Grabbing the "Tiger" by the Tail...

I felt compelled to put down in writing something that has been bothering me for a while, but has become more to the forefront lately with the attention given to the infidelities of Tiger Woods.  It has been kind of a personal loss for me, because I believed, as did most of America, that he was "larger than life," that he had the so-called "perfect" life, complete with gorgeous wife, wonderful parents, beautiful children, and all the worldly wealth any person could ever want for. Not only that, but  regardless of his personal improprieties, the man helped to bring the sport of golf from being a sport for the wealthy and elite into something that children were aspiring to master.  Everyone wanted to be like Tiger.  Shoot, I found myself even thinking that I could master the game at some point! Now, as it is with me, we feel we have been "let down" by Tiger.  We have been given a large dose of "reality," and we find that Tiger is not perfect.  He makes mistakes, just like we all do.  His are more pronounced because of the media attention it is getting, but he has actually been pulled down from the "throne" that media put him on and he is now just one of us.  A human being, far from perfect, susceptible to mistakes, susceptible to grief, and susceptible to the realities of life.

I know this dates me, and so be it... but my first reality check was way back when I found out that the stars of "I Love Lucy," Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, were not the perfect couple that they had portrayed.  I was crushed when I learned of Desi's infidelities, and even was upset when Lucy remarried.  Also, when Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, the "perfect" couple, divorced when Eddie had an affair with Elizabeth Taylor.  And when Rick Nelson, my teenage heartthrob, got married... and was then divorced. That wasn't supposed to happen!!  They were perfect!! Or were they?

We all have our fantasies, and unfortunately, if any of our fantasies are of the human sort, we MUST stop glorifying them so much and realize that NO ONE IS PERFECT!  They may be a perfect actor, a perfect athlete, a perfect singer, but no matter how perfect a picture the media paints, THEY ARE ALSO HUMAN!  The media is not going to stop doing this, as it seems to sell newspapers, magazines, etc., so it is up to us.

I am becoming my mother here, which I didn't think I ever would, but it is time we changed our view of "heroes" as portrayed on the media.  "Hero worship" will always exist, but it is up to parents and mentors to be sure children know the difference between reality and fantasy.  With Tiger Woods we have lost the man we thought he was, and have been given a glimpse of his weaker side... which is something we all have.  We can mourn the loss of the media idol, Tiger Woods, but eventually welcome back the tremendous athlete he is, without the facade of a pedestal.  Or not.  Our real heroes are the people, our friends and family, that are always around us and stick with us no matter what with unconditional love.  Our real heroes are our teachers, our military troops that defend our freedom.  But also always keep in mind, we are ALL human; and although some of us would like to think otherwise, NONE of us are perfect.