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Tiger Woods Awesome Achievement (With Perspective)

18 June 2008 4 Comments

A few days ago Tiger Woods won the US Open Golf Tournament and securing his 14th major victory. A huge feat indeed, but even larger considering he played with 2 stress fractures of his left tibia and a torn ACL. He’s played with both of these injuries for some time now – just crazy.

I should state that I am not a huge fan of golf as a sport (a great game, but not a sport). I love watching it on TV and like to play now and then, but I am not a golf fanatic.

I can’t seem to turn on any TV or radio station without seeing or hearing about his “heroic feat” or him being a “hero” for us all to emulate. I really like what he did and it says a lot about his golf skills, but a hero? A heroic feat?

ENOUGH ALREADY! I don’t like the comparison and neither should any man or woman who has served our country and put themselves in harm’s way for the betterment of people they don’t even know.

Unknown SoldierThe soldiers that leave their families behind to go and fight in the name of our country are heroes. Their families they leave behind are heroes.

Firefighters who save a life from a burning fire or potential deadly situation are heroes.

Police officers that do their job every day and oftentimes are well under appreciated are heroes.

Fathers that often work long hours, maybe two or three jobs, to put food on the table for their families are heroes. Mothers who sacrifice their entire lives to stay at home and raise their children are heroes.

People who constantly do selfless things in the name of altruism are heroes. People who lead charities and will give their time and money to help others who are in need are heroes.

Tiger Woods can be a hero too and he is in several aspects of his life. But not for his golfing abilities. He was playing golf (that’s right, playing golf – not holding a rifle) right next to the ocean and fighting off Rocco to earn $1.4m instead earning the paltry $700k for second place.

I love to watch Tiger Woods and I admire his capabilities on the course, but here at Return to Manliness, we like to put things into perspective. The real heroes (at least the men) are the countless fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons that never look for gratitude or congratulations. They remain strong in the face of severe adversity. They work long hours when they would rather be spending time with their children . They pay their bills on time. They are men we can all admire and aspire to be like.

4 Comments »

  • Dina said:

    There are all types of heroes. Certainly, the men and women who serve our country are heroes to their families and the nation. But praising them doesn’t mean you have to denigrate or demean other types of heroes. It’s not a comparison. Gandhi fought injustice without violence. Would you say that he doesn’t deserve to be called a hero?

  • Kevin said:

    @Dina,
    Agreed. It is the shear insaneness of the comparisons made by the many talking heads covering that I speak of. It was not to denigrate but I can see how that came across. Good point…kevin

  • Dave said:

    Well said, author. Tiger’s Open victory was impressive, inspiring, remarkable, and all that. One thing it was NOT was “heroic.” He risked nothing more than slight aggravation to an already injured leg. His life was never in danger. His financial future was never in danger.

    The term “heroic” should be reserved for people who do heroic things.

    And golf IS a sport because you strike an object and it demands physical ability. Chess is a game. (BTW, hitting a golf ball is harder than hitting a baseball, but I don’t need to revisit that argument with you again after all these years. )

  • Kevin said:

    I think I may agree that is indeed a sport. If you can get an ACL, then it qualifies.

    Look, round ball/round bat, COMPLETELY not knowing WHERE that round ball is going to be when you hit it (it could be in your gut breaking a rib or two). With a golf ball, the damn thing is not even moving.

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