STILL LOST IN THE WOODS
Tiger’s support for Black America was never up to par, so don’t scramble now
If we’re being totally honest, Tiger Woods was never built for this. He did try to warn us, but only a few of us listened. “Growing up, I came up with this name: I’m a ‘Cablinasian.’” The term was something Woods created to describe his heritage, which was a blend of Caucasian, Black, Indian and Asian.
But it is apparent that what Tiger Woods didn’t know then, he still hasn’t quite figured out. That he is a Black man in America.
Early Monday morning Woods was arrested and charged with DUI in Jupiter, Fla. Hours later, he was released under his own recognizance.
In his mugshot, Woods looks more like the guy who was having multiple affairs with numerous women than the pristine family man whom he wanted us to believe he was.
Woods is now a statistic and a stereotype. He has become what he tried so hard not be, because a good amount of people in this country think of Black men as being lazy, cheaters and alcoholics. And Woods just continues to keep trying to make their inaccurate assumptions true.
Monday’s events were just another chapter in the book of Tiger Woods: One of the greatest falls from grace that any athlete has ever endured.
It’s easy to think of Woods now as the golfer who’s trying to make a comeback to the PGA Tour after his fourth back surgery since the spring of 2014. He hasn’t played competitively since February.
But that’s who Woods is now: A 41-yearold injury prone golfer, with a bad back and a receding hairline.
But to fully understand how far Woods has fallen, let’s remember who he was: A god.
Forget the Nike commercials, the red polos on Sunday, the fist pumps, the 14-major championships and the top selling video games.
We’ve seen other athletes transcend their sport and become a household name, but before Tiger there had never been anyone who changed an entire sport, and the way an entire race viewed it.
We know what Jackie Robinson did for baseball. What Jack Johnson and Ali did for boxing. What Pele did for soccer. And how Jordan took basketball to new heights.
But none of them were Tiger. Why? Because Eldrick Tont Woods played the whitest sport in the world, and not only made it cool, he dominated it. And by doing so, he made it relevant, and fun, and introduced it to Black culture.
In 1997, The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Mo Money Mo Problems” video had a golf theme because of Tiger.
Ten years later, Big Boi from Outkast gave us the movie “Who’s Your Caddy?” because of Tiger.
The exclusivity of the country club, and the rules inside the clubhouse had been changed forever, and people didn’t like it.
“He’s doing quite well, pretty impressive. That little boy is driving well and he’s putting well. He’s doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it. Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.” — Fuzzy Zoeller (1997)
Young players who want to challenge him should “lynch him in a back alley.” – Kelly Tilghman (2008)
“I wanted to shove it up that black arsehole.” – Steve Williams (2011)
“We will have him ‘round every night. We will serve fried chicken.” – Sergio Garcia (2013)
And still, after all that, from people whom Woods respected, befriended and competed against, he never properly defended his self, his blackness, and the culture that he introduced to the game of golf.
This may come as a surprise to some, but for the most part, Black people stopped rocking with Tiger Woods a long time ago.
We were there for him, but he was never really there for us. But what makes Monday’s news even sadder is that the “Cablinasian” term should have been the ultimate red flag that Tiger Woods wasn’t there for anybody, but himself.
Because of what we’ve endured, Black America tends to look out for their own. And although we tried to be there for Woods over the years, it became quite clear that the love wasn’t being reciprocated.
When Black American wipes their hands clean of you, they do it for good. So, when days like that today happen, we just shrug our shoulders, shake our heads, and keep it moving. Why? Because Tiger Woods sold us a dream, and we all bought it. And since it’s too late to get our money back, it’s too late for him to try to get our support when he needs it most.