Tiger Woods: Ordinary Man

Hey World Family,
You knew Falcon and Dove were going to have to comment eventually on this issue. We would like to take a thoughtful approach, acknowledging that one day Sam and Axel will be older and able to read about these exploits, and hopefully, there will be some reading material that tries to encapsulate the larger meaning for them and the sport Tiger plays. It is them we have in mind as we pen these comments.

Elin, so sorry that he did this; I know (believe me, Falcon knows) this is hurting you in a way you never felt before, but you are strong, and I know that you are thinking your way through this to make the best decisions for yourself and your children. Do what you have to do; welcome your true support system and give yourself time…lots of time, to evaluate where you want to go eventually; but for now, get yourself to a safe place where you can think and your children can thrive with loved ones around you all. That is the most important thing you can do for you own mental and spiritual health.

Second, make your financial plans carefully. Leave no stone unturned. Get assistance from those with the expertise to assist you. Do not listen to the toxic talk out there. What is true or isn’t true in the gory details is not important, ultimately. You know the broad strokes, follow through from there.

To the Golf World: Wow; this is one of the big ones, isn’t it? Yikes. Football, basketball…they have had their troublesome players, but this one in golf? Unthinkable, eh? Until now…

Not really. Golf has always had its debaucheries. There are some guys on the tour right now that have their challenges, but after all, they are just guys…this was a god.

That seems to have been the problem; a lot of glossed over and overlooked for the mantle of false perfection (why do all these egomaniacs seek ‘perfection’?) and the hope was that the cracks would never show, much less a complete collapse of the false face. Oh well, stuff happens. Someone probably should have thought of Tiger as just another guy like so many and figured that sooner or later his ‘time was gonna come’. Maybe some friendly, sober advice on why and how this might collapse and how it might impact the game and how endorsements and sponsorships are handled in the future would have been nice.

Think this won’t impact future endorsements? Guess again. The party is over, my friends. Over and done. The day of the billion dollar athlete has closed. It has evaporated. If anyone out there thinks that any company will ever put their reputation on the line again banking on the integrity of a single man’s image with respect to alignment with their firm, you are mistaken. Those days are done. Endorsements will now be more modest, more sensible, and more in line with reality. People are human, make mistakes, and can be brought down by controversy that many may not see coming. No company is ever going to bank roll a game to the tune that was done with Tiger again. Not ever.
Don’t worry guys (and we say guys because female athletes never see the endorsement contracts that men do), there will still be plenty out there to be made. If Tiger returns as a strong golf contender, he will get endorsements, but maybe not from the same companies he did previously. We don’t think too many will just cut him off (like Accenture), but agreements will probably be allowed to expire. Tiger should start planning for a future where he will actually have to play to get paid, not just get millions for showing up… like an ordinary golfer on the PGA Tour.

To Tiger: We think it goes without saying that you probably were not ready to get married when you did. You may not be marriage material at all. It is clear your father prepared you to be a prophecy fulfilled, he just didn’t prepare you to be an emotionally mature, spiritually evolved man. He didn’t realize that denying you a proper childhood and feeding into the larger egocentric desires would create a son who was incapable of getting past the oral fixation level of desiring immediate satisfaction from where ever it would come from, regardless of the limitations, moral obligations, or feelings of others. You are not alone; there are so many just like you, so the money and fame are not the only components. Plenty of regular guys are just as screwed up as you are. Take comfort in the fact that you are nothing new under the sun in that respect, and that although your talent for hitting a little ball into a hole is admirable, and your foundation work is striking, we think of you like any other ordinary man-flawed, capable of great strides, and horrific failings. That should comfort you.

Your ego should surrender for the greater course of wisdom. Translation: you should get some help. You need to stop seeing people as simply there for your pleasure or objectification, and begin to see them as allies in your healing. Don’t worry about your golf game right now, it will be fine if your head is fine. Worry about your soul.

Start today working on your ability to forgive those circumstances that exposed you. You need to begin to shift your paradigm to a place that acknowledges the humanity in all-and that no one deserves to be objectified and marginalized the way you did the women you engaged with-not even the willing ones deserve the exploitation. As you evolve, if you allow yourself, you will see why this is so.

Welcome to adulthood, Mr. Woods-spiritual adulthood, which includes karma…and if you allow it, reconciliation and forgiveness. Maybe not enough to save a marriage, but enough to save a career. If you express yourself honestly, and compassionately for yourself and those you used, you may find a feeling of release and renewal for you on the next horizon. This moment is a trial, but it is also a gift. Use this opportunity wisely.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Golf and Rugby Sevens approved for 2016 Olympics

Hey World Family,
Get got back in town, and people are filling our email and various social networks with questions about this Olympic announcement. Here is official word courtesy of the USGA site:


Golf Approved for 2016 Olympic Program On Vote By International Olympic Committee Membership

Competition will be held in Rio de Janeiro, selected as site of 2016 Games

Copenhagen, Denmark (October 9, 2009) – After an absence of more than a century, golf will return as an Olympic sport in 2016 and 2020 along with rugby sevens following their approval by the International Olympic Committee membership during the IOC’s 121st Session.

Golf was approved 63-27 with two abstentions. Rugby was voted in 81-8 with one abstention.

They will be part of the Olympic Program in Rio de Janeiro, which last week was selected as the host city for the 2016 Games by the IOC. Golf was last an Olympic sport at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, Mo., when the United States and Canada were the only two competing countries.

“We are elated that the IOC membership has accepted golf as an Olympic sport, and look forward to seeing the world’s best golfers compete for gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro,” said Ty Votaw, Executive Director of the International Golf Federation Olympic Golf Committee, which has coordinated golf’s Olympic bid. “We thank the IOC for its support, and also congratulate rugby sevens for its inclusion in the 2016 Games.”

Votaw and Peter Dawson, chief executive of The R&A and joint secretary of the International Golf Federation, were accompanied by professionals Padraig Harrington of Ireland, Michelle Wie of the United States and Suzann Pettersen of Norway, as well as 16-year-old (British) Amateur Champion Matteo Manassero of Italy, for a final presentation to the IOC prior to the vote.

“We are extremely grateful that Padraig, Michelle, Suzann and Matteo were able to join us to help communicate the genuine interest world-class players of all ages share in golf becoming an Olympic sport,” Dawson said.

Golf and rugby sevens were recommended for the Olympic Program by the IOC Executive Board in August following an extensive review process involving seven sports that were vying to be added to the 2016 Olympic Games. Although they emerged as the finalists, both sports still required final approval Friday by a majority of votes cast by the members of the IOC.

“In addition to those golfers who will have an opportunity to compete as Olympic athletes, we are excited for the national golf federations that will reap the benefits from today’s decision in terms of growth and support within their countries,” Dawson said. “This is a very significant day for golf.”

Leading up to Friday’s final vote, golf and rugby sevens emerged from a year-long evaluation that included formal presentations by the seven sports, the submission of a Detailed Questionnaire and responses to questions raised by both the IOC Programme Commission and the IOC Executive Board. The IOC Executive Board announced its recommendation of two sports following a meeting in Berlin, Germany on Aug. 13.

“We strongly believed that golf deserved to be added to the Olympic Program and felt that we presented a compelling case to the IOC,” Votaw said. “We have received unprecedented support from international golf organizations throughout this process, as well as from the world’s top-ranked men and women players, which was critical to our success. We also stressed the universal nature of golf, with 60 million people playing the sport in more than 120 countries.”

Based on player feedback, the IGF has proposed a format of 72-hole individual stroke play for both men and women. In case of a tie for either first, second or third place, a three-hole playoff is recommended to determine the medal winner(s).

The IGF also has recommended an Olympic field of 60 players for each of the men's and women's competition, using the Official World Golf Rankings as a method of determining eligibility. The top-15 world-ranked players would be eligible for the Olympics, regardless of the number of players from a given country. Beyond the top 15, players would be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15.

Current world rankings from both the men’s and women’s games show that at least 30 countries would be represented in both the men’s and women’s competitions, from all continents, under this proposal

Bravo Rocco! Good job Tiger...see you next year!

Hello Everyone!
Falcon and Dove hope that you are having a great week!

For any of you that know anything about golf, the greatest major tournament in television history ended on Monday when Tiger Woods, the number one player in the world went head-to-head with Southwestern PA's Rocco Mediate for a playoff that took 19 holes to complete. Tiger, congratulations on Major Win Number 14! Rocco, you made us all here so very proud. Yes, we all cheered and cried for both of you: tears of joy, and a little sadness, because we realized how special this tournament was to the two of you, and to history.

There was no televised event in 1913 when Frances Ouimet beat Harry Varden and Ted Ray to win the U.S. Open that year. That tournament was referenced this way on the eve of the 18 hole playoff:

" ...one David against two Goliaths...I have given up all attempts at prophecy. Tomorrow's round should be the greatest game ever played."

This of course was a key-line in the 2005 Bill Paxton directed film called, "The Greatest Game Ever Played" starring Shia Le Boeuf as Frances Ouimet and Stephen Dillane as Harry Varden. If you haven't seen this movie, check it out. It was one of the best films of that year, yet didn't get the attention it deserved.

There could have been two Goliaths on Monday...Lee Westwood missed a putt on the
18th green that would have put him in the game for the next day, so no proverbial Ted Ray...only our modern day Harry Varden in the incarnation that is Tiger Woods.

Rocco Mediate is one of the nicest, kindness golfers on the PGA tour. Falcon and Dove know this because we have talked to Rocco numerous times while marshaling PGA events, and playing golf at Rocco's favorite places in the Laurel Highlands. Falcon also remembers Rocco in FL when Dove played in the Nike Junior Championship at the TPC at Sawgrass in July, 2005. There was Rocco, cheering on the junior golfers and commented out loud about the difficulty of the pin placements. It was hysterical, and on one of the hottest days during one of the hottest weeks in memory, highly welcomed.

Falcon also remembers when Rocco was playing in the 84 Lumber Classic the year of Hurricane Isabel, when the temperatures were dropping and the wind was becoming chill. Falcon and Dove were working the 15 hole, and Rocco came by, bright and chatty as always, asking pleasant questions like he had just seen us the day before. Then he asked about Falcon's hair, and was I ever going to be able to get a comb through it the next day, and I burst out laughing.

Remember, there's a PGA golf tournament going on, but all the while, there is Rocco, chatting as he was in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. He was never too busy to be polite, and talked about our collective kids with warmth and pride. We were out there 12 hours that day, and Rocco (along with some other really cool PGA players) realized how awful the conditions were, and never forgot that.

That's the gift of Rocco: his glee in playing the game of golf,(even when he was injured), his humor and his kindness. He was great with Leno last night, too. That's Rocco...what a joyful soul!

Today, Tiger Woods announced that he is done for the season. He needs another surgery on his knee (two stress fractures) on the ACL, and he requires rest and rehabilitation. Today is Tiger's daughter Sam's first birthday. Happy Birthday, Beautiful!

I know this had to be a difficult decision to make for any professional player, but particularly for Tiger because he is so passionate about the game. Your tenacity to stay in the U.S. Open when you probably should have taken the week off is admirable, and we hope that you have a good respite, enjoy your family...we'll see you next year.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Lorena Ochoa and Danica Patrick: Take a bow!

Hello Brothers and Sisters,
Falcon here, calling for a celebration! Two awesome champions deserve our attention and praise.

This week, Danica Patrick won at Twin Ring Motegi. Lorena Ochoa, who is now the number one player in women's golf won yet another tournament, this time the Ginn in Florida, to win four times in a row this year, including a major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship (which includes a dip in the lake with family members after getting the trophy).

These accomplishments have come from extremely hard work and dedication to their craft.

The IRL and the LPGA respectively should take advantage of the success of these incredible women and play it up and promote the tours.

If you don't know about these women in their fields and their community, check out their websites:
www.danicaracing.com
www.lorenaochoa.com