J.B. Smoove Opens Up On Tiger Woods Losing His Cool: Love Of The Game

In our weekly "Love Of The Game" series, HuffPost Black Voices talks sports with a person of note. This week we caught up with comedian-actor J.B. Smoove, as he shares his thoughts on Tiger Woods displaying his frustration on the golf course.

“We’re hoping Tiger can get a grasp on his personal life and separate that from golf. But I think that personal stuff is kicking his butt right now. I think it’s in his head. Before all of this happened with his family life and his relationships, everything was kind of cool. He was dominant. It’s kind of like when [Mike] Tyson lost to Buster [Douglas], you feel like ‘ah man, his armor has been penetrated.’ The intimidation factor is gone, there’s nobody scared.”

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Comments

[LeftRightCenter]

10:07 PM on 04/15/2012

who cares, tyger, sshmyger

[KeepNIt2Real]

03:23 PM on 04/13/2012

Tiger just needs to concentrate on what he is good at...golf! Tune everything else out...and it can be done, trust me, but it takes a lot of effort. When you love something, you're always good at it. he just needs to find that place that makes him love it again...and right now, he's not loving golf because it was an extension of everything that made him who he is. Separate that now Tiger...and just play the game. If yo're really great, and I think you you, you'll be back on top. All Tiger needs is a major tourney under his belt. well, maybe two or three...and watch golfers start thinking twice about those easy putts and birdies.

[jazzyg410]

10:17 PM on 04/09/2012

He had his time in the lime light . Now it's over .But this too shall pass nothing stays the same forever.Hopefully as he gets older he'll understand the consequences of his choices in life.He lost a lot of money in endorsements Lost his family way of life now it's time to suck it up and move on.Talk about KARMA and the saying What goes around comes around?A t this rate he might never get another one of those green jackets.

[DUEDUB]

08:35 PM on 04/09/2012

he can live like a bachelor now,,,,he was doing it before,,,,,he can have all the sex he wants now,,,,gotta be who he wanna be,,,,,damn the image,,,he should be how he really feels,,,,,,,freaky deaky,,,,,get your freak on,,,hell!,, he'll start winning again,,,betcha,,lol

[gzsmgb]

08:22 PM on 04/09/2012

JB is absolutely correct. When Tiger was on top of the world, he OWNED golf's PGA World. Now that his fall from grace is permanent (trust me, it is), nobody is afraid of him anymore. Tiger's demons, aka, the wife and kids, the hookers, his knee operation, all tell a different story now. Tiger will shortly become a "has-been" and that is something he cannot take well, hence the kicking of the driver, the out bursts, the fooling of himself that he could do better. Mr Smoove is a kool-kat and he speaks the truth. It was a great run Tiger but now it is over.

[dustyfw]

07:43 PM on 04/09/2012

Must we all forget that just over two weeks ago, Tiger dominated over a pretty impressive field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. A field that included Master's Champion Bubba Watson. Tiger is very passionate about the game and when he plays bad golf, he shows it. It's the same passion that fuels his charged celebrations and the same passion that makes him one of the greatest athletes of all time. He had a bad week at Augusta and he still tied or beat 55 of the greatest players alive. I am sure several other players got upset this past week and cursed or hit their club on the ground but the media will only talk about it when Tiger does it.

[Greenthenewgray]

09:41 AM on 04/10/2012

Please. Tiger gets cut a lot of slack by the media. If you saw heard all of his inappropriate actions you would not be so adoring

[crystal clear 919]

03:37 PM on 04/10/2012

Greenthenewgray, I think we've all heard and seen enough.

[Cornell33]

06:01 PM on 04/09/2012

Tiger wants to suprass Jack Nicholson's record so bad, that he is putting too much pressure on himself. He is also trying to make up for lose time, but he needs to relax and just play his game. Plus, the media keeps talking about his past, and we all have one, so hearing about your past over and over again, is not good either. He made a mistake. Let the man of the hook, and let him move on from it. None of us in this world is perfect. If you are, then you have a serious problem with yourself.

[MrTown3]

01:58 PM on 04/09/2012

List one golfer that dominated their entire career the entire time...you can't

[wyldthings]

12:39 PM on 04/09/2012

Well like Yogi Berra said. Professional sports is 90% mental and 20% talent.

[Poet M E Miller]

12:38 PM on 04/09/2012

It's called the "Lionel Richie" curse. After he left Brenda his next album sold about ten copies. Michael Jordan must have breathed the air, cause he is not doing well either. Maybe it is "cheaper to keep her."

[tgodfrey]

04:14 PM on 04/09/2012

So you're saying that anyone who leaves their wife is destined for their careers to falter, and financial ruin? Really!!?

[sakwyc]

04:58 PM on 04/09/2012

More like anybody who makes cheating on his spouse a way of life and wifey stops putting up with it is destined for their careers to falter, etc.

[SkinTight]

12:26 PM on 04/09/2012

Millionaire ...

... mental challenges.

I can name plenty more with the same problem. Lindsey Lohan comes to mind!

[LeftRightCenter]

10:10 PM on 04/15/2012

tiger is a billionaire. where have u been?

[tbrad]

11:41 AM on 04/09/2012

Not a golfer.
But everyone hits a point where they are not at the top of their game. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. Some just know how to hide their "ruts" really well. Success breeds success. Failure can be perpetual. Its kind of like a person who falls off a horse or a jet pilot who crashes a plane. A person must work to get that confidence again. A series of accomplishments can ressurect that winning spirit.

Death of Tiger's dad. Death of his marriage. Death of his "clean" image. Physical injury. Age. Replaced Caddies\Coaches..... This is a big list of negatives that are factoring into his "slump".

As I said I am not a golfer, but I don't recall any of "the greats" winning every year for the rest of their lives....its kind of a ebb and flow sport......?

Name one athlete the never faltered.....though I don't consider golf an athletic event...its more like Chess. LOL!

[tgodfrey]

04:16 PM on 04/09/2012

You almost had me there! I was really buying into what you were saying until that last comment. Ok, I still agree with everything, except that last thing that dribble out of your brain.

Like Chess!!!?

Please!!!!

[jcbigg]

08:41 PM on 04/09/2012

tgodfrey, Chess is a thinking game, so is golf. It is more of a game than sport. Yes, I play golf and chess. Each requires thinking ahead and neither requires great physical shape.

[sharpstick]

11:41 AM on 04/09/2012

Lies have a way of catching up with you.

[atexasdem]

10:36 AM on 04/09/2012

Golf at his level is as much a mental as a physical game. Tiger has done everything he could to fix his physical game but until he's fixed his mental one he'll continue to fail. Tiger was raised a Buddhist so he was taught about focus and suffering. Tigers father and mother were both people of good character. Until Tiger gets his head straight all the coaching in the world won't fix his golf game. Tiger might consider taking some time off golf and studying with the monks or even a retreat to a monastery. Don't count Tiger out though. In his sport he's still a young man. If he can ever fix his mental game you'll see the old Tiger Woods once again.

[jazzman]

10:13 AM on 04/09/2012

When Arthur Rubenstein, the great pianist was asked the difference between an amateur and a professional he responded, "An amateur can play a Beethoven Sonata perfectly when he feels like it a professional can play a Beethoven Sonata perfectly whether he feels like it or not.

Tiger, right now, is approaching golf like an amateur and tellingly he scored just three points above the top ranking amateur in the Masters.

He needs to get a grip and become the consummate professional he's capable of being once again.

[penndl]

11:15 AM on 04/09/2012

I like the description you give of the difference between an amateur and a professional. However, Wood's behavior has become inexcusable and his performance is antithetical to how golf is played. Part of the game demands the player maintain a stable minded approach to whatever happens or doesn't happen. I used to argue he was a golf prodigy. I suppose he still is. Although, I can't imagine him having the character of a professional. Out of anger, he kicked his club at The Masters. That was the epitome of disrespect. The value of any future wins will be forever diminished by his 2012 Masters disgraceful behavior. The guy is giving golf a bad name!