Posted 4:43 PM by Gene

I must explain my first post of the day. BIGMEDIA and its superefficient megaphone the Web turn humans into corporations. We love corporate America so much we can't help similarly loving people who are corporations. That was why I got so mad at St. Timothy's sendoff -- the man had the power of millions and of his millions, and it is not clear that he always used it for the commonweal. Perhaps that too harshly colored my reaction to THE GOLFING MACHINE. But he starts out with 100-percent intensity; either he grits his teeth or pumps his fist. And he ascends from there. We have seldom seen him smile; we are sure he's never said a word for Bartlett's. Lately he got peeved because he lost in a tournament. The man's datebook is full of engagements with CEOs who similarly get peeved at sand traps. It is impossible to think his COURAGEOUS achievement at the Open wasn't hubris, a way of showing off to his constituents in the corner offices. He must surely have the most high-powered medical help; didn't they say anything? Or do they occupy the corner offices too? Moreover he played against the greatest of underdogs; judging from the fan reaction his latest win was hardly that welcome an occasion. Perhaps in this ultracynical age we must turn all great achievers into louts. Imagine how we'd react to Gen. Washington and his false teeth and tantrums -- Politico would have a FIELD DAY. Or Honest Abe with his slovenly manner and reputedly high-pitched voice. But FDR was the most mediagenic of leaders, and aside from a certain kind of con-SER-va-tive his rep hasn't suffered. (JFK's has, but in no small measure as people look for excuses for his assassination.) In the lack of evidence otherwise it's hard to believe great leaders couldn't summon the guts not to wilt in the bright lights.

Which raises another question: were athletes always ciphers? Think of the Babe, who ate to excess and drank to excess and womanized to excess, but he smiled, and he liked the fans, and he seemed human. So bad PR alone can't explain why we hold public figures in low regard. Yes we hope TGM can fully resume his career, but let us not connive ourselves into thinking it's for anyone's good but his own.

P. S.

The news will silence those who doubted how badly Woods was hurt, some even questioning whether the world No 1 was exaggerating his pain for the gallery.

In an interview with German television before this week’s BMW International, Retief Goosen questioned whether Woods really was in serious trouble.

The South African said: “It just seemed that when he hit a bad shot he was in pain and on his good shots he wasn’t. I believe if he was really injured he would not have played.”

Goosen has since insisted he was speaking light-heartedly and his manager Guy Kinnings said that he would be among the first to wish Woods a speedy recovery.

Maybe he isn't THAT beloved.