The supreme sweep – LPGA, PGA, and the Seniors all lead by Woods

Great news in the world of golf today. Tiger Woods is once again a proud daddy.

This fantastic news of the birth of a healthy son, Charlie Axel, is sure to make fans very pleased. And for those hoping to create a legacy or have their child attain the heights of being called the world’s greatest, the chances just got slimmer.

With a daughter and now a son, the Woods family might just be poised to do something no other lineage in golf has ever done. Have 3 members of the family become ranked professionals all at the same time. The bonus of this is of course the fact that Tiger’s daughter, Sam Alexis, could run the LPGA much the same as her father took over the PGA.

Now I will admit this is mostly my wish rather than any shred of fact, at this point. But still it would be something. If the Woods children were to follow in their dad’s footsteps, learning all the tricks and techniques he knows, with all the privileges that his fame and fortune can bestow upon them – just imagine.

You can be assured that if the kids even tried they would never fear monetary support as every company associated with golf would drool over the chance to have their name associated with a trio of Tigers.

Of course it is just as likely that the children of the arguably greatest golfer in the world, and perhaps the sport, might venture into another sport or none at all rather than be in the shadow of their dad. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I hope that they become successful and happy (not in that order) no matter what they do.

But as a fan, I can dream. I imagine that Tiger himself might occasionally harbor such fancies from time to time.

Whether or not Tiger plays at the Masters this year, or at all this year depends on the new baby Woods has said. And that is understandable. Family always takes precedence.

But I will just let the moment linger a bit longer until he does return. At the young age of 33, the potential of Tiger playing golf well into his 60’s means that there is time. Especially if word ever leaks out that the kids have gotten a Christmas gift of golf clubs. Just remember that you heard the idea here first.

Tiger Woods, Golf, and Black History Month

As we enter the first Black History Month in which we will not only be celebrating the past acheivements of great men and women, but the until recently undreamed of African American Presidency, I decided to look at what else might we celebrate.

That took me to looking, eventually, at Tiger Woods. Being the best in the world, in a sport where Blacks (of any nationality) are as close to virtually non-existent as possible, is always noteworthy. But then I noticed an article that made me think deeper.

John Paul Newport was speaking about Tiger Woods at one of the inauguration parties for President Obama. He speculated on the thought that Obama might one day try for a political office. Which indeed would be interesting. And then I read this quote further on in the article

“If you turn on the golf tournament Sunday and Tiger Woods isn't playing, what do you see? About 140 white guys competing and no blacks," said Eddie Payton, the golf coach at historically black Jackson State in Mississippi (and the brother of the late football great Walter Payton). "What kind of message does that send to kids? That they should watch basketball instead, even though they aren't going to grow up to be 6-foot-10? If we don't get some black players on Tour soon, we're going to lose a generation of potential African-American golfers."

Being a golfer, though a 100 a round player so I’m not bragging, I am used to being one of a handful – if not the only – Black golfer on any particular course. That is usually true even on most courses in major cities. So, like watching television, I hadn’t notice that I was brainwashed into accepting the lack of diversity.

Yet that is a horrible thing. Golf is a great sport. It’s relaxing, intense, challenging, and fun. It’s something that even the less physically fit can play. And those on the course are in almost every case, polite friendly and respectful.

It is a game that anyone can learn, even in the city. In the Bronx, a few miles from where I grew up is a 100 year old 9-hole course that is almost always filled by anything but golfers of color. And the same can be said of the over half a dozen courses in New York City, in my experience.

At a time when our nation has broken through a massive hurdle, when we are openly and finally discussing race relations without breaking into fights, we still are surrounded by obstacles that are firmly in place.

And this makes me wonder about my thoughts on the Obama effect. Perhaps I was too short sighted when I discussed that. Perhaps the Obama effect is not limited to just television. Because in the PGA there is only 1 African American golfer, and almost a mere handful of American golfers of color. The LPGA is even more staggered in the diversity it presents.

But why? Money is of course one reason. And not a small one. Yet the same can be said of those athletes that seek to become baseball, basketball, football or any other sports’ major leaguer. The honest answer is that African Americans are discouraged from the game, and institutional backing ignores them.

The discouragement comes as much from African Americans as any other group. The game is seen as being only-White. To play is a stigma akin to abandoning your race. And that is just a stupid thought. Yet every Sunday that very though is reinforced.

The money though is another matter. I won’t say that colleges, golf clubs, or other institutions purposefully avoid African Americans – I don’t know that to be true. But I can say that from what I know they all do actively pursue White golfers at young ages.

Now I am not saying that any African America should be allowed to play in the PGA or LPGA just because of the color of their skin. I hate and would fight against such an idea. But I am saying that the opportunity to compete should be more available.

Given the chance, players will find their own way to the pros. But the chance has to be there. And in golf it is not.

Every African American is not Tiger Woods or Barack Obama. Nor should we be held to a standard of being equal to them or nothing at all. Yet that does not mean we cannot be involved. That does not mean we shouldn’t be encouraged to try.

If this Black History Month says anything this year, I hope that it says to everyone, of every color and creed and ethnicity, that you should try something different. That you can succeed in things that few are doing today. That if you look up, don’t just reach for the clouds because you think you can only get the sky. Reach for the stars because if you work for it, you can reach them too.