Cheering for Tiger

Yesterday Tiger Woods delivered a long awaited, highly-anticipated apologetic speech regarding his episodes of marital infidelity. In 15 minutes, Woods made apologies to his wife, family, friends, fellow PGA players, to his foundation, his sponsors, and his fans. He spoke to the reasons behind his transgressions and what he plans to do to rectify his errors. He made no excuses. He pointed no fingers. He took full responsibility for his actions and humbly asked for our forgiveness.

What else could you ask for?

Apparently, quite a lot more judging from a lot of media reaction.

There has been a lot of speculation regarding just how genuine Woods' apology actually was. While he delivered his speech from a written draft he brought to the podium, his delivery has been described as "mechanical," "robotic," and "insincere." Some of his mistresses have been harshly critical of the speech, saying it's not the Tiger they knew, one even chastised him for not making apologies to her (which to me is going too far. As his mistress, you should be following his speech with an apology of your own directed to all the same people, especially to Mrs. Woods.)

Regardless of what you think of his delivery, it is not Tiger's tone or body language that will tell us the integrity of his statements. To paraphrase as statement from Tiger's wife Elin, Tiger's apology isn't going to be made with words, but from the actions he takes in the future. So let's all please just back off a little and give him some time to prove himself. That's something that no doubt we all ask for many times in our own lives, we certainly owe it to him.

Tiger also laid out some very explicit facts and rules for the media regard these events. First, he addressed rumors that Elin had hit him or physical hurt him on the night of his car crash. He firmly stated that there has never been any domestic violence in his marriage ever. He also made it clear that this event falls squarely on his shoulders, and so the media should live his wife and children out of this. He defended Elin saying she deserved nothing but praise for her gracious handling of this entire scandal. And in no uncertain terms Woods addressed the fact that, in spite of the public's interest in this affair, the discussions about his episodes of infidelity and the future of his marriage are a matter strictly between himself and his wife; and will not and should not be made public.

Honestly, I felt proud of Tiger Woods making this speech. He set the record straight about what happened and fully accepted all responsibility and consequences. Now he's pressing forward, and he's going to try to change himself, save his marriage, and return to professional golf in the near future. I thought it took guts to say all that to the world. I think it was honorable for him to act as a human shield between the media and his family. He's absolutely right that this is first and foremost a matter between him and his wife. We have no right to know anything more than he told us.

Tiger Woods used to represent a level of greatness to which everyone should aspire. He worked hard, sacrificed, and was able to become one of the most prominent figures in the world. He not only found athletic success, but married a wife and had a child and a happy marriage. He achieved some of the utmost pinnacles of human success. But as is the law with all things under the sun, what goes up must come down.

Tiger Woods is in the most difficult moment now he has faced in his entire life. And instead of trying to bury him deeper, to make him a footstool for our own selfish grandeur, how about we try and lift him up once more? Instead of finding more ways to embarrass him, let's give him a kind word to support his spirit. Because if Jesus Christ taught us anything, we should know that justice if fair, and justice is good; but mercy is better still.

Now I'll be cheering for Tiger now to make the greatest comeback in his life.

To see Tiger's speech and read the transcript, click here.