Be Yourself

There's a great Audioslave song that goes "To be yourself is all that you can be." Truer words have never been spoken. Now normally, I take anything that Stephen A. Smith says as a joke considering his meager track record as a sports reporter. But while listening to ESPN radio today, he actually said something that made sense. Tiger Woods needs to be himself again. I couldn't believe my ears. Smith was saying something for once that actually made total sense. Say what you want about Tiger, he is the greatest golfer of our generation. Since his infamous incident in November 2009, people have been quick to pull the trigger on his career. Sure, that's somewhat true. The circumstances are ultimately different for Tiger now. He is viewed in a different light and put on an even higher pedestal after his infidelities. But you know what? The Tiger of old wouldn't give two shits about what people thought of him. Of course, the Tiger of old is from so long ago that that existence is barely remembered. Yet, if you do happen to remember, Tiger did what he wanted, when he wanted, irregardless of what people, most especially the press, would think of him. Let's just say that during that time span, Tiger played some of the most dominant golf in history, and implanted his label as the most renown sportsman in the world. No biggie right? Well, when Tiger was smashing records, winning tournaments and drinking down the sweet taste of glory, he created the rules of the game. Now unfortunately, he is letting the rules of the game dictate him. Sure, every now and then he'll give a quick, insincere response to a reporter, but it's still nothing like the Tiger of old. Stephen A. Smith went so far as to say that marrying Elin Nordegen was the stepping stone for his downfall. While I do not completely agree with that statement, it is true that marriage and children does take something out of you. Then again, at this same time (we estimate), Tiger was also getting busy with a few other women which back then no one knew about. Yet, even despite the incredible weight he was carrying with his personal life, (which he kept infinitely private) he was still dominating the game of golf like no one had ever seen. He forced tour officials to lengthen courses, "Tiger-proofing" them, as the term goes. Players complain today, especially at this week's PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club and at the U.S. Open at Congressional, that holes are playing too long. You know whose fault that is? Tiger Woods. Because he was too good. Now we look at Tiger, who is struggling to regain his prior form. He's tried swing changes, new coaches and extended leaves but what Tiger really needs is to get back his old attitude. What Tiger really needs is to take off the facade that he keeps wearing and just let out his true self. Once he accomplishes that, the rest will take of itself.