By Larry Fitzgerald
Originally posted 3/2/2010
In my column last week, I called the great Tiger Woods a fraud. As far as being a devoted husband to his marriage, in my view he is. Woods is a friend of mine. But, he has personally damaged his personal life and world-famous brand.
I met Tiger back in 1999 when he and his dad, the late Earl Woods, came to Minnesota and conducted the first-ever Tiger Woods Foundation Clinic.
At the time, Tiger had won only one Major Championship, the 1997 Masters. I remember taking my two sons Larry Jr. and Marcus every day to learn all they could from Woods at his clinic. The classroom sessions teaching young people about the many jobs and careers in the golf industry were held at North High School. The lessons on how to play the game of golf were at Hiawatha Golf Course in South Minneapolis.
I’m convinced those few days being around Tiger helped both Larry Jr. and Marcus, as it did the many other children who participated. Never underestimate the learning curve of a child.
Compare Magic vs. Tiger?
I remember in 1991 when Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson announced he was retiring because he had contracted HIV. Most people overlooked his infidelity. Many people thought the worst — that Magic was going to die.
Johnson was a married man, and he still is married to Cookie. He came back to play with the Lakers despite the paranoia that abounded in the NBA around him and his HIV-positive status. He now is part owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and a very successful business man, and so far he has been able to keep his HIV from becoming full-blown AIDS.
Tiger can come back also. He has to devote himself to his treatment for his “entitlement addiction.” Time has a way of healing all wounds.
Which story when it happened — think about it — surprised you most? Magic announcing he had HIV or Tiger Woods and the news of his infidelity? Email me at Info@Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
ESPN in the storm!
Did you hear the news that popular co-host Tony Kornhieser of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption, with Michael Wilbon, was suspended for two weeks for joking on air on his weekly Washington, DC, radio show about ESPN anchor Hanna Storm’s dress?
The network did nothing to ESPN Radio co-host Mike Greenberg of Mike & Mike in the Morning fame. The ESPN anchor and Northwestern University graduate was not disciplined or suspended when he said — on live radio, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day — “It’s Martin Luther Coon Day”!
Fitz Notes & Quotes
Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is being paid $3.3 million per year as a league consultant.
Former Vikings star Dwaynae Rudd is currently in jail for failure to pay child support.
Oklahoma City Thunder second-year player and All-Star forward Kevin Durant is having an MVP-type season. The Thunder just won nine straight games, and Durant is a big reason why. He’s second in the league in scoring, averaging 29.8 points per game. And after scoring 32 points in a 109-107 win at Minnesota, Durant has scored 25 points or more in 29 straight games — the third-best streak in NBA history.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
