Arnie to Tiger, 1997: "If you want to be normal, give the money back."

[Faygo Kid]

Sound advice from Arnold Palmer to Tiger Woods back in 1997, via Bob Schieffer:

"I was at a lunch in Houston this week where I met one of my longtime heroes, the great home run hitter Hank Aaron. After watching him shake hands and chat with the hordes of people who came up to meet him, I told him it was a pleasure to meet a famous person who was just the way I thought he would be.

Arnold Palmer, the great golfer, was the same way. If Palmer ever ate in a restaurant without being interrupted by a dozen people who wanted to meet him, it went unrecorded. But he always got up, shook hands, and wished them well.

Which is why I loved the story John Feinstein told in the Washington Post about the lunch Palmer had with a 21-year-old Tiger Woods, the year Woods won his first Masters.

Tiger opened up to Palmer. He said he couldn't be a normal 21 year old because he had to sign autographs, talk to the media, do photo shoots for sponsors.

"It just never ends," he said.

"You're right," Palmer replied. "Normal 21-year-olds don't have $50 million in the bank. If you want to be normal, give the money back."

Tiger Woods is 34 and close to a billion dollars now in worth, but as his life came apart last week, he was still complaining about being put upon, about being unable to lead a normal life.

Sorry Tiger, we all make mistakes, but if you wanted to be normal you should have taken Arnie's advice, just played golf with your friends on Saturdays like the rest of us and I promise you no one would have cared what you did - except maybe your wife."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/06/ftn/main5913748.shtml

[Deja Q]

1. Please post in GD. Deserves a K&R

[Faygo Kid]

3. Mods don't allow any sports in GD.

Thanks, but I have found out many times that sports aren't ever legit at DU on GD, no matter how big the story or how big the ramifications outside of sports.

Let me put it this way: If DU had been around in 1948, it would have moved Jackie Robinson off of GD.

[Captain Hilts]

11. I think it's a bad policy also. nt

[Captain Hilts]

7. It's dying in the sports forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=215x127339

[rcrush]

2. If you have a billion dollars you can throw enough money at this problem

Eventually it will go away. Oh how I wish I had Tiger Woods problems right now.

[kedrys]

4. What, being surrounded by hot chicks and having a crapton of money?

I can see that. :P

[rcrush]

5. Poor Tiger

He has almost a billion dollars. He might have to give half away to his wife when she leaves him! OH NOE Tiger will only have HALF A BILLION. Can I please trade problems with Tiger Woods?

[tekisui]

10. The scrutiny and leachers come with billions. It is part of the deal.

[Zomby Woof]

6. Arnold Palmer is one of the biggest assholes in all of sports

No one should listen to a damn thing he says, about anything.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Huh?

[Zomby Woof]

9. Very arrogant, petty, and rude

Know someone very close to me who was exposed personally to his nastiness and abuse, for no goddamned good reason. Just the sight of him makes me ill.

[peekaloo]

12. Fuck off Arnie, Tiger tips his waitresses very well!

[Kingofalldems]

13. I heard on the radio this a.m. the number is now eight