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GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: Bob_Huntley on February 20, 2010, 09:27:14 PM

Title: A Hero..
Post by: Bob_Huntley on February 20, 2010, 09:27:14 PM
I went to Merriam and punched in "hero"... several answers came up but I always thought that this was the correct definition.

b : an illustrious warrior c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d : one that shows great courage



Someone in Tiger's entourage called him a hero, I must disagree. An idol maybe, but not a hero.

My heroes are those men and women who face death in their endeavours, be they active service personnel in Afghanistan,  the cops on the beat or certainly athletes who do defy death in their sporting lives.  Hitting a golf ball rather well does not make one a hero.


End of rant.

Bob
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Kevin_Reilly on February 20, 2010, 09:40:35 PM
Tim Finchem yesterday called him "an American hero" and I had the same reaction you did.

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1966789,00.html?cid=feed-tours_news-20100220-1966789 (http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1966789,00.html?cid=feed-tours_news-20100220-1966789)
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Garland Bayley on February 20, 2010, 10:30:04 PM
Right on Bob!

Tiger would be a hero for the Tiger Woods foundation work, except that he more promotes it than works it.

No one should be a hero for playing a game.
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: PCCraig on February 20, 2010, 10:37:32 PM
Regardless of Tiger Woods and his recent developments, nothing irks me more than the overuse of adjectives like "genius" and "hero" to describe basketball coaches, football players, and even golfers. It shows whomever is describing such is as disconnected from the real world as humanly possible.
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: John Mayhugh on February 20, 2010, 10:43:11 PM
Bob,
An understandable rant. 

Finchem called Tiger a hero?  Could he act like more of a toady?
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Pat Burke on February 20, 2010, 11:03:26 PM
Bob,
An understandable rant. 

Finchem called Tiger a hero?  Could he act like more of a toady?

Remember, Tim Finchem's financial future is tied to Tiger's.  IF, Tiger can become the huge ratings driver again, and (if), he can overcome his current credibility issues, the TOUR does better.  When the tOUR does better, Finchem does better, and he won't ever let something like the truth get in the way of ensuring that he gets his year end bonuses (which always seem to be given, regardless of that year's performance).

Tiger is Finchem's, (and most players) meal ticket for now, and sadly Tim would say anything to sell a weak hand
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Bill Rocco on February 20, 2010, 11:06:20 PM
Pat,

Agreed, Finchem believes Tiger needs to be a Hero to save the PGA in many minds (ratings and main stream media). I think it will be a great day when people celebrate golf as a whole (the courses and the players) collectively instead of immediately looking towards one figure....
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Kevin Pallier on February 20, 2010, 11:41:48 PM
A Hero:

...for charitable works maybe

...for hitting a golf ball - no way !!
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Carl Nichols on February 21, 2010, 11:44:41 AM
Perhaps he's a hero to the sexually addicted?


Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: cary lichtenstein on February 21, 2010, 12:19:51 PM
Tiger is a hero to all the women who are financially benefitting from his sexual whateverness.

To me, he is just another dirtbag
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Garland Bayley on February 21, 2010, 12:26:36 PM
Tiger is a hero to all the women who are financially benefitting from his sexual whateverness.

To me, he is just another dirtbag

How does Arnold, a known cheater stack up with you?
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: J_ Crisham on February 21, 2010, 12:47:04 PM
Bob,  It is hard to consider a man a Hero who has displayed a great lack of personal integrity similar to Tiger. Tim Finchem is so beholden to the rainmakers on the tour that he has a hard time seeing the fact that no man is larger than life or the game of golf. If Tiger were to never swing a club again competitively rest assured that a new star will emerge- it has happened thru history. Old Tom, Hagen, Jones, Sarazen, Hogan, Snead, Nelson, Palmer, Nicklaus, Watson, etc.... Soldiers, firemen, astronauts, cancer researchers, are those that are changing the world for the betterment of others-these are the real heros. Pro Athletes are to a large degree, overpaid entertainers, nothing more ,nothing less. How they support charitable situations is certainly admirable. End of my rant,
                                                                                                                            Jack
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Anthony Gray on February 21, 2010, 09:59:38 PM


  I think this topic speaks about society. The best heroes are fathers and mothers, not sport figures. There are several fathers on this site that are heroes in the eyes of their children. Gentelman golfers also.

  Anthony

 
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Don_Mahaffey on February 21, 2010, 10:18:33 PM
Hero
(http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=LL&Dato=20100220&Kategori=PHOTOS51&Lopenr=220009996&Ref=PH&Item=2&MaxW=590&MaxH=392&Border=0)
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Jason Hines on February 21, 2010, 10:33:34 PM
Hero
(http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=LL&Dato=20100220&Kategori=PHOTOS51&Lopenr=220009996&Ref=PH&Item=2&MaxW=590&MaxH=392&Border=0)

Agreed Don.  I get to play golf on Saturday afternoons at my club with my 4 and 2 year old sons because of the people in the photo above.  Not Tiger.

Jason

Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Anthony Gray on February 21, 2010, 10:54:22 PM
Hero
(http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=LL&Dato=20100220&Kategori=PHOTOS51&Lopenr=220009996&Ref=PH&Item=2&MaxW=590&MaxH=392&Border=0)

Agreed Don.  I get to play golf on Saturday afternoons at my club with my 4 and 2 year old sons because of the people in the photo above.  Not Tiger.

Jason




  +1



Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Steve_Roths on February 22, 2010, 03:17:47 PM
+2
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: henrye on February 22, 2010, 03:41:35 PM
A hero to one is not always a hero to someone else.  Tiger may not be an american hero, but I can certainly understand why Finchem thinks he is.  The guy makes off with a Goldman Sachs-esque bonus due to his little friend.  :D
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Richard Choi on February 22, 2010, 04:15:07 PM
Talk about OT... :)

Curious, what do you think about people who call cancer survivors and disaster survivors (and practically all other "survivors" of various tragedy/events) heroes?

To me, if your doing exactly what every other person in the same situation would do (i.e survive and keep on living your life), it really doesn't merit the "hero" title.
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Melvyn Morrow on February 22, 2010, 05:08:32 PM

Richard

There are Heroes and Villains in this world. Most Heroes don’t ask to be put in that position, but Villains who believe that the rules are not for them, place themselves in the line of fire for personal rewards.

Be careful who you place your trust with as it may affect the future of you and your family.

Melvyn
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: paul cowley on February 22, 2010, 10:35:39 PM
I agree Bob...the mantle ain't what it used to be....and I would humbly submit that you are probably more a hero in real terms than you would ever admit to.
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Gib_Papazian on February 23, 2010, 12:28:03 AM
Tiger a hero? Please. Audie Murphy is a hero. Winston Churchill is a hero. The men who tried to kill Hitler are heroes. Chesley Sullenberger is a hero. All those firemen who rushed into the World Trade Center and lost their lives are heroes. Elian Gonzalez's mother is a hero. Those kids who lost their lives in Tiananmen Square are heroes. Lech Walesa is a hero. Daniel Ellsberg is a hero. Ron Paul is a hero. Even mean ol' Charlie Sifford is a hero.

Tiger is a pussy chasing, super-stud golfer, but he ain't no hero.

I'm still trying to figure out why Tiger is compelled is issue an apology, but a former president of the United States remains wildly popular while (still) not only refusing to apologize for his come stains on the dress of a child, but still manages to maintain with a straight face that getting his gynecology probe shined by the same chubby intern was somehow not "sex."

Evidently, we hold our athletes to a higher standard than occupants of the Oval Office.

And we laugh at Prince Charles . . . . .

    

  
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Matt Day on February 23, 2010, 03:35:04 AM
Like many others I think of a hero as someone like my grandfather who was in Bomber Command from 1940-1945 (Wellington and Halifax bombers), or the two gents we met and listened to on the USS Midway who were dive bomber pilots in WW2.......anyone who gets paid to play sport is not a hero
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Melvyn Morrow on February 23, 2010, 05:43:20 PM


Bonnie searching for Bob (I think she said Bob, but I could be wrong), but certainly not Tiger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f_HsjpSVaI

Melvyn
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Jim_Kennedy on February 23, 2010, 07:20:03 PM
Matt Day,
There are exceptions to every rule, like the aforementioned Charlie Sifford, or Jackie Robinson, and even a whole team like the Springboks , or the Jewish athletes (nine won medals) who went to the 1936 Nazilympics.
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Matt Day on February 23, 2010, 09:57:52 PM
Matt Day,
There are exceptions to every rule, like the aforementioned Charlie Sifford, or Jackie Robinson, and even a whole team like the Springboks , or the Jewish athletes (nine won medals) who went to the 1936 Nazilympics.

Jim
Agreed,  I was thinking more of the modern athletes

 
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: PThomas on February 26, 2010, 09:03:13 AM
you want a hero in sports?  i give you Ms. Rochette, the figure skater from Canada....a great perfomance  by itself, but only a few days after her mom passed away unexpectedly?  one of the greatest Olympic perfomances ever by anyone
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Kalen Braley on February 26, 2010, 09:10:23 AM
I too have a real problem with calling any atheletes "heroes", even if they do perform under intense conditions like the canadian skater.  Inspiring?  Sure.  Gritty?  Yeah.  Epic?  Maybe.  But heroic?  Nah.

If we're going to find anyone even remotely resembling a hero in sports, the only one I can think of is Moonlight Graham when he stepped off the field to save Ray Kinsella's daugher!!   ;D

(http://www.filmreference.com/images/sjff_03_img1178.jpg)



Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: JMorgan on February 26, 2010, 09:35:44 AM
 For heroes, courage is not scripted. 
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Richard Choi on February 26, 2010, 04:37:42 PM
I am sorry, but I am going to have to disagree as well.

I mean, it is an inspiring and compelling story and all, but if I come to work after my parents pass away, should I be considered a hero? It also does not help that Nigai was far superior in her program and Rochette got some very "generous" marks with all the mistakes in her program.

As I have stated before, anyone doing what they were going to do no matter what the surrounding circumstance is really not a hero. More dramatic? Yes. Heroic? No.

If you are just going by the pressure, then what Kim Yu Na did was FAR more impressive. The expectation from Korea on Kim was overwhelming (it really was out of control), which could have crushed any lesser skater.
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: jonathan_becker on February 26, 2010, 06:25:12 PM
Richard,

Define "Hero" in your terms for us.
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Bill Rocco on February 26, 2010, 06:34:12 PM
Using Bob definition of Hero (c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d : one that shows great courage) I think a good choice for hero IN GOLF  would be Bobby Jones, although his temper was an issue early in his career he turned out to be a great ambassador of the game and golf was better for having him in the sport.
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Pat Burke on February 26, 2010, 07:17:43 PM
Noun, 1. hero - a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and dressing)
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Richard Choi on February 27, 2010, 06:58:24 PM
Jonathan, my definition of a hero is someone who achieves something extraordinary that involves a great deal of self sacrifice - someone who is willing to sacrifice their own welfare for the greater good.

Otherwise, practically anyone who achieves anything can be considered a hero and that kind of just cheapens it for everyone.
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: jonathan_becker on February 27, 2010, 07:21:27 PM
Richard,

That's a pretty good definition.  I was just curious.
Title: Re: A Hero..
Post by: Steve Lapper on February 28, 2010, 07:06:48 AM
If "Tiger is an American Hero," then Tim Finchem is Mother Theresa!!


What a jackass....hope the PGA Tour learns one day what kind of fool they have at the helm.