In his column in CNN’s Bleacher Report, columnist Jesse Reed reported (June 3, 2013), that Tiger Woods was about to sign a new mega-million dollar deal with his long-time sponsor Nike. The deal should be inked by mid-June.
“Right now, Woods is a phoenix rising from the ashes,” said Reed, “and Nike wants to take full advantage of its most prestigious star.”
Most of America, if not the entire golf playing world, is familiar with the downfall of Tiger Woods. On November 27, 2009, it was reported that Woods was involved in an accident when his SUV rammed into a fire hydrant.
It would become the least of his problems.
We all watched as layer after layer of the saga was played out in public. The accident had been hardly accidental; it was precipitated by his angry wife Elin, who was chasing him down the cul-de-sac with a golf club.
We would learn that he did not just have one affair, but multiple affairs. Many of the women, trying to cash in on fame, stepped forward onto various stages for the chance to be in the spotlight. It would appear that for a while, at least, the world’s most famous golfer had lost any sense of well, common sense. Woods apologized; publicly and privately; no one bought it.
On October 18, 2010, Elin divorced the star to the tune of $110 million. It would get worse. His sponsors left him because they didn’t approve of his morals; most of his endorsements went away. His wealth and status left him, so too did his golf game.
For two years, he won nothing. He didn’t even come close to winning anything. His one last friend, the incredible golf game that had blessed him since he had been able to walk, had exited as naturally as it had come.
Second Chances
Perhaps Tiger needed to lose his game and perhaps he needed to lose everything else. In those two years when his golf game had reduced him to mere mortal status, Tiger Woods went through a period of relative quiet. He seemingly settled into a period of introspection. Somewhere along the way he fired his coaches. Sometimes, I think, we need to find new teachers or perhaps they find us. He did try to reconcile with Elin; it was not to be.
The jokes eventually died and oh, there were so many of them! The women who attempted to grab a piece of the spotlight (many of them too!) went away. His public shame was at least calmed.
Then, inexplicably, he started to win tournaments again and his social life seems to be improving. As I write this, the endorsements are coming back his way as well.
There are those who feel that Tiger shouldn’t be allowed these chances and there are those who see Nike as nothing more than wanting to ride a winner as he climbs his way back to the top.
In my opinion, Tiger can gain a second chance, just as Chuck Gallagher gained a second chance and most probably, just as someone you have known in your life should have their second chance.
I teach that every choice has a consequence and in the case of Tiger Woods his choices cost him dearly. But the significant question is this: do those past choices have to cost him dearly for the rest of his life? As a recipient of my own Second Chance, I don’t think so.
I was once told, “Chuck, the choices you make today will define your life in the future!”
I took those words to heart and so, it seems, has Tiger. We have the chance to redeem ourselves every day. If we made an ethical mistake yesterday, that does not have to determine our life tomorrow.
With his life seemingly back in order and his game back on, Tiger Woods will most certainly reap the benefit of his Second Chances with the new endorsement deal from Nike.
As for Nike, they are a publicly-traded corporation who must always seek opportunities to sell their products. They sell things like golf bags, golf clubs, golf shirts and all of that stuff. Who better to sell that golf stuff than Tiger Woods? He has found his game again, and I hope he has found his true self.
But so can we all.
An excellent sales person, who may have once been terminated from a job because she drank too much, should be given the opportunity to become sober and to join another company. A foreman who was fired following inappropriate language toward a female staff member should be given a chance to redeem himself at another company.
Sometimes we must sometimes ask (if not plead) for a second chance. I believe that those of us who have been granted that chance must also be willing to forgive.
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