The Hypocrisy of the Tiger Saga

I guess it was only a matter of time before I felt “compelled” to offer my views on the whole Tiger story. Like others around the country, I’ve laughed and/or marveled at some of the more salacious and comical details that have come about for our consumption. But while discussing the thoughts voiced by Bill Simmons’ wife in Simmons' weekly column with TJ, I had a thought that seemingly few others have had—which is sad. The thought being this: I hate that Tiger is being so vilified for his “transgressions,” while Elin is seemingly being deemed innocent—or even worse, justified—for attacking him with a golf club.

First, is he right for cheating? This is really more of a philosophical question, but the standard "easy" answer is no. But is he human? He's a world-famous athlete, traveling the globe and making billions. Honestly, what I find surprising is that people are surprised at all that this happened. Women—especially the cheap-yet-undeniably-alluring variety that has him in this mess—throw themselves at him on a daily basis. I would wager a fair amount of my yearly income that some even do it in the presence of his wife. Slores will be slores. Personally I had hoped that it would be the type of high profile marriage where the wife just lets a few indiscretions slide, so long as the superstar hubby is honest, safe, and not making babies all around the world. And not disgracing her by letting stories of his bootycalls get played out in tabloids and Sportscenter segments. Not that a woman that understanding is common, just saying. And this brings into mind an interesting side point: had Elin not taken the actions that she did with that 3 iron, would we have ever found out about Tiger’s liaisons? Perhaps, but certainly not in the embarrassingly grandioso fashion that we now have.

Second, let's reverse this entire scenario: Let's say authorities get called to their house because Elin has wrecked their SUV into a hydrant and tree. And reports then roll in that Tiger is suspected to have chased her with his club and broken out the back window of the truck, causing the accident. The result? Tiger is instantly crucified the second this scene plays in the mass population's minds, especially given the racial makeup of the two participants. Now add the late-breaking revelation that all of it started because Elin was getting her plumbing worked on by other guys while Tiger was on the road. Would the media scrutiny of Tiger's actions suddenly stop? Would columnists and husbands around the country begin hailing him as a hero? Would wives of PGA players release statements about what a whore Elin is, and how badly they feel for Tiger to have to be married to her?

None of that would happen. And it's a shameful double standard that we hardly blink at in this cut-&-dry world in which we live. Poor little blonde woman gets cheated on by big meanie hubby. She’s a lauded heroine, he’s a despicable lout. She’s Tina, he’s Ike. If there really are any victims here, it’s Tiger and Elin’s children, which may sound somewhat cliché. But now they have to grow up with the world knowing that they have a crazy mother prone to violent overreactions, and a daddy who likes his occasional cocktail waitress (yet doesn’t have enough common sense to do his dirt cleverly). Thankfully, I think they’ll be able to afford some therapy sessions to erase all of the “damage”. Or they’ll just, you know, …get over it and move on.

If only the rest of us could do the same.