Did Tiger Woods Pave the Way for Barack Obama?

An ex-South Sider friend of mine tells the story about his uncle, who found out he'd gotten a bookie and started gambling on football. At a family party he called the kid over, and whispered into his ear one piece of friendly advice.

"Never bet on a nigger quarterback."

Startled, all the young man could think to ask was, "Is it okay to bet against one?"

"No," the uncle shook his head solemnly. "He'll fuck ya either way."

That story has always struck me as emblematic of a certain kind of racism, the northern kind, the urban kind--the Chicago kind: "I don't hate blacks, I hate niggers. And I know the difference." The kind that knows it's racist, but that thinks it's just being realistic, for survival's sake.

Tuesday I thought of this kind of racism when I heard the politically circumspect Tiger Woods make a rare political comment. Asked on CNBC about the election of Obama, he said, "I think it's absolutely incredible. He represents America. He's multiracial. I was hoping it would happen in my lifetime. My father was hoping it would happen in his lifetime, but he didn't get to see it. I'm lucky enough to have seen a person of color in the White House."

How would his father Earl have felt about Obama's election? "He would have cried," Woods said. "Absolutely. No doubt about it."

More interesting was the way he said it. He said it all realquick, as if he was breaking a seal of some kind and he wanted to reseal it before all the air got out. And he didn't reveal whether he cried, maybe because he might have had to break that seal for good, and say why (or why not).

I also noted that as he made the comments his face betrayed no sense of his own part, however small, in the phenomenon of Obama's election. There was no sign that he considers that he might have made a contribution to making American society more receptive to the idea of a black man towering unapologetically over a white man's world, might have convinced some Americans that a black man could attain massive power, wealth and prestige and not throw it in white Americans' face.

Of course you can argue that Obama could have gotten elected Woods or no Woods.

You can say Michael Jordan was a racially non-threatening mega-star before Woods. But then, you can say Sammy Davis, Jr. was a racially non-threatening mega-star before Woods, and you know Obama wouldn't have gotten elected in the 1960s. Jordan was a lot of things, but in their their own native jock-speak, Woods clearly "took it to the next level."

You can say that lots of Americans still begrudge Woods his single-minded, murderous intensity, predicting every time he makes a life change like getting married or having a child--any time he does something normal and human--his dominance will dissipate. Yes, but over the years lots of these haters have been transformed into Tiger-mad fans.

You can say that Woods pissed off as may people as he pleased when he refused to take Golf Channel's bubble head announcer Kelly Tilghman to task when her cultural ignorance led her to joke that Woods' hapless competition ought to "lynch him in a back alley." And yes, some blacks criticized Woods for not speaking out against what they deemed to be hate speech. But I think he made a hell of a lot more powerful impression on whites, who saw Woods with a white woman's fate in the palm of his black hand. And they saw him act generously and, to their minds, fairly, dismissing her comments as a non-issue and saving her career.

It's impossible to know for sure what Woods has done over the last decade to soften up white America for a black presidential candidate with similar qualities: calm, confidence, intelligence, good looks, a brilliant smile and an unmistakable and sometimes awesome air of confidence about him.

But it's hard not to wonder about the effect of Tiger Woods--let alone the future effect of Barack Obama--on South Side uncles, and the quarterbacks they bet on.

Comments

[richchaplin]

As a white man, I can say that the black leaders and role models of my youth (Dr. King, Bill Cosby, Bill Russell, Rev. Jackson, etc.) made the greatest strides in the journey from the segregated 50s to the Obama victory of today. However, on a journey, every stride is important, not just the biggest ones. There is no doubt that our next president deserves full credit for that stride over 1600 Pennsylvannia's threshold -- despite W, it was no easy task. But he fought that brilliant campaign at the right time, with a weak sitting president, and after Jordan dwarfed Bird, and Tiger dwarfed Arnie, and Bonds dwarfed Ruth, and Powell and Rice were no longer tokens but serious players on the world stage based solely on the content of their character. And, yes, after my favorite, President David Palmer won our hearts and minds (Dennis Haysbert deserves a night in the Lincoln bedroom, at least, IMHO).

[MARTYB]

OLDSFOLKS50 man, that is a rather a harsh indicment of Tiger. The man is of mixed heritage, there is absolutely nothing he can do about it, and as far as calling him an OJ , Whew, breathtaking. I think you "might" belong to that school of thought that used to beat up on "my" family because we were mixed and had various skin colorations. Yes indeed, i can hear the taunts and feel the blows even now, just because we did not fit that VERY NARROW definition of Blackness that you "apparently" espouse.

[KNadine]

Why don't we just say that everybody paved the way for Obama, even the cruel Slave Traders and Slave Owners. Everything that has happened in American history, good and bad has led us to this moment. Let's just enjoy it and stop over analyzing everything.

[Teamster]

it is tenacity as
Tiger from being Earl's child began with tenacity.

I liken Obama the same as any and all Amercans tenacity.

The unwillingness of defeat . Personally I see no color Korean Marine veteran, on the field
In the ambulance or the medics hands.

Thank you much for the post.

[Whatashame]

Please do not diminsh Obama's intelligence.

[luvangelHussein330]

I think this article would have made better since to me if you compared him to African American politicians before him.

[lw1899]

Woods (and Bill Cosby, et al) may have laid down a few bricks in Obama's path to the White House, but it was Obama's brilliance, intelligence, charisma and political savvy which did the rest of the work. He would have won given the current political and economic climate, regardless of Woods. But if a political incompetent (see Palin) were in Obama's shoes, would that person have won? Methinks not.

[Nommo]

Tiger closed the book on all discussion because of his complete dominance of the game. He rewrote the record books every time he stepped on the links. He brought an audience to the game that it had never had before. He began to draw comparisons to the very best in the game before he was even 23 years old and did not fall into the hype.

Tiger may have opened all kinds of doors but the only relevant comparison is that Barack, like Tiger, operates at a level that most everyone else playing the game can only imagine. What is most astonishing about both, in their respective games is how they force other players out of their own game plans. Arnold Palmer said, after Tiger won his first Master's by 12 strokes, (paraphrase)"the kid plays a game we know nothing about".

I don't know that he paved any way for anyone. He may have just shown the way, shown what today's world may demand from all of the new players.

[DosaHut]

Personally, I think Sarah palin and McCain paved the way. They spewed such intense levels of rac ism that even the diehard rac ists thought to themselves "Do we have to be THIS hateful? What's wrong with palin?"

[oldfolks50]

Not being white, I don't know what Tiger may have done to "soften" whites to blacks over the years. Nor can we assess the effect of Michael Jordan, Doug Williams, "President David Palmer" on "24," or the many televisions shows and movies that have highlighted black characters. My sense is that all have contributed in some way to the acceptance of a non-white as President. However, Tiger has never embraced his "blackness" in the way Barak has; and, as such, may be generally admired for his golf skills, but he's no more than this generation's O.J. Simpson (prior to all of the legal issues) for most blacks. His use of the word "multiracial" is just one example. I don't think I have heard Barak put it that way--in fact, I think we have heard quite the opposite. And, doesn't "multiracial," apply to all blacks who are descendants of white slave owners--and to many others?

Barak may have gained white support from a "Tiger Woods" effect--though I doubt it was significant. However, had he been more like Tiger, my guess is he would have not garnered as much black support.

[Ty90]

Um, Tiger doesn't necessarily seem to favor either side of his heritage.

He has never come out and said i am an Asian man or i am a black man. He realizes that he is neither but that he is both, which makes him multiracial. Why do some blacks have a problem with biracial people acknowledging both parents? Both halves?

And, as far as all blacks being multiracial, i don't agree. A little amount, like 20% of white blood does NOT make someone 'multiracial'. That is barely even there. I am black and although i may have some white blood, i am NOT multiracial!!!!

[canucklivinginUSA]

Some of you really to do some comprehensive reading before you start typing. As the author said, both Obama and Tiger Woods display a level of professionalism, fairness that will help them win over a lot of dissenters. That is what I see in both them. I do remember the hoopla when that woman said that about Tiger Woods and remember saying something to the effect that he did right not to reply to that idiot. Same thing with Obama when he didn't get angry at Sarah Palin and McCain and just kept on doing what he needed to do. Thats a winner right there

[SurrealPumpkin]

Let's get to basics. Obama is PE because W. was a disaster. If W had done a half way competent job we would be waiting for the inauguration of a Republican president.

We each owe everything to those who came before us and those who walk beside us, it's what we do with that support that makes some of us stand out in any crowd.

[SeanGardner]

Let's get to basics. You give way too much credit to Bush, and not enough credit to Obama who ran what even his political enemies say was the best campaign in presidential history.

[JacqueItch]

I have been saying this since Obama declared candidacy.

Tiger Woods has become the world's most famous athlete: his expertise and professionalism have won over golfers previously racist in their attitudes, in so doing, he has by extension won over people associated with those golfers who ordinarily would have heard derogative comments from them about a black man competing in the white man's world.

Woods has showed himself a person of eminent respectability. He concentrates on the task before him, and unflinchingly delivers when the situation demands his best. He exhibits a fairness toward others----but is a tremendous competitor. Americans love competitors.

It is hard not to associate these attributes of behavior with a man who similarly displays a sense of professionalism and savoir faire, and who also has a tendency to concentrate on the issue before him.
You described this well.
I agree with your conclusion.
It is appropriate to say that Woods created a groundswell of acceptance of a colored person previously unknown in a very racist America.

[PersimmonNJ]

Just looking at Woods isn't going nearly far enough back. The road was paved by every African American that broke through the barriers. Marian Anderson also comes to mind...one of history's greatest contraltos, an international superstar in the opera world at a time when the civil rights movement was just getting its footing, and the first African American to sing a principal role at the Metropolitan Opera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQnzb0Jj074

[kadene]

B l a c k s have been traditionally accepted as super athletes (in carefully designated sports categories), and hailed as entertainers, so anyone with a voice would fit into the stereotype. Anderson's timing made her more of a novelty than anything else, and had the same effect of a Sammy Davis Jr: "We have one in the house!"

[allonfla]

Tiger did not pave the way for Obama.....BUSH did! But seriously, if you want to talk about people that paved the way for Obama, I think you should first look at Black men/women who are mayors and governors. I also wouldn't rule out the possibility that Colin Powell and Condi paved the way. For several years, Americans saw two very powerful Black figures in the White House. I mean it about Bush though.

[DundeeNatalSA]

Oh give me a break. This thing about only because of Bush Obama got elected his hogwash. Obama beat out Hillary Clinton and hmm, all those other dem contenders and hmm, Romney, Guiliani, etc. etc.. It is the man who people were drawn to, not for any other reason. Either jealously or blindness prevents people from seeing that.

Republicuns actually believe if they just copy the Obama campaign they can win. Ugh, if you get an inspirational man just like Obama, maybe. Yeah, like that comes along very often.

All blacks paved the way for blacks. Each one has helped the next one rise to a different level. There is not just one person that can get the credit.