What do you do when the last hero falls at the same time?  Achilles heel exposed, struck by arrows of recklessness, selfishness and downright stupidity.  Guess we are in a long-term moral recession too.

I never intended to write about Tiger Woods here.  Didn’t seem right, though there was obviously reason enough given that his annual take is equal to the GDP of several small countries.

Makes it all okay.

Weeks after Tiger’s accident and well into the international media frenzy that followed, it is clear that this one individual’s failings are significant — important even — socially, politically and economically.  After all he is probably the most important and most famous person in the world:  the biggest sports star, the highest paid (winnings) athlete, the most important sports marketing figure, the first billion $$ star, the highest paid endorser, the handsome, lithe, fit, value conscious person that every guy wanted to be and every gal wanted to know.  No matter the cost.

Therein lies the problem.  Economics rule again–even in sports.  Sure banks can be too big to fail, GM has too many employees to let them all go, Senators and Congressmen too secure to worry about making mistakes . . .  I could go on but you have seen it all in the last few years.  Sins, errors in judgment, flat out lies and stealing . . . the whole rotten bag of selfishness and arrogance by people in high places.

Was the media justified in making this dreadful story #1 in the midst of the all-important Christmas season?

Of course. Again, its all about the money folks.

This kind of lurid stuff sells.  It draws viewers and listeners.  Besides, the media is responsible for who Tiger has become . . . it is only right they they take off on him when he fails so miserably.  They should be more harsh if anything.  What he did is not only wrong, it is immoral and indecent.  And everyone deserves to know what their once beloved hero is really like.

And baloney to the puritanical talking heads who bluster in defense of his privacy.  Tiger Woods life is NOT and has NOT been a private family matter — not now, not ten years ago when his star was rising and not in ten years when he hopefully turns himself around.  He allowed the media and the public to idolize him.  All the time hiding his true nature.

Crap, I hate this, but we have the right to know what kind of guy is supporting the products we buy because of his endorsement (remember the classic ‘be like Mike?’).  Might not have been the case if Tiger had strayed just once in an awful error of judgment and temptation.  But time after time after time?  Dang it, no!  He should pay the price — privately and publicly.  We certainly paid more for the products he endorsed . . . just because of the cost of such endorsement.

Bang!

And thus, my last real hero falls.  Not with one vicious shot to the heel but with a thousand tiny slices by his own hand.  Words of his own making.  Acts of his own doing.

Dishonesty directed at, not only his precious wife and children (to say nothing of his adoring mother and worshipful deceased father), but also to the millions of sports fans who watched his every magnificent swing–his masterful putts–his toothy grin at each new victory — his humble acknowledgments of God-given skills developed by hard and honest effort.  All are trivial now it seems.

Am I sad.  Heck, yes.  But also angry, frustrated, disappointed, shocked and filled with disbelief.  Where do I look now for someone to challenge me to be better?

Stunned is how I felt at first.

You might of well have told me that my 92 year old dad had left my 91 year old mom for a teen idol.  I wouldn’t have believed that either.

But this present drama is far too true (as to Tiger that is –  my dad ever had eyes only for my mom) . . . by his own admission now and through the numerous adulterous women he has taken advantage of.  Oh, how I felt betrayed . . . imagine Elin (his loyal Swedish wife).

And so I decided to vent.

But here?  On this political/economic/social blog?  Of course.

Tiger’s fall is indicative of the times. Cheating athletes, referees who lie, elected officials with NO morals, CEO’s making million that steal millions more–greed, selfishness and lust seem to be the traits of choice today.  All over the news, promoted on TV programs during the ‘family hour’, encouraged by Hollywood . . . we can’t seem to avoid it.  Our fault as much as any . . . we let it into our homes, into the minds of our easily influenced children.

And it is wrong!  On every level.  Whether you are Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu or whatever.  Integrity is universal . . . except that it isn’t.

Hide the women and children?  Yeah, seems like the Vikings and Visigoths control everything except our homes (and they are breaking the walls down there as we speak).

Where do we find heroes?  People we look up to, revere, respect and love?  People who use and endorse products that make us feel better and think we will perform or look better if we use them?  People we want to emulate?

And what about the importance of family, honesty and commitment, the marriage contract?

Is the example now just one of entitlement?  That the rich and powerful can do no wrong?  Get away with anything?

If we had half a brain we would put a stop to it right now.

Consider.

First there were Governors, then Congressmen (I can’t think offhand of any congresswomen — and doesn’t that speak volumes in itself?), then Senators, then a President, then the greatest Golfer ever.  Shoot, none of them have paid a real price for their infidelity and dishonesty.  How the heck can we keep electing folk like that?  Keep revering bums we wouldn’t bring home to mom?   How can we expect them to stop if a price is not demanded for their actions?

We should not support any of  them until they have changed and paid a fair price to society.  We just can’t keep letting them off with a slap on the wrist and a wry smile of acknowledgment.

But Tiger Woods?  The untouchable, unflappable magician of golf?

How could you?

Might as well plan on the big “W” recession now. Retails sales should crash in the near future (if we do what we all should).

I will NEVER use Nike products again.  I will NEVER buy Gatorade.  I will NEVER use Gillette products, of course I can’t afford a Tag Huer watch, or a new Buick but the same goes for every other product that pay him now.

Think.  $100,000,000 of endorsement contracts each year.

Say that generates at least $100,000,000,000 in sales.

If we all stop supporting those companies then Tiger may not only be the most high profile intimacy addict in history but also the first person to be individually responsible for a new recession.  And it would be worth it because we know  Obama and the democrats would come out with a ‘third’ stimulus and save us all

Of course that doesn’t have to be the case.  All those companies could drop him like a hot potato and we could all go back to their products with our heads held high.  But it hasn’t happened yet.

Tiger is responsible

Just no excuse.  His father is moaning in his grave.  Heck, I oughta know about that.  I grew up in a military family.  My dad was a ramrod straight, larger than life Lt. Col. too.  My mom was a beautiful model.  They both encouraged me and helped me right up until today.  Once I failed them bad.  Real bad.  It hurt me more to see them injured by my stupidity than the suffering I was going through personally.

If Tiger is any kind of man at all he will be feeling the same.

And there is more than that.  I have  a drop-dead beautiful wife.  Four super smart kids who could win Jeopardy, Survivor or The Amazing Race and whose spouses make them even better.  And the baker’s dozen grandkids?  Every one of them potential Nobel prize winners and NBA or LPGA players . . . not too mention they all got their grandma’s looks.  I have hurt them in the past too.  They know it and I do too.  But I didn’t drag the process on for weeks and months.  Repented of my selfishness and started out with a new slate.  No more buying a Motor-home when my wife is at girl’s camp.  No more buying Big Screen TV’s for the BYU-UTAH game while my kids needed ski lessons.  No sirree.  Learn and go forward.

One can only hope that Tiger is going through the same self evaluation I did.  Of course his actions were more egregious.  That whole time after time after time thing just resonates here.  But change is possible, repentance works (if he is religious), and a new commitment to his wife and family as well as his fans is due and would be a huge step in the right direction.

I am sick of this.  I mean really sick too.  My stomach hurts.  My head aches.  I have no real heroes left (outside of my Dad and Mom).

But you know what.  I wasn’t about to give up.

Unlike Tiger I stepped up and and worked at it.  Searched my memory banks.  Scoured the sports pages and I found an old hero that is going to make a comeback for me (and I hope you can find one too).  I chose Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinal.  Great quarter-back.  Super guy.  Loving father and husband.  Committed to family and team.  Charitable, honest and true.  If you aren’t familiar you should do a surch on him and read it.

Ah, thanks heavens.  Life doesn’t end here.  Now I can cheer for the Cardinals all the way to the Super-bowl.  I don’t think this 38 year old Warner guy will disappoint — win or lose he’s a stand-up guy.

So, I move on.

I won’t say goodbye Tiger.  Just so long.  Because I hope you make it back.

But until you do there will be a void and I will stick to my guns.

Boy I hope Hansen makes good juices, that Callaway makes good clubs and balls, that Norelco shavers are as good as they say — my life has changed right along with Tigers but you know what?  If those other products helped make him what he is today, then I want nothing to do with any of them!

Sorry this has been so long and rambling . . . but I just lost a hero.  What’s a guy to do?  BUY TIGER-FREE GOODS!

P.S.:  after drafting this post I found out Accenture dropped Tiger — I’m proud of them (especially since my formative years were spent with their oft maligned predecessor Andersen Consulting).

thanks to keith allison at flickr for the photo

While this plane ditching was quite the news story, good news at that– and heaven knows we need good news (that makes you feel good anyway) at this point in time,?I just don’t get all the references to the pilot being a hero.

I suppose you could call him a lot of?admirable things.? Like, hummmm: lucky, skilled, talented, capable, exemplary — you know the list goes on.? But . . . hero?? Don’t think so.? Not to take anything away from his ability as a pilot but he did what he was supposed to do, what he was trained to do, what he was paid to do, and what would be expected of any competent commercial pilot.?

What he did not do (and these are among things that qualify one as a hero, i believe) was: risk his life to save others, demonstrate incredible strength, bravery?and selflessness, go out of his way to make a difference, exhibit incredibly unusual capacity in the defense of truth and right . . . . . . (superman?).

The genuine heros today are guys like a neighbor?who has been out of work for months and still remains cheerful and positive– and he goes out of his way almost everyday to help someone else on?our street when they need it.? This guy is charitable, honest, keeps a stiff upper lip, and is an example to just about everyone who knows him.??He’s a hero.?

Or how about the soldier that was part of our soon to be ex-Pres. farewell broadcast at the Whitehouse?? He put his own life at risk to save several of his comrades who were under fire.? He’s a hero.

Or how about a Sunday School teacher?I know who kept at the job (which he does well) even after major surgery laid him up pretty good.? Or the guy around the corner who does snow removal for those that live around him and are too old or?unable to do it themselves (and by the way he is in his late 80’s and has some serious health problems of his own). Then there is . . . (here you are supposed to add a few of your own).

Well, heck,?I know plenty of people that demonstrate that they are real hero’s (or heroines) by their actions every day and they get NO publicity (they should).? They represent the kind of stories we need to hear more about on the news.? Think what that kind of news?coverage would do for our confidence and self-image?? Gosh, it migh even help the economy.

In conclusion:? two things.?

One — be on the lookout everday for people who are heroic . . . and if the news doesn’t cover them you spread the word — and keep the memory for yourself too.? You’ll feel good and so will the heroes and the people who learn about them.

Two — thanks to you, cool headed pilot who did his job and did it well.? you might not be a hero but you sure as heck are an example.? That?is a feel good story!? Now use the key to the city that Mayor Bloomberg gave you to open a few doors for the disadvantaged . . . then you will be?a hero.

Feel good, help others, believe in yourself.

Ten-four!

?

and, thanks to davidwatts1978 for the photo from flickr