Like it or Not, Tiger Woods is a Role Model. A Suddenly Horrible Role Model.
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My parents raised me. But Bjorn Borg molded me.
I'd be home by my 10 p.m. curfew because of my parents. But I'd show up stoic, with long hair and a headband because of the Swedish tennis superstar.
That's why - Tim Cowlishaw - you're absolutely wrong.
While we await Rachel Uchitel's explosive press conference and digest Jesper Parnevik's forked-tongue barbs, ponder this: Tiger Woods, like it or not, is a role model.
Go check out your son's wall. Or his TV. Or even his wardrobe. No offense, dads, but you have a much better chance of seeing a Tiger Fathead, video game or Nike swoosh than an image of yourself.
Charles Barkley once famously said "I am not a role model." But by accepting hundreds of millions from companies like Gatorade and AT&T and Nike and Gillette, Tiger Woods is indeed a role model.
My divorce or Cowlishaw's drinking are one thing. But Tiger is above, beyond and better than any athlete or this generation.
Kids - shoot, even adults - drive his cars and wear his clothes and drink his drinks and buy his razors.
Fine, don't call him a role model. But also don't deny that Tiger Woods is a major, unprecedented influence.
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