King Tiger

Of course I don’t have any way to prove this but at least ten years ago I said, out loud and probably in writing somewhere, that Tiger Woods had sold his soul to the devil. I have the same theory about other superb athletics past and present like Joe Montana, Derek Jeter and Michael Jordon. Their talents were so otherworldly that it just didn’t seem possible they could be that good. It not only had to do with great play but also the breaks that came unbidden; the tipped ball that goes through the net, the line drive that bounces off the top of the wall and into the stands, the Hail Mary pass that succeeds. This pact is the true human-growth-hormone of athletics; the undetectable testosterone injection, the deer antler velvet that is off limits to defensive linemen in the NFL. You cannot legislate and, therefore, ban satanic blessings.

I was reminded of this when Tiger seemed to, again, be touched by the gods while winning the first PGA tournament of 2013 last weekend. His bogey, bogey, double bogey at the end of the 4th round certainly must have reminded him to remain cool and rely on his devil-deal and not to get ahead of himself.

I say this because Satan only gives you one wish and Tiger had obviously sold his soul to be the best golfer ever. Done and done. What Tiger forgot was that was all he was given and nothing else was guaranteed so when his self-perceived entitlement kicked in and the fortune he was making brought him fame and the love of a nice blonde woman, he just didn’t get it that he would need knee operations and lose some mighty lucrative endorsements because of erratic gonadal behavior.

Making pacts with the gods, any gods, can be tricky and/or trouble. Remember King Midas? He loved his deal until his daughter hit the floor with a clank.