The Tiger Woods Affair

Tiger Woods' transgressions have been a hot topic in the media lately. It seems people everywhere can't learn enough about his alleged extra marital affairs. Not to mention the media salivating over the story with their breaking news and continued coverage. But I can't seem to figure out why.

I understand a certain amount of curiosity for a well known person to fall from grace. But I know ten local guys off the top of my head that cheat on their wives regularly. Some have had their clothes burned. Others have had their dog stolen. Or cars keyed. But CNN, MSNBC or ESPN have not had one blurb or even a measly ticker line about it. Why? There was no car crash, but the events that did take place were pretty traumatic to those involved. And like Tiger, most of them had it coming.

The reason is, obviously, because Tiger Woods is famous. But why do Americans care so much about celebrity lives. Sure Tiger Woods is arguably one of the best athletes to ever play his sport. He is calm and cool on the course and appears relatively unshakable. This incident may impact play. But why does my co-worker insist on recounting the way one of Tiger's alleged girlfriends describe the way Tiger makes love. My co-worker is a guy too. A very heterosexual guy at that.

While our country teeters on the brink of economic ruin, as the world debates climate change, and despite the fact that murders, rapes and other injustices take place in our own community we gossip about Tiger. It's not just Tiger either. It's Brad, Jen and Angelina. It's Jon and Kate. It's whoever. My point is there is a flavor of the month and we talk about it to death. That is until the next scandal emerges. Do any of you recall David Letterman going through similar circumstances? Probably not a lot, it was yesterday's news. The same fate awaits Tiger. And when the smoke clears, our county will still face the same crises we let go by the wayside in exchange for celebrity tripe.

It just seems that America needs to focus on the real issues. Tiger Woods' life does not affect me or you. Have I talked about it? Sure I have. But I focus on how celebrities are so accustomed to everyone around them believing in every bit of dribble that comes out of their mouth that I truly believe Tiger thought he would be able to keep up his charade forever. Anyone who wants to keep their job will not tell Tiger or any other celebrity no. And I know that it's neither here nor there.

All in all I have no ill will towards Tiger. Like I said before, his decisions don't personally affect me. My problem lies with my friends and colleagues who constantly gossip over this nonsense. There is a fine line between discussion and obsession. At the end of the day I just wish the voters of this county could put this much time, effort and energy in discussing problems that face our country, states and communities. Let it go. Like I tell guys who have posters of Tiger on their walls, "Do you think Tiger has a poster of you on his wall?" It is time for America to reprioritize and realize that all that needed to be said to Tiger was said with a nine iron.