In Defense of Tiger Woods?

I’ve previously posted about employment lessons to be learned from the Tiger Woods fiasco. (Click here and here.) When Tiger finally made his “public apology” last week, it was generally met with cynicism and sarcasm. At best, some were willing to say his future actions will speak louder than his words. (Click here and here.) It’s hard to argue with that, and it’s really not my intent to mount a defense for Tiger, since there isn’t one. At the very least, however, let’s bring a little perspective to this matter.

John Edwards reportedly cheated on his wife while she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. President Clinton took advantage of a young intern, placed his presidency in jeopardy, was impeached, and is still the butt of late-night jokes. President Kennedy had multiple paramours while in the White House, making him a target for blackmail and making the country play second fiddle to his sexual indiscretions.

It’s too soon to tell what will happen to Edwards, but there’s reason to believe that he’ll come out of his dark period in good shape. After all, Bill Clinton is now America’s ambassador to the world. He has a foundation that gives away millions of dollars to worthy causes. JFK often appears near the top of some lists of this country’s best presidents, at least partly because his assassination insured his immortality. The Kennedy name is on numerous prominent institutions, and the Kennedy money continues be put to many charitable uses.

The beating that Wall Street bankers have taken over the past couple of years is reminiscent of the beating given to the so-called “robber barons” of the 19th century. Robber baron is the term usually applied to businessmen and bankers of that time who dominated certain industries and accumulated gigantic personal fortunes by anti-competitive or unfair business practices. They were ruthless bullies. Those who still readily come to mind are John Jacob Astor (fur trading, real estate, opium); Jay Gould (fiance, railroads); J. P. Morgan (banking, finance, steel, industrial consolidation); John D. Rockefeller (oil); Cornelius Vanderbilt (railroads); and Andrew Carnegie (steel). In the 21st century, these men are known more for their philanthropy than anything else. Their fortunes still underwrite foundations, libraries, universities, and charitable organizations of all types.

Tiger already has a foundation established to benefit underprivileged children. When he returns to golf, if he recaptures his number one ranking and then breaks Jack Nicklaus’ record for the number of majors won, he’ll be golden again. If the people mentioned above can be redeemed and even revered, then Tiger’s infidelity, while always a taint to his reputation, won’t be what he’s most remembered for.

As I’ve noted before in posts on this blog, if someone offered me the compensation of a Wall Street banker, say $25 million for a year’s work, I’m pretty sure (and I think I speak for most of us) I’d take it, though it’s impossible to justify making that kind of money. If most won’t admit to this, then I’m not sure we’re being honest with ourselves. And if you think The Man Gene hasn’t used Tiger’s reckless lifestyle with women to make a lot, maybe most, men fantasize about what it must have been like to be Tiger for the past several years, then you don’t know men, and you don’t appreciate The Man Gene’s power.

It’s appropriate for Tiger and the others mentioned above to be or to have been on the hot seat. Righteous indignation is necessary at times. One should be cautious, however, about getting on a high horse and staying there too long.

All of those mentioned above were employers, big employers, famous employers. All of them, earlier in their lives, placed self over their employees, their families, the American people, and anyone who advocated self-denial. They chose fame, celebrity, power and money. In most cases, their selfishness was transformed, later in life, into some form of altruism. One can only guess whether their altruism was genuine or contrived. In any event, their subsequent efforts to do good have been a big part of their life-long legacy.

Instead of judging Tiger (and it’s hard not to right now), perhaps we should conduct a self-audit. Who are we? What’s important to us? How do we treat employees and other people? What would we do if we had the chance? Does money trump ethics? If you could start over, would you? What would you do differently? Why not do it now? What makes us judge individuals so harshly at the time of their sins, only to cut them some slack when they’ve regained a measure of fame and power and have discovered the meaning of charitable contributions? Who are we?

Tiger is undergoing treatment for his addiction and whatever else ails him. I wonder if a little therapy would help us all.

1. 

   John Phillips says:

   March 7, 2010 at 6:34 pm

   Sharon McKnight Says:

   Many of us just can’t resist the urge to kick a person when he’s down. Perhaps, this is because if we kick a person when he’s up, he just might kick us right back. Human nature. Maybe we’re all still school children when it comes right down to it.

   February 23rd, 2010 at 1:13 pm e