College Sports

I know this is a college sports blog, but I wanted to write today about a former collegian.

Tiger Woods is the world’s greatest golfer, most likely the greatest golfer ever. His mind for the game is second to none. He was raised to be the best, by parents who loved him dearly.

But their desire for him to be the best didn’t begin and end on the golf course. Tiger was raised to be exceptional in every pursuit, and that is what he has done, and is doing.

Which brings me to why I am writing this blog about a pro golfer. Before he was a pro, he was a college student at Stanford, where he played on the golf team. Keep in mind that the entire golfing world knew he was special from a rather young age. He could have gone pro at any point, but he chose college.

And not just any college, but a difficult university to get into, and even more difficult to remain in. And did he leave early? Did he jump to make the $$$? Nope, stayed until he got his diploma. What a radical idea! And he still shows up regularly to support the different teams, just like any good alum.

Woods announced today that he was done for the season with golf, that he needs knee surgery. He was aware of this last week, he said, but chose not to talk about it out of respect for the PGA and the U.S. Open. He didn’t want to distract from the prestige and history of the event.

So here we have a former student-athlete who actually graduated, not from a school that turns a blind eye to athletes, but from one that demands their best. He moved into his profession, and has maintained dignity under the glare of the lights. He has married and had a child. Never a whiff of scandal. He respects his “employer” enough to put his own agenda in the back, he checks his ego at the door. He is loyal to his alma mater and his friends, fiercely loyal.

Like most of us, I pull for the underdog. I was pulling for Rocco Mediate to win this past weekend, although I respect Tiger immensely. Then I read the press release today, how he withheld news of his injury so as not to distract from the Open, and so it couldn’t be perceived as an excuse if he played poorly. I’ve rethought my whole line of thinking… what’s wrong with being for the favorite? Hasn’t that person or team earned enough respect to be cheered on?

Folks, Woods isn’t just a success on the course, he is a success in life. He is what every student-athlete should aspire to be… a graduate. Think I’ll be supporting the favorite in the PGA from now on.