Why does EVERYONE love Tiger Woods?

Why is everyone rooting for Tiger Woods? I understand he is golf’s best and most admired character. But is everyone voting for him good for the sport of golf?

Everything about Tiger Woods is good for golf. Even despite the declining number of African-Americans on the PGA Tour, Tiger is a symbol of racial diversity in this sport. In a game where he wins far fewer tournaments than he loses, Tiger Woods is a symbol of the consummate champion. Not too many people watch golf in general, but there is a ratings spike when Tiger shows his face on the course. And while golf is a sport driven on the backs of its sponsors, Tiger Woods has opened the game up to advertisers that otherwise wouldn’t be caught dead getting involved in America’s 5th sport.

And for all those reasons, Tiger Woods is a beloved figure in America, however, he might be too loved. Afterall, even the greatest athletes of all-time weren’t as wholly beloved as Tiger is today. Michael Jordan was the greatest of his era, but he had many detractors who were fans of the Chicago Bulls’ rivals, such as the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. Babe Ruth certainly wasn’t beloved by the Yankees at first—then he became one, so then he was immediately hated by the Boston Red Sox. And then there is the ultimate beloved sports figure, Hank Aaron. The man was carried about when he broke the homerun record. But even he was treated hatefully by vile, racist and bigoted fans. Of course, some of you will point out that, in a way, some of the most hated players are the one’s that fans “love to hate,” but whatever you want to call it, Tiger doesn’t experience any of it.

Everybody loves Tiger. You don’t ever hear any fans or anyone in the media say they would love to see Tiger lose this one, or that they don’t like the way he does this or does that. They all love him. And as a result of all that love, it has come to my attention that the only people that hate Tiger Woods are the people who play against him. And in a way, they are supposed to.

I’m not saying that players on the tour want to eat Tiger’s children. I am saying, that in a competitive manner, they don’t want to give all the praise and accolades to the same player over and over again. Nevertheless, fans don’t seem to have a problem doing just that.

When will Tiger hear some boos? When will somebody say Tiger is slacking? When will somebody day I’m rooting for Player “X” over Tiger Woods? When will somebody say I hope this guy destroys Tiger on Sunday?

The answer to all of those questions is, “Never.”

So allow me to be one of the very few. I will now become a Tiger Woods hater. I don’t want Tiger Woods to win all of the tournaments and all of the majors. I’m rooting for Phil Mickelson, Roy Sabbatini, Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington to win. Those are my guys, and Tiger Woods is not. I hope he never wins, and I will root my hardest for that to happen.

Then again, Tiger is too likeable to vote against him. So I take it all back. Let’s go Team Tiger!

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