Man Crush on Tiger Woods

Since he won the '97 Masters, I, like many, have been a huge fan of the guy. This Easter weekend, I'm looking forward to being entertained and enthralled when I watch another Masters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kotQfs6VpXQ&feature=PlayList&p=B0880AE4005D248A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=13
(Tiger Masters Chip)

For all the press, praise, and adulation he receives by announcers and commentators, his performance continues to outpace the former. In his last outing two weeks ago in Orlando, Tiger showed that the knee was back. Deja vue from '08 came when he sank another long putt on the 18th to win Arnold Palmer's tournament.

How does he do it? Anyone who isn't him can only speculate. Maybe Jordan or Nicklaus or a cardiac surgeon could give us some insight, but my journalistic integrity isn't so high as to perform much research. I do hear Malcolm Gladwell, in his book Outliers, may be able to shine a light on it.

Some things I pick up from being a huge fan, though:

1. Focus

Not just a slogan on a Tiger Gatorade bottle. He has a way of not giving a flip what the large galleries, tv cameras, media, other players are doing. How is he not caught up in the spectacle? Lots of practice. Having been in that moment over and over. Oh, and maybe there's something in his head that doesn't allow him to give in to all the crap because he realizes the second his focus drifts is the second he loses ground. He won't hit the shot he wants to hit. Living in the present.

2. Balance

Not talking about swing technique here. His life seems to be relatively in balance for someone of his fame. A wife, two kids, age 32. Apparently, he's pretty funny. Gotta be pretty smart...Stanford doesn't just accept any great athlete. He only plays so many tournaments a year. Of course, he's in a position to pick and choose, but still his focus is on peaking. That can't happen if you're burning the candle on both ends.

3. Articulation

He's given just about as many interviews as drives hit, but somehow he seems to provide answers that interest. Sometimes it is what he says. And sometimes it is how he says it. There's a personable nature he has. Something that comes from him that sounds frank, sincere, honest, and yet, pretty optimistic. As a result, his answers also exude confidence. Confidence that no matter if the round was a 68 or a 78, the moment is fleeting. Tomorow will come and the questions will be slightly different.

Yes, I do have a man crush on Tiger Woods.

60 minutes interview w/ the late, great Ed Bradley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kotQfs6VpXQ&feature=PlayList&p=B0880AE4005D248A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=13