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There are no third chances

My Thoughts

Dr. Bill Atwood

(Updated: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 1:25 PM)

He was wrong. His acts were stupid. He messed up. He lied. After many weeks Tiger Woods ended his silence on his personal life and made his first step toward mending his damaged reputation.

He gave his mea culpa to a few friends at a golf course with the rest of the national press capturing the moment via a live feed. We all heard the statement over and over again. Tiger took the blame.

How refreshing it is to hear a celebrity or famous person who has committed a wrong to simply state that they were wrong to have done the act and that they had no excuse for committing such an act.

Bill Clinton hid behind" I never inhaled" and "what is is." Richard Nixon would never have had to resign the office of President if he had only stated that he had knowledge of the break in at the Watergate a week after it had happened.

Nixon was found guilty of trying to cover up the crime. Had he just stated it had happened and fired the two people on his lead staff who had approved the escapade most of us would not remember the term Watergate.

But Tiger's situation is a little different for most of us. I don't golf so his endorsement of sports equipment is lost on me. I already have a financial planner so his endorsement of a company wasn't important to me. The places he endorsed as great places to raise a family were not of any interest to me so his marketing power over my spending habits has little effect on me and probably on few of you.

We are disappointed because we have watched this handsome, talented young man grow from a boy into a man. We watched his dad support his son and we bought into the Madison Avenue promotion of what Tiger Woods was really like. We are not only disappointed but many feel betrayed by the perpetuation of a falsehood upon us.

The fact is that the only person on the planet who really has a say in this matter is his wife. If she stays with him and tries to work past this major attack on their marriage then more power to her. If she tells him to hit the road, then more power to her. The choice is hers. Tiger has some serious fence mending to do.

Fidelity in a marriage is a cornerstone. It is an always part of the marriage and not a sometimes part of the marriage. Tiger messed up. The first step in healing is admission and Tiger has done that.

He now needs the support of friends and all of our prayers that he makes it right by his family. Tiger also needs some real friends. Not the ones who he thinks have been his friends.

Remember back to weddings you have attended. In most services the congregation is charged with a responsibility to support the couple in their marriage. Where were Tigers friends when he first started to stray? Why didn't even one of them take him aside and tell him to knock it off right then and there. No; they so wanted to be a part of the inner circle that they allowed it to happen and some may have even helped to cover it up.

Attorney Gloria Allred is upset that one of her paramours wasn't named during the mea culpa. She demands that Tiger is being unfair. What nerve. Her client, a porno-movie star, knowingly had a sexual relationship with a married man for three years, and she wants an apology. Allred's client owes an apology to Tiger's wife and family.

Tiger has been a champion on the golf course and he showed himself to being a cad to his wife. He showed some of his mettle when he alone took responsibility for his adultery and he showed some style when he made no excuses.

He'll come back. American's will forgive him because we are a forgiving people. Tiger may have a second chance with his wife and with us.

There are no third chances.