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Let Tiger Loose

What do we really want from our athletes?

If they play for our team we want fire and brimstone. We want passion and fight. But if they are on a golf course we want them to be docile and nice. Tiger Woods is not that way. He is a linebacker in a golf shirt. He is everything we want in our home town heroes. He is nothing like folks want on a golf course.

Golf is no longer Ben Hogan and the old boys. It is entering a new era and there is nothing wrong with showing a little emotion. Woods shows emotion. One of the problems is his every move is videotaped and photographed so if he sneezes we will know about it.

Other players have asked him to tone it down. I say to hell with them. If it were not for Woods we would not know about half of them. He is golf and if it means a little down and dirty behavior I think the game can survive it.

I like fire and brimstone, no matter the sport and no matter the setting. As Mike Valenti would say: "Let Tiger Loose."

One more thing. I know he does not like finishing second to anybody and I know Tiger scuffled through much of his return to golf. But finishing fourth at the Masters is no easy feat. His return to golf was a success.

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