly out of bounds.  Here's where that sticky issue called responsibility comes into play.

His non-answer that hints at some "private matter" would not have been necessary had he stayed inside his palatial Windemere estate.  Were he and Elin having issues like millions of American husbands and wives, it would have remained a "private matter" had his SUV remained parked.  Had he been frustrated and upset about some business dealing and had he needed to vent some steam, if he entered his private fitness center and driving range as opposed to going tree-wheeling, it would have remained a "private matter."

But Tiger drove it into the woods.

Many believe that what you do in private (or behind the closed doors of the Oval Office) does not affect who you are in public.  That is a lie.  You are not a machine and you cannot compartmentalize like that.  You're not that good.  Neither is Tiger.  Privacy, a concept inherent in property ownership, does indeed extend into your domicile until what you have done in your domicile spills onto boulevard and up against an oak.

His image hangs in the balance because young and old, duffer and scratch golfer, player and not, look up to him.  Endorsements hang in the balance because corporations use his face to hock their goods.  His respect as an athletic icon hangs in the balance because he reflects on his sport, all other golfers and sport in general because he represents them.  That is the price--and the responsibility--of fame.

A pastor has a responsibility to his church (and to God).

A president has a responsibility to his nation (and to his God).

Al the American has a responsibility to his family, his neighbors, his church, his community, his bosses, his employees...

You get the idea.  No man is an island.

If Tiger would man-up and admit what he did, a forgiving public would move on and the issue would fade.  "I blew up at my wife and stormed out of the house like a child."  Sounds pretty normal.  Too bad he hit the tree.  "We ran out of diapers and on the way out the driveway, I dropped my iPod (or was busy texting Michael Jordan who happened to be golfing in Dubai) and shwacked the tree."  I've heard about people texting and driving.  Really, any answer would calm the masses.  His non-answer hints at scandal.

As jackals have the unpleasant job of scouring the Serengeti of its carrion, so the media must root out the truth of what went down.  As distasteful as that might seem, the Tiger has left them no other choice.
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AP Photo