Tiger Woods: His character, his dedication, his handling of fame and his ability to excel despite injury or pressure. Golfers never get the kind of credit baseball, basketball or football players do for the physical side of their game, like playing with pain. Fans seem only impressed with how far the ball flies. But with Tiger Woods, it’s all about the pursuit of perfection. Every professional athlete could learn something from the determination Woods displayed in his version of No guts - No glory. In an era when professional athletes sideline themselves at the first sign of discomfort and adversity, Tiger Woods gutted out 91 holes of golf on a surgically repaired left knee and a rusty swing to complete what he called “probably the greatest tournament I’ve ever had.”
Clearly, Woods’ knee wasn’t completely ready for the U.S. Open. He had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage. It was clear on the back nine of the first round his knee wasn’t sound when nearly every hard swing was followed by a grimace. There were moments on Friday and Saturday when you weren’t sure if he would even finish as several times he had to pause to let the pain subside before walking. In the end, he said … “I couldn’t have quit in front of these people. It wasn’t going to happen … you play through it and suck it up and get it done.” When it was all over, he got to what was to be, his final reward? To hold his daughter who held out her hands saying “I want my Daddy” It came one day late but in the end, it was that kind of Father’s Day.
6 comments on The Pursuit of Perfection
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Your comments on Tiger put me in mind of a story I once read about Bear Bryant. A local reporter, trying to seem dedicated to fairness, asked a literature professor at Auburn, Alabama's fierce rival, if he, the professor, did not feel things were out of balance that Bear was being paid so much more than professors. The PhD answered, "If I were as good at my profession as Mr. Bryant is at his, I might feel the urge to complain, but unfortunately, I'm not."
And that reminds me of one of "Mr. Bryant's" memorable statements. Bob Considine asked Bear: "I thought you put winning above everrything, so how do you justify suspending Jor Namath just before the Sugar Bowl?" Bear answered, "You can't win without discipline." Alabama won the same 6 - 3 behnd the steady if not brilliant leadership of second string QB Steve Sloan.
I loved this post.
Yes! ... For pure emotion and love of the game ... Girls college softball ... It doesn't get any better than that
I enjoy watching Tiger. I can 't help but wonder why he is so much better that the rest of the field. Dediction, practice, diligence. Sure, but, in this day of sports it seems as if the one star standing out has had a little assistance. Baseball had 2 supermen in Bonds and Clemens. Hope that the Tiger is not in this mode.
With Tiger Woods, it's all about the "Pursuit of Perfection" a quest that never ends.
My wife will not watch golf on tv unless Tiger is playing.
Tiger Woods is in my opinion the role model for kids and grown ups alike. It's not about the money, it's all about perfection and dedication