Winning Is Key to His Appeal

This fascination with Tiger Woods, this monstrous crush the world has on that little squirt from Anaheim Western High, is about many things.

I just wish people would stop saying one of those things is race.

On the eve of his first appearance at home since turning pro--his can’t-miss exhibit at Riviera begins Thursday--it is a good time to applaud him for his rise to worldwide prominence.

A good time to scold those who think any of this happened because of his color.

To say he is worthy of praise because he is a black-Thai-Cherokee-Chinese man in a white man’s world is to exhibit the same sort of thinking that conveniently ignores Jackie Robinson’s rookie-of-the-year award, and Doug Williams’ Super Bowl MVP.

He has increased TV golf ratings to the level of a Michael Jordan basketball game because he looks black?

He has doubled attendance at tournaments because he looks black?

He has caused a swoosh attack on local sporting goods shelves because he looks black?

That’s what opportunistic Nike has been selling.

That’s what capitalist Tiger has been endorsing.

But if you think that’s what people have been buying, then you are forgetting a few things.

Like the most impressive golf swing ever. Like an unmatched dramatic presence from clubhouse to green. Like an everyday manner that you would welcome in your home.

If people like him so much because he is black, then why have golf officials received complaints that his victorious fist-pump has actually been a black power sign?

Around these parts, he was never beloved because he was a golfer of color.

If anything, he was beloved in spite of it.

While watching thousands of locals embrace him this weekend, remember a couple of things.

Children once tied him to a tree in kindergarten because he was the only brown-skinned child in the class.

Somebody once pelted his Cypress home with limes because he and his family were the only non-whites in the neighborhood.

Before all that, somebody once shot a BB gun through the kitchen window, nearly hitting Tiger’s mother, who was pregnant at the time. With Tiger.

“Sometimes I think, ‘Isn’t society screwed up?’ ” Woods said.

That quote ran in this newspaper when he was 17. I wrote the story, visited his home one evening, realized quickly that he found the mere discussion of race repulsive.

He and mother Kultida talked about the isolation they felt at junior tournaments in the area.

“I’ll never forget the way those people looked at us,” Kultida Woods said. “I kept telling Tiger, ‘You aren’t the one who has the problem, these people have the problem. These people are sick.’ ”

And now these same people are fawning over him because of his color?

Woods’ emergence has promoted new awareness. But sadly, the world doesn’t change that quickly.

How popular would he be if he couldn’t launch a ball, complete an intelligent sentence, maintain a schoolboy image?

Tiger Woods can be an absolute jerk. He has rudely brushed past young autograph seekers, turned down important chances to promote his game through the media, injected major league brusqueness in sport of regular guys and their long, slow walks.

But there are times he can also be the closest thing that professional sports has to perfection.

This fascination is not about his color. It’s about that perfection.

It’s about power.

Late Tuesday afternoon, he was consistently bouncing balls off the back fence of the driving range, more than 300 yards away. Even if you don’t understand golf, you know when somebody is knocking the stuffing out of something.

He drives balls even farther than John Daly, which has pretty much eliminated Daly from our lives, which is a very good thing.

It’s about dads.

Can there be a better story in today’s fractured society than one about a son who was steered down a path by a father who did not leave? A story about a son whose fame only strengthened his relationship with that dad?

It’s about mystery.

At his news conference Tuesday, Woods was asked a question about girls, movies, food, all in the same question.

“Well, that’s just for my friends to know,” he said.

He was pressed again for an answer.

“As I said, that’s for my friends to know,” he repeated.

When it comes to his private life, Woods will not give it up. And as much as fans say they hate that, they love that. Keeps them interested. Keeps Woods just distant enough to remain interesting.

Finally, it’s about winning.

Why won’t anybody say that we love Tiger Woods because he’s a winner? Five top-10 finishes in eight events last fall. A win and a second place in three U.S. events this season.

To think anything else matters overrates society’s accomplishments while cheapening his.