Tiger's Fall Reignites Role Model Debate

(CBS/ AP)  Tiger Woods was different, or so he seemed, with his unmatchable talent and carefully burnished image. Unlike some pro athletes, he had welcomed being a role model. He was, it turns out, too good to be true, and his fall from grace calls into question the very idea of sports hero worship.

"No one has approached this level of perfection on and off the playing surface, maybe ever, without a single blot or tarnish," said Dave Czesniuk, director of operations for Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society.

"The real story here is the meeting of expectations with reality," Czesniuk said. "The guy's a human being and we forget that."

Woods' apology Wednesday for unspecified "transgressions" - coinciding with reports of repeated marital infidelity - was, on one level, only the latest in a long sequence of superstar downfalls.

Normally this time of year, Woods would be hitting the links at the Chevron Classic in California. Instead, he's reportedly going through marriage counseling and modifying his prenuptial agreement with his wife of five years, Elin Nordegren, reports CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston.

Michael Phelps was photographed with a marijuana pipe. Marion Jones had her Olympic medals stripped for doping that she long denied. Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez faced dual allegations of steroid use and adultery. And so on.

Woods, however, was unique - a globally recognized brand name that evoked impeccability and historical greatness. His sponsors and handlers, his admiring chroniclers in the media, and especially Woods himself contributed to the image-making.

"The public had become jaded and indifferent - they expected Barry Bonds and Marion Jones and Sammy Sosa to fall," said psychologist Stanley Teitelbaum, author of "Sports Heroes, Fallen Idols."

"But no one really expected that of Tiger Woods," he said. "Now that it happens to him, people are not as indifferent - there's more disappointment and more disillusionment."

Steve Elling, senior writer for CBSSports.com, wrote this week that fans and sportswriters, himself included, were gullible in placing Woods on so high a pedestal.

"We have learned by now to invest admiration in public figures with a grain of salt. With Woods, we just ate the whole salt lick," Elling wrote. "Say it with me: Never, ever again."

Read more coverage of Tiger Woods:

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Tiger Apology Won't Cut it
Parnevik: I Thought Tiger was a Better Guy
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Photos: Sports Sex Scandals
Photos: Elin Nordegren
Tiger Woods: I Let My Family Down
Tiger's Alleged Voicemail Message
Tiger Woods Slapped with Speeding Ticket
Lawyer: Tiger Woods Didn't Appear Beaten
Woman Denies Affair with Tiger Woods

Woods, for all his preoccupation with mastery on the course, had managed throughout his career to be viewed as more than just a golfer - loving son to his parents, civic-minded creator of a foundation serving disadvantaged children, devoted father who said he'd play less golf so he could spend more time with his two young children.

He didn't embrace social causes, and sometimes there were brief flashes of temper or crudeness. But as far back as 1997, he was on record as welcoming the responsibilities of role model.

"I think it's an honor to be a role model," he was quoted as saying in a Business Week article. "If you are given a chance to be a role model, I think you should always take it because you can influence a person's life in a positive light, and that's what I want to do. That's what it's all about."

If that was Woods' goal, Teitelbaum said it had been achieved.

"In terms of a role model, he's A-one," the psychologist said. "The fans, and especially kids, are desperate to have role models to look up to. ... People have made him the designated sports hero.

"When you're among the high-flying and adored, your public will give you unconditional love as long as you continue to perform," Teitelbaum added. "But there's a responsibility to be that much more careful and that much more transparent and, when something does happen, to deal with it openly."

The depths of sudden disillusionment with Woods have been almost tangible. According to Zeta Buzz, which tracks millions of blogs and social media posts, online references to Woods had been 91 percent positive before his recent troubles and by Thursday had dropped to 57 percent positive.

The owner of a youth-oriented Internet site called Role Models on the Web said Thursday he'd been inundated with hateful e-mails and phone calls for leaving a flattering entry about Woods on the site.

"Should he be considered a moral role model? No," said Lamar Brantley of Sarasota, Fla. "But through his foundation, he's done a lot of good."

Above the Woods entry on the Web site, Brantley added this update:

"I will leave Tiger up as a role model as I believe it is probably a good topic for discussion in your family. If you do or do not believe him to be a role model of any kind, discuss it with your children."

Countless parents have been forced into similar conversations in recent years as drug and sex scandals entangled star athletes in numerous sports.

"There's an important parental role to play with kids," said Joe Kelly, founder of a national fatherhood group called Dads and Daughters. "You need to make clear that role models are just models - they're not without flaws, and we will be disappointed by them sometimes, the same way we're disappointed by our parents sometimes."

Kelly said he retained a degree of admiration for Woods because of the golfer's past comments about how much it meant to become a father.

"We have higher responsibilities as fathers, rather than responding to every impulse and desire we might have," Kelly said. "When it comes to being a father, we have to be the grown-up. When we act like children, the fallout is terrible."

Some of Woods' admirers believe he will redeem himself, not only through further golfing excellence but also through a show of character.

"He is distinctive in myriad ways - not only his talent, but his extraordinary level of discipline," said Dan Doyle, director of the Institute for International Sport at the University of Rhode Island. "What I think will happen is Tiger will never make this kind of mistake again."

"The fact that he made what is clearly a big error does not dismiss him as someone who can have a tremendous effect on society and youth in the future," Doyle added. "People will give him a second chance, and he will make good on that second chance."

[guest173]

I think Tiger is used to everybody kissing his rear. It is probably almost impossible to think how hurtful this is to his wife, if she had done the same thing to him that he did to her, but he has a prenup so he probably figures she is going to keep it up for the money, which maybe she is but she probably had a little bit of the hope of a lasting marriage too, I'm sure. He'll get on with his life, people will still kiss his rear because he's rich and talented, but he won't have all the same respect as before, because he could easily get AIDS and stds with his immoral behavior and that is something parents don't want to say "hey look at him, he works hard, supports his family, but also has risky behavior" so he won't have that same level of worship as before, which is not really a big deal in the scheme of things. we all just learned Andre Agassi wore a weave too, life isn't all what we see on tv

[nowhiningallowed]

To the moral men and women who take their vows of fidelity seriously and don't commit adultery, God bless you for being true to your vows and to each other. To those who aren't, shame on you. Don't get married, just remain single despicable sleazes. Celebrity and money doesn't give anyone any right to behave in such a crude and immoral manner.

[magicwolf1]

Take a step down from that high horse of yours. Celebrities are human, just as the rest of us, and as such, fallible. It is extremely unrealistic to expect them to act that much differently than the rest of the population - especially given that they are subjected to much greater temptation. Is marital fidelity the best path in marriage? Absolutely. However it is clear that you are no role model for moral arbiter, since you refer to those who err in this fashion as "despicable sleazes". A bit harsh don't you think? People make errors in life. And people change as they go through life. Mistakes made don't necessarily define who they truly are - that depends on the whole picture of the life and the lessons learned. Lighten up.

[cidaia]

If only people were as nasty and judgmental to adulterers as they are to people who object to adultery, the world would be a better place.

[jankebenzone]

Celebrities,especially movie and music stars , have for the most a huge negative impact on behavioural patterns for the young. Monkey see ( the violence, killing, sex, immorality, foul language, ect. ) monkey do. No ! the "experts"? say, they are born with behaviour issues. Riiiight, the 'experts" know it all.

[lloydbest1]

Which is why some, like this crusty old curmudgeon, strongly believe that celebrities need to conform to a higher standard of behavior than the rest of us.

Yes, it is a double standard.

No, it is not "fair".

But anyone (and specificially Mr. woods, since the article most directly relates to him) who goes to the effort to attain the fame and fortune that Tiger went to has an obligation to go far beyond simply being a great athlete. Regardless of how they got to their exhaulted positions they have to be good role models simply because of their greater visibility. That is the onus, the price if you will, of adoration and riches way beyond that most of us will ever see: These special people have the obligation to maintain a standard of behavior that doesn't even betray the appearance of possible impropriety.
All of us crash from time to time but the priviledged need to remember their transgressions are far more damaging. S*xual "hanky-panky", crooked business dealings, public intoxication, acts of violence, abuse of family members and other nefarious deeds committed by any of us are all acts worthy of comdemnation, but especially so among those living in the spotlight.

[lloydbest1]

I might also mention i consider Tiger Woods to be, by and large, a tremendous natural talent and one with an exemplary work ethic. He has done and will continue to do much to be admired on the golf course. I also believe he will learn valuable lessons from this. I only wish I had as much confidence that another talented and hard working athlete who really stepped on his d--- a few years ago would learn his.

[DCMixMstr]

IMO, a kid should ONLY look to an athlete as a role model when they want to emulate the steps that they took to become great at their sport. What was their training regimen? How did they prepare for a competition? How did they practice? How OFTEN did they practice? How did they swing the bat? How many free throws do they practice every day? Those are the only times I would say that a kid should mirror an athlete's way of life.

When it comes to day to day living, the parents or the person who is responsible for their well being should be the major influence in that kid's life. The parent needs to be the one out in front when it comes to RAISING the child not Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, Brett Farve, Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps or any other pro athlete. So to all the parents out there, raise YOUR kids the right way. Live your life as an example for them to follow. Let the athletes show them about sports commitment. YOU show them about LIFE.

[sandog1960]

Well written.

[ToolMangler1]

Well said indeed!!!

Children today seldom see a proper role model, A majority of families have been divorced several times for the same reason these parents and teachers are yelling at Tiger Woods about. This is the same mindset that points their finger at a perceived transgression (before it has been proved) that they themselves are guilty of. (And they call 'ALL' Christians, hypocrits and liars without ever looking in the mirror.) The MSM (Main Stream Media) allow these self deluders to escape into their fantasty world by dragging some poor fallen (Human) before them and make him/her to be their scapegoat.

[trlasalle]

Tiger Woods is a human being just like the rest of us. He and other celebraties should not be viewed as role models! We should teach our children to model after the one who IS perfect, which is Jesus Christ our lord and savior!

[Regats]

He's a golfer. A good one.
Period.
End of story.
Change the subject.

[Oregon_State_OSU]

Tiger's Fall Reignites Role Model Debate

The last thing my kids do is look up to Professional Athletes as Role Model's. It seems that somebody can be spotless and have a clean record for awhile but when you have that much money and are in the spotlight all the time you're going to get hit with Poop from the Fan eventually.

Do you think that Mike Phelps was hurt at all for smoking pot. This Drama with Tiger Woods will blow over in 2 months.

[IndianaGuy]

Men need to be fathers to their kids. We are the first and best role model.

[robin_hill]

This brings me back to the discussion about John Kennedy or Bill Clinton. People are people. We as a society are hypocritical. If Tiger is a good golfer, that's enough to ask. If Kennedy and Clinton were good presidents, let's just say thank God.

The other worries, real as they are, are for their families.

Let's not forget that between 1943 and 1945, the two men at that time standing in between Hitler and world domination the most were FDR and Eisenhower, who were both having affairs outside their marriages. As far as I know, Hitler was faithful to his mistress.

God works in mysterious ways. Chill out people.