Let go of Tiger’s tail

Yes, I saw the infamous mug shot, the one of a sleepy, haggard, droopyeyed Tiger Woods being booked on a DUI charge. The tabloids and media have had a field day with yet another example of what they portray as the calamitous, downward spiral of a man who once reigned as king of the golf world. Continual media shredding of the golf monarch’s regal robes has relegated him to mere mortal status.

But to Woods’ credit, in this case it turns out that tests indicated that he had no alcohol or illegal drugs in his body system. Rather, he was apparently impaired from ingesting a mixture of legally prescribed painkillers. Woods has had severe back pain for a long time and it seems that surgery has done little to alleviate it. It would seem impossible for anyone to accurately swing a golf club under such conditions.

Anybody who has suffered chronic, intense back pain and/or excruciating sciatica can sympathize with Woods. Desperately seeking pain relief, many people have tried legally prescribed painkillers to numb the nagging torture, some finding temporary relief, some not.

Despite Woods’ past personal problems, perhaps the media, just once, could lighten up a little and quit kicking a man when he is already down. After all, as someone said, “To err is human, to forgive divine.” BILLY BOOTH

Hazen