Tiger Woods: Why Do We Care So Much?

We all remember what a sensation Tiger was when he burst onto the PGA scene 14 years ago.

We all remember the power and grace in which he played winning his first Masters Tournament in April of 1997, winning by an 18 under par which netted him a trifecta of accomplishments:  Winning by a record 12 strokes, becoming the youngest player at 21 years of age, and being the first African-American to do so.

He has been a force to reckon with in his 14 years on the tour.

And after the news broke of Tiger being involved in an accident on November 25th, 2009, we all have come to view him in different, more harsh light.

There have been rumors of domestic infidelities with dozens of women and paternity claims.

He has become yet another fallen hero.

We can scold Tiger for his indiscretions, be angry at him for lying to us.  But let's be clear here:  We, the fans of Tiger Woods, fell, hook, line, and sinker to his bill of goods.

Tiger Woods came into professional golf with a plan to be a force of nature.  He cultivated a squeaky clean image, was a symbol to all minorities, sending a message of "Just Do It" to millions of young kids who thought they would never have a chance to advance in the world.

To even the most casual golf fan, Tiger Woods is a recognizable name.  He's made millions of dollars from golf and endorsement deals.  He has given back millions in charity work and has done more for the game of golf than anyone can ever imagine.

But in the end, Tiger Woods is a man flawed.  He thought, like many before him, that he could live by another set of rules.  And the events leading up to the night of November 25th, 2009, he finally saw that he is nothing more than human, just like the rest of us, but with a gift to play golf like no one ever could.

He has betrayed the public which is what I think the real reason why people are so angry with him.  He worked very hard to create and maintain an image of all that is good in America.  And we're ticked off that he has betrayed our trust.

Will we forgive Tiger Woods?  Can we ever forgive Tiger Woods?

He'll come back to the game of golf.  There are still many accomplishments for him to achieve. 

But he will never fully have our trust again.  He may gain our respect again.

Tiger is meeting this with as much class, grace, and dignity that any man can have.  For that, we have to grudgingly give our respect.

We will awe at his accomplishments in golf.

But we may never fully trust him again.