Tiger Woods, his father and Nike
By mattsmallbone. Filed in Sport |Tags: Earl Woods, Nike, Tiger Woods
The following ad is Nike’s latest with Tiger Woods. The voice is of his deceased father, Earl Woods.
I really felt something the first time I watched this. Then… I felt sickened.
Perhaps it’s because this ad has nothing to do with selling sporting apparel. This is all about the re-imaging of a man. In a way, this is Nike telling us that they believe that they have the power to redeem… just because they have created a 30 second piece. Trust me… the gift of redemption is above Nike’s pay grade.
Perhaps I hate the fact that anyone would use their deceased father for something like this. It appears that Woods is using his dead father to rectify his image problem.
I’m not sure why I feel what I am feeling right now. This ad is a brave move on the behalf of Tiger Woods and Nike… but it just doesn’t seem right to me.
What do you think?
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 11:49 am |
It is unfortunate. Tiger Woods could live a very comfortable life by just earning PGA tour monies. He shouldn’t feel the need to repair his image any more than saying “I am human. I have fallen short in the eyes of my peers, in the eyes of my God, and in the eyes of my family.”
Image is also too important in other fields. Elliot Spitzer of greater “I cheat on my wife with pay by the hour call girls” NY Governor fame. His own party came to his defense in saying, it isn’t okay what he did, but other politicians on the other side of the spectrum have done it and remained in office…
Mark Sanford cheated, lied, and put on a show about how it was the love of his life that stole him from his family. His own party defended his image based on how he has looked for forgiveness, and although could not fully repent, or provide adequate assistance to his family in their time of need, should still govern.
I look for greater morality out of my leaders. I don’t expect them to be perfect by any means. But when they choose to delve into sin, I expect them to own their mistake, and not assume their leadership role should be simply handed back to them without proving their value again. This does not mean put on a commercial with some corporate titan backing you up, or your political party persuading minds – I believe that actions speak louder than words. The public will know when things are getting better when it actually IS better, not when someone tells us we should think it is better.
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 12:43 pm |
This does’nt seem right to me……..I could’nt believe my eyes when I read it………
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 4:49 pm |
Well it’s inspired me to go out and buy a pair of Nikes. Wait… they make shoes right? Couldn’t really tell from this ad.
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 6:34 pm |
The expression of a sad child being chastised by his father is too much. To see the consequences of Tiger’s self-glorifying lifestyle come down to a mere lecture is ridiculous. Sadly, Tiger has just followed the examples set by too many of America’s leaders. It is time for us, as God’s people to turn to him and intercede for our great county.
2 Chronicles 7:14: Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land
Thursday, April 8th 2010 at 9:28 pm |
Matt you are right. This sickens me that Nike are re-imaging Tiger and the way they are doing it.They know what he is worth to them and that is all that matters to them. The fact that he betrayed his wife, friends, family & supporters is not something that is redeemable in my eyes. In fact I don’t know how a marriage can move passed this ultimate betrayal.No wife deserves to have a husband who has eyes for other women.
Thursday, April 15th 2010 at 6:52 pm |
Awww … poor wittle Tiger … look at those puppy dog eyes. It’s tough to have sympathy for Tiger, given the shenanigans he’s reportedly been up to. That’s why this ad rings so hollow to me.
The cynic in me agrees with Steven. This is not redemption for redemption sake, it reeks of redemption for profits sake.
Everyone deserves a 2nd chance, but this is ad too much, too soon.
Tuesday, April 27th 2010 at 8:06 am |
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matt Smallbone. Matt Smallbone said: http://ow.ly/1w65v New blog – Tiger Woods, his father and Nike [...]
Tuesday, April 27th 2010 at 12:27 pm |
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matt Smallbone. Matt Smallbone said: http://ow.ly/1w65v New blog – Tiger Woods, his father and Nike [...]