It’s really me who should be apologizing to Tiger for a number of reasons. I should start out by saying I know I’m not alone, I can tell by some of the body language I see when his name enters a conversation.

First, I apologize for not caring about hearing his apology, and you know the worst of it? I didn’t even tune in to hear it or many of the sad details leading up to it. In the midst of trying to get some sleep at night, hustling to work everyday, cooking and paying bills, I think I have probably let him down by not making his issues more important in my daily life.

I have pretty much tuned Tiger out for most of his career, and I know that’s just plain wrong. I never felt the need to watch him play one tournament, or swing one iron, because I took for granted that he was the greatest in golf. Taking him for granted really was no more than a front for the confusion I felt - his preoccupation with distancing himself from being visibly black was more than I could cope with. I knew he was multi-racial the moment I laid eyes on him. But something didn’t seem right that he had to make such a stink about it. We’re all multi-racial - many of us are blessed to be multi-cultural as well. I sensed his insecurity was hiding something dark - pardon the pun - and it turns out that little something finally made its way to the light.

I’m really sorry for distancing myself from his most recent pain and humiliation. But he’s made it crystal clear that he has wanted no part of any place in a black woman’s heart. Herein lies the irony of it all. Since he’s had trouble respecting himself as a worthy human being, he has treated the women in his life, mainly his wife as less than worthy. He has coveted white women and ended up disrespecting the one he married and aided the others in humiliating themselves. Forgive me for viewing Tiger as a lot less than a prize right now for any woman.

I also offer my humble apology for not feeling sorry for Tiger in any shape, form or fashion, and for not understanding such deep self-hatred as to allow this to come along and define his lucrative and amazing career. I hate to think the real Tiger Woods has been revealed, but the details just have become so raunchy and stupid that he would have to do some serious manning up to make me want to do more than simply tune him out for good.

Chandra Adams

Shades of Retribution