Focus says a lot about a person's character. Looking for the downside to something, magnifying the flaws, becomes reflected back as part of your reality. How you do anything is how you do everything.So if you easily tune into the negative here, what occurs when you are in the heat of a competition? Your mind fills up with chatter, distracting you and causing lost focus. Pointing out another persons shortcomings is easy. Holding a mirror up and looking within is what separates the winner's from all the rest.

Monday, December 27, 2010 at 4:56pm EST

For accuracy, the Gatorade deal was severed months before his infamous "car crash", both Forbes and BusinessWeek reported it well in advance of the knowledge of his infidelity. Also, Gillette clipped everyone, not just Tiger.

Moreover, I just don't understand the assertions that Tiger built his image as a family man. Tiger was the most popular golfer on tour from the get-go. Are there really people out there who started liking him "more" after he got married and had children? If so, I've never met them among the people I've met on the courses, in the sports bars, or anywhere where sports fans meet and talk.

Are there really people who assume that any male pro athlete is a saint until proven otherwise? A 2009 study from CNN revealed that 80-90% of male professional athletes cheat on their wives. Who out there is truly "shocked" when news of this nature becomes public? And moreover, who places such weight on such things that they would even care?

When I was a lad, Kirby Puckett was my absolute idol. Posters, jerseys, baseball cards, the works. When I was in my late 20s and the Sports Illustrated expose came out that revealed the seedier side of his personal life, I literally had no idea that he had ever been married or had children, even though he had been my favorite athlete for almost 20 years by that point. In other words, it never entered my thinking to care about his family life, all I cared about was his batting average and fielding percent.

It's different if they are driving drunk, carrying weapons, or drowning dogs. Those are crimes. Infidelity certainly speaks to their character, and it rightly garners legitimate scorn, and I certainly feel bad for their humiliated wives. But it doesn't reach the level of "my, how could this be!!" because, as the CNN study suggests, I assume that most are getting something on the side during road trips and don't base my fandom on their bedroom habits.

Just don't get how the Christine Brennan crowd can write 20-something articles about what a disgrace Tiger is, or how they can find joy in the reprecussions he faces

Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 10:41pm EST