Ron Artest has been vilified for almost a decade now. Most casual fans will only remember the Malice at the Palace. To those people, you all should just listen to what the man has to say. He keeps it real. Sometimes too real.
He has an opinion on Tiger Woods, and has decided to write an open letter to him. It is published in it's entirety below.
Dear Tiger,
In reading the statements you have made, I can tell you are a stand up guy. Please remember only Jesus is perfect. You made a mistake and you admitted your infidelity.
I have made the same mistakes. Before I got married to my wife, I had a baby with another young lady, after I already had two by my girlfriend who is now my wife. We also had another baby which makes three for us and four for me. Two boys and two girls.
My wife is a much better wife than I am a husband. We still argue and disagree after being together 16 years. and I still cope with the fact that there are so many women out there and I choose to stay loyal to my wife.
I want to be home every night, but with traveling I can't, and sometimes I might want to go to a bar or club and be one of the fellas. Most of the time I stay in, because I have my kids and wife.
I cannot sit here and say the thought to have many women has never crossed my mind. If I were Jesus I could.
I have known my wife for 16 years- since I was 14 years old.
She was my first.
On the way to 2010 we had many ups and downs on the way, mostly my fault. But I really choose to work hard and play ball to support her and my kids. The same reason you are building your legacy.
I have been disturbed by this because there are many people who are happy that this bad news has come out.
There are a lot of sports announcers and regular reporters who are not perfect in their own homes, yet they want to bring you down.
You have done so much for people, the sport of golf, and your family and you gave your wife a life that people can't even dream of.
I thought you were 36 or 37 until I read the news today. A 33-year-old man who has been a model citizen with so much at stake. This is your first publicly known issue since you started your career, compared to my 50 or more publicly known issues and mistakes.
You have been the perfect role model for me and my sons for longer than anyone I have known.
With the exception of a few legends.
As your fan, I can't wait to see you golf again.
And us athletes know how much you personally love your family.
One love,
Ron Artest
This is just a fan mail letter to Tiger Woods fans and indirectly to Tiger himself.
Please, everyone support Tiger in these tough times for his family.
Also if you are a sports announcer or regular everyday reporter or blogger please step up like Tiger and tell your wife or husband if you have any skeletons in your closet. Especially if you were one of the few attacking TIGER!!
One Love People
Ron Artest articulated my feelings on the matter better than I've been able to. Hopefully this is not the last time this happens.
Posts
Jason Whitlock is jealous.
ReplyDeleteLook, Ron Artest can have all the compansion for Woods he wants. Maybe he is even comforted by the fact they have some "things" in common. But calling him a "perfect role model" is ludicrous. I never felt Woods to be a perfect role model on or off the course. For those that thought he was, they can no longer. Tiger did not make a "mistake", he exhibited repeated bad behavoir. I believe Woods is not sorry for his actions, only that he has been exposed...........
ReplyDeleteYou're entitled to your opinion, but I'm quite positive you have no idea how Tiger feels about what he's done. No one but him does. Plenty of people that cheat on their spouses clean up and are upstanding husbands/wives after they've been exposed.
ReplyDeleteI personally find it terrible that some people hope that Tiger doesn't make it through this okay. You may not like him, and no one agrees with what he's done. But, everyone deserves a second chance.
I hope Tiger Woods is still really good at golf. I hope he comes out, gives zero sound clips, and beats the shit out of everyone in every major he plays in.
ReplyDeleteFollowing athletes as role models to begin with is kind of silly. Decrying society for following athletes as role models is sillier.
Icehouse is the winner.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMzdAZ3TjCA
Perhaps at some point parents can be positive influences on their children so we don't have to have the Tiger Woods of the world raise children.
It's sad but when I go into schools I see kids that have two positive male role models. 1. Professional athletes. 2. The corner boys and their boss, because to them those are the only two people from a similar background who are making it in this world.
As far as Tiger goes, I agree with Chris that he is now only "sorry" because he got caught. But that is just my take, and his personal life is really none of my matter. And maybe this is just my take on it, but I tend to separate athletes on the field and off the field. (for what it's worth I loved everything tiger did on the course)
If you're looking for the perfect athlete you're more than likely going to end up in a failed quest. Just appreciate what they do on the field/court, it's a lot easier that way.
Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy are my role models.
ReplyDeleteJohn Daly is another role model of mine. And Ricky Williams.
ReplyDeleteFuck you guys, fuck Tiger, fuck everbody but Ron Artest (and yes, the Jimmy Kimmel appearance was everythin it had been built up to be). I'm moving to Sweden.
ReplyDelete