Tiger's Sublimation Of The Masses

One of the aspects of Tigers Woods which has not been affected by his multiple dalliances, his possible/probably divorce, the loss of companies who wish his endorsement services, and the rust on his game, has been his continued ability to subject everyone to his “subliminal subterfuge” ...

So, what is “subliminal subterfuge” anyway ???

“Subliminal subterfuge” is the use of stimuli below the threshold of awareness, used to influence thoughts, feelings, or actions. “Subliminal subterfuge” was originally used to describe situations, in which weak, but stimulating messages were perceived without awareness.  The term has been applied more generally to describe any situation in which unnoticed messages are perceived.

These messages, in Tiger’s case, are used to instill sympathy, vulnerability, forthrightness, sanctioning, and even fearlessness ...   Here’s what I mean:

Tiger’s “Speech”      Tiger appeared in an open collar blue shirt which was worn without much accent to detail, and a Navy jacket ... He was in front of a Royal Blue curtain.  

The colour BLUE symbolizes healing, spirituality, soothing, and comfort.

His actions were purposely tailored to feign an apologetic tone, not necessarily a conciliatory one, and then there was the way-too-long embrace from Mumsie as if to say “well done”  or  “Everything’s going to be OK, son”

Tiger’s control of the attendees was not only to make sure all were sympathetic to him, but it also assured him that no uncomfortable questions would be posed ... questions which would ruin the sublimation !!!

Tiger’s “Interview”       Next came Tiger’s so-called interview with Tom Rinaldi on ESPN, where his backdrop was outside a clubhouse.  There was Tiger dressed in an Olive Green mock neck sweater and white golf hat.  

Olive is a masculine colour because of it’s association with the earth, woods, warmth, mellowness, and comfort.   It is purported to exude a relaxed, passive state.

Tiger answered questions for only five (5) minutes and those questions were supposed to be more probative, but the “interview” was soft ... possibly even softer than if Larry King were giving it !!!

Tiger was presumed to be at ease, less scripted than his “speech”, and more conversational.  Five (5) minutes is hardly time to establish that in a supposed “interview” so the colours had to do their job, reinforced by the outdoors background.

Tiger’s “Press Conference”       Once again, there was Tiger trying to “commune” with everyone at the Masters, and at the same time do damage control to keep the masses from mistreating him while he tried to play his favourite venue.  Tiger, this time enlisted a white shirt with grey, yellow and pink stripes, while sitting behind a desk with the green Master’s insignia emblazoned all over.  

     -     Yellow implies extroversion, optimism, and joy. 

      -    Pink implies responsibility and a relaxed mindset. 

      -    White is a soothing colour which implies spiritual refinement & purity.

      -     Grey is a conservative colour associated with ambivalence.   

If you ask me, you just can’t make this stuff up, especially if your clothier is Phil Knight and his NIKE advertising specialists !!!

Oh yes, and did anyone notice that Tiger’s “sidekick” was a chap with a distinctly British accent ???    I maintain that this was to nurture a “back in the fold” emotion from those who recall that Great Britain is the home of golf !!!

Last, but certainly not least, was Tiger’s use of GW Bush’s penchant for nicknames.   Much to the amazement of the press, Tiger referred to them as friends and used their regular nicknames - not the ones he uses when they ask probing questions - but their nicknames nonetheless !!!

Tiger’s Famous Red Shirts      

Red, very simply, implies an aggressive, assertive, and courageous behaviour.  Red tends to be a motivator of a strong creative image.  Contrary to what Mumsie is supposed to have said, it does not stand for “power”.

Tiger’s use of Red on the last day of a tournament is assumed to portray all those emotions in an effort to send the subliminal message to his competitors that he will stop at nothing to win.   Win, that is, if he is the leader going into the last day, because when it is otherwise, he might have chosen the ambivalence of grey to predict what his performance will be !!!

So, for all of you who cannot bring yourself to be even moderately critical of Tiger, you have been consumed, all, or in part, by his very purposeful “subliminal subterfuge” ... and that’s OK ... but you now understand it !!!