Tiger Woods: Who's At Fault???

As a physician that takes care of athletes I felt I needed to weigh in on this issue of Tiger Woods, the car crash and the infidelity with his wife.

The media's money line continues to be about his "fall from grace as a role model". Well, he hasn't fallen from grace with me as a role model because for me, I only looked towards Tiger as a role model for my golf game. And, for my golf game, he remains the best role model on planet Earth.

It was nice to think he was so clean cut, neat, tidy and beyond reproach in other aspects of his life. That would have made for the whole package. But whose fault is it if we as citizens and especially we as parents to help our children choose their role models specifically for the achievements they've made and not for their entire existence.

I love sports medicine because I love competition, I love sports and it helps me stay connected with my younger years as an athlete. Sometimes I marvel in what athletes can do, the time and dedication they put into their sport, but that's typically where it ends.

My role model for my marriage are two sets of people that I've known for quite a long time. My parents and my grandparents. I've seen my parents go through relationship ups and downs and now they are in their 45Th year. My grandparents were married for 64 1/2 years until my grandpa Ben died when he was 90. My grandmother just passed earlier this year at 99. But nearly 65 years of a solid relationship. Wow, that's to be admired and modeled.

I use my parents and grandparent as role models for marriage and parenting along with some others. Neither my dad or grandfather played golf, so I think I'll stick with advice from Tiger about my swing.

Be we as people, as parents...and those of you in traditional media must stop putting sports figures and entertainers on these high pedestals. They may be good at their chosen craft, but it doesn't make them role models for all aspects of life. I don't think anyone is.

Babe Ruth was great with a baseball bat. But I don't take advice living a clean life from his life's example. However "The Babe" was extremely generous when it came to orphaned children and that is something people could learn from.

It's not the athlete that has to learn, it's us. Pick and choose your role models for their expertise, not in Toto. Otherwise, eventually, you'll be disappointed, but I won't.

I would hope people are more true to the people in their lives, but, hey...it's their life.

If Tiger chooses to take a Mulligan on this, I'm sure it will cost him dearly and I wish him the best in his personal life.

But I'll still be analyzing his swing and his golf game just the same because in the game of Golf, he's the best. But with relationships, I look to my grandparents, my parents and my wife.

'nuff said.

Dr. T

Dr. Narson is a 2-term past president of the Florida Chiropractic Association’s Council on Sports Injuries, Physical Fitness & Rehabilitation and was honored as the recipient of the coveted Chiropractic Sports Physician of the Year Award in 1999-2000. He practices in Miami Beach, Florida at the Miami Beach Family & Sports Chiropractic Center; A Facility for Natural Sports Medicine.