Until a few days ago, Tiger Woods seemed to have everything: the talent, the riches, the family, the face that single-handedly revived interest in American golf, and the title of “one of the greatest athletes of all time”. But most of all, he was respected and he was liked. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who has been vocal about passionately hating or resenting Tiger at all; and that’s rare for an athlete.
Even the best athletes have their fair share of naysayers and detractors, anti-fans who are often motivated none-too-subtly by ENVY. Sure I call Kobe Bryant a selfish, overrated weasel, but deep down I know that it’s only because he’s a talented basketball player who just happens to fall on the opposite side of a Celtics-Lakers rivalry.
Things were different with Tiger, though. He was too good even for the enviers – not only because golf is notably lacking the same kind of rivalry that exists in other American sports – but because he was an icon. Tiger was a glistening, pristine symbol of the American sports dream. He got to where he was through talent and hard work, had a great family and beautiful children, and always seemed like a normal guy who was just really, really good at golf.
The money, the beautiful family, the mansions… Tiger woods had it all, but the ENVY was seemingly kept at bay. He had earned everyone’s respect to the point that any criticism simply seemed petty, tacky, and unfounded.
Then came the accident.
There’s blood in the water. And the sharks can smell it.
The media and the public are gripped by the story and the speculations about possible domestic controversy (fueled, notably, by the Woods’ silence and refusal to meet with police) are running rampant. But why?
Everyone seems to be salivating at the idea that golf’s golden boy may have some cracks in his armor. Could the non-stop coverage of Woods’s accident and alleged marital problems be schadenfreude at its best? Deep down, were people just waiting for the mighty to fall?
Perhaps there was more ENVY of golf’s golden boy in all of us than we had been willing to admit.
One of the most recognizable side effects of ENVY is the desire to detract from another’s success, the need to attack the person who possesses that which you want. Now, for the first time, the public really seems to have an excuse to do that to Woods and judging by the headlines and images strewn across tabloid front pages and blogs, they’re seizing it.
No one’s perfect. Not even Tiger, it seems.
And that little tinge of satisfaction that comes along with reading that line (and writing it, I’ll admit)? That might just be schadenfreude at its sneakiest…
