Tamed Tiger, Private Sins & Public Apologies

Love & Lust know no bounds ( and also no bonds)!

Tiger Woods, the money minting, super start golfing sensation  fell in love with a stunning Swedish beauty, a model and married her.  No need to conclude that they lived happily ever after ... because his public apology appears later in this post.  

Tiger Woods was involved in a car accident near his house very recently, we know that.

This small accident was occasioned when his car first hit a fire hydrant on the road and then a tree, we know that. It has hit so many other things: his marriage, his girl friends, and his peace of mind. His career as well as reputation also took a knock. Not to talk of his finances the way he is offering the money to concerned parties.

Born in 1975 Tiger Woods  married  Elin Nordegren in May 2004. They have two kids also.

On November 27, 2009, Woods was taken to hospital after an early morning car accident near his home…. around 2:30 a.m. in his 2009 Cadillac , when he collided with a fire hydrant and a tree down the street. …..On November 29, Woods issued a statement saying the car accident was his fault, but is a private matter. He praised his wife Elin for getting him out of the car. Details about what caused the accident were not revealed.

Two days before the accident, The National Enquirer had published a story that alleged that Woods had had an affair with a lady.

Woods said, "the many false, unfounded, and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible".On December 2, Woods expressed regret on his personal website for "trangressions" and "let[ting] his family down" and offered a "profound apology." The apology,  came on the same day that a cocktail waitress, went public saying that she had a 2+¹⁄₂ year affair with Woods and she released voice and text messages that she says Woods left her.

      

Quickly,  the golf legend posted a new statement on his official web site regarding the scandal that continues to dog him and his wife. While he doesn't mention any of the ladies  by name, or even admit affairs, the writing is on the wall.

"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves."

"I am not without faults and am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior behind closed doors. Those feelings should be shared by my family alone."

"Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a pro athlete, I am dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny means."

The following news report  filed by Nicole Merkle on December 6th 2009 on www.examiner.com tells it all :“Elin Nordegren Woods reportedly received a re-negotiation of her pre-nup with golfer Tiger Woods. ( Prenuptial  is a contract entered into prior to marriage, and it commonly includes provisions for division of property and spousal support in the event of divorce or breakup of marriage) .Elin Nordegren Woods originally was to  "only" receive $20 million from Woods after 10 years of marriage.  In light of the current scandal, it has been said that amount  has been increased by $55 million to $75 million, and the time frame she must remain married to Woods dropped from 10 years to 7 years.

In addition, she would receive a $5 million one-time payment.  This amounts to an $80 million payout for Elin Woods, not to mention any funds she would receive for child support should she and Tiger divorce.

In addition, alleged mistress  reportedly received between $1 and $3 million to keep quiet about her affair with Tiger Woods.  Some one else is offering $1 million to alleged mistresses that can prove their Tiger Woods affair and are willing to tell their 'Tiger Tale.'  Chances are, people will be coming out of the woodwork either getting money from media sources for their story or from the golfer himself to keep quiet.” 

We do not know whether Tiger is the victim of some blackmailing scandal. As some one commented, we should leave it to the couple as they vowed fidelity to each other and not to us ! 

 Bill Clinton had a lovely family ( he still has ) when he did something in his Oval Office in White House for which he later had to broadcast his admission of guilt. Whatever may be the reason for their 'sins', it is no longer their personal business, howsoever they demand that it be so.

 Herman Melville  said it well :  ''We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.''

Well-known person he certainly is, like Bill Clinton was, when he faltered with Monica Lewinsky.  His last words on the subject are similar to Tiger Woods’.  Just glance at Bill Clinton's August 17 speech to the American public re: Monica Lewinsky:

 “  This afternoon in this room, from this chair, I testified before the Office of Independent Counsel and the grand jury. I answered their questions truthfully, including questions about my private life, questions no American citizen would ever want to answer.

Still, I must take complete responsibility for all my actions, both public and private. And that is why I am speaking to you tonight.

Indeed, I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible….….I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that. …….

This has gone on too long, cost too much and hurt too many innocent people.

Now, this matter is between me, the two people I love most -- my wife and our daughter -- and our God. I must put it right, and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to do so.

Nothing is more important to me personally. But it is private, and I intend to reclaim my family life for my family. It's nobody's business but ours. ……..”

Gladstone and Lincoln are both credited with the quote “ Nothing that is morally wrong can be politically right”. This can be paraphrased to read that if one is morally wrong, he can not be right  politically, or socially, economically, spiritually, or in whichever  way.

''We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.'' Herman Melville

I don't suppose there's any public figure that's ever been subject to any more violent personal attacks than I have.”  Bill Clinton said 

The first 20 stories written about a public figure set the tone for the next 2,000 and it is almost impossible to reverse it.” said Charles W. Colson

 By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and Third by experience, which is the bitterest." Said Confucius. This amply applies to Tiger Woods and Bill Clinton, who are now wiser.

This goes on in our society, in our world. Rampant in middle class, lower class and upper class. Daily. Unreported. This is going on since ancient times.Interesting fable of King  Bhartrihari  is very relevant: 

He was a 6th-century Indian poet, author of the Shringara, Neeti and Vairagya Śataka, each creation of poetry consisting of three sections of a hundred verses each. His three-fold poetry displays the depth and intensity of three  different phases  of his personal life as he vacillates between the three pursuits – firstly of fleshly desires, next of virtues and values  and  finally those of the spirit of the soul - in that order. He is sometimes identified with Bharthari, a legendary king of Ujjain in Indian folklore. Bhartrihari was the king of Malwa whose capital city was Ujjain. The famous emperor Vikramaditya was the younger stepbrother of king Bhartrihari. 

Bhartrihari was deeply attracted his newly-wedded wife Pingala, A sage once gave  a fruit that when eaten would increase the king’s lifespan. An infatuated Bhartrihari handed the fruit to his wife. Pingala in turn, preferred the intimate company of the chief horse-keeper to whom she gave the fruit. The horse-keeper was in love with a prostitute. In the end, the fruit found itself in the prostitute’s hands.The prostitute went to the court of  King Bhartrihari, praised the great qualities of the fruit, told him she was unfit of such a lofty gift and gifted it to him. He ate the fruit and in a flash realized that it was the very fruit that he had lovingly gifted to Pingala. This singular incident made him realize the worthlessness of it all. He turned his back on worldly life and took to renunciation. The Niti Shataka has an extremely poignant verse that describes this state of Bhartruhari:

Yaam chintayaami satatam mayi saa viraktaa
Saapyanyamicchati janam sa janonyasaktah
Asmatkrute ca parishushyati kaachidanyaa
Dhik taam ca tam ca madanam ca imaam ca maam ca

OR

The one upon whom I meditate perpetually is detached from me . But (she) desires another and the other (desires) yet another.
Thus it goes always, this desire to always desire another.
Shame on her, on him, on Kam Dev (God of Love), on all this and shame  on me too! 

From King Bhartrihari he became an ascetic, a tapasvi (the literal meaning of tapas is “to burn”) and from the ashes he burnt his passions into arose the immortal verses 

Bhartrihari is perhaps not so relevant these days . Because, unfortunately, "Success is a great deodorant. It takes away all your past smells."  In case of Clinton, this famous saying by the beauty & glamour queen  Elizabeth Taylor has come vividly true. Hillary is back in active politics and Bill  regularly earns huge lecture fees & and who bothers about Monica!