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Tiger Woods' father, Earl, succumbs to cancer at 74

I'm not a huge fan of golf period or Tiger Woods for that matter, but I feel for him. You could tell he is incredibly close to his parents especially his dad. And my heart goes out to anyone who has to see someone they love suffer thru cancer.
 
It says a lot about Tigers impact that his father got a memorial on the national news tonight.
 
Good point.

I also think he made an impact himself. From being thought of as an ultimate "stage father" at first, to later being revealed as just a good and supportive dad, he was also talked about a lot.
 
 
The feature running on SportsCenter and ESPN.com on Earl Woods right now is quite touching and while watching it occurs to me that this may add to Tiger's popularity and silence some of his haters a bit.

The reason I say this is look at a similar situation with Michael Jordan. The death of his father and Jordan's reaction to it made for one of the most memorable NBA Finals moments ever. In his first full year back from his baseball vacation to mourn his father, the Bulls close out the Finals at home in 6 games I think. But the thing that sticks is it was on Father's Day. And Jordan always so cool and collected, instead of soaking in the home crowd and celebrating as he did the other 5 times he and the Bulls won the title, hurries off the court and collapses in the locker room. And the image we get is one of those you always remember. Jordan, thought of as possibly the "coolest" sports icon ever, laying on the floor clutching a basketball and crying so hard his body is shaking.

He eventually collects himself enough to take part in the post game festivities and heads back out. But it is that moment I remember, and I was a huge basketball and Bulls fan at the time, more than any other about that Bulls title run. And I think it had a very humanising effect on how people viewed Jordan. That and the baseball attempt took away some of the aura and brought him down to earth a bit. And I think we want some of that from our media and especially our sports icons.

Now granted Tiger is not as "loved" nationally as Jordan was, and likely never will be, if nothing else due to the differences in the popularity of the sports. But imagine the scene at this years US Open, which will end on Father's Day, if Tiger wins it. And more than that maybe if he gives a moment where he lets us in and shows us something beyond the ads, the smiles and the talent. Really even if he fell short but showed that sort of emotion it could make a huge impact on how people view him.
 
I watched an interview not to long ago with Tiger woods, the way he presented himself was awesome and he spoke very highly of his father, how his dad was his best friend and made him into the man he is today...... I think the public can feel the warmth of how he feels for his dad. By allowing the public to see this side of him makes Tiger seem more down to earth and more people can relate to him more..... Most famous people are afraid to let their guard down in public, they are more scared to show feelings in fear people will like them less. When it's actual the softer side sometimes the publc needs to relate to....
 
Its kind of a shame he did not do better. I still remember when Tiger won his first Masters and the first thing he did was go over and hug his dad...ESPN has a pretty good synopsis of the events of that day nine years ago, and offers some insight into the relationship he had with his father...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/36
 
REUTERS Tiger misses Winged Foot cut

MAMARONECK, New York (Reuters) - American Steve Stricker holed out from a bunker at his last hole to seize the second-round lead Friday at the relentlessly demanding U.S. Open where Tiger Woods failed to pass the test for the first time in 39 majors.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/reuters/sportsNews?a=sO1t2t

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/reuters/sportsNews?a=BMRkScJG http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/reuters/sportsNews?a=CtIhuWvm http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/reuters/sportsNews?a=D5kMxebd http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/reuters/sportsNews?a=p1IgDKyw http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/reuters/sportsNews?a=s2EEbdnM

Link To Original Article
 
REUTERS I was too rusty for US Open, says Woods

LEMONT, Illinois (Reuters) - Tiger Woods says in retrospect he was not ready to compete in last month's U.S. Open where he missed the cut in a major for the first time as a pro after a nine-week layoff following his father's death.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/reuters/sportsNews?a=xeqegV

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/reuters/sportsNews?a=5CFv1rex http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/reuters/sportsNews?a=qzwuD4Fm http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/reuters/sportsNews?a=ckHdh0z4 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/reuters/sportsNews?a=lDMuxFRa http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/reuters/sportsNews?a=8eVpOsdX

Link To Original Article
 
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